Page 42 of Highest Bid

His cock jerked, a reflex action whenever Layla was near. “Well, the world’s biggest dickhead is available right now, if you want me,” he said hoarsely.

She drew his mouth to hers, but the kiss was a brief one. “Sorry, stud. Someone promoted me, and I intend to fulfill my end of the bargain.” Her eyes darkened. “Though it’s nice to know I’ll be my own boss now.”

He nodded. “You’ll have Elsa for a week, then you’ll be on your own.”

She stepped back, stuck her hand into her pocket and drew out a key. “Not completely alone. I thought you might like this.”

He accepted her front door key with a surge of tenderness. Her gift was as personal and trusting as just about anything she could have given him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I know your elevator password; it’s only fair you have the same access to my home.” She sauntered to her bedroom, then returned with her handbag slung over a shoulder. “By the way...I’m available at lunch break today.”

She stepped outside, and Galan didn’t even try to withhold a groan as he stalked after her. Lunchtime wouldn’t come around soon enough.

*

Layla ignored the strong smell of fresh paint as she stacked the paperwork she’d been double-checking. She’d do everything in her power to ensure nothing went wrong Friday night for her smitten clients, who’d be using the upper function room for their wedding reception.

Then again, with Elsa hovering over her shoulder to ensure everything ran smoothly, the chances of failure were minimal. The indomitable Elsa would be training her for the whole of this first week before fully handing over the reins for the wedding reception clients, and Layla intended to imprint as much knowledge from the older woman as possible.

Lord only knew she’d already imprinted more than enough from Galan.

Like today’s unforgettable lunchtime visit. He’d pulled her into a storage room and pressed her against the wall. Then, dragging down her pants and the lacy panties she’d worn especially for the occasion, he’d lifted her high and covered her breathless gasps with his hard mouth as he’d given her the ride of her life amongst dusty boxes, old posters, and padded chairs.

She grinned at the memory before swiping an absent hand at the imaginary dust and webs on her sleeve. Her life had been so dull and predictable before she’d been with Galan. Now her whole body buzzed with anticipation for whatever was next.

Elsa strode into Layla’s room, which was in the process of being converted from a stockroom into Layla’s personal office. Since the Garden Café had opened a little over twelve months ago and now catered for every meal in the function room, the storage room was no longer needed.

“You look like the cat that got the canary,” Elsa remarked in her nasally voice. “And, of course, it’d have nothing whatsoever to do with the oldest Black brother.”

Heat rushed to Layla’s face. “Is it that obvious?”

Elsa snorted, her thin, lined face and sharp green eyes all too knowing. “That Galan is finally happy or that you are? Or maybe that Galan is loitering around the function room today for any number of half-assed reasons while you’re sitting here with a goofy, lovesick expression on your face?”

Layla laughed. “The day I see Galan do anything half-assed is the day I really will do a cartwheel on Ned’s servery.”

Elsa shook her head. “I’d like to see that.”

“So would Ned,” Layla conceded.

Elsa didn’t ask her to elaborate. Instead, she cast a quick glance at her watch. “It’s almost six. Your shift finished an hour ago.”

Layla nodded and pushed to her feet. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“You’re a great fit for this job. And I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am to have someone take some pressure off my shoulders. I have no idea some days how I keep up with the endless stream of bookings while catering to every client’s needs.”

Layla smiled Elsa’s way as they left her partly converted office and entered the function room. “I’m more than glad to share the burden.”

They exited through double doors out onto the huge balcony near the Garden café and balcony bar. Both were doing a great trade, the café catering for the early dinner crowd, and the bar mostly for those wanting pre-dinner drinks.

“You’ve always been a hard worker,” Elsa said approvingly, before she stifled a yawn. “Any plans for tonight?”

Layla withheld a sudden desire to giggle. None that I’m telling you or anyone else.

But Elsa didn’t notice. She was too busy watching Galan as he pushed to his feet at a nearby restaurant table. “Never mind, I think I have a fair idea.” She wiggled her pink-painted fingertips. “See you tomorrow, bright and early.”

“I’ll be there,” Layla replied absently. She was already distracted by Galan, who indicated the empty chair he’d pulled out from the other side of a little table.

Layla walked toward him, and he smiled warmly, his white teeth gleaming. “Take a seat.”

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