Chapter One
Lucas
I leaned against the desk in Reception and grinned at Jessica, one of the receptionists at Fantasies, Inc.“How are you today?”Her blonde hair was bundled up, her blue eyes bright and alert.I liked talking with her and thought of her as a friend.We’d gone out a couple of times, but that was it.She was fun to be around, but I wasn’t looking for a relationship.
“I’m good.So nice of you to ask.”Jessica placed her hand on my arm, and her smile turned sultry.I stared at her hand and barely suppressed a shiver of repulsion.
Oh, hell no.I didn’t mind a little light flirting.Touching was another thing.She didn’t have the right even if we’d gone out months ago.She was an employee, and I was a department manager.Not that there were any rules against us having a relationship since we didn’t directly work together, but after a couple of dates, I realized she wasn’t my type.I straightened and slipped away from her.Her smile faded a bit, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Has a Valerie Ray checked in yet?”It was better to stick to business.
Jessica looked at the list in front of her.“Not yet.Do you want me to call you when she arrives?”
“I’ll wait.”I stepped away from the reception desk, moved to the wall, and leaned against it, my gaze on the double glass doors.
The lobby was nicely decorated in neutral shades with sofas and chairs arranged in groupings around low tables.There were a few people waiting.I turned my head to glance behind the reception desk and saw the paneled wall with the company name and logo in brushed steel mounted at its center.
The logo made me smile.The doors opened, but it wasn’t Valerie.
Five years had passed since I last saw Valerie.My gut tightened.Our breakup wasn’t one of mutual agreement, and it happened before I came to work at Fantasies, Inc.Valerie was the woman I never forgot.She’d always held a piece of my heart.Even though I’d thought about her over the years, something always held me back from contacting her.
The object of my thoughts waltzed through the door, and my breath whooshed out of me.Valerie had always been sexy, but now… I took a deep breath.Her long brown hair was pulled back with clips, but it still cascaded around her shoulders.
It might have been five years, but that didn’t stop my body from reacting to her, remembering how her hair felt between my fingers, against my skin, falling around her face as we made love.
I shook my head to get rid of the sensual thoughts and focused on the woman herself.The black slacks and solid dark blouse made her look too thin.Had she not been eating properly?I remembered how often I had to remind her to eat, and it looked like food was still the last thing on her mind.
What was I thinking?I took a deep breath as she walked with purpose across the tiled lobby floor to the reception desk.She hadn’t seen me yet.Interesting, since I wasn’t hiding.Did she not realize she was coming to work for me?I kept my gaze on her.
“Hi.I’m Valerie Ray,” she told Jessica.Her voice was as soft and sweet as I remembered it.“I’m supposed to meet with someone from the finance department.I wasn’t given a name.”
I wondered why she hadn’t been given my name, and if she had, would she have shown up?Probably so.Valerie was a professional.
Jessica glanced at me.“Yes, Ms.Ray.Mr.Bryer is here to escort you.”Jessica’s voice was professional, but I caught the icy tone as she gestured toward me.Was Jessica jealous of Valerie?She shouldn’t be.Jessica and I weren’t dating anymore, and as far as I was concerned, there was nothing between us.
Valerie turned.Her eyes widened, and her shoulders straightened, surprise written on her features.
“Hello, Ms.Ray.”I kept my tone professional.No sense in giving Jessica anything to gossip about.
“Mr.Bryer.”
While her greeting was professional, there was a distinct coolness to it.Maybe I deserved it for the way I left her five years ago.
Jessica’s gaze bounced between us.
“I’m glad you made it on short notice.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice; my boss told me on Friday to report here today, but didn’t give me any details.”
“I’m sorry.I’d been in discussion with him for the past two weeks.”Why had her boss not told her about the job?That was a mystery for later.“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you up to HR so we can get all the paperwork out of the way.”I gestured for Valerie to precede me to the elevators.
She nodded and walked away, her back straight as the line on a spreadsheet.How long before she gave me an earful for past indiscretions?She could be outspoken when she wanted to.Thankfully, there were others waiting for the elevator, so if she was going to bring anything up it would have to wait.
“Fourteen?”Ben from the IT department asked, holding his key card out.
“Seventeen, please.”
Ben nodded.
