The flipping became outright cartwheels in her belly. “Well, welcome.” She waved an arm around the comfortable-sized office.
He took it all in with one glance. It wasn’t nearly as large as his, nor did it have the spectacular view, but she did have a window, and she had put homey touches around the room. A plant her mother had sent over, photographs of her family, pictures of herself and Amanda both when they were younger and abroad and more current ones.
He strode around the desk and pulled her into his arms, giving her a thorough kiss hello. His tongue swept over her lips before he delved deeper, sweeping inside and tasting her. She wrapped her arms around his waist. His jacket was cold from the outdoors, but she didn’t care, pressing her body against his, the scent of his aftershave arousing her as always. It was a scent she’d forever associate with Derek.
He broke the kiss, then smiled, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “I was wondering if I could steal you for dinner after my meeting.”
“You can.” And maybe they could engage in some catch-up sex, she thought, excited at the prospect.
He hadn’t released her, his arms bracketing her body, and she rose to her tiptoes, about to kiss him again when someone cleared their throat.
She turned to see who’d entered without knocking, dismayed to see Spencer in the doorway.
“I thought this was a place of business,” he said in that pompous-ass way he had of putting people down as he spoke.
Derek stiffened, and though she stepped back to deal with her brother, she slid her hand in his. A show of solidarity.
“Really? I thought it was my office.”
A smirk edged his lips. One she recognized from when they were kids. He wasn’t in a good mood, and they were about to do battle.
“I don’t know why I’m surprised you’re fooling around at work. It’s not like you’ve been in the office the last week.”
“Keeping tabs on me?”
“Cass, come on. I’m just aware of my employees’ comings and goings.”
She rolled her eyes, silently calling bullshit. Even away from the office, she knew more about what was going on than he did.
“What do you want?” she asked, losing patience.
Beside her, Derek rocked on the balls of his feet, clearly ready for anything.
“I just thought I’d say hello. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your … friend?”
Oh, he knew exactly who Derek was, but she played along anyway. “Spencer, meet Derek West. Derek, this is my brother.” She figured Derek needed no further explanation of who he was.
“I remember you,” Spencer said, stepping closer. “The gardener and maid’s kid.”
“And proud of it,” Derek said easily, but she sensed his leashed anger.
Understood it because it matched her own.
He didn’t engage her brother in conversation or mention Blink or his current status in the world. Both men knew who Derek was today. Spencer was just trying to goad him. But Derek could handle himself, so she let the men deal with each other, stare each other down.
All the while she was seething inside.
The sound of Derek’s cell phone finally broke into the charged silence. He glanced at the screen. “I have to take this. Excuse me.” He shot her an apologetic glance and walked into the outer room.
“You’re rude, Spencer.”
“I’m honest.”
She shook her head. “Not really, because you left a few important things out. Derek is the biggest news in the tech world. It was a coup to convince him to let me interview him, and that’s where I’ve been. Out of the office. Working.”
He frowned at the reminder. “Be that as it may, our family has a sordid history with his. I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to be interviewing him.”
Or seeing him. Or fucking him. She could hear the thoughts rampaging through her brother’s brain. The ones he at least had the smarts not to say.