by Layla Hagen
“No, you can just relax, okay?”
“I can’t. I get anxious if I don’t do anything.”
That was true. Mom was one of those people who just couldn’t sit down and do nothing, even for a few minutes.
“Oh, by the way, I have an announcement to make,” Mom went on.
Tess and Heather looked at her immediately.
“I’ve decided to finally have laser surgery on my eyes. It’s so damn hard to read that small print, even with glasses. And the prescriptions they’re giving me for new lenses are so thick they’re just awful. Anyway, I’m just done with them. I’m going to do it in three weeks. I’ll be good as new by the time school starts,” Mom said.
“Good for you,” I replied. She’d wanted to do it for years. “Do you need us to help you with anything?”
“No, Mick is going to be with me that day. It’s just an outpatient surgery, and the recovery time is minimal. I’ll be fine.”
“But you’ll let us know if something comes up?” Tess pressed.
Mom nodded, and my sister and I exchanged a glance. We’d just have to spam Mick with messages, because Mom wasn’t exactly in a sharing mood when she was sick.
When we were kids, she once didn’t even tell us she was in the hospital for gallbladder surgery just so we wouldn’t worry. She’d asked a neighbor to watch us and told us she was at a conference. We gave her an earful once we caught on, but it didn’t accomplish much. Mom had her own way of handling things, but as far as I was concerned, she’d been the best role model I could have asked for.
“Josie said her brothers and sister are in town the weekend after my laser appointment, and I invited everyone for lunch on Saturday.”
“You think you’ll be up for it?” I asked. “Maybe you’ll need time to recover.”
Mom waved her hand. “I’ll be just fine, but I will need some help with preparations, because Mick will already be gone for setup of one of his concerts.”
“Sure. We’ll help. I can’t wait to see everyone,” I said. I loved to catch up with our family, and Josie’s siblings were always a lot of fun. They were scattered around the country, moving around for work, and we typically only ever got together for holidays or weddings. Her brothers, Ian and Dylan, gave Ryker and Cole a run for their money on practically everything. And Isabelle, Josie’s sister, was a girl after my own heart. Josie kept saying she wished they’d all move to New York, and I couldn’t agree more.
After Mom and Heather left, Tess and I immediately decided to organize a girls’ evening out while Isabelle was in town.
“Come to think of it, we haven’t had one in a while,” Tess said. “Hey, I have an idea,” she continued. “Why don’t you and I do that tonight? And you can spill the beans about the walk of non-shame and your sexy CEO.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “Why not? I just have to warn you that my sexy CEO looked as if he had nefarious plans in mind for us tonight.”
Tess opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Was about to ask what you meant by nefarious plans, but I think that would be too much information.”
I nodded excitedly. “Far too much.”
The no-secrets policy did not include sexy details, and I liked it that way... because there was such a thing as oversharing.
We messaged Heather and Josie, but neither of them had time to stop by the store tonight, so Tess and I decided to just have fun by ourselves. At nine o’clock, we turned the sign on the door to Closed and made ourselves comfortable on the couch in front, with pizza cartons set between the two of us.
“Okay, I eat, you talk,” Tess instructed. I laughed, but that seemed like a fair deal. I told her about my impromptu visit to his restaurant yesterday and our night together. My mouth was dry by the time I finished talking. I took a swig of soda, then devoured my pizza. Tess was watching me with a smile.
“You’re totally into him,” she concluded.
“I am.”
“It’s the first time I’ve really seen you this way.”
“I’ve never felt like this before,” I admitted. I loved talking about these things with my sister.
Tess clapped her hands, shimmying on the couch. “Yes! You go, girl.”
“Can I ask you something? How do you do it... always get so excited? You never hold anything back.”
Tess munched on her last bit of pizza, finishing it before replying. “I am afraid of things too, you know. I just don’t show it.” She swallowed and continued, “I want to find someone, but I’m also afraid that it could all go wrong. I still remember that horrid feeling of Dad leaving, of not being wanted.”
Her words were like a punch to my stomach. I nearly doubled over from the force of it. I remembered that feeling in vivid detail. Most times, I just did my best to forget it.
“We all do, I suppose,” I muttered. Did my past affect my dating life? Was I fearful of someone leaving me? Well, it wasn’t like it hadn’t already happened, and yes, it bothered me—but this time, with Rob, it was different. I just knew it was.
Tess shook her head, straightening up. “I didn’t want to ruin our mood. Especially since—” She tilted her head to the right, peering over my shoulder. “—I think your sexy chef is outside the store.”
I turned so fast that I heard my neck snap. Holy shit, he really was there. I mean, he’d told me that he might crash my evening plans, but he hadn’t texted or anything, so I’d sort of assumed he got caught up at one of the restaurants.
I went to the door, and Tess followed me.
When I opened it, Rob glanced between the two of us.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” I said.
“Figured I’d find you here.” His confident nonchalance gave me chills, good ones.
Tess placed both hands on my shoulders from behind. “Hey, keep doing what you’re doing. Sis here is smiling more than usual, so I’m a big fan of yours.”
I blushed, feeling my face getting hotter, and even the tips of my ears.
“Good to know,” Rob said. “Ready to go?”
“Oh, yeah.” I nodded, looking around. “Just let me get my purse.”
In a few minutes, Tess and I turned off all the lights and locked up the place. Rob waited for me patiently by the door. Hmm... I was trying to guess what he had in mind for the evening, but he had a great poker face. Except for that smoldering gaze. Holy hell, I’d only been in his presence for a few minutes, but I was already simmering. I hoped Tess didn’t notice I was perspiring.
“Tess, do you want to share a cab?” Rob asked once the three of us were outside the store. “We can drop you off at home.”
My sister shook her head. “No, no, no. I have a firm rule about never being a third wheel. And you’ve been throwing sis here hot looks since she opened the door, so....”
I groaned. “Tess....”
“What? I just call it like I see it.”
Rob’s eyes had a knowing glint of sorts. There was no mistaking his intentions.
So much for Tess not noticing. I blushed even more violently.
“Do sleep a little though,” she teased. My sister kissed my cheek, then Rob’s before sashaying down in the direction of the main street.
“Very observant,” Rob muttered.
I cocked a brow, placing my hand on my hip. “Orrr... you’re very obvious.”
“That too.” A small smile played on his lips, which then morphed into a grin. He pulled me flush against him unexpectedly, and I pointed at his face.
“You have a plan,” I said.
“How can you tell?”
“I don’t know. You just give off that vibe.”
“So you’re both observant.” Taking my hand, he kissed the back of it, rubbing his thumb in small circles on it. “I have a proposition.”
“Uhhh... so I was wrong. Not a plan.”
“Yet.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Two options: Either I take you home and pamper you for a bit, then head back to the city. I have
an early morning tomorrow again. Or... we drop by your house, you pack a suitcase for the next week, and come back to the hotel with me.”
I blinked, sucking in a breath. “Oh, wow.”
“I told you I want more of you, Skye.” He cupped my face with both hands, looking at me intently. “I understand that it might make things complicated for you, or you might just prefer to sleep at home, but I’d really like it for you to consider it. Next week will be even more intensive, and I will literally not have time to see you at all otherwise. After Restaurant Days wrap up, everything will be back to normal.”
I frowned, feigning that I had to think very hard about it, then held up a finger. “I’ve considered it. And the answer is a resounding yes.”
I only briefly managed to see the relief in his eyes before he pulled me flush against him and kissed me hot and heavy, right there for all Soho to see. He kept one hand firmly at the small of my back. Yeah, I lost the battle and gave in to swooning. I was going to spend every night this week with him!
His gaze was determined and, well... sizzling when he pulled back.
“God, I was hoping you’d say that.”
“What would you have done if I said no?” I asked.
“Used some tricks to change your mind.”
“I knew it. You’re a tyrant just pretending to play nice now and again.”
“I fight for what I want, Skye. And I want you with me. All the time.”
Oh, this man. I wasn’t even done swooning, and here he was doing it again.
“Let’s go, then, because I take a long-ass time to pack. I can’t wait to wear panties again.”
He jerked his head back. “You’re still commando?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You own a lingerie store. And what did I tell you when I put you in that cab?”
“Yeah, like I was going to let you boss me into anything. Besides, I never wear panties without washing them first.”
“Holy shit, woman. You’re going to drive me crazy.”
“No, no. I plan to do that only after we reach the hotel. Hey, we’re going to get a bit of sleep now and then, right?”
His expression morphed into a full-on grin. “I can’t make any promises.”
Chapter Twenty
Rob
Few things were able to anger me past the point of reason. At the very top of that list was my shitty ex-brother-in-law. I’d meant to keep my promise to Anne, I really had. Until he had the audacity to show up at headquarters the day after Restaurant Days were over. He asked for me to help him with a new business, to put in a good word for him with the banks so he could get the loans he needed.
He'd chosen the worst possible moment to approach me. Anne and Lindsay had just returned from France, and Lindsay had mentioned that he’d forgotten to call again.
“Let me get this straight. You hauled ass without notice, divorced my sister, and now you want my help?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
Why did I let him in the building in the first damn place? Why didn’t I just kick him out on the street from the start? He’d hurt Anne, and I wanted to hurt him. He just went on with his life, the arrogant prick, while my sister was a ghost of herself. Fucker.
Lindsay! I couldn’t forget about Lindsay. She’d have the most to lose if I connected my fist to his jaw.
“Get out,” I said.
“What?”
“Get out. Before I forcibly remove you.” I yelled louder to make sure he heard me this time.
“I was the CEO of this company. You can’t just ignore that.”
“Yes I can. And I will.”
“There’s plenty I can say or do to hurt the image of this company.”
I smirked. “Go ahead. Think any bank will approve you for a loan after that? I have them all in my pocket.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Yes.”
“You bastard. I’m not the first person to divorce his wife. Anne got boring as fuck, so I looked elsewhere for fun.”
I didn’t even realize when I lunged over to him. Anger pushed out any thought. Instinct prevailed. I punched him square in the stomach, relishing the way he curled forward from the impact, letting out a strangled cry.
“That’s for hurting Anne and Lindsay,” I said, pushing him back. He nearly crashed into the door. “Let me make one thing clear. I forbid you to hurt or disappoint my niece. It’s too late to take back all the hurt you caused Anne, but you will call Lindsay on a regular basis. Spend time with her. Or else.”
“Or else what?” he challenged.
“The name Dumont means something in this city. The whole country. Piss me off, and you’ll see just how much power it has.”
“You don’t intimidate me.” Though he sounded damn intimidated.
“Call her. Man up and be responsible.” I was at the edge of reason again. “Now get out.”
He opened his mouth, closed it again. I was standing straight, feet wide apart, hands in my pockets, balled into fists. Something in my body language must have made it clear that I was out of patience, because he left my office immediately.
I was restless for the rest of the day. Even I could tell I wasn’t just being difficult at work, as usual—no, I was being a jackass. When my assistant burst into tears because I barked at her to hurry up with a report, I knew it was time to give up on this day.
Outside, I sat on a bench in Tompkins Square Park under the shade of elms. Damn it, I was still restless. I had no idea how to cool down. Sitting here wasn’t helping either. No, I wanted something else.
I needed Skye.
That thought just slammed into me all on its own. Taking out my phone, I hesitated with my thumbs above the screen. I wasn’t used to needing anyone. When shit happened, I dealt with it on my own or ignored it until it wasn’t an issue any longer. But this last week, I’d had her with me every evening at the hotel, and it had been glorious, no matter if we were talking, if I was sinking inside her, or just falling asleep curled into each other, which happened on two nights the second we slid into bed because we’d both been exhausted. I craved her nearness.
I finally made the call.
“Hey,” she said, sounding happy to hear from me, but I detected unease in her voice too.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying not to pull my hair out.”
I laughed. “That good, huh?”
“We had a zillion cancellations today, and I just figured out it was because our payment system crashed. It’s just not keeping up with demand. You?”
“In Tompkins Square Park.”
A pause followed before she said, “Damn, so your day is worse.”
“How can you tell?”
“Hanging out in parks without a reason? Not your style.”
“You’ve got me all figured out, huh?” Surprisingly, I liked the thought of that. And just like that, she was cheering me up.
“Well, no, but everything you do has a purpose.”
“I suppose you’re right. Can I persuade you to hang out with me?”
Say yes. I was breathing easier just at the prospect of spending the evening with her. It was just six o’clock, but maybe she could leave the store earlier.
“Depends, what do you have in mind?”
“Nothing, but I’m open to suggestions.”
“Have you ever been to Ancient Aire Baths? I haven’t been in a while, and we have a sales assistant here tonight. She can close without me.”
“No, but I know them.” They were practically across from the restaurant in Tribeca.
“Well, you’re in for a treat. I love them. Meet me there in half an hour?”
“I think I’ll need forty. I’m in the East Village.”
“Okay. Unless you want to do something over there instead?”
“And miss out on the opportunity of seeing you naked?”
Skye laughed. “You don’t know how these thermal bath things work, do you
? We wear bathing suits.”
“I’m sure we can sneak some naked time somewhere.”
“Oh my God! Promise you won’t.”
“Won’t what?”
“Tempt me.”
I smiled for the first time since my encounter with the jackass. “Can’t lie to you, Skye. See you in forty minutes.”
I arrived earlier than anticipated. Skye was already on the white steps, waving at me. Just seeing her did things to me I couldn’t explain.
“Hey, broody guy. Let’s go inside.”
Instead of answering, I pulled her to me. We were in full view of Tribeca, so I limited myself to a simple press of my lips against hers. For now.
Inside at the reception desk, I was given onetime-use shorts. Skye had brought a bikini from the store. We both received flip-flops and towels.
“I know my way to the changing rooms,” Skye told the receptionist. Taking my hand, she led me down a few corridors, right to a series of changing rooms. We’d been given the same one.
Stepping inside, Skye hung her bag on one of the hooks, her dress on the other. Watching her take off her clothes was a special kind of torture. She seemed oblivious to my pain as she kicked off her underwear, putting on a simple black bikini. Her ass and breasts looked too fucking delicious. Groaning, I gripped her ass, sliding my fingers inside her bikini.
“No funny business.” She swatted my hand away playfully.
I drew her to me the next second, kissing her wet and deep, digging my fingers in her ass, rubbing against her. It was so easy to get wrapped up in her taste, her scent. I only came to my senses when I pushed her against the metal wall and buried my mouth in her neck.
“You haven’t changed,” she murmured.
Pulling back, I wiggled my eyebrows. “Want to help me?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “I’ll wait for you outside, or we’re never going to make it in the water. Come on, hurry up.”
I didn’t want to let her out, but changing with her in here was too risky. I was already hard and having trouble behaving myself. I could already imagine bending her over, one leg up on the bench, sinking inside her. After she left, I took off my clothes, putting on the shorts. They were a little more fitted than what I’d wear, so I waited two whole minutes for my hard-on to subside before joining her.