Blank Space (Dirty South Book 1) Page 8

  The hottest sensation caught flame between my legs. It felt stupidly good. I was thankful that he couldn’t see my face, because I knew he’d be able to tell what a simple touch from him did to me.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Do you want to turn over and sit on it?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I think I’m good to go back to my room now.”

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t think you need to walk right now. You’ll need to sleep in here.”

  Panic settled in my throat. “No,” I shook my head. “I can’t do that. That’s not a good idea.” As badly as I wanted him to want me, the good part of me knew it was a bad idea to stay any longer.

  Cash stood up and suddenly I was picked up and laid on my back in his bed. He propped a pillow behind my head, and helped me sit on the ice pack. His closeness made my skin prickle. “Well, it’s going to happen.” A smile curled up his mouth. “You scared I’m gonna take advantage of you, Sydney? What kind of man do you take me for?”

  An incredibly hot one. That was used to getting what he wanted. “I just don’t think it’s appropriate.”

  Cash smiled in the light from the lamp, his lazy eyes and messy hair hotter than before. I’d be sleeping next to that. Everything in me wanted him to crawl into bed and strip me of any innocence I may have hidden within me.

  He reached over and turned the light off, only the moonlight from the window brightened the room. The bed didn’t move or squeak when he crawled inside the covers. “Well, it’s too damn bad, because that’s where you’re sleeping. I can’t have you sleep hundreds of yards away from me, I wouldn’t hear if you hurt yourself. And we can’t move you now, you need to rest.”

  I did feel sleepy. The nightmare had jerked me out of a deep sleep, but I didn’t know if I could sleep now. Tall, dark and gorgeous slept next to me, and I was absolutely sure any straight woman would agree with me. “I’m not sure if I can sleep.”

  His silence made me look over. One arm rested beneath his face, those too green eyes heavy on me. “What would help you sleep?”Between my legs throbbed as he lowered his eyes to my lips. “You not being so close to me.”

  His lip drew up into a smile. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I swear it.”

  A giggled bubbled out of my throat, and I hated myself for it. “Maybe you should sleep on the floor?” I suggested.

  Cash’s brow rose to his hairline. “Did I sign my house over to you and not remember?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It was only a suggestion.”

  He tilted his chin upward. “You never answered my question.”

  I knew I hadn’t. I didn’t want to tell him that music helped me sleep, or that a good fucking would knock me out for the night.

  Cash reached forward and rested his hand against me. His paw easily wrapped around my waist. Heat snaked up my body, and took control of my muscles. “Tell me what would help you sleep,” he whispered.

  I swallowed, my pride fought the good fight, but it didn’t win. It never did. His pale eyes searched my face for an answer that I struggled to claim. The tip of his finger slid against my skin. “Music,” I hurried out. “Music.”

  His fingers turned me toward him slightly, and slid down to cup the bottom of my ass. I couldn’t breathe he was so close. “That all?”

  What was wrong with me? I wanted to tell him what else would help, but I knew I shouldn’t. I should get up right now and limp my way back to the guest house. That’s exactly what I should do.

  But his eyes hadn’t left mine, his fingers brought me even closer to him. The fragrance of his mouth had all of my senses on high alert. I’d never gotten so turned on from breath before. Something definitely was wrong with me.

  “Just music,” I whispered.

  Cash didn’t believe me; I saw it on his face. But he reached over my head and retrieved a remote, music filled the darkened room. It was classical music, no lyrics but it soothed.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  I moved and it stung. “Still sore.”

  He got up and walked toward what I assumed was his bathroom. His shoulders were wider than I’d thought. The muscles in his back moved as he disappeared into the blackened room.

  When he came back he held out a glass of water and two pills. “Aleve,” he said. “It should help the pain.”

  I greedily took the medication and laid back down against my pillow. “Thank you.”

  “It’s my pleasure taking care of you.”

  Giving him a long sideways glance, I looked back at the ceiling where I’d decided was the best place to look. “You’re not really taking care of me, I mean, you’re being helpful, but I can take care of myself.”

  Cash cleared his throat which forced me to look at him. He lifted a brow. “Have you ever been taken care of?”

  I opened my mouth to protest but no words came out. I couldn’t think of a single time where I’d been taken care of. No relationship in my past contained that memory.

  I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth and willed the sadness away. Not now. Not here. “Not really,” I whispered.

  Cash didn’t speak for a few moments. I was thankful for the silence. I needed it to contain my voice. It was an awful feeling. Realizing all over again what you were: easy. Realizing I’d never had a good relationship in my life. Not with my parents, not with anyone but Ryder.

  And I’d killed him.

  I’d killed my only real relationship. I’d doomed myself to this failure. Craving attention so much that I didn’t even like myself anymore. The feeling of your heart sinking so far into your chest that you can’t breathe. Once someone offered me that quick gratification, that quick affection, I couldn’t turn it down.

  I wanted it so bad.

  Cash caught my jaw, and I saw him examining my face. “Well that’s about to change, Peach. You can relax a while, I’m going to take care of you.”

  I wanted that, a lot. I felt myself wanting to lean over and kiss him but he hadn’t kissed me yet. Hadn’t made a real move. Cash leaned back against his pillow, his hand touching my chin before his hand disappeared.

  “Good night, Sydney.”

  No words formed in my head. He didn’t try to kiss me, or touch me. Rejection formed in my stomach but I fought against it. I shouldn’t sleep with my boss. Don’t do it.

  “Good night, Cash.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Cash

  Her scent lingered on my skin even through the warmth of my shower. She’d fallen asleep quickly after we’d said goodnight. I’d wanted so badly to kiss her, to touch her. It took all my power to turn away from her and will myself to sleep.

  But I didn’t sleep. I listened to her heavy breathing and her mumbles beneath her breath. She said Ryder. It ate at me to know who he was to her. Joey didn’t mention a Ryder when he researched her past relationships for me. I questioned getting up and Googling this Ryder. Waking Joey up and demanding he do another background check. But I didn’t.

  I didn’t want to leave her alone. I’d never admit how scared I was to find her on the floor. What had she been thinking? She wasn’t obviously. It didn’t take long after getting her close to me to imagine the thoughts fluttering through her mind. But, I had no idea what she was thinking and it drove me crazy.

  I lathered my hair and focused on my schedule for the week. The things I needed to do grew hourly. I’d slacked the last few days because of her, and I needed to go in and make it up. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t slack at work because of this. It hadn’t turned out well so far.

  I had to get my shit together.

  I finished my shower, grabbed a towel and drug it over my body. Mid-swipe I noticed her standing in my doorway. Her eyes were glued to my chest and then my abs and then my dick. A ton of emotions swarmed her face.

  Her bubblegum colored mouth opened and a soft sigh left her lips. The tangles in her hair from sleep only added to my desire to truly take her to my bed.

  “Good mornin’,” I said, bre
aking the silence that had clogged her throat.

  She blinked three times slowly before meeting my gaze. “I—I’m, I’ve got to go get ready.”

  I opened my mouth to speak but she’d already run out of the room. I took a step forward to go after her but thought better of it. Putting on some clothes would probably be a better idea.

  Gloria stood in the kitchen when I descended thirty minutes later. She looked over her glasses at me. “Good morning, Ms. Gloria.”

  She grunted, sliding the plate of blueberry muffins my way. “Morning, Cash. Sleep well?”

  I leaned against the counter and snagged a muffin. “I did. Is there something that you wanted to talk about?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Not at all… well, maybe about the Henry girl who came running through here thirty minutes ago.”

  I checked my messages. Briefly reading that our newest deer stand would be ready by tonight. “I didn’t sleep with her.”

  Gloria dumped the muffins onto a plate in the center of the counter. “No one said you did.”

  I lifted a brow. “And what if I did?”

  Gloria turned to look at me. “Since when do you offer the guest house to your employees? You’re up to something. You don’t ever bring women home. And now you have a young one living with you.”

  “So it’s because she’s young?”

  Gloria shook her head. “I have to get lunch ready. I’ll send it through Joey.”

  I took Gloria’s worry with a grain of salt. She had the overly protective grandmotherly thing down perfect. “Thank you, Gloria.”

  She waved me off.

  I knocked on the door when I got to the guest house. I had made a promise that I’d give her privacy.

  The door swung open a couple minutes after. Sydney’s eyes were turned down, her bottom lip tucked into her mouth. I waited until she looked up to speak. “How are you feeling? How’s your …,” I smirked, “bottom today?”

  Pink flushed her cheeks. “It’s fine. A little bruised but fine. Are you ready to go?”

  Nodding, I gestured for her to go ahead. She took four easy steps to get around me, purposely avoiding touching me. She watched the ground as we walked through the house toward our ride.

  Joey opened the door for her and she ducked in quickly. “She’s quiet this mornin’.”

  I eyed him.

  Joey grinned “What’d you do to her?”

  I give him a long shrug as I roll up my shirtsleeves. “Nothing yet. She had an accident last night and I took care of her.”

  Joey lifted a brow but didn’t pry. “You want me to drive slow, boss?”

  “Of course.”

  I slipped into backseat and found her staring at her phone. The cutoffs she wore bunched around her upper thigh. The girl had legs that any man would die to have wrapped around him. She continued to look at her phone as I reached for the medicine in my jacket pocket. I tapped her knee with my finger. “You need to take these.”

  She grabbed the pills, took a sip of her water and tossed them into her throat. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome,” I said, resting my hand behind her head.

  She didn’t move at my closeness, her motions stalled.

  “You plan to finish today, right?”

  Sydney leaned backward against the seat. “Yes.”

  “Perfect. I want you to come with me tomorrow morning.”

  Her tongue darted out dampened her lower lip. “And where might we be going?”

  “Hunting.”

  The look on her face was hilarious. “Don’t be too surprised, Sydney. You didn’t think we started a deer stand business just because did you? My brother and I do a lot of hunting.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “I’ll bet.”

  Leaning backward, I let my fingers find the base of her neck. “Funny girl.”

  Joey slowed down and the car stopped. “Joey will be back to pick you up at three when your classes end. He’ll have lunch brought to you too.”

  She huffed. “Does he need to wipe my ass too?”

  Her smartass mouth would be the death of me. I gripped her neck and turned her head until she stared me in the eye. “That smart mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble one day.”

  “So you’ve said,” she whispered.

  “Why are you so defensive all of the sudden?”

  She blinked once but looked down and focused on the pen in my shirt pocket. “I’m not.”

  “You are.” I tilted my head. “Do you remember what we talked about last night?”

  Her eyes told me yes but she shook her head. “No.”

  “Let me take care of you.”

  I released her neck, watching as she swallowed hard. “I’m—I’ll see you later. I’ll be waiting for Joey.” She scurried out and into the small art gallery.

  Joey’s laugh echoed from the front as he rolled the window between us down. “She was in a rush, boss. What you doin’ to that girl back there?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “Hell yeah, that’s why I asked.” He shook his head and scoffed. “What do you have going on with her, Cash? I’ve never seen you pursue one for so long especially if you aren’t getting anything out of it.”

  Joey’d been my friend since elementary school. I wasn’t worried about him telling but him judging. He’d always been the voice of reason between the two of us.

  I looked out the window and tried to busy myself with my phone. “I have a new deer stand coming in tonight, and I think I’m going to try it out tomorrow.”

  “Stop bullshittin’,” he spat. “Is it that bad?”

  Should have known. Sitting my phone down, I placed my elbows on my knees and finally looked up at him. “Her mother paid me to date her and give her some good publicity.”

  Joey’s jaw dropped. “Paid you? It must be some serious cash for you to do it, bro. How much?”

  “A million. Enough for us to successfully open in Dallas and go public.”

  Joey let out a long whistle. “Damn. That’s a serious deal. You up for the challenge? It looks like you’re a little soft on her.”

  I scoffed. “She’s beautiful, but I’m not soft for her. I’m having a good time.”

  “You’re playing her.” I didn’t want to fucking hear it. Joey eyed me hard in the review mirror. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Cash. Someone is gonna get hurt.”

  I sat backward quickly, bracing one arm around the leather headrest. I needed to relax before I got angry. I tried to save my anger for the boardroom. “I don’t need a lecture.”

  Joey scoffed. “Well, you’re gonna get one. Nobody else has the balls to tell you the truth. What do you think will happen if one of you catch feelings, man? Or she finds out about the deal?”

  “Well, we’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen, now won’t we?”

  Joey shook his head. “Whatever, Cash. It’s you on the line not me.”

  I ignored him, scanning through more emails for anything to distract me. By the time we arrived at my building, my anger had burned out. I couldn’t stay mad at Joey, and especially not for speaking his mind.

  When we stopped, I met him around the side of the car where he ushered me into the building. Once on the elevator, he leaned against the railing with a huff… “Listen—,”

  I stopped him with my hand. “Don’t worry about it, Joey. I understand your concern, but,” the elevator dinged, “I’ve got it under control. No one is going to get hurt.”

  There was no way he believed me. I saw it plain as day on his face. “Okay, Cash.” He directed his attention to Katy who sat at her desk. Her blue eyes turned down when Joey looked at her. “Good mornin’,” he said to her.

  She smiled shyly. “Good mornin’, sir.” Her eyes quickly found mine. “You have two messages,” she said, handing me a memo. “And Mr. Derrick will be here within the hour with the new product.”

  Slipping my notes into my pocket, I watched as Joey eyed Katy. This should be
fun. “You’re new to town, aren’t you, Katy?”

  Katy glanced up at me and nodded. “Yes sir, I’m from Louisiana.”

  Joey gave me a long sideways glance. “Well it’s settled then. Joey can take you out this weekend so you can enjoy the beautiful city of Savannah. You up for it Joey?”

  Joey’s fist clenched against the top of her Mahogany desk, and he chuckled. “I’m going to kill you,” he whispered below his breath. He hated when I did that but this way he’d be busy for a while.

  Katy blushed hard. “Um … sure. If you’re up for it—,”

  “I am.” Joey pulled a Post-It note across the desk and scribbled his number down. “Text me. We’ll set something up.” He straightened and gave me a small smirk. “See you later, brother.”

  I grinned. “Always.”

  “Mr. Josh Boley is here to see you.”

  The name brought back memories. He was right alongside my brother, Joey and me in college. The e-mail I received the week before had asked if I would be willing to take his nephew in for an internship while he finished up his last semester of college.

  Of course, I agreed. The kid had good credentials, and his major in business could possibly be an asset in the near future. More minds to expand our brand were always a step in the right direction.

  I shut my laptop and noticed Katy smiling ear-to-ear. “What’s got you so happy?”

  “N—nothing. Can I send Mr. Boleyn in now?”

  Studying her face, I stood and gestured them inside. Boleyn didn’t look any different than he had six years before. The only difference was he wasn’t wearing a baseball cap and didn’t have a beer in his hand. But he had the same shit-eating grin on his face.

  “Jenkins,” he said, leaning backward on his heels. “You look the same as ever.”

  I shook his hand. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

  He winked. “The only difference is that there isn’t a pretty blond hanging on your side.”

  Loosening my tie, I looked over at the kid standing next to him. He looked a lot like Boleyn’s older brother. And judging by Katy eyeing him up and down, I’d say he was easy on the eyes. “Well, I asked her to step into my coat closet,” Cash said.