Page 26 of Whiskey and Regret

The characters leaped off the pages in my mind. I saw the beginning scene as clearly as any movie I’d ever seen. How could I ignore such a magnetic pull?

When I first got home, I spent time with Frankie, changed out of my suit, put on a Method Man playlist, poured a glass of whiskey then got to work. As usual, when I dove headfirst into my words, everything else disappeared. The only things that existed were the worlds I spun from my fingertips.

“Oh, shit. Look at you.” Miss Lucas sauntered into the den wearing a metallic gray silk pajama set. The shirt was only partially buttoned down the middle giving me a glimpse of her perfect honey brown stomach. Wide-leg silk pants only left the painted white tips of her toes exposed. Other than that, she was barefaced with her wild mane of curls falling in thick clouds around her shoulders.

Something so simple, made me forget what words were. She was dressed down to the bare minimum and I was rendered speechless. It was distracting how fucking beautiful she was.

Those wide cognac brown eyes, plush pink lips, and queenly slashes of cheekbone.

And of course, those goddamn dimples.

“Ah, Miss Lucas.” I tried to sound professional and not like I’d been sucking down whiskey since I secluded myself in the den. “Can I help you? Also, why the fuck are you wearing pajamas?” I’d hired her for one month and she would be living under my roof but she wasn’t scheduled to move in yet.

“Ooh, an f-bomb. I like you a little bit more every day,” she laughed. Why did she refuse to sit the hell down? She insisted on standing right in front of me, giving me a perfect view of her tight healthy curves beneath the sheath of gray silk.

“Frankie begged me to stay the night. She wants me to sleep in her room while I’m having my things moved in. I told her it was fine. Plus, it means I’m already here for the morning. I can make sure she eats and get her off to school on time.” I must have been much drunker than I thought. Miss Lucas sounded responsible. If I thought she was irresponsible I wouldn’t have hired her at all but she definitely was not on top of things like Navy.

Navy didn’t make my dick hard though…

I shoved the acknowledgment of my erection in the back of my mind. I had to focus. She was Frankie’s nanny. Not eye candy.

“I take it you’re not a fan of my pajamas? I thought they were very TLCCreepchic.” She shrugged and ran her hands along her curves.

“And what does your young ass know about TLC?” A deep laugh rolled from me easily. Miss Lucas shot me a glare then leaned over my desk giving me a clear shot down her shirt. It was war of the fucking worlds trying to keep my eyes level with hers.

“I’ll have you know I’m a 90’s R&B connoisseur. I was born in the wrong era. I would have killed in classic Versace and Chanel. Ugh. Anyway, I’m clearly a Chili.”

“Definitely more of a Left Eye, but whatever floats your boat. Now, what can I help you with?”

“Left Eye? I mean, she’s fucking fantastic but you think I’m crazy?”

“Bubbly. Unrestricted. Playful. The crazy part has yet to be determined.”

“Fuck you, Freeman,” she laughed. “So, I’m guessing you’re drunk and you don’t remember telling me you’d help me with my budget?” She batted those thick, long lashes at me and managed to look innocent. I guaranteed she wouldn’t look so innocent with my dick in her mouth.

Under the desk, I gripped my hard cock and tried to think about anything other than her nipples under that silk. Or how easy it would be for me to slide my hand under her shirt and pinch them until she whined.

Fuck. I had to stop letting my mind wander.

“You’re right. I did promise I’d help.”

She walked behind the desk and I quickly angled myself away from her so she couldn’t see my erection tenting my sweats. “What the hell are you working on, Freeman?” Xari Lucas had no boundaries when she was curious. I was learning that daily.

“Can you at least maintain some modicum of professionalism, Miss Lucas?”

“Like you are? In your sweats, drinking, and listening to Method Man. Which, by the way, has anyone ever told you that you look like him? It’s uncanny.”

“Nah. Never.”

“God, you’re like two different people. The suit and tie Freeman and then…this.” Fire sparked in her brown eyes when she looked at me. I knew that look. She was curious. She turned her eyes to my laptop and I pulled it closer to me. “What’s that?” She asked, her eyes growing wider. “I saw the word pussy. You have to let me see the rest. I’m already sold.”

“Miss Lucas…”

“Call me Xari. I’m off the clock now.”

“No. Now, move to the other side of the desk where you won’t give me a goddam heart attack?”

“Nope. Not until you show me what you’re writing. I know good and fucking well there’s no bill in congress that uses the word pussy. If I’m wrong, then maybe there’s a place for me in politics after all.”