Page 5 of Not That Guy
“No, and I’m not interested. I deal in facts. And I would hope you and everyone else do as well.”
She made a moue . “Be nice. It’s just that if they bring in more partners, what does that say for us grunts working up the ladder, hoping to get an offer?
It doesn’t seem fair.” Without an invitation, she entered my office and sat, her tight sheath dress hiking above the knees, revealing smooth, tanned thighs.
“I guess that’s a question you should be asking the senior partners. Now, please excuse me. I have a meeting to prepare for.”
She flounced away, giving me a view of a round butt that should have caused heart palpitations. Instead, all I wondered was how she breathed in something so tight.
“Maybe I really am getting old,” I mused and, shaking my head, went to work.
**
Friday evening, and there I sat at another boring bar dinner—no Brenner Fleming this time.
I’d admit to looking. When Isobel Morton sat next to me, I’d hoped she’d relight my fire.
We’d had a casual affair in Boston before she’d accepted a position at a firm out west. It had been fun and easy.
No strings. Exactly what I’d always liked.
And Isobel had turned into someone more than a bed partner. She’d become a friend.
“Let’s blow this place. Come home with me? My bar is better,” I murmured, and she ran a foot up my leg.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
We made out like kids in the back of the car, then entered my dark apartment, hands all over each other. I didn’t bother to turn on the lights as I led her to the sectional couch in my living room. Lips locked, we lowered ourselves to the cushions.
“Come on, West.” Isobel straddled me. Long, slender fingers glided down my tie and plucked open several shirt buttons before continuing their southern progress.
“It’s been ages, and seeing you tonight…
” Her tongue slipped out to lick a path across her lower lip, then dipped into my ear.
“I haven’t forgotten how good it was the last time. ”
Isobel had nice, juicy curves, and our mouths met in a lingering kiss. I cupped her plump ass, giving her the green light. She slid to her knees, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the magic.
Her skilled tongue tried its best, but when minutes passed with only a halfhearted sign of life, I gave her a gentle push. Eyes brimming with questions, she got to her feet. I smiled weakly as I zipped up and stood.
“It’s been a bitch of a week. I guess the late nights caught up with me.” I slipped an arm around her waist. “Come to bed. Let me take care of you.”
She patted my cheek and flipped her shining hair. “Honey, I’ve been taking care of myself for years. I don’t need a man to give me an orgasm. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. It’s never happened before. Must be all the work. Maybe Daniel’s right, and we do need to take on more partners.”
Lies. All lies. Sure, I’d had sex and it was satisfying, but not the same after that night. With Brenner. It was getting off to get off. This night was the first time I’d been unable to get it up, though.
Shrewd brown eyes met mine. “I love you, West, but you lie like a dog. What’s really wrong?”
“Damned if I know.”
“Is it another woman? You’re not a cheater.”
“No way. I’ve seen enough in my life to know that’s not how I want to live.”
Case in point: Dear old Dad. Master philanderer. And Mom had never suspected, too wrapped up in her illness. Until the day she’d died, she’d believed in the fairy tale, but for the illustrious Senator Preston Lively, he could finally carry on his flings in public without repercussions.
Except for my utter contempt, but then again, why should his son’s emotional state of mind matter to him?
My hand in hers, we returned to the couch. “So? What’s the deal? Are you unhappy with the move? Or maybe you left someone behind. Someone you want but can’t have?”
Isobel was way too insightful. I let my head fall to the cushion and stared at the ceiling, still not ready to confess what I wasn’t sure of, but maybe if I talked about it out loud, it would make sense.
“No. The job’s great, and I love living here. You know I was happy to move to the city.”
“But?” Her fingers stroked my arm, nonsexual and comforting.
“But you’re right. I was with someone last year. And it left an impression I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. No matter how hard I try.”
“I’ll bet. You can’t fuck someone out of your system. I’ve tried.”
A chilling thought ran through me. Shit . I’d never imagined she’d fallen for me. “Isobel, I—”
A snort of laughter escaped, and her eyes danced.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not talking about you, even though you’re hot as hell.
When I moved to Denver, I met someone and thought he was the one.
Turns out, I was his one of many. It’s been about a year, and I can’t stop thinking of him, no matter how hard I’ve tried.
I thought tonight would help, but looks like we’re both suffering from the same problem. ”
“Maybe so.”
It wasn’t that I feared Isobel’s reaction, but I hesitated to explain that my attraction was to a man. Mainly because I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on in my head. Until I worked out the strange predicament I found myself in, I planned to say nothing.
Besides, Brenner and I couldn’t stand each other. It had been a one-time thing. A mistake neither of us planned to repeat.