The Hookup Handbook Read online

  “Sienna. Welcome.”

  Welcome? That’s it? Not a “nice to meet you” or anything? I pause, expecting him to stand up and shake my hand or something, but he doesn’t move an inch. Neither does his stare, which is pointed at me with laser-like intensity.

  “Happy to be here,” I say quickly to fill the silence, although I’m not sure that I mean it. In this moment, I’d rather be anywhere but here. My insides feel like spaghetti being twisted with a fork.

  “There’s a lot for you to do,” he says, nodding toward the paperwork without letting his stare falter. As his attention turns from me to my brother, he relaxes a bit, his tone going from aggressive to friendly. “Ryder, have you checked your email? There’s a client for you today. One of your regulars from across town, I think.”

  Ryder pulls out his cell and nods, scrolling through his in-box. “Shit, this is in like an hour. I gotta head out.” He glances up at me. “You all good here? I gotta bounce.”

  “She’s fine,” Case says sharply. “I’ll get her set up. You go ahead.”

  I want to beg Ryder not to leave me just yet, but he’s the reason I’m getting a paycheck, so I can’t stand in the way of him getting his. “Just don’t forget you’re my ride home, okay?”

  Ryder nods. “Of course. I’ll for sure be back before the end of the day. Later, guys.”

  “Later,” Case says, the last bit of his casualness fading with Ryder’s exit. His eyes return to that intense stare as his attention moves back to me. “I guess we should get you started,” he says flatly, as if giving me work is a chore for him.

  How can he be so friendly with my brother and so icy with me?

  Case gets up from his desk, revealing a well-fitted pair of jeans that encase one of the nicest backsides I’ve ever seen on a man. He’s just as tall as I expected. Well over six feet, for sure, which ups the intimidation factor.

  Scooping up the pile of paperwork, Case struts over to a smaller desk on the other side of the room. “You’ll work here,” he says matter-of-factly and plops the paperwork on the desk, sending a few pages flying off the stack. “And this will be your first project. Digitizing these old client files. There’s a laptop in the drawer you can use to type them into a spreadsheet. Your brother says you’re smart, so I’m guessing you can figure it out.”

  In a matter of moments, he returns to his desk and is right back to work. And back to ignoring me.

  Nice to meet you too.

  I take my place at my new desk. As the laptop boots up, I pick up the file folders and flip through the paperwork he’s given me.

  Guess it’s time to get to work. Only, I can barely focus.

  For some strange reason, I’m hyperaware of this man sitting just feet from me. Shouldn’t we talk? Discuss our goals? What we each want to get out of my employment here?

  The longer I sit here inputting customer files, the more agitated I become. I mean, seriously, the guy couldn’t even take two seconds out of his day to properly train me? I don’t even know where the freaking bathroom is. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do for lunch.

  After I’ve inputted the twelfth customer file, I pause and take a deep breath. I can feel Case’s presence looming like a shadow across the room.

  “So . . .” I pause, my attempt at small talk already crashing and burning. “You sleep with women for a living.”

  Shit. Real smooth, Sienna.

  Case doesn’t even look up from his computer screen, clearly not thrown by my question. “Sometimes,” he says, his deep voice rumbling.

  Sometimes? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Isn’t that his job?

  “How long have you been doing this?”

  He pauses as he thinks about it for a second, still not looking at me. “Eight years, give or take.”

  “Do you have a girlfriend?”

  “No girlfriend.”

  “Have you ever been in a serious relationship?” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them.

  Something like wounded pride or anger flashes through his gaze as it briefly meets mine; I’m not sure which. “Not answering that.”

  Case doesn’t want to talk, that much is obvious, but I’m on a roll now.

  “I get why Ryder does it, but you— I mean, you run a successful business. Obviously, there’s a brain knocking around in that skull somewhere.” I smile, but my attempt at a joke doesn’t just crash and burn, it erupts into a fiery volcano, threatening to take me with it.

  He looks more annoyed that I made it sound like they’re drug dealers or criminals, or possibly because I implied he must be stupid. Which I don’t really believe; it just came out wrong.

  “Don’t kid yourself,” he says sharply. “Fucking is what I’m good at. But tell me, why does Ryder do it?”

  “Basically? To piss our parents off. He’s always been a manwhore, and this way he can get paid for what he was doing already without having to blow through his trust fund.”

  Case’s easy expression falters. Maybe he didn’t know Ryder has a trust fund. I assume he knows we come from money, and I assume he now knows that I have a trust fund too. I just hope he doesn’t judge me for it. As far as I’m concerned, that’s my parents’ money, not mine. And I intend to work for what I have.

  “I like sex. It’s really that simple, Sienna.”

  The sound of my name leaving his lips makes my lungs constrict with something hot and uncomfortable.

  “Nothing is that simple.” And if he actually believes that, he’s an idiot. “What’s your end game?”

  “My what?” His expression is part mild irritation and part amusement at my questions. He turns his big body away from the desk so he’s facing me.

  “I’m just trying to put the pieces together here.” I tap my pen on my knee.

  He sits back in the chair and folds his hands behind his head, which makes his biceps look huge. A slight grin tilts his full lips. “Tell me everything that’s on your mind. All at once.”

  “I’m not sleeping with you.” Oh my God. Did I just say that? Out loud? Shit!

  “Never asked you to.”

  I swallow the lump that’s now lodged in my throat. “I’m here to work. That’s it. I don’t want to hear about your conquests. I don’t want to know what goes on when you leave here for appointments. The only thing I’m here to do is to help you in this office.”

  “Perfect. Then we’re on the same page.”

  “Oh, and since I graduated at the top of my class from a top-tier university, I’d appreciate something more challenging than data entry.”

  He smirks at me. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “I guess I’ll get to work, then.”

  Turning back to my laptop, I take a deep breath. I know I’ve completely overstepped my bounds, and I have no idea why I lost my shit on him. I’m normally as cool as a cucumber.

  I open a browser and pull up my email to fire off a quick message to my best friend, Allison.

  To: Allison Garner

  From: Sienna Johnson

  Subject: First Day of Work

  I’ve been in the “office” (more of a mansion—I’ll explain later) for all of an hour, and I think my boss already hates me. Best part? My desk is five feet away from him. Remind me why I’m doing this again?

  Before I can even open a new spreadsheet to continue with my task, my email dings with a response from Allison.

  To: Sienna Johnson

  From: Allison Garner

  Subject: Eyes on the Prize

  Something to put on your résumé? To fill time between worrying about grad school and chasing down a summer fling. That’s why you’re doing this. Don’t lose sight of your goals, girl. Give your boss the finger for me. We’ll drink about it soon.

  A giggle escapes me at the thought. Flipping off my boss my first day on the job? Talk about the fast lane to getting fired.

  “What’s so funny?” Case gives me a suspicious look from behind his computer monitor.

  “Oh
, just an email.” I close the browser, just in case that intense stare can see through the back of my laptop. “Sorry. I’m halfway through these files now. I know you’re trying to work.”

  “Great,” he says curtly, his attention returning to his screen. “Thank you.”

  I hold tightly to that thank-you, making certain I don’t forget the way it sounds in his low, rumbling voice. Something tells me I’m not going to hear those words from him a lot.

  Chapter Three

  Case

  Normally, I’m not the kind of man who has trouble focusing. Half the reason I’ve been so successful is because when it comes down to it, I buckle down and do what needs to be done.

  For the past eight years, I’ve run this business on my own, managing a half dozen hotheaded men, filing paperwork, being every woman’s fantasy in the bedroom, all while putting out client and publicity fires left and right. This business has been my life, my baby, and if there’s one thing I have trouble with, it’s control. Or rather, giving it up.

  And Ryder’s goody-two-shoes, whip-smart little sister isn’t making that any easier for me. It’s only Wednesday, and she’s driving me crazy.

  “I finished cleaning out your in-box, and I’ve organized it so that all incoming emails will go to their respective files. One for clients, one for press, one for employees, one for expenses, and one for everything else.”

  Sienna barely even takes a breath as she explains it all to me, her blue eyes glued to the computer screen as she clicks from file to file.

  “It’ll take a few days for the new system to fully adjust, but I’ll keep an eye on it. In the long run, it should make your job a lot easier.”

  When I decided that she should work with me in my home office, it made sense at the time. The room is big enough for both of us to work comfortably, and having her nearby makes it easier to communicate what needs to get done and answer any questions she might have.

  But something about having her so close all the time makes my skin crawl. And it’s not just because she blows through every assignment I give her in a fraction of the time I think it’ll take her. No, being this close to her is unnerving for a whole different set of reasons.

  First, I never expected her to be drop-dead gorgeous, with honey-colored hair down to her waist, big blue eyes, and a nice set of perky tits that are definitely more than a handful.

  And what is that scent? I’ve been trying to place it all week. My office usually smells like male deodorant and coffee. Now that’s been replaced with a new mouth-watering aroma that I’m having trouble putting my finger on. It’s not too flowery or too strong, and there are hints of rose and cedar. She smells chic and sophisticated and utterly sexy.

  It’s pissing me right the fuck off.

  That tongue-lashing she gave me on her first day was more than a little eye-opening. This girl’s got balls, that’s for sure. She doesn’t act one bit like I expected her to, and I have no idea why that’s so appealing to me.

  Shit. I scrub my hands through my hair.

  I guess it’s because I’m used to women fawning all over me, wanting to fuck me from the word hello. Sienna is nothing like the women I’m used to. She’s all fire and spice. Which is a good thing, I remind myself. If there’s one thing I definitely can’t do, is picture myself fucking Ryder’s little sister.

  When my cock twitches in my jeans at the thought, I inhale deeply, trying to calm myself. At the same time, I realize Sienna is looking up from her computer, staring directly at me.

  “Thanks for doing that,” I say, thumbing through the stack of client files that have somehow tripled behind my desk.

  She doesn’t respond, and even with my back turned, I can practically see her staring expectantly at me, just like she has every time she finishes a task before I’m ready for her to. So far I’ve chosen to ignore her, make her say something before giving her something else to do.

  I’ve run out of small, meaningless tasks to give her, and when it comes to throwing real work her way? Well, let’s just say I’m not sure I’m ready to do that yet.

  After a couple more minutes of silence, she clears her throat, absentmindedly tapping her pen on the pad of paper next to her laptop.

  I slowly turn from my paperwork, making a point to meet her gaze. “Yes?”

  “Well, I was just wondering, when are you going to let me do something real?”

  “Something real?”

  “Everything you’ve had me do so far is grunt work. The kind of thing you have some airhead intern do. I don’t know what my brother told you, but I graduated summa cum laude, so I’m sure I can handle something more substantial than data entry, alphabetizing folders, and in-box organizing.”

  When I finally look up from the stack of papers in my hands, I’m surprised by how stern and direct her gaze is. For someone on the third day of a crappy summer job, she’s really not fucking around.

  “Plus,” she says, sitting up straighter in her seat, “wouldn’t it be nice if someone else knew how to run the office when you’re not here? For, you know, when you’re out meeting with clients.” She gives me a double wink. The little brat.

  I don’t bother pointing out that I’m not currently seeing any clients, because that would only prompt her to ask why.

  Mentally, I shudder, remembering our game of twenty questions from her first day. She’s a nosy little thing without many boundaries, or personal filters, apparently. And I’m certainly not ready to tell anyone, least of all her, that I can’t get my joystick to function properly.

  “All right, fine. You can take over these new-client files. Don’t forget to attach the disclaimers and the privacy agreements. The last thing we need is a publicity shitstorm just because the new hire isn’t familiar with the rules of the trade.”

  Sienna nods and flashes me a smile, but I can tell it’s forced. If this job has taught me one thing, it’s how to tell when a woman’s faking it. And that smile was fake as fuck.

  It’s week one. What the hell does she want from me? Christ.

  I drop the new-client files on her desk, leaning on the back of her chair and arching a concerned brow. “Look, I’m sure you can handle it. I just don’t want to give you more than you can manage to start out. I’m not just going to give some coed the keys to my kingdom. New jobs can be hard enough, and what we do here is so unorthodox, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were . . . distracted.”

  Her eyes grow wide for a moment, a look of horror and disgust quickly taking them over. “If you think I’m going to drool all over you like one of your little groupies, let me assure you, that won’t be a problem.”

  I shrug and cross my arms, stepping back to lean one hip against my desk. I’m about to point out that she couldn’t afford a ride on this love stick, but then I remember she said Ryder’s a trust-fund kid. Which means she is too. She could probably afford multiple rides on this love stick.

  That realization should annoy me, but it doesn’t. A familiar ache in my gut throws me off my game for a second, and I notice that Sienna’s chest is heaving with frustration. Seeing her so hot and bothered only makes me want to push her further.

  “I’m just saying, I wouldn’t blame you if working here made it hard to focus.”

  She sits up straighter and crosses her arms, the upper curves of her breasts just barely peeking out of the neckline of her blouse.

  The ache in my gut grows stronger. What the hell is wrong with me?

  “I don’t need to pay for sex,” she says quickly, “if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “If that’s what you think this profession is about, you might as well be some airhead intern.”

  Sienna scoffs. “Oh, like what you guys do here is so noble.”

  “You don’t think a woman prioritizing her own pleasure and happiness isn’t a worthwhile pursuit?” I definitely think it is, or I would have been out of this business a long time ago.

  “Not when it’s exploited for monetary gain,” she snaps, seemingly please
d with herself.

  “Ask any of our clients about their experiences with us, and I assure you, ‘exploited’ is the last word they would use to describe it. Come to think of it, we have the paperwork to prove it. Let’s add filing client-satisfaction forms to your to-do list.”

  She pauses, a pretty blush creeping over her cheeks and chest.

  On a roll now, I take a breath and continue. “I’m sure you’re professional enough to handle reading all about how pleased your brother’s clients were to take a ride on his—”

  She holds up both hands. “All right. I, uh, better get to work, then.” Grabbing the files I dropped on her desk, she quickly opens the first one and scans the page, the blush lingering on her rosy cheeks.

  I return to my desk, feeling satisfied that I won that round. As I sit down, a new email comes in, arriving directly into the EVERYTHING ELSE folder Sienna set up for me. It’s Charlie, reminding me for the twenty-seventh time that my deadline for the book is quickly approaching.

  “Fuck,” I mutter quietly, but clearly not quietly enough.

  Sienna nervously raises her head, chewing on her lower lip as her brows knit together. “Did I do something wrong with your email?”

  “No, it’s not that. My agent, Charlie, has just been all over me lately about this book deal.”

  Her brows wing upward. “You’re writing a book?”

  “Supposed to be. The finished manuscript is due in four weeks, and I’ve got nothing. Well, not nothing. But I don’t have much.”

  “Why don’t you ask them to extend the deadline? Or just back out? I’ve seen your finances, and it looks like you’re doing fine.”

  “Can’t. Already spent the advance.”

  “How responsible of you.” She rolls her eyes.

  Jesus. This girl. She doesn’t cut me one bit of slack.

  “On my mom.”

  Sienna must really think I’m an idiot who can’t handle his money. At her puzzled expression, I explain.

  “I’m trying to move her closer to me, and I already put a down payment on her new place—her dream house.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize . . .”

  “Don’t be.”