"Thanks," Everett said. He glanced briefly at Flannigan before turning his eyes back to stare at Bailey.
"Now," Flannigan continued. "I'll leave you alone. Take as much time as you need."
Before it could register what he'd said, Flannigan was gone, leaving Bay alone with Everett. She stared at the once again closed door, praying someone would come rescue her. How could she be here alone with him? She was grateful for what he'd done, but he'd also hurt her, in more ways than one.
Everett cleared his throat. "I wanted to talk to you. To make sure you were alright after … everything."
She blinked and lifted her eyes to meet his. "I'm fine, thank you," she said stiffly.
"You're not mad at me?" Bay was surprised to see that he looked genuinely confused.
"Why would I be mad?"
Everett took a seat. The one right next to where she was standing. Bailey could feel his presence enveloping her once again, and she shivered in response. Did she want to touch him, or did she never want to see him again? She wasn't sure of her own emotions anymore.
"I didn't tell you about the blackmail. I used you. I didn't give you all the information you needed. Not only did that put you in danger, but it also cost you a lot personally." He shook his head, eyes sympathetic. "I never intended for that to happen."
Another apology from Everett Parker? Would this day get any stranger? Bailey lowered herself back into her own chair, eyes never leaving Everett's face. "I agree it would have been better-safer-if you'd given Halvard Protection all the information. However, it's nothing for me to get mad about," she answered carefully.
His features softened a little bit, and he leaned forward to take one of her hands in both of his. "Bay, you are the most unflappable woman I know."
A snort escaped from Bailey, interrupting whatever else he was going to say. "Unflappable?" Her lips curved into a grin, and her nose wrinkled. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Uh, yes. It is."
"It sounds like something you'd say to your grandmother." Bailey giggled at Everett's stricken expression. If she didn't know any better, she'd think she'd hurt his feelings.
Everett let go of her hand and pulled away from her. "Are you making fun of me?"
His words made her laugh even more. "Yes," she admitted.
Everett shot up out of his chair. He scowled at her, but she could still see a twinkling in those blue eyes that had captivated her from the first. Grabbing her upper arms, he yanked her up out of her seat so fast that she clutched at him to keep her balance. Before she knew what was happening, he'd leaned her back over Flannigan's desk. His muscular arms on either side of her trapped her, and the weight of his body pressing down the length of her own kept her still.
"What are you doing?" she gasped breathless.
He put his mouth next to her ear. "Showing you how much I like your teasing." With one small movement of his hips, she felt his erection against her, and she groaned, her ineffective defenses tumbling. Her fingers curled into his shirtsleeves as his teeth captured her earlobe and tugged.
"Everett!" she pleaded. She didn't know what she was asking for, whether she wanted him to continue or to stop.
His lips seared their way down the line of her neck, and she turned her head to give him access. "I want to see you again, Bailey Lennox." His husky voice rumbled against her skin, causing her to shiver. "You drive me crazy, and I want to understand what's in that pretty head of yours."
The things he was doing with his tongue caused her body to jerk, bringing them into even closer contact. "I-I-" she stuttered.
"Say yes," he begged. His mouth drifted down into her collar, and his tongue snaked out to trace a path over the upper swell of her breast.
"Oh God," she moaned, as she lifted her chest towards the exquisite torture.
Everett lifted his mouth from her skin, and Bailey wanted to cry at the loss. He looked at her pleadingly. "Say yes," he repeated.
Gulping in lungfuls of air, Bailey tried to form a coherent thought. "But … my job. I just got it back. I can't give it up."
Putting his hands on either side of her face, he smoothed her hair back before cupping her cheeks. "I'm not asking you to. You're too good at what you do. I'm not a client anymore," he reminded her and wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "You don't have rules against dating former clients, do you?"
"No," Bay said hesitatingly.
"Good." He leaned closer until their mouths were almost touching. "Then say yes," he whispered urgently.
"On one condition," she whispered back.
Everett pulled away slightly and stared at her. "Really? Now you're questioning my methods?"
Bailey nodded, trying not to laugh when he put a hand over his heart like she'd hurt him.
"What's the condition?" he growled. He tried to put his best glower face on, but Bailey could see the smirk he was working so hard to hide.
Using all her strength, she pushed both of them upright. Still holding onto his shirt, she turned them around before pushing him down on the desk this time. She grinned, knowing he'd let her take control. As strong as she was, she couldn't have moved him that easily any other way. Leaning over him as he'd done to her, she said, "We do it my way."
She lowered her head and captured his mouth, demanding he open for her. Her tongue dueled with his, fighting for dominance until he grabbed her head and pulled her away. His chest heaved, and his eyes were dark with lust.
"I like your way, but my way is better," he argued. Wrapping his arms around her, he sat up, intending to switch their positions again.
Realizing his intentions, Bailey ducked from underneath his arms and backed away, laughing. Straightening her clothes, she said, "I can see we have a lot of negotiating to do. Call me when you're ready to make a deal." With those words, she walked out, leaving him alone in Flannigan's office.
Everett already had his phone out before she'd made it two steps out the door. When her own phone rang, she didn't even turn to look at him before answering. "Yes?" she asked.
"I'm ready to make a deal."
The End
Everett and Bailey's story continues in Broken Family, coming soon.
Also By Stella Hunter
The Strong One (Plus One Parties #1)
David Nobel has lusted over his sister's friend Megan Scott since high school. Back then, she rejected the advances of the scrawny boy that he was. Now, he is a popular personal trainer and self-defense coach, which he credits to all the time spent in the gym after that fateful rejection. When David finds a scared, scarred Megan hiding out from her brutal ex-husband at his sister's house, he must find a way to convince her just how strong she truly is-before his sister, Bethany, and her family get caught in the crossfire.
As David teaches Megan self-defense, his long-forgotten feelings return in force. The long sessions of close contact teach them both how to trust again. As Megan slowly takes back her life, David is left wondering if she'll find any room in it for him.
With Megan's ex-husband stalking her every move, David must show her that love is not a weakness, it is what makes her strong.
The Dom's Game
Speculation over a star football player's sex life threatens his public image and that of his submissive, a quiet middle school teacher.
*
As an NFL star player for the Memphis Kings, Trevor Adams lives his life in the spotlight. All except for one small part. In his hidden moments, he's a Dom. In spite of the celebrity life and his alternative sexual preferences, none of his partners have managed to keep his interest for long. Until he meets Nina.
Nina Barkley is a quiet middle school teacher. Her life is the exact opposite of Trevor's. Except for the shared interest in BDSM. She has been involved in the BDSM groups in and around Memphis ever since she moved there right after college. After years of experimentation, she considers herself a switch-able to be either a Dominant or a submissive depending on her partner and what they both want. Being introduced to Trevor turns her life upside down and makes her question her true preferences.
Between the threat of being exposed by the ever-present media, Trevor's underlying fear he will be transferred to another team, and both their troubled pasts, will they be able to find what they need in each other before they are pulled apart?
Rescuing the Bridesmaid
Can anything go right when a relationship begins with a case of mistaken identity?
When Nate Whitmore picks up an abandoned car to be towed, he doesn't expect to find a woman passed out in the back seat. Joanne Johnson tried to forget about her cheating ex-fiancé at her best friend's bachelorette party and ends up mistaking the sexy tow truck driver for a male stripper.