Seth Neilson had thought of himself as a man in control, but one night, one woman, had changed all that. Out of the many women he had taken to bed, this one had managed to crawl under his skin- etched in his memory, every kiss, every touch, every luscious curve of her body had turned into an obsession. Six weeks and almost ten- thousand dollars later he finally had the information he wanted, but he was still no closer to her than he was the night she walked out of his hotel room. Seth was a man who always got what he wanted no matter the cost. He threw on the charm and flashed the cash and the owner of the club had been than happy to give him a copy of the surveillance tapes from that night. Endless hours of video, he finally found her. Money was no object but even the best Private Investigator needed more than just a first name. And Brad Larsen was the best not to mention a close friend.
Seth reached for the folder, pulling out a photo, staring into the eyes that had been haunting his every waking hour, and tormenting his dreams. Running his hands through his hair, and shaking his head, how could he of all people let a woman affect him this way? He was losing himself in a goddamn picture. Standing and walking to his office window, looking out at the water, her face bored into his mind. He had to do something besides drive himself insane. He knew without a doubt that he had to have her. It suddenly hit him what to do. Picking up the phone his secretary was quick to answer.
"Yes Mr. Neilson."
"Claire, I need five dozen red roses sent to Miss Paige Gallagher. 826 Mulholland Drive. A.S.A.P."
"I'm on it Mr. Neilson. What you like the card to say?"
"Ummm, "Haven't been able to stop thinking about you." Oh and just sign it S."
"Right away Mr. Neilson."
"Thanks Claire I knew I could count on you. Just make sure they are delivered today after 5. If it cost more it doesn't matter. I'll pay whatever the cost just make sure it's after 5."
"Will do. Anything else Mr. Neilson?"
"No Claire, in fact when you're finished with that you can take the rest of the day off. Take the company card and go to the spa on me. Enjoy yourself."
"Thank you Mr. Neilson. That's very generous of you. I'll see you bright and early in the morning. Again thank you."
"You're welcome Claire."
Claire LaRue had worked for Neilson Construction for ten years. The last three as Seth Neilson's secretary. He had not always been an easy man to work for but he was a decent man and worked hard. There had been a change in him she had noticed and now she knew it had to do with a woman. Claire smiled to herself as she worked at her task on hand. She knew he had never lacked in female companionship but she also knew he had never been interested in anything more than sex with them. She was the one who made sure the monthly bill was paid to the hotel where he entertained his women. Paige Gallagher must be one special woman if she has managed to tame the likes of Seth Neilson.
Paige sat still unable to comprehend how he had found her, but a familiar tingle was building in her core. She closed her eyes remembering the feel of his touch, his hands, and his lips on her. Suddenly her body felt like an inferno, she was hot all over, wetness pooling in her panties as she remembered how he pressed her into the wall and fucked her. He had been everything she had wanted, but nothing that she needed, or so she had thought. Not a day has passed that he hasn't entered her thoughts, or made her body ache for more. She opened her eyes to see the reminder of that one night, the one man who had made her feel more alive than she ever had. Why now? Her life was just starting to make sense again. David was finally trying to make things right. Her friends and family thought she was crazy trying to work things out with him, but she loved him and they made sense. If that were true then why was her body on fire for this stranger? What would she tell David about the flowers? He had no idea about her one night with Seth. They had been broken up for six months before she had let another man touch her. It had been David's infidelities that had caused the break-up, and the reason she had found a new, much older, unattractive roommate. She felt a panic rise in her, if he knew where she lived what else did he know? Was he some psycho killer, some deranged crazy waiting to catch her alone? She looked at the flowers and knew the answer. Hell he could have just as easily showed up on her doorstep, knife in hand, but he hadn't. His words from that night suddenly crept into her mind.
"It wasn't just sex for me Paige. I want more."
His words echoed in her mind. He implied the more with her, but how could he know? He didn't even know her. They had met at a club, left together and had the most amazing sex of her life. A smile curved her lips as she again looked at the flowers. Five dozen red roses sure seems like more to her. After all this time could it be true? Could he still want more? It was obvious he had been thinking about her. After all, he had gone through the trouble of finding out where she lived, but she did still wonder how he had done so, they had only exchanged first names. Could she had been wrong to have walked out on him that night? She couldn't help but wonder what her life would be like had she stayed. Maybe she should have followed her heart instead of her head, but that is how she had gotten her heart broke before. Was it too late? Was it possible they could see each other again and those feelings from that night be rekindled? The buzzing of her cell phone snapped her back into reality.
"Hello."
"Hey, it's me. Are we still on for dinner tonight?" The sound of David's voice sent a wave of nausea to her belly. She had totally forgotten about their date and now the last thing on her mind was spending time with David.
"Hey David, I'm really sorry I left work early. I'm not feeling well. I'm not up to going out tonight. Can we make it another time?"
"Oh babe I'm sorry you're aren't feeling good. I could pick up some take out and come over and we could cuddle on the couch, maybe watch a movie."
"I'm just going to take a shower and go to bed. I have work in the morning and I really need to feel better."
"Are you sure? I was hoping to see you tonight."
"I'm not in the mood for company I'm sorry. I'll call you tomorrow okay."
"Yea sure babe. I hope you feel better. I love you."
"Thanks David. Me too."
She ended the call before he could make her feel guiltier than she already did. It was only a small lie unlike the huge lies she knew he had gave her. The countless cancelled dates just so his roaming cock could be pleasured by his tramp of the week. She honestly isn't sure why she has even agreed to try and make it work with David. They had been together since high school, he was her first love, and the guy she lost her virginity to. He was also the man who had made her shed more tears than she cared to count. All his lies, and cheating, she knew she deserved better than that but it was fear that kept her from trying. With David she knew what to expect. She didn't think she could stand giving her heart to another just to have it crushed. And being with David was better than being alone. Until Seth she had only been with David. Seth had made her feel things David never had. Seth's touch alone had sent shock waves through her body. The way his tongue had taken her to places she had never been. He had licked, and sucked her into an orgasm that had been like the grand finale of a fireworks show. Since deciding to try and work things out with David she had avoided sex not wanting to feel the disappointment she knew it would leave. She wanted the raw, hot, intense thrill that Seth had made her feel. She quickly jumped up and ran upstairs. The cold shower helped, but what she really needed to cure the slow burn in her core, was the sexy, gray-eyed man who in one night had turned her body inside out. She stood back and looked in the mirror. Sexy but not too reveling, and just enough make-up to bring out the blue in her eyes. She left her blonde hair down, she liked the way it curled around her face. Grabbing her keys she headed to the club praying the whole way that Seth would be there.
Seth was in the middle of a meeting when Claire buzzed in.
