The Slade Brothers: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection Read online

  Our lips are separated by just a sliver of space when the front door opens and slams shut. That sound may as well be a gunshot. It scares the both of us as time kicks back in. We quickly jerk away from each other as Harrison walks in, shattering whatever moment we had going.

  “Drake,” he says, coming to a stop when he sees that I’m not alone. “Oh, excuse me.”

  Celeste snaps out of the trance she was lost in with me. “I was just heading out.” She turns and scoops her shoes off the floor. She quickly gathers her papers, pen, and briefcase.

  “Harrison, this is Celeste Teller. Mr. Burns’ replacement,” I introduce.

  He smiles. “Ah, yes. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Teller.” He holds out his hand.

  She quickly shakes it. “Please, call me Celeste,” she says, shoving the last of her papers into her briefcase. “It really is getting late.” She spins around to face me as she walks backward toward the door, arms full of her belongings. “I’ll be in touch with you tomorrow. We can get started on those plans to reintroduce you to society.” She laughs as her face flushes.

  I only nod, unable to find my voice.

  “Okay, bye,” she says nervously.

  Neither of us moves as we watch her almost run for the door. When we hear it close, Harrison walks over to me. “What the hell was that?”

  “What?” I ask, pouring another drink.

  “It looked like you two were about to jump on each other when I walked in here.”

  I snort. “What?” I take a drink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Harrison lets out a deep breath and shakes his head as he reaches for the bottle of whiskey, pouring himself a drink. “You need to keep your distance from her, Drake,” he warns. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to see you smiling for once, and God knows how long it’s been for you, but she’s off-limits. You don’t shit where you eat and you don’t play where you work. Got it?” He throws back the glass, finishing the liquid in one gulp.

  “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about, Harrison. Celeste was just here for the meeting you set up. I didn’t invite her back to my house. It was completely innocent.”

  His eyes stretch wide. “Completely innocent?” he asks, picking up her empty whiskey glass. “Do you offer everyone who walks into this house a glass of whiskey?”

  I laugh. “Of course. Do you even know me?” Practically no one visits my house, so if someone does, they’re a friend and welcome to anything I have.

  “It looks like you were trying to get her drunk. Maybe take advantage of the situation.” He gives me a sidelong glance.

  That statement causes me to go from loose and carefree to straight fucking murderous. “Excuse me?” I ask, giving him the chance to rephrase his last sentence. “Are you implying that I would force myself on Celeste?” My back straightens and every muscle tightens.

  “Absolutely not,” he breathes out. “I’m just saying that you need to be alert with her. She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t know your past. She’s working for you. This is not the combination you want. If you want a relationship, great. If you just want a quick one-night stand, fine. But. Not. With. Her! We both know you’ll fuck it up and then where would we be?”

  Fuck. I know he’s right, but the way he’s saying it is only pissing me off more. Telling me I can’t have something only makes me want it that much more. And it’s like he’s saying I’m not capable of having a loving, trusting relationship without it ending badly. The split with Casey fucked me up. I’m broken. No matter how much I want to pretend I’m not, I am. There’s nothing I can do about it. And getting into this with my lawyer? It wouldn’t be good for either of us. I need to keep my distance. I need to focus on all the things I hate about her: she’s a city girl—she’s probably never even had dirt on her hands before. She’s prissy—the type that has to have name-brand clothes and shoes just to make someone else feel inferior. She’s a know-it-all—all lawyers are. She’s only here a year, which means she’ll up and leave just like Casey. Keeping my distance is the only option.

  “Nothing is going on and nothing was about to happen. Okay?” I look him straight in the eye.

  He studies me for a long moment.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower and get something in my stomach. I need to be up early tomorrow.”

  His mouth nearly drops open when he hears me say those words. “O-okay. See you in the morning.” Without another word, he turns and leaves.

  I finish my last glass for the night and head to the back of the house for a long, hot shower. Not only do I need to think things over, but I also need to remind myself of why I romantically avoid people like Celeste. Why I romantically avoid everyone. Casey pops into my head and my blood boils. I wonder if she knew how badly she was fucking me up when she left. I wonder if she’s even given me a second thought, or if she was so preoccupied by her own selfish wants that she hasn’t thought of me since. Either way, I guess it doesn’t matter. She’s gone and she ain’t coming back. Even if she showed up on my doorstep right now, I still wouldn’t be able to look at her with anything but disgust.

  I step beneath the hot flow of water and the heat instantly helps my stiff, sore body relax. I hang my head forward and close my eyes, allowing the hot water to wash over me. Usually, every time I close my eyes, I see Casey—but this time, I see Celeste. I see her plump lips turned upward in a big smile as the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard slips out in the form of a giggle. I see the way her green eyes light up and shimmer. I see those long tan legs and that perfectly rounded ass as she walks ahead of me. I see the way her chest rises when she takes a deep breath. I imagine how good she would taste, how warm she would be against me.

  It’s been a long time since I’ve thought this way about anyone other than Casey. It’s been even longer since I’ve had anyone but Casey. And that’s all it took. One meeting. One drink. One touch.

  I take myself in hand as I picture pulling Celeste against me, pressing my mouth to hers. I imagine the sounds I could make slip past those sexy-as-fuck lips. I picture myself backing her up against the wall, running my hand up that skirt and inside her panties. How wet she would be for me. As I imagine sliding my fingers deep inside her, my release rises and I can’t help but let out a grunt as it spills onto the shower floor. When I come down from my high, every muscle in my entire body is twitching. Fuck, if thinking about her feels this good, then how good would it actually feel to be with her?

  Five

  Celeste

  “WHAT was that?” I ask myself as I drive away from his place as quickly as possible. I felt something. I think he felt something. Remembering the intensity between us, I wonder if he was going to kiss me. Do I want him to kiss me?

  No, that can’t happen for more than one reason. First, he’s my client. Mixing business with pleasure is never a smart move. It’s why Gavin and I always kept our distance. It could really complicate things for us. If things went badly, Drake could fire me. Then what? Would I still get my promotion if I went home a failure? And two, he’s not my type at all! I mean, yes, he’s good-looking and sexy in that mysterious older man kind of way. But he’s big and hairy and rough. I typically go for the business casual look on a guy. You know: dress clothes, combed and styled hair, clean face. Not this mountain man look that Drake has going on.

  And he isn’t really all that nice. He basically told me he’s going to treat me like any other guy. Up until the moment we got lost in whatever that was, I would’ve sworn he didn’t even see me as a woman. Maybe it was the whiskey. I’d only had one small glass, but that was enough to give me that warm, fuzzy feeling. And he’d had several glasses. Tomorrow morning, I’m sure he won’t even remember that awkward occurrence between us.

  When I get back into town, I swing by the local market and stock up on some items before heading back to my motel room. When I walk in, I don’t give myself time to think back on the night. Instead, I start putting everything away and wa
rming up a can of soup for dinner. I sit at the table with my laptop hardwired to the internet, checking my email as I eat. I sign into Facebook and update my status, just to let everyone know I’m still alive, then head to the bathroom to get cleaned up before bed. It’s now dark, and even though it’s not late, I feel exhausted and could really use the rest.

  I turn on the hot water and toss in a little Epsom salt before sliding deep into the tub. I rest my head against the wall and close my eyes, needing to ease my mind. But my mind starts spinning endlessly. All these thoughts of Drake start flooding over me like a dam has busted. I don’t know him. I don’t know his past. All I know is that once he got a little more comfortable with me, he really opened up before my eyes. The man I first ran into and the man I walked away from are two very different men. I can only assume that’s what happens after several glasses of whiskey. I’m sure it had very little to do with me. And even if I did bring him out of his shell, it can’t go any further than business colleagues. I won’t let him ruin this opportunity for me. I’m more than determined to prove myself—not only to him, but to my boss and to this town as well. Hell, who knows? I might want to stay here after my year is done. That thought makes me laugh.

  Even though I know nothing could ever happen between us, I let my mind wander off. I’ve never been with a man like him before. How would it feel being with Drake? He’s big and strong, that’s easy to see. I wonder if he’d pick me up against him. I’ve never in my life been picked up and handled like I weigh nothing. All the guys I’ve been with in the past have never been all that concerned with my needs. Drake, being a country man, is probably chivalrous when it comes to his women. Even though I know it can never happen, I want to be one of his women—even if it’s only for a night. I want to know what being with a man like him is like.

  A deep breath leaves my lips when I realize something: if that’s what I seriously want, then it’ll have to be with another man. No way is Drake Slade an option. He’s out of the question. He’s off the table. I might as well consider him a married man. Annoyance pumps through my body and I feel more tense than before. I wish there were something about him I could hate, but unfortunately, I don’t know him well enough yet. If I hated him, it would be so much easier to keep my distance.

  Giving up on my relaxing bath, I dry off and pull on a pair of gray shorts and a white tank top. I tug a pair of fuzzy socks up to my knees before crawling into bed and turning on the TV. I feel alone and bored and end up finding myself scrolling through Facebook. I have a new friend request, and when I click on the notification, I find that it’s from Stephanie, the local bartender. I approve the request. God knows I need some friends around here.

  Moments later, my hardwired laptop chimes. Stephanie sent me a private message.

  Stephanie: I know you’re new in town and figured you wanted to get to know some people. The bar is hosting a Spring Fling event on Saturday. Everyone in town will be there. We’ll have food, drinks, and a silent auction. It will be a lot of fun if you want to stop by.

  Me: Okay, that sounds great! Thanks for the invite! Hey, quick question. Can anyone donate anything to the auction?

  Stephanie: Absolutely! We’ll take anything of value.

  I smile to myself as I think about a donation.

  Stephanie: I just invited you to like the bar’s page. All the details are listed on there.

  Me: Thanks, girl! See you then.

  I quickly look over the bar’s page and pick up my phone. It’s going on 9 p.m., and I wonder if Drake will already be asleep given how much he had to drink.

  “Hello?” he answers in his smooth, gruff voice.

  “Sorry, this is Celeste. I didn’t wake you, did I?” I ask, a little nervous.

  “No, I’m just . . . kicked back in my chair, and watching a little TV before bed. What’s going on?” Drake asks, a little confused.

  “I just got an invite to the Spring Fling the local bar is holding on Saturday, and they’re having a silent auction. I thought this could be a great opportunity to donate to the cause.”

  He groans. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

  I shrug, even though he can’t see me. “I was thinking you could donate some beer, and maybe a cooler with the company logo, plus any kind of merch you have like shirts, hats, koozies. What do you think?”

  He’s quiet for a long moment. “Yeah, I guess I have to since I agreed to this three-month deal, huh?”

  I giggle. “You did make a deal,” I remind him.

  “All right. Come by the brewery tomorrow and pick up everything.”

  “Perfect. And Drake?”

  “Hmm?” he asks, and the sound cuts through me like a hot knife through butter. It causes goosebumps to prickle my skin.

  “I was thinking that maybe you could even make an appearance at the event?” My voice sounds hopeful.

  “Oh, come on, Celeste,” he whines.

  I laugh. “You agreed,” I remind him once more.

  “Fine. Send me the details. I can’t promise I’ll stay the whole time, but I will make an appearance.”

  “Thank you,” I say around an excited giggle. I have no idea why this pleases me so much. I know nothing can happen between the two of us, but I feel like he’s giving me an inch at a time.

  “See ya tomorrow,” he says in his deep, silky voice.

  “Bye,” I breathe out, finding myself breathless.

  I hang up the phone and shake my head at myself. This is nothing but a little crush. I have to get over it. I have to get him out of my head. It’s no different than when a teenage girl finds herself lusting over her hot science teacher. It’s wrong, but nothing can or will happen. It’s an innocent crush. It will fade as time goes by. I just have to wait it out. And I’m nothing if not patient.

  I turn off the light and slip further into bed. In the darkness, relaxation finally finds me. The more relaxed I become, the sleepier I get. Before I know it, I’m sound asleep and having delicious dreams about Drake Slade that I’ll never share with anyone.

  When I wake in the morning, I’m full of excitement. I spring from bed and brew a cup of coffee as I begin putting on my makeup. I find myself taking more time than usual, wanting to make sure everything is perfect. I step back and look myself over in the mirror. My eyes are accentuated with slightly-winged eyeliner, and my cheeks are bronzed. I look a little too laid-back, so I pull my hair into a sleek bun with a few strands hanging down around my face. I pull on a pair of black dress pants that hug my curves nicely, and a red sleeveless shirt. I match my sky-high red heels with the outfit. I want a look that says I’m approachable but open for business only. I quickly swing by the office just to check my schedule. Debbie has made several appointments for me to meet more of the clients we represent, but I don’t have anything until later. I tell her I’ll be back and head for the car to swing by the brewery.

  I have to use my map once again, but I thank God I’m not one of those people who can’t read an old-school map. It takes me at least 30 minutes of driving through the country to find it, but I see it up ahead before I even arrive. That’s how big it is. Inside, I find a front desk where a dark-haired receptionist sits.

  She smiles sweetly as I approach her desk. “Hello, I’m Celeste Teller, Mr. Slade’s new lawyer. He should be expecting me.”

  Her look changes in an instant from sweet to skeptical, and she picks up her phone. “Mr. Slade, there’s a Ms. Teller here to see you. Are you expecting her?”

  She waits a moment before hanging up and pasting that sickly-sweet smile on her face again. “Follow me.”

  She walks me down a long hallway to an elevator. Motioning for me to go inside, she reaches in and presses the button for the top floor before scanning her badge. “Remind him that you’ll need your own badge if these meetings are going to be taking place in his office. Limited personnel are granted access to his office.”

  The way she said the word meetings leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but I don’t mention it
as she walks away with the elevator doors closing. What exactly does she think we’re going to be doing in there? Surely he’s not the type to have random hookups in his office, is he? I want to laugh at myself. It’s not like a town this size has an endless pool of people on Tinder.

  I shake the thoughts from my head as the elevator dings and the doors open. Stepping out into his office, I find Mr. Slade—I told myself if I keep our names formal, it should be much easier to keep things professional—sitting behind his desk. He looks up and his eyes shine when they take me in, however, he seems to rein in his previous response to seeing me, forcing his smile to fall.

  “Ms. Teller,” he greets me, standing up and holding out his hand.

  I quickly shake it and ignore the spark that shoots through my entire arm. “Mr. Slade.”

  He lets out a puff of air—almost like a laugh but not—as he turns his head to the side. “I have everything you asked for over here.” He moves around his desk to a brown leather couch that’s pushed against the far wall. Sitting on the couch is a big gray cooler.

  I follow him over to the couch as he opens it. “We put a case of beer inside, plus two hats, shirts, and koozies. And we included a pair of passes for a tour of the facility, which includes free beer and whiskey samples.

  I smile. “Perfect. Did you see the invite I sent you with the event details?”