PART 11
It was Riley's fourth day at work when the flowers arrived. Three dozen very long-stemmed pink roses in a stunning hand-blown glass vase. Oohing and aahing, the entire IMET office staff broke from their tasks to look at the flowers. Riley read the card.
Have a wonderful time at work. Looking forward to seeing you later. Luke.
Jhun, her assistant, snatched the card from Riley's hands "Luke?" he asked, flashing the card at everyone. "Hmm," was all Riley said as she sat down in her chair and pushed the extravagant roses toward a corner of her desk to make some room for her papers.
But Jhun wasn't to be put off. She leaned across Riley's desk and held the small white florist card in front of her eyes. "Luke."
Riley looked up, her gaze meeting Jhun's. "I think that's what it does say."
"Luke? As in the Lucas Friar? I know he's been known to get called Luke but only to his close friends but he's known as Lucas Friar to us mere fans."
Riley suppressed a sigh. "What do you want me to say, Jhun?"
The man arched his eyebrows. "You're dating the Lucas Friar?"
Riley struggled as she reached for the next set of documents she needs to review. "Something like that..."
"So it's true? I mean I heard the gossips." Jhun wasn't looking at the card anymore, he was studying Riley. "It's been a hot topic since you started but I never gave it any thought. Sooooo... are you really dating? More than dating?"
Rolling her eyes, Riley grabbed the florist card from Jhun and shoved it in her desk drawer. She tried to focus on the job in front of her, but Jhun hadn't budged and the other girls outside her office seem to be watching and waiting.
She knew she had to say something. They were desperate for a morsel of news, some juicy tidbit, and isn't this part of what Riley had agreed to? Play the part? Become Lucas' new love interest?
Shaking her head, Riley finally looked up. "If he proposes, I'll let you know."
"Promise? Well in that case I better get my gown ready...if you decide you don't want him please let me know so I can be the shoulder he cries on..."
"Deal. Can you please go back to work? Jhun... please don't post about the roses."
…..
Quarter to five that afternoon, Riley had an incoming call from Lucas Friar. "Hello."
"Hello. Busy?"
"Not very. What's up?"
Riley noticed that the office had gone strangely silent. Lifting her head, she saw that Lucas, dressed in dark denims and a light blue shirt, had entered the front doors and stood next to the receptionist's desk talking on his cell phone.
My gosh, he looked gorgeous. And sinful. "What are you doing?" she whispered urgently into the phone, trying to duck her head so he couldn't see her face or the telltale blush turning her cheeks a crimson pink.
"Watching you."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "Why?"
"Because I want to."
"Lucas."
"Can you just do that with a little more passion in your voice?"
"No!" Riley started to slam the phone down and then, remembering she had an audience, hung the receiver up more gently. Phone down, she watched Lucas slowly saunter toward her through the rows of desks.
She heard the girls whispering excitedly as he passed. Lucas had to have heard the whispers, too.
Reaching her desk, he stood over her, his shirt, giving her and everyone else a glimpse of a bronze skin and hard, toned muscles. His emerald eyes half smiled down at her.
"I'm here to pick you up," he said.
Riley hadn't expected to see much of Lucas for days. He's supposed to be wrapping up the shoots for his upcoming drama series. She'd thought maybe by the weekend she'd see him, and yet here he was, at her desk, causing trouble.
She smiled her brightest, most confident smile to cover her trepidation. "I can't go just yet. I've so much work. I've a million documents to review and Edmin-"
"Is not going to pick you up. I told him I will be kidnapping you." Lucas smiled down at her, "If you're not ready to go then I'll wait."
And with that he sat on the chair across from her desk. It hasn't even been five minutes and already she's having a hard time concentrating. She wasn't thrilled to have him here. The man is distracting her from her job. Finally she squared her shoulders, straightened to her full five foot eight and met his gaze. "Okay, let's go."
He smiled and eased away, stepping to one side and gesturing to the door. "After you."
Riley tried to waltz past him with her head held high but with one swift motion Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
She froze beneath his embrace. She turned to stare at him.
Lucas made a show of smiling down at Riley. He didn't give her a chance to speak. He swiftly turned her away and started back across the elevator.
Once inside Riley removed his arm from her shoulders. "You didn't have to pick me up."
"I wanted to."
…..
Riley jerked when she felt the vibration of her mobile. She frowned as she fumbled for her phone. Her frown deepened as she realized she didn't recognize the caller's ID. With a grimace, she clicked on and put it to her ear.
"Hello."
There was a soft exhalation of breath and a familiar masculine voice asked, "Can we meet?"
She blinked. "When?"
"In an hour."
Letting her head fall back, she closed her eyes. She really didn't need this right now. Not when Lucas is standing so close to her. "Call me in five." Her hand tightened on the small device.
Facing Lucas she hesitated, then went on. "I need to go somewhere."
"Your friend?" he said gruffly. "When?"
She sputtered for a few seconds, "In an hour. You don't have to-"
He stopped her with a rude word. He was annoyed with himself, annoyed with her. Didn't they already discuss this situation? In fact they've argued about it. "Ask him where."
As if on cue, Riley's phone vibrated once again. Thor told her the address and she told Lucas. As always traffic was terrible. They were ten minutes late. She saw Thor sitting alone. Sensing that Lucas' behind her she weave her way through Thor's table.
If Thor was surprise to see her with someone he didn't show it.
"Thor, this is Lucas Friar."
"Lucas, Thor Benward."
The two men shook hands. Riley can feel the tension between the two. Not a good sign.