He smiled a badass smile. “I’ve got a few other tricks as well,” he murmured and pulled her down to him, rolling her beneath him, making himself at home between her legs. “Allow me to demonstrate.”
Oh boy . . .
Chapter 24
#OhMylanta
Colbie awoke at the touch of Spence’s hand on her hip. It was late afternoon—she wasn’t sure what time, but they’d spent the rest of the day in her bed. She was warm and comfortable in his arms, their legs tangled together, her back to him. The fading light slanted through the window, casting a glow through the room.
But that wasn’t what made her smile. It was feeling Spence’s lips on her shoulder, softly exploring. She could feel the heat of his body against her bare back, the hair on his chest slightly scratchy against her skin as he moved. She lay there for a moment, luxuriating in it all.
How in the world could she lose herself so completely, without a single inhibition, with a man she hardly knew? It boggled her brain.
“I smell something burning,” he murmured huskily.
“Just thinking. Why is it I feel like I’ve known you forever?”
“Because we like each other,” he said, “and because we don’t need anything from each other either.” He rolled her over to face him, his hands sliding down her back to cup her ass, his eyes dark and hungry.
“Not . . . anything?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck, making room for him between her legs.
“Well, maybe one thing,” he said against her mouth and then went about recharging her batteries again.
And then again, because Spence was nothing if not thorough.
Elle slipped into Spence’s office at the ass crack of dawn the next day. But since she was carrying coffee, he forgave her the interruption. Until she spoke.
“So who was the expensive suit with Colbie yesterday?”
He sipped his coffee and went noncommittal.
“Everyone’s taking guesses on what’s going on, you know. Willa and Pru think maybe Colbie’s a corporate spy trying to find out how far you’ve come with your drone project.”
Spence raised a brow.
“Kylie thinks maybe one of her brothers works at some news conglomerate and is pimping her out to try to catch you with your defenses down.”
Spence shook his head and drank some more coffee.
“Trudy and Luis think she’s after your money.”
Spence leaned back in his chair. “And you?” he asked. “What do you think?”
She sat on the corner of his desk, her business suit a siren kickass red today, her heels high and shiny black. “I think that . . . I don’t know what to think.”
He laughed. “Well, there’s a first time for everything.”
She laughed a little. “I know, right?” She shook her head. “It could still be a con, you know. It’s not like you’re being careful.”
“And you know this how?”
“Because you were sighted nearly getting in a fight protecting her yesterday.”
He wasn’t surprised. The building could’ve doubled for downtown Mayberry with all the gossip and secret spilling that went on, and that included the outlying streets as well. “Maybe there’s no conspiracy,” he said. “Maybe she just really likes me.”
Elle sighed.
“Is it really so hard to believe that a smart, attractive woman with a sense of humor could be into me?” he asked.
Elle straightened, bristling. “Okay, that’s not fair. There’s a lot about you to like. A lot, Spence. But face it, you’ve got a horrible track record.”
“We all have horrible track records,” he said. “It’s what leads up to the real thing. It’s what allows you to recognize it when it shows up. As you should well know.”
She stared at him for a beat and then acknowledged the truth of that with a sigh. “Okay, but I’m going to need you to tell me you’re not in love with her after only two-plus weeks.”
He paused. He didn’t want to lie to her but this wasn’t a conversation he was going to have with Elle before he had it with Colbie. “Probably more lust than love.”
Elle sighed again, this one pure relief. “Okay,” she said. “Lust is fine.”
“Thanks for the permission.”
She rolled her eyes. “You pay me a lot of money to keep you protected.”
“From the press,” he said. “From the needs of this building. From the demands on my time for things you can handle. Not my love life, Elle.”
“There’s that l-word again,” she said. “So, you know how Colbie takes notes all the time?”
“Yeah.”
“Tina got a peek at her laptop screen the other day at the coffee shop. Colbie had a page up about how deep you have to dig a hole to keep a dead body buried and safe from the elements.”
He shook his head, keeping his smile to himself.
“I know,” she said. “Kind of insane, right?” Her eyes narrowed, catching on to his amusement. “What the hell is so funny? Mrs. Winslow overheard her on the phone planning some sort of big heist. Even Finn and Sean are worried about you and you’re laughing about it.”
“Have you talked to Archer or Joe about this?” he asked.
“No. Archer told me to mind my own business, which obviously, I’m never going to do. I’ve been trying to get to Joe, but he’s been avoiding me like the plague, although . . . Shit,” she said, looking at her phone. “I did miss a call from him.”
“Call him back,” Spence suggested.
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
Elle pulled out her phone and hit a number. “Hey,” she said. “I—” She paused, listening. “Huh. And Archer knows this . . .?” Another pause. “Okay, thanks.” She disconnected, opened her e-mail, and thumbed through something. Two minutes later, she looked up and met Spence’s gaze. “You know.”
“Yes. But only since the other night, if that helps.”
Elle sank to a chair. “And Archer knows.”
“He’s Joe’s boss, so of course he knows. He knows everything. When you sicced Joe on Colbie, what did you think would happen?”
She shook her head. “Not this. But I guess I’m not all that surprised.” She didn’t look particularly appeased either.
“How about sorry,” he said. “Are you sorry?”
“Hey, it could’ve been any of a million reasons why Colbie was acting shady. I couldn’t have guessed this reason. It’s a good one though,” she admitted grudgingly. “Impressive.”
“Hugely so.” He had to laugh. “You can’t even admit when you’re wrong, can you.”
“I can admit when you’re wrong.” She sighed. “Dammit. You should’ve told me who she was. I’d have been . . .”
“Nicer?” Spence asked mildly.
She sighed. “Okay, yes. And I am sorry, but—”
“Sorrys don’t usually have a ‘but’ after them.”
“Fine. I was wrong,” Elle said. “And I’m sorry.”
“Wow.” Spence smiled. “Did that hurt?”
She ignored that. “But . . . something I wasn’t wrong about?” she asked. “Is that I can see you’re falling for her. Like really falling, Spence.”
“I don’t fall.”
Her expression softened. “Listen, I actually think she’s falling too.”
“I’m not as optimistic as you.”
That got a laugh out of her. Elle was a lot of things, but optimistic wasn’t one of them.
“The problem is, where does this leave you?” she asked. “You’re already having a hard time with this project and—”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, not wanting to talk about the drone project, which was currently at the top of his shit list. “None of it matters. She’s leaving on Christmas Eve and that’ll take care of everything.”
She stared at him and slowly shook her head. “You can’t really believe that. Love isn’t that simple, Spence.”