Hammered Read online

  Chapter Three

  The McMann brothers spent the better part of the next four weeks on the Concordia project. Josh immersed himself in the main library and spent hours on the Internet trolling for information on the Old West and things that could be combined with modern architecture in a practical manner. He filled page after page with preliminary sketches, throwing many of them out, starting over, sometimes staying so late Alex told him to go home to his wife while he still had one.

  Josh did take three days to fly to Wyoming with Tyler to see the property where the village would be built. They walked the land, took pictures, talked to people. Spent a long time at the county courthouse asking questions about permitting, about politics, about what people liked around there. They’d learned long ago that getting square with all of that up front saved a lot of heartburn later on.

  Tyler was through with the project after that for the moment and went back to his usual routine of supervising ongoing jobs. His hard work would come when he and Alex sat down to figure out the finite cost estimates and then when the actual construction began. Usually when they had an out-of-town job it was enough for him to spend half the week there and the other half on other jobs. But the way this one was shaping up they might have to make adjustments.

  “Good thing you’re single,” Alex pointed out. “If we get the job you may be moving to Wyoming for a while.”

  “We’ll have to hire someone to take over supervision of our others jobs still underway,” he pointed out.

  “Start looking, just in case. I don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute if I don’t have to.”

  Josh was back at work on his sketches, refining them so they’d have good product to present to Concordia. He expected changes. There always were. He was just concerned with getting the concept right to begin with.

  For his part, Alex began outlining the folder for the preliminary presentation. He also had coffee with Olivia four times—twice when she’d called him and twice when he’d called her. They seemed to be doing a little dance but neither of them knew yet what kind or what the steps were. He had an unsettled feeling that he was going to find out soon and he wasn’t sure if he’d like it or not.

  He also knew she’d affected him in a way unlike any other woman he knew. It wasn’t just the physical thing, although he’d take her to bed the next minute if the chance presented itself. No, this was something different. Something deeper. Something he had never believed could happen in just a few seconds.

  “When it happens, you know,” Josh had teased him when he and Tyler ragged on their brother about his quick courtship of Vanessa.

  Was that what this was? He’d never thought he’d fall in love with a woman in a business meeting. At first blush he’d pegged her as part of the army of career-driven women he dealt with regularly. At least she wasn’t one of the social butterflies who were the other side of the coin. The kind Josh used to take up with before meeting Vanessa. But he couldn’t deny the feeling growing inside him. After that night at the barbecue restaurant he revised his opinion of her. There was a real, down-to-earth woman hiding beneath her public face, but he figured she’d spent so much time burying it he might have to work hard to pull it out.

  They hadn’t exactly been easy with each other when they’d met, either, as if they were each sizing up the other person. And on Livy’s part he had the distinct feeling he’d uncovered a secret part of her that she never let out and in some way it scared her. Still, he’d needed that contact in a way he couldn’t explain even to himself. Maybe after the next meeting with Concordia, when he had a better idea where they were going…

  “You daydreaming in here?”

  Alex shook himself from his reverie and looked up to see Josh standing in his office doorway. His brother looked tired but he was smiling.

  “Napping with my eyes open,” Alex joked. “What’s up?”

  “I finally have a set of sketches to review. If you and Tyler like them, I’ll pass them along to him to do a preliminary cost estimate and then we’ll put the package together.”

  Alex was amazed at how well Josh had captured the spirit of the idea. He’d combined architectural features of the Old West with up-to-date technology. Even the office buildings, which would be wired for every kind of communication imaginable, were faithful to the architectural concept. The houses had the look and flow of small-town western Americana and the stores looked like a variety of general stores.

  He didn’t know why he should be surprised. Josh was a damn genius, as their clients often pointed out. He was certainly piling up awards to testify to that.

  “Well?” Josh looked at his brothers. “What do you think?”

  “Well,” Tyler drawled, “I think we can live with this.”

  “Kiss my ass.” Josh grinned. “It’s fantastic and you know it.”

  “We just don’t want you to get a swelled head,” Alex teased.

  Josh snorted. “As if, around here. Okay, if everyone’s okay with these, Tyler, you’re up next with general cost estimating. We won’t know the definites until we get the job and get into the meat of it, so leave us a little wiggle room. Alex? You can start the prelim.”

  “I have to call for an appointment. The month is up tomorrow but I can beg a couple of days. How about next Monday? That gives us the weekend to fine tune.”

  The others nodded and Josh rolled up the drawings, handing them of to Tyler.

  Alex called Frank Vincent’s secretary to make the appointment then asked to be transferred to Livy. After all, Vincent had made it clear they’d be working together so he didn’t need to skirt around things with the secretary. That soft little kiss had lingered in his mind all this time.

  “All set to make your preliminary proposal?”

  Her voice, as always, was low and musical and made his nerve endings twitch.

  “We’re set for next Monday,” he told her.

  “I’m looking forward to it. If all goes well maybe we can celebrate with a drink.”

  “Actually, I was thinking more about dinner. Does that fit into your schedule?”

  He heard her clicking through her computer calendar. “Yes. And if it didn’t, I’d make it fit.”

  “Business dinner, right?” he teased.

  “Absolutely,” she agreed.

  But he couldn’t deny the bubble of anticipation growing inside him when he hung up. He had a feeling this was going to be the start of…something. He just wasn’t sure what.

  * * * * *

  Livy replaced the phone in her office but sat there with her hand on it, a million thoughts running through her mind. She was still unsettled from the so-called coffee dates they’d had over the past few weeks, disguised as brief business meetings. Alex McMann threw her off her game. She’d become so expert at reading people, at analyzing them for Frank, at giving him the tools to either write off the person or work out the best deal. But this time she wasn’t able to give him a clear picture.

  She was afraid her own personal reaction was the reason, the funny little feeling that hopped into her stomach the day they met and kept rolling around unsettled her. Maybe it was envy for the family life that was so much a part of him, and for his closeness with his brothers. Or sadness for poor little Olivia who’d never had that kind of life. She was so afraid she was letting him pierce her thick armor that shielded her from the world of emotions. He unsettled her and she had to force herself to keep the focus on business. He was always so open and friendly and she knew sometimes she was a real bitch. If there just wasn’t this electrical connection sizzling between them. She hated it, but fear kept pushing up that nasty side of her.

  Quietly she’d done some checking in the industry and she’d had Jo scrounge whatever she could find on the Internet. Oh sure, Josh McMann had been a player but he hadn’t left a scandal-strewn past behind when he met and married Vanessa Bowen. Not like Livy’s father had, at any rate. Alex and Tyler appeared to be no more than normal, red-blooded men who used good sense
even in their social lives.

  Her lips still tingled from their too-brief kiss and set her mind plunging into areas it shouldn’t go. Suddenly when she fell asleep at night she was plunged into erotic dreams, visions of a naked Alex tempting her. Beckoning to her. Doing all manner of erotic things to her. She never had dreams like that. Ever.

  One of them had been especially graphic and she hadn’t been able to get it out of her mind.

  “I’ve dreamed about getting you naked since the day I met you.”

  Alex’s husky voice sent shivers down Livy’s spine, rolling over her like a warm caress. He’d peeled off her clothing one piece at a time. Kissing every inch of skin as he exposed it. His palms cupped her breasts, rasping lightly over the hard, tightened buds. Shards of heat shot straight to her soaked cunt, the inner muscles spasming.

  “I want you naked too,” she whispered.

  But then she couldn’t say anything because his mouth captured hers in a searing kiss, his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth, a dancing flame scorching every place it touched. Livy pressed herself against him, the rough fabric of his clothing deliciously abrading her sensitive skin. The thick length of his cock pushed at her through the placket of his fly. She couldn’t wait to feel it inside her, so swollen and hard.

  “I have other things to take care of first,” he murmured when he lifted his head.

  Easing her down to the edge of the bed he spread her knees wide and knelt on the carpet. His breath was warm on her flesh as he bent his head closer to her pussy, his lean fingers spreading her lips wide. At the first lash of his tongue against her slick flesh lightning shot through her. She gasped, sucking in her breath. His educated tongue had an agenda all its own, licking and sliding and rimming the opening of her vagina.

  “Wet.” The pleasure in his voice was evident. “And delicious, like sugar candy.”

  He bent to his task again, the tip of his tongue circling her clit again and again, now flicking the very tip, now curling around it. Livy clenched her fists in the comforter to steady herself against the onslaught on sensations.

  In me, she wanted to cry. Inside me. Now.

  But Alex continued to torment her, now stabbing his tongue inside her, now withdrawing, over and over again.

  The climax erupted from her without warning, the spasms gripping her entire body, her pussy clenching over and over again in its need.

  “Oh, oh, oh,” she cried, and rocked against his mouth.

  He stayed with her, nipping and licking, until the last tremor had disappeared. But the orgasm hadn’t satisfied her. Only left her wanting more. Much more.

  He rose to his knees and began unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Now,” he said. “Now I’ll be naked, too.”

  “Livy?” The voice startled her. “Olivia, are you all right?”

  She lifted her head, startled to see Frank Vincent standing in front of her desk. She blinked, trying to focus. Ohmigod! She’d been reliving one of those damn dreams right here in the office and hadn’t even heard him come in. She felt the pull of heat low in her belly. She squeezed her thighs together and felt an embarrassing wetness trapped by her pantyhose. Putting on what she hoped was her best professional face, she smoothed her hair back and fiddled with the collar of her blouse. Did her face look as red as it felt? Hell and damnation anyway.She supposed she was lucky she didn’t have her hand between her damn legs when Frank walked in.

  “I’m sorry, Frank. I guess I was just lost in thought.” She did her best to mentally pull herself together. This was so not like her.

  “Those short naps are great, aren’t they?” he chuckled.

  Naps? He thought she was sleeping? Shit!

  “I wasn’t asleep,” she began, protesting.

  He just waved a hand at her. “No sweat. Sometimes work catches up with us. I’ve had the same thing happen to me.”

  Not likely.

  “Anyway,” she went on, “what can I do for you?”

  He dropped into one of the chairs in front of her desk. “I assume young McMann told you he has a meeting set with us for Monday morning?”

  She nodded. “Ten o’clock. And I believe all three brothers will be there?”

  ”That’s correct. I thought I’d touch base with you one last time and get your feedback on them.”

  Feedback. Right.

  “I have to say, at least for Alex, they are what you see. I haven’t been able to dig up any hidden secrets in their past nor can I find anyone, in my casual explorations, who had a bad word to say about them. Only good. Honest. Dedicated. Hardworking.”

  Frank snorted. “And are they all boy scouts?”

  Livy frowned. “Believe it or not, Frank, there are actually some people out there who take pride in who and what they are and take pains to maintain that.”

  “So you’re saying if we like what they have to show us we should go ahead with the contract? It’s all private money and the investors have given me the option of not taking bids. But I can’t afford to make a mistake.”

  She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “You won’t be making one. I know this is a very important project and probably our biggest to date. But you were very clear you wanted something new and innovative. I can promise you that’s what the McManns will bring to the table. And not give you problems.”

  “Okay, then.” He pushed himself out of the chair. “I’m calling executive staff for nine thirty Monday so we can get our ducks in a row before the McMann brothers get here.” He paused. “And get some sleep this weekend.”

  “I will.” She hoped her face hadn’t turned red again.

  As soon as Frank was gone Livy reached into her purse and took out her small mirror, scrutinizing her face. She was thankful that at least she didn’t look disheveled. She never had erotic dreams in the office. She seldom had them at home. If she had an itch to scratch and no man was handy she had plenty of toys to keep her satisfied. After all, as she’d always told herself, sex was just another physical activity. Right?

  Only she had a feeling with Alex McMann it might be a lot more than that. Maybe more than she wanted to handle. That scared feeling bubbled to the surface again, the one that warned her against opening herself up to anyone. The one that told her she’d only end up with pain. Again.

  “Napping in the middle of the day?”

  Jo’s amused tone snapped her back to reality again. Shit, she was doing it again.

  “Good lord!” She fluffed her hair and ran her hands lightly over her face. “I guess I dozed off without realizing it.

  “Must have been some dream,” Jo teased. “Good thing you weren’t making those little moaning sounds when Frank walked in.”

  Now Livy knew for sure she was blushing. “Holy shit! I mean…” She caught herself. She always watched her language in the office.

  Her assistant laughed. “It’s okay, Livy. At least I know you’re human. Sometimes I wonder.”

  “What? Wait! Tell me what you meant by that?”

  “It’s nothing.” Jo started to leave. “Just a little joke. You’re fine the way you are.”

  The way I am? What’s wrong with the way I am? What’s wrong with being professional and in control of your life?

  “Have goals,” her father always preached. “Stick to them. Focus on attaining them.”

  Maybe she should remind herself more often that her father had lived most of his life chasing the happiness he’d lost while focusing on his goals.

  Stop it, Olivia. You have a great life. Top-notch career. The respect of your peers. And no one to screw up your schedule or interfere with your goals. There’ll be time enough for the rest later.

  She hoped.

  * * * * *

  “You haven’t got your head screwed on wrong about this woman, have you?” Tyler asked.

  He and Alex were splitting a pizza and a pitcher of beer at Gus’ early Sunday evening. Josh, of course, was home with Vanessa but they’d all spent the day at the office going over the
ir presentation one last time.

  “There are no do-overs here,” they kept reminding each other as they checked over each point.

  Now Alex stared at his brother over his pizza slice. “What woman?”

  “Come on, don’t pull that on me. I’m not stupid, Alex. The one your mind keeps drifting into space about. You think I don’t know about those little coffee dates the two of you have had?”

  “Those were business meetings,” Alex defended himself. “Pure and simple.”

  “Yeah?” Tyler took a swig of his beer. “Tell it to someone who believes it.”

  “We were discussing the project. Really.” Alex took a bite of his food.

  “Then maybe you should discuss your project in places where people I know aren’t likely to see you and ask me who the woman is you’re all but licking in public?”

  “What?” Alex dropped his slice. “What the hell? I was not all but—what did you say?—licking her? We were talking business. Who have you been talking to, anyway? Don’t your friends have work to do?”

  “Of course they do.” Tyler grinned. “They just happened to mention seeing you out in public with a hot babe.”

  “Hot babe?” Alex snorted. “I was having a business meeting with Concordia’s CFO.”

  “Let’s just say the word came back to me from inquiring minds.” Tyler tilted his head. “They also said there seemed to be a little tension between the two of you. Got troubles there, bro?”

  “No, I don’t have troubles.” Alex wiped some sauce from his mouth. “No tension, no troubles, no licking. Period.”

  But that wasn’t exactly true. There was tension between him and the very sexy Olivia D’Angelo. And he was working on easing that a little at a time. She tried so hard to give the appearance of a predator, a shark, although she never lost her femininity. She kept a tight rein on her emotions, as if she’d let them out once and been scared to death. He was doing his damnedest to show her that he’d meant what he said when he told her she was special. That one night out with her he’d seen something else. Beneath that tough layer hid a strong yet vulnerable woman. That was the person he really wanted to get to know. He kept trying but she kept hiding behind that wall.