Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan
"Oh, God. Willow!" she cries out weakly before looking back at me in shock. Without wasting a second, she turns her focus and begins running the rest of the way. My senses pick up at the hostile tones echoing around us, and I hurry to follow behind her. When I walk through the end of the hallway and into what must be the outer seating area to Dominic Logan's office, I see Kirby standing stock-still in the opening of the office labeled with his name in neat gold script against one of the glass panel walls.
If it hadn't been for Kirby speaking her name just seconds before, I might not have known it was Willow who stood before us facing off with Dominic Logan. She's much slimmer than the last time I saw her. Her curves are still prevalent, but much less abundant than before. Just seeing her causes that connection we shared before to spark to life. Clearly, that isn't lacking in the least. Even without seeing those beautiful eyes, I would know her anywhere--as crazy as that sounds even to me.
I was too busy perusing Willow's lush body that I had zoned out until Kirby's whimper caused my ears to perk up again.
"Yes, Willow. Are you happy now? The wrong woman died that day and every time I have to look into your eyes, the same eyes of your mother, I hate you more and more. So, do what I fucking said. After today, do me a favor and don't turn back up. It would be nice not to have to see you again. Then maybe I could pretend it was you and not her who died!"
At Dominic's words, I can feel my temper spiking. My anger soars through my bloodstream at the vile tone with which he's speaking to his daughter. Before I can interject, Kirby's harsh gasp has both of the office's occupants swinging their heated gazes toward the doorway. I watch as the hurt soothes from Willow's features when she sees Kirby; obviously, this is whom she had been heading to check on, and based on what we just walked in on, I would say she was just in time.
When those doe eyes move to lock with mine, embarrassment replaces her heartbreak, and I want to kick myself for being the cause, yet again, for added shame.
Shame that has no business ever crossing her face.
Shame that, despite not even knowing this woman, I would love to wipe from her features.
Those protective feelings once again confuse me. Not because they're there, but because the intensity of them, so much stronger at this meeting, shocks me to my core. I know nothing about her, yet I would do anything I could at this moment to fix whatever is harming her.
Not able to stand the silence any longer, I speak, trying to ease her pain the only way I can right now. With my words. "Are you okay?"
"Uh ..." she stutters. Fuck, she's adorable. Even her pain can't mask her appeal.
"Right," I reply with a small smile, reminding me of her stumbled words at our first meeting. Moving my gaze from hers, I lock eyes with her bastard father. Or stepfather, according to my investigation into their backgrounds. Any chance he had of getting me to help his company crawl from their looming home in the forgotten bowels of the industry is long forgotten. Willow makes a startled noise, and I move my angry focus from her father and back to her. Willing myself to calm so she feels safe with me.
I hold her eyes just a beat before allowing myself a quick glance at the body haunting my dreams since I first saw her. Fuck, those tits still make my mouth water, but the rest of her causes my body to harden with desire, despite the hostile environment we're standing in.
Her black dress isn't tight by any means, but it also doesn't hide the stunning, luscious body underneath it. A body I would love to get my hands on and my body over. My cock tightens at the thought of my fingers digging into the soft skin around her hips.
She shifts uncomfortably under my scrutiny, and her hands come up to pull the fabric away from her frame. What the hell? I can feel my eyes narrow, and her hands start to pull more of her dress. No way? No fucking way. What reasons could she possibly have to make a self-conscious move like that? Does she have no clue how beautiful she is?
"Stop it," I demand, and I'm instantly rewarded when her hands drop.
Before I can return my eyes to hers, Dominic's voice interrupts. "Kane, you'll have to forgive me. I thought our appointment was later today. Willow was just leaving."
My heated, anger-filled gaze flits to his, and once again, I can feel my anger burning like an out of control wildfire. I'm vaguely aware of Kirby moving toward Willow. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her stand at her side and take Willow's hand, but I don't move my focus from the man before me. He's around my parents' age, but where they have a presence that is open, accepting, and loving, this man holds none of that. I can hear the two women whispering to each other, but I don't move. Fuck, I'm not even sure I'm breathing as I refuse to back down from Dominic's cold stare. He won't dominate me.
"Is this how you treat your own family, Dominic? I would hate to see how you treat someone outside of that bond."
He narrows his eyes, but at the risk of pissing me off, I can tell he's measuring his response. God forbid he show his true colors, that we had the displeasure of already witnessing, to someone like me. Someone with the power I wield.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that, Kane. It's unfortunate, but it seems like my stepdaughter needed a firm hand. You'll understand one day when you have kids of your own. It's necessary to be hard. Please sit, I'll have Ivy set up the conference room." His cold, calculating eyes leave mine and focus on the woman of the hour. "Willow?"
Apparently, he thinks the fact she isn't his own flesh and blood gives him the right to talk to her as if she's nothing. I know damn well he has been the only father she's known. I look over at Willow quickly enough to catch her gaze on its way up from my chest before she looks back over at Dominic.
"Sir?" she asks weakly.
"A word?" he questions, and before giving her a second to respond, he starts to move around his desk.
I lose her eyes, but her shoulders drop in what looks like relief for just a second before she catches her slip and straightens her posture, showing her strength in an impossible situation.
When I look back at Dominic, he's standing in front of me, obviously hoping I'll move. Fat chance of that, asshole. Standing to my full height, I look down into his eyes and don't hold back the fact I find this whole scene disgusting. I give him a few beats before looking back at Willow, giving her the lead, the power Dominic is doing his best to wipe from her bones.
I can see the wheels moving behind her shocked eyes. Her mouth moves, but before she can speak, a new voice interrupts.
"Oh, Kane, sweetheart! It's been ages," the voice speaks.
What the fuck? I remember her instantly as the woman from the law firm's offices. While I'm trying to figure out what the hell she's doing here, I hear Willow's whispers before she's pulling Kirby behind toward the door. My shock holds me still as she moves past me, but my body fires to life when her body brushes against mine. Those tits I've imagined bouncing in my face as she rides my cock rub against my chest, and I exhale a breath to try to feel more of her.
"I brought you a trash bag, Wills." I hear the other woman speak, but I don't move my eyes from Willow. I watch helplessly as the shame and embarrassment are back.
"For what, Ivy?" she snaps, the sarcasm dousing the heat of her embarrassment and making way for anger to take its place.
Ivy. Now, I can put a face to the name I know belongs to her sister.
"For all your shit, sister dear." Her laugh makes me cringe.
"You bitch," Kirby sneers.
"You have ten minutes, Willow," her sister continues. "Make sure and turn in your keycard to the offices as well as any other property of Logan Agency that you might think you have rights to. Ten minutes, Willow, to remove all your shit and don't let me see you back here again."
I open my mouth to interject, not really sure what I'm going to say, but the animalistic snarl that comes from deep in Willow's throat stops me dead. I'm not even sure she was aware she made a noise, but in seconds, she's like a bull in a china shop. I'm positive nothing could stop her at this point.
She moves with clipped movements. Her shoes are pulled from her feet and thrust into Kirby's arms. Then in what I could only explain as a woman who has reached her breaking point, she snatches the bag and starts to pile in anything and everything she can.
I stand immobile and let her have this. Clearly, this is a moment she needs, and after everything I've witnessed, I'm sure my interference would do more harm than good. I lean with my back against the glass wall to the right of Dominic's open office door and cross my arms over my chest. Waiting. Ready to catch her if she needs me. That is until she picks up the computer off her desk, and with a scream, Ivy jumps into my arms, forcing me to catch her.
"There, Dominic," she pants angrily. "There is the rest of your stupid property. Thank you for reminding me that I luckily share none of your blood. If I never see you again, it will be a day too soon."
Before I can push Ivy off me, Willow's eyes turn to where I'm standing. She takes in her sister in my arms with her limbs wrapped around me, and even with her ire, that wounded look is back deep in her scrutiny. "Be careful with that one. Her bite is deadly."
I try to tell her to stop. Working my mind to think of anything that would abate this feeling of helplessness, but my words fail me. And the next thing I know, she's gone.
"Oh, my God, Kane? Are you okay? She's certifiable. I swear, Daddy should have put her ass out a long time ago."
I look down at Ivy and push her away. Judging by the fact she had to struggle to stay upright in her pencil thin heels, I didn't quite hold back the rage in my forcefulness.
Movement behind Ivy catches my attention and I flash my eyes to see Dominic pinching the bridge of his nose. His face is red, and I have no doubt it's with anger and not embarrassment. Something tells me it takes a lot to embarrass a man like him--if anything. A man with no morals and absolutely no issues stepping on whoever he needs to.
Including a woman who appears to carry a world of pain on her shoulders.
"You disgust me," I seethe, earning his calculated stare. "How a man--any man--could treat a woman that way is beyond me. How a father--regardless of the step in front of that title--could treat his daughter in a way so despicable only shows your true character, Dominic. Anyone who has no qualms in spewing the malevolence that you just did deserves all the hell karma could bring you. I'm sure that will happen sooner than expected considering you had planned on me being your savior--the financial life raft to your drowning company."
I take a few measured steps forward, stopping when my body is crowding his personal space. Even though he's in good shape for an older man, he has nothing on me. My body, shaped and honed by years of strict dietary limitations and physical training, is solid muscle. Add to the fact I'm a solid six or so inches taller, and my intimidation factor isn't just with my words.
I could crush him. Physically, easy, but the hellfire I could rain upon him within the industry would be more damaging than any verbal cockfight I could ever have with this asshole. And he knows it.
"You," I emphasize with a sharp check to his shoulder, "could have reaped the just deserts of me walking in your doors today. You could have picked up the pieces of shit you've managed to let this company of yours become just by signing a contract with me after our meeting. I had come here to discuss the use of a good number of your clients and employees. Do you understand that, Dominic?"
"What's he talking about, Daddy?" Ivy whines behind me, but neither of us is willing to break from the heated battle of domination we're warring.
His eyes narrow and his brow furrows. "Now, wait just a goddamn second here, son," he fumes.
"One thing you should get straight, old man--do not ever call me son. It would be an embarrassment to me to even imply that we had the kind of relationship that calls upon that sort of familiarity."
I can tell he wants to say more, but he doesn't. His chest is puffing up in defiance of my words, betraying the power he's desperately trying to hold on to. He's used to being in control of everything and everyone around him. I can only imagine what it's costing him to shut the fuck up to avoid pissing someone as powerful as I am off.
I hold all the cards here.
And fuck if I understand it, but I'm willing to go to bat for a woman who I know nothing about just based on a feeling.
All because with one look into those wounded doe eyes, I was willing to give her anything at just a chance to explore the connection between us.
I've lost my mind, but even if it weren't for Willow, hearing a man talk to a woman like that would have been enough for me to step in.
"Word on the street is you're so far in the red you're fucking bleeding out." I step a little closer and look down my nose at him; the arrogance he held earlier vanishes with the panic. I know more about him than he bargained. "How's it feel to know that with your actions today, you kissed any chance of aligning yourself with my name away. Lucky for me, I believe you just threw the best part of Logan Agency out the door like trash. I'm going to enjoy picking her up. My guess, she knows more about your own remaining clients than you do."
He sucks in a deep breath, and I know I've hit the nail on the head. Willow might just have been a secretary in his eyes, but you don't work that close to someone like Dominic Logan without soaking up everything you can.
"Good luck ending out this quarter with the Logan Agency's doors still open, Dominic."
My smile is nothing short of satanic when I turn and assess Ivy. "You were wrong, Ivy. The only certifiable people I see here are the two of you."
Stomping my way toward the hallway that will lead me out of here, I turn, addressing the two Logans with cold calculations. "I think what Willow forgot earlier was a good fuck you to the both of you pathetic idiots. I'll see myself out."
By the time I walk past a nervous-looking Mary at the front reception, my adrenaline is spiking so high I know I need to find a way to burn off my aggression. Unfortunately, how I would like to do that isn't an available option. Sure, I could pick any one of my old New York 'friends' and spend a day fucking this out, but fuck me--until I have a taste of the one who tempts me, no other pussy will do.
With no other options, I have Cam take me back to the penthouse, and I spend the next four hours working my body to the point of exhaustion in my home gym. It's time for a new plan, but fuck if I know how to get what I want now. Willow is clearly more fragile than I had counted on and challenging doesn't even come close to scraping the top layer.
A woman like her isn't going to give a shit about the public Kane. If anything, that might be the biggest hurdle I have to overcome.
Fuck.
The way Willow, a complete stranger, can completely unman me makes me feel like the biggest fucking pussy. I'm protective to the point of madness over someone who has mumbled a handful of words to me. That's it. I know nothing about her besides what I've learned the two times I've been stuck watching her fight and struggle through impossible situations.
Pussy or not, I would be a fool to give up on what I feel shooting straight down my spine when my eyes locked with hers. Stupid man, I'm not.
Willow will be mine. I just have to make sure I don't harm her further just by being me and everything that comes with being by my side. It takes a strong woman to be able to handle being in the public eye. Most of the fiercest women I know couldn't even hack it when the media started to have a field day picking apart every single fiber of their life. I don't even have to know Willow to see that she is as far from fierce in nature as it gets.
I sigh deeply with the direction of my thoughts. Fuck. Fuck! For the first time since I decided she would be mine, I'm unsure if capturing my scared little doe would be the best thing for her or the
I'M JUST IN DENIAL ... RIGHT? Surely, that's why I haven't broken down after everything that happened yesterday. I'm not losing my shit further than I did in the office yesterday. I mean it's not the end of the world that I've lost my job and what was left of my dysfunctional family. I'm better off. I know that. I shouldn't be embarrassed at all that a mega movie star watched me go insane and toss a computer through a glass wall. Okay, well ... maybe I should be slightly embarrassed with that.
Crap.
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to block out the memories of yesterday that have been assaulting my mind. Everything keeps playing over and over in one heck of a humiliating display of my madness.
The clamoring of my phone vibrations on my nightstand pulls me from the mortification replay. Reaching a blind hand out, I keep my belly on the mattress and my head buried in my pillow. Knocking a few things to the ground in my refusal to just roll over and grab my cell phone only adds to my frustrations.
"Hello," I mumble into the receiver after successfully tagging the annoying device off my nightstand and looking at the screen long enough to see Eddie's name on the display.
"Well, aren't you Sally Sunshine this afternoon," he quips.
"I love you, Eddie, but right now, I'm really not in the mood for your ridiculously happy disposition."
He huffs out a breath. "Sweetheart, everyone needs a little of Eddie's happy disposition."
"Not me," I declare.
"Pfft."
He's silent for a moment. Long enough for me to wonder if he's been disconnected. Quiet and Eddie just aren't two things that go together.
"Why didn't you call me last night, Will?"
Ah. Looks as though Kirby's been busy today.
"Willow," he warns.
"Look, it wasn't a big deal. Kirby brought me home and supervised while I polished off the rest of that bottle of Jack Daniel's you left here last month. I just needed to forget. I forgot, and now, I'm over it."
"You aren't over it, honey," he softly says.
He's right. I'm not. I had to call on all my therapeutic tricks not to revert to the old Willow, who would have plopped her butt on the floor of my pantry closet and ate everything within reach. Getting drunk isn't any healthier in terms of a coping mechanism, but considering my past of binge eating, it was a better choice for me. Another sign that despite the crushing disappointment around me, I'm stronger. It also helped that Kirby stayed by my side until she helped me stumble to bed.