RUSH (Montgomery Men #1) - C.A. Harms Page 0,18

thought of how her cheeks flushed as we stood close enough for our bodies to react to the mere presence of each other. “Though option two would have given us both more pleasure than flowers ever could.”

I chuckled when her hitched breath filled the silence.

“Would you prefer that option, Kiera?” I asked, hoping to push her out of her comfort zone. She had a timidness about her, yet deep down I felt she just needed a little push to find her inner strength. A little taunting message to get the reaction I was in desperate need of.

“The flowers were obviously the right choice,” she replied in a hushed tone.

“I don’t agree, because they only left me on standby for three very painful, long days. I’d hoped they would trigger a phone call or maybe a second visit.” I leaned back in my chair and began to play with the tip of my tie. “I’m not a patient man, and your silence over the last few days, followed by this dismissive card, has only left me even more eager to get what I want.”

“I’d hoped maybe it would give you the impression that what I’d said before was true.” She paused for a moment before clarifying, “I’m not interested in anything further with you.”

“I think you’re lying,” I challenged without hesitation.

“Excuse me?” There was that sassy girl that had caught my attention. “You don’t know me well enough to determine if I’m lying. But I can assure you I have no intentions of being yet another woman who willing crawls into bed with the infamous Ashton Montgomery. I value myself a little more than the women who allow you to use them and then toss them aside. Not now nor will I ever be your whore.”

I was thrown by her instant change in attitude. Before I could argue she continued, “Have a good day, Mr. Montgomery.”

And the call ended.

I was left staring at my phone, wondering what in the hell just happened.

Had I been outwitted by this spitfire of a beauty?

KINSLEY

“I’LL HAVE A VENTI ICED White Chocolate Mocha, light on the cream,” I said to the barista as I peered down at the email that had just arrived on my phone. It was from Mrs. Stockman and contained my full agenda for the day. One particular item on it jumped out at me, making me feel suddenly nauseous.

Pick up the signed documents from Montgomery Enterprises.

I wondered what the chances were that said documents would be waiting in reception with Blonde Girl and her bitch of a sidekick.

“Well if it isn’t the one responsible for my hate-filled work environment.”

I jumped at the sound of someone speaking entirely too close to my ear and spun around only to come face-to-face with Lex himself. Now him I could tolerate. The guy was a sweetheart and funnier than anyone I had the pleasure of meeting before. I knew if he and Meghan were in the same room together, I could have been entertained for hours.

“Hey,” I said.

“That’s all you got for me?” he asked. “I have had to work side by side with the male form of a damn fire-breathing dragon and all you have for me is ‘hey’?”

“I’m . . .” I paused for a moment, trying to figure out just what to say in response. “Sorry.”

He rolled his eyes. Yep, a full-grown and absolutely fucking adorable man literally rolled his eyes at me as he looked down at his nails. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. I could see myself loving this guy.

“You’re sorry?” he said in a huff. “I thought you were more compassionate than that.”

“What?” I laughed. “Did you honestly expect me to pounce on him and ride him like a raging bull?”

“Oh sweetheart, now I’m envisioning that very thing, and even the thought of it is making me hot. Of course the view would have to be from Ashton’s backside, but I feel my temperature rising.” He placed his knuckle between his teeth and bit it as he groaned. “The image of his ass tensing every time he—”

I cut him off with a loud humming noise. We had gained the attention of a few innocent bystanders, and I couldn’t allow him to complete that sentence. I would not be responsible for the two older women behind us falling over from heart attacks. Or the mother that was holding the hand of her young daughter smacking Lex for his explicit, over-the-top description.

“Do not finish that sentence.” I narrowed my eyes in