Playing With Power - Book 2: New Adult Office Romance by Adele Huxley Read Free Book Online

followed him into the kitchen.
    “When my parents split, they both became workaholics so I suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands. With no brothers or sisters to play with, I did what any normal 12-year-old boy does...I got hooked on cooking programs.” He was rinsing the plates off and setting them in the sink. Their fingers brushed as Lauren handed him a plate, the connection brief but lasting.
    “Awww, that sounds like the beginning of a movie” said Ali. The girls leaned against the dark marble island in the center of the kitchen as he finished up.
    “I actually got a little chubby from eating all the time,” he laughed. He turned and leaned against the counter, drying his hands on a towel, slinging it over his shoulder when he was done. “I didn’t hit my growth spurt until I was fourteen or fifteen. They didn’t forbid my cooking but they did hire a personal trainer to balance things out.”
    “Well clearly you’re in fine shape now,” Ali said. Lauren resisted the urge to elbow her sharply in the ribs.
    “In any case, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Lauren couldn’t tell if he was starting to blush or if the redness was a little too much sun. A brief silence fell over the group, Ali’s obvious flirtation hanging heavy in the air. Lauren raced to find something to say but before she could Landon continued, “Ali, perhaps you’d like to take a swim while we hash out some business? It won’t be very exciting stuff I’m afraid.”
    “But I just ate! What if I get a cramp? Will you jump in and save me?” Ali said fluttering her eyelashes. Lauren glared at her. Unbelievable. She’s like a feral animal in heat.
    “What kind of publicity would I get if I allowed an up and coming actress to drown in my pool?” he laughed. With a satisfied smile, Ali returned to her room to get changed. “Let me top up your wine. We can get this out of the way and enjoy our weekend, sound good?”
    “Yeah, sure. Absolutely.” Despite a few drinks and conversation over dinner, she still felt flustered and scattered when his brown eyes locked with hers. Thank God he can’t read my mind.
    She did allow a quick peek at his ass as he turned, leading the way back to the patio. Lauren had changed into one of Ali’s long maxi dresses before dinner. It was so long she had to lift the bottom as she walked, praying with every step she wouldn’t trip and expose her breasts. After sunset, the air was cooler and pleasant. A fog rolled in over the hills on the horizon, gray against the bright pinks and oranges cast from the setting sun. House lights flickered on across the valley. He navigated to a long L-shaped bench covered in blue and white striped pillows.
    “So, StyleSpur,” he said crossing his legs. “Let’s hear it.”
    “If you want I can go grab my laptop and give you the full presentation,” she said moving to get up.
    “No, no. Just talk. I want to hear you tell me all about it.”
    Lauren started off shakily but after a minute found her footing, even under his intense gaze. She’d given the presentation so many times in the past two months, she wasn’t surprised to find most of it memorized. In any case, she understood so much about the company she didn’t need to follow any script. Lauren found herself pitching to him in the way he himself had suggested; apparently a few of his talking points from the conference had stuck. He let her speak uninterrupted for several minutes, his focus unyielding.
    As they talked, Ali strutted out from the kitchen in her new polka dot bikini and sheer cover up. Lauren continued speaking as she peripherally watched her friend lay out her towel on a lounge chair, seductively slip the cover up over her head, and step slowly into the pool. Landon’s attention didn’t waiver for a moment.
    “So what are your future plans once you acquire funding?”
    “Parker wants to expand. He’d like to grow the sales team and move offices, of course, but he’s also interested in