Lunch with a snake
Mindy
I’m closinga document when the door reopens fifteen minutes later, and the lady in non-hues emerges with a big grin on her face. My stomach lurches at the sight.
She obviously doesn’t want me in Remi’s life. Did she finally get her way and change his mind about me?
Then she shocks me to my shoes when she throws her arms around me for an overexuberant hug. Her perfume smells expensive but overly flowery.
“Mindy! Hi, I’m Serena, and I just know we’re going to be besties too.”
I cough a little and manage to extricate myself from her embrace. “Oh, uh, hello.” I have no idea what Remi said to her, but it’s like she’s been invaded by aliens who gave her a complete personality transplant.
“Let’s lunch together today. Remington has some boring meeting with engineers or something,” she says, waving a dismissive hand.
“I, ummm…”
“We justhave toget to know each other,” she insists, pulling on my hand until I stand. I glance over her shoulder to see Remi standing there with an upward curl on his perfect lips, and he gives me a little nod. I really need to talk to him before I get dragged off to lunch witha woman who hated me a few minutes ago and now suddenly considers me her friend.
Luckily, Antonio reads the room and saves me. “Mindy has to shut down her computer and a few other security things before she can leave the office, Serena. Come down to reception with me. There are some new swag bags, and you’ll definitely want one.”
“Ooh, freebies,” she says, instantly distracted.
I throw Antonio a grateful look and follow Remi into his office. As soon as we’re inside, he grabs my waist and hauls me against him.
“That long-ass meeting broke my brain, and it can only be healed with a kiss,” he informs me before crashing his lips to mine. His tongue searches out mine and twirls around it as his hands drop to my ass. My fingers find his dark hair, and I lose myself in the depth of his kiss.
“Better?” I murmur against his lips, and he smiles, keeping his eyes closed in the picture of serenity.
“So much better.”
“I thought we were going to be professional at work,” I point out, and he squeezes my rear end.
“Oh, is this considered unprofessional?” He blinks innocently at me. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Remi…” I chastise, and to my surprise, he dips his head to rest on my shoulders.
“Please. I just need you right now. That meeting was annoying as fuck, and then Serena busted in here acting like a psycho.”
I melt at his ability to be vulnerable with me, kissing the side of his face and stroking up and down his back. “Okay, grab all the ass you need, baby.”
We hold each other for a long while, and I can feel his posture relax beneath my hands. “Thank you,” he murmurs, finally pulling back. “Your ass really does have healing properties. Like one of those crystals.”
Swiping at the lipstick mark I’d left on his cheek, I ask, “Do I really have to go to lunch with Serena? She obviously doesn’t like me.”
Remi’s brows knit together. “She’ll come around. She saw how losing you affected me, so I think she’s just worried. Also, she saw thenews on TMZ this morning and was offended I hadn’t told her about our relationship.” He twirls a lock of my hair around his index finger. “I laid down the law and told her you’re in my life for good now, and she’d better get used to it. She promised to be nice.”
I hate to tell him I don’t need any fake friends who are only pretending to like me, but he’s already had a rough day. And now he has another intense meeting to get through with the engineers from California.
“Okay, I’ll go, but if she tries to bite me, I’m going to throat punch her.” He laughs as I straighten the knot of his tie, which he’s obviously been tugging on in frustration. “Do you want me to bring back something for you to eat?”
His smile almost makes my panties disintegrate. “Yes please. You know what I like.”
I swat him on his very firm rear on my way out the door. “Indeed I do, Mr. Hale.” As soon as I get outside to my office, I remember the mayor’s call, so I stick my head back inside. “I forgot to tell you, Mayor Martinez from Galveston called, and they want to honor you with a dinner and an award in March. Something about the revitalization down on The Strand. It’s black tie, and I put the date in your calendar. Let me know if that looks okay for you.”
Remi runs a hand through his dark hair, and a small smile crooks his lips up. “I’m sure whatever you decided will be fine. I like Maria. She was vital in getting some of the permits we needed to build that new store down there.”
“Okay, she’s sending more details this afternoon.”