Shit.
My fingers are flying over the keyboard: Call me back.
I start walking, my pace quick considering I don’t know where to go. After covering five or so blocks and still no call or text, I take matters into my own hands. The receptionist answers, “Klein Advertising.”
“Reese Carmichael.”
“I’m sorry, sir, she’s gone for the day. I can redirect you to her voicemail.”
“What time did she leave?”
“She was working away from the office most of today. She left before lunch to meet with clients. Would you like her voicemail?” She sounds anxious.
When I check my Fitbit, it’s 5:56. She’s probably trying to leave. “No, thank you.” Just as I’m about to hang up, my gut guides me elsewhere and I do something I never do. I drop my name, using it for leverage. “Wait, this is Danny Weston.” I pause to let it sink in.
It’s obvious when it does. The anxiety heard earlier disappears, a purr in her tone is heard. “Well hello, Danny Weston. The supermodel?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes.”
“How may I assist you?”
“Is Keaton Klein available?”
“No,” she answers casually. “He had an event to attend tonight.”
“An event?”
“Yes, Klein Advertising is a large contributor to the Colon Cancer Foundation. They’re having their annual fundraiser tonight,” she replies proudly, then just above a whisper, she gives more than expected, “Ms. Carmichael is scheduled to attend as well. I have a spare ticket if you’d like to go with me as my plus one?”
Tempting. Very tempting if I can see Reese. If she shows. But something I learned a few years back is my name alone opens doors. “Thank you. I have something to do, but I might stop by.”
“My name’s Amanda.”
“Thanks, Amanda.”
“You’re welcome.”
I hang up and sit on a bench nearby. I need to think. This is when I appreciate the time difference between LA and New York. I make a call.
“Mark Warrant’s office. This is Jody.”
“Jods, this is Danny. I need you to do me a favor.”
Standing just inside the doors of the ballroom, I adjust one cufflink, then the other while scanning the opulent surroundings of the historic hotel.
I walk around the back of the room, trying to blend in while I look for Reese. She’s gone cell phone silent on me, which is entirely unacceptable. Sticking to the darker outskirts of the gala, I keep my eyes focused. I haven’t seen her yet, but I know she’s here. I feel it deep inside.
Suddenly feeling like a creeper, I head to the bar and order my standard. With a fresh drink in hand, I work my way out of the crowd and toward the dance floor for a better view. But I stop in my tracks when I see her. It’s almost shocking I missed her before—red floor-length gown, slit up the front showing off her incredible legs, black heels, hair up. Her lips are red to match the dress. Her eyes stand out, her smile entrancing.
She amazes me. How she manages to look more beautiful every time I see her is beyond me—bewilders me—but she does. My heart is pounding in my chest from the very sight of her.
My drink is forgotten on a table as I pass, heading straight for her. She’s got an audience when I approach. Cutting in, I offer my hand. “May I have this dance?”
The look in her eyes says more than she’ll allow her expression to reveal. But it’s me and her, and she smiles as she accepts the offer. “I’d love to.”
I lead her silently to the middle of the dance floor and take her right hand in mine. It’s not the two-step, but I’m a man of many talents. I come replete with many dance moves, including the box step. I think I just won a few points with her. Her smile is contagious, but my heart feels the distance she’s keeping. “I’m not going to let you disappear again. Not without a proper chase. Is that what you’re wanting? You want me to chase you?”
“Danny, I don’t want you to think you have to chase me. You don’t. I want to be with you in whatever way I can be.”
“In whatever way? Hmm.” I look up and quickly gather my thoughts. “So if I chase you, will you believe in my intentions?”
“What are your intentions?”
“I intend to keep you sexually satisfied and blissfully happy.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“Is it?”
“I have no doubt you,” she says, clearing her throat right after, “can back up such lofty claims, but our problems never involved your ability to satisfy me sexually.” She looks up, the pink from her cheeks fading. “And I’m not playing a cat and mouse game with you.”
“Then why did you not come back? Why did I have to track you down at a black-tie affair?”
She smiles lightly. “You do look incredible in that tuxedo.”
“Vittori. The new men’s line.”
“He knows a lot about a man’s body. It’s a perfect fit.”
I refrain from joking around, getting us back on the real topic at hand. “I need answers, Reese.”
“He’s gifted. What can I say? He knows from hands-on experience?”
“Nice try. I’m not talking about Vinnie.”
I stop moving, planting my feet in the middle of the dance floor. “What’s going on with us?”
By the way she’s looking around, she’s worried about eyes and cameras being directed our way. “Please, Danny.” She nods ever so slightly. “Let’s not talk here.”
We walk to the bar and take two glasses of champagne from the table with a large fountain that has the bubbly flowing. Trying to blend into the busy party, we stand off to the side behind a tall table and watch the guests dancing. I don’t say anything. She knows what I want answered. I see the Klein Advertising banner across the room and look for the head douche himself.
Reese says, “I need to handle some business.”
“Now?”
“No, before…” She finally looks at me, right into my eyes. “Before we can see where this goes.”
“It’s not going. We’re already there.”
That brings a smile to her face. “I feel lucky to have you back in my life. Please know that.”
Dread pits itself at the bottom of my stomach. “This doesn’t sound good.”
The smile leaves her pretty face. Blue eyes under black lashes look up to me. “Sometimes timing plays a factor—”
“You’re not doing this. I’m not going to let you. Something happened since this morning. Please don’t hide it from me. Don’t keep me out. We can handle it together. Is it your job?” Glancing around, I say, “I assume you didn’t lose it since you’re here representing them.”
“As a representative of the company, that means I’m on work time.”
She won’t look at me now and I hate it. I follow her gaze and see him standing across the room watching us. I move closer to her, resting my hand on her lower back, but she stiffens under my touch. “He can’t touch us, Reese, if we stand together.”
She takes a step away, and with sadness filling her tone, she says, “He already has. If you’ll excuse me, I need to play my part.”
Disappearing from under my hand, she slips around the table and walks across the room to him. I’m inclined to go after her, but she’s working and I don’t want to cause a scene.
I don’t really like champagne, so I leave it there and find a better spot to watch what’s planned.
“Hey, cowboy.”
Recognizing that voice anywhere, I turn around. I certainly wasn’t answering to cowboy. Nope. “Vinnie. I didn’t think you’d make it.”
“I changed my mind, hoping for some fireworks.”
“I steer clear of drama and you’re enjoying the fact that I’m stuck right in the middle of it.”
“It’s entertaining, but I came to support my girl.”
“She’s over there.”
He frowns. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but it’s more than meets the eye.”
“Good
sleuthing there, Sherlock.” I move closer, Vinnie staying near.
Reese is talking to two men and the asshole. They’re captivated by the woman in red, their full attention on her. I can relate. As I weave through the crowd, her gaze lands on me just over his shoulder. She excuses herself and makes her way back to me. With a devious smile she approaches. “Every woman in this room has their eyes on you, Mr. Weston.”
“And I only have eyes for you, Ms. Carmichael.”
She covertly pats me on the ass as she passes. Hugging Vinnie, she says, “I thought you couldn’t make it?”
“I came to see you.”
Smiling, she hooks her arm with his. “We would have seen each other tomorrow, but I’m happy to see you tonight.” They look at me and she gives me a once-over. “By the way, you fight unfair.”
He laughs. “I sent in my best weapon.”
I cut in, perplexed by the conversation. “Are you two talking about me?”
Reese laughs, her glass now empty, which helps to explain her relaxed demeanor. “We were.”
Holding her arms out, Vinnie looks her up and down. “This dress is pure perfection on you, Candy.”
“I feel beautiful in it. Thank you for letting me borrow it.”
“It’s yours, darling, as if it was made with you in mind all along.”
Reese glances in my direction, then replies, “I’m honored. Thank you again.”
Vinnie says, “I want to see how it moves. Maybe Mr. Weston will take the lady for a spin.”
Before I happily oblige, she says, “We already danced. Unfortunately I have more business to tend to, so I must leave for tonight.”
“Reese?” I call her before she leaves again. Getting as close to her as I can while “appearing” appropriate, I say, “We just made promises to not lie, to share our lives, this morning. What’s going on?”
Standing by my side, she looks around, keeping a smile on her face, she touches my hand between us. “Things are complicated.” I turn to face her. That way she has to look at me when she continues. “Let me handle something that’s come up.”
“You can’t tell me?”
She shakes my hand, appearances in play. “I’m doing everything for us.”
“Let me help.”
“Trust in me, Danny.” She releases my hand and turns. “I’ll tell you everything soon. Until then, we can’t be seen together. I’ll call you later.”
Standing with Vinnie, we watch her walk away. When I look at him, he says, “I know her boss has something to do with this.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Enough.” He sighs heavily and I feel much the same way. “Let her do what she needs to do. If there’s anything I’ve learned about Reese Carmichael, it’s that she’s very capable.”
“He’s pulled rank on her.”
“He’s pulled something.” He pats my shoulder. “Pay no mind. I know her real feelings.”
“Are you talking about him or me?”
“Both.” He laughs and goes to the bar.
27
DANNY
I take the tux off. I’d been hoping she’d be the one taking it off, but Reese hasn’t called, or come over. I can’t relax until I know she’s okay, until she’s back with me. I hang it up and put it in the bag. Wardrobe will be picking it up to use for the Paris shoot.
Sitting in the chair, I know I need to get some sleep but my daylong nap has thrown me off. Not good for the photo shoot in the morning. Makeup will be working overtime.
Thirty more minutes pass and I’m too anxious to sit still, so I get dressed and head to the hotel gym to run off this excess energy. With my headphones in, I cover two and a half miles when a pretty woman in a red dress enters my line of sight. I decrease my speed from seven to three, letting my heart rate regulate back to its normal beat. Pulling out my headphones, I look at her. She’s beautiful even when I’m frustrated with her.
Reese says, “It’s almost one in the morning. What are you doing in here?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Let’s go upstairs. Maybe we can together.”
“Is that why you came over?” My jaw tenses as betrayal starts eating away at me. “To sleep?”
“I came over to explain.”
I lower the speed again so I’m walking slowly. She’s leaning on the treadmill, looking up at me. “Explain what? Why you blew me off today? Why I had to find you at that event tonight bogged down in half-stories and alluding to more than you could say?” Hitting the button, I roll off the back of the treadmill and land on my feet. I take the towel in my hands and scrub over my face and head, wiping away the sweat.
“I spoke with Keaton this morning.”
Nodding, it becomes clear. He used his power to sway her back to his side. I walk to the water fountain and drink, waiting for her to drop the bomb. When she doesn’t, I look back at her. She comes closer, close enough to touch me, and as if she can’t resist, she does despite the possibility of getting my sweat on her fancy dress. “You have it all figured out in your head, don’t you? Have you no faith in me at all?”
“I did once. I got hurt.”
“I got hurt too, but I’m trying not to fall back into that trap and hold the past against you.”
“And what trap is that? Not one I set.” My voice rises as does my anger, all the irritation I just ran off comes rushing back.
Her voice remains impressively calm under the circumstances. “Can we go upstairs and talk about this instead of having it play out in a smelly gym?”
Waving my hand toward the door, I say, “After you.”
She walks by and I’m tempted to grab her, to touch her, to take her against the mirrored wall, making her watch as I fuck her and this irritation out of my system for good. I reach for her, but drop my arm back down, knowing that won’t solve anything. Looking up, I see the camera in the corner of the room aimed at us. Fuck. Lowering my head, I follow her back to the room.
The door shuts and locks automatically. She takes off her shoes and I go straight to the bathroom and turn on the shower. I kick off my shoes and strip down. She appears in the doorway and leans against it the frame. “I’m not with him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“But I have obligations I have to fulfill.”
“To Klein Advertising or to him?”
“The lines are blurred.”
“That’s what I was afraid of, and yet, you ask me to have faith in you.”
“I still do. Faith and trust that I want what you want.”
“I want to.”
She walks to the counter, turning her back to the mirror to face me. One by one she starts taking pins out of her hair. “I’m yours, Danny. You own my heart.” Little by little, strands come tumbling down over her shoulders. I should get in the shower. I really should, but I don’t. I’m mesmerized by the brunette beauty who has turned her back to me, asking for help. “Will you unzip me?”
My fingers find the small zipper and I slide it down her back. As the two sides go slack, her skin is revealed. I glance up at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes are down as she moves her hair to the side. It comes down to either trusting her or not. I lean in and kiss her exposed skin. I’m choosing to trust the woman who could easily destroy me. Again. Reese moans softly letting her head loll to the side, whether subconsciously or on purpose, she gives me more access.
I take advantage of the opportunity and lick her neck, then blow, making her shiver. “Danny.” Her hands come around to hold on to me. But I want the dress off, so I move back just enough for it to pool at her feet.
She steps out and I tilt my head to get a new perspective. Everything about her entices me, makes me want her more each day. “I’ve given you my heart. With that, comes my faith and trust.”
Turning around under my watchful gaze, she slips her panties down and takes her bra off. “I’ve given you the same.” Wordlessly, she comes to me. Taking
my shirt by the hem, she lifts while I bend over and she removes it. Her hands run down my body, a slight sheen from sweat, but she doesn’t blink twice. Rubbing over my cock, I cover her hand, and then take off my shorts. “Please never doubt how I feel about you. I did what I did tonight for us.”
Our bodies bare before each other, I drag the tips of my fingers over her breasts. “What did you do? Tell me.”
My cock is hard as I stand there. I want to slide so slowly inside her then fuck her fast and hard. I want to make her feel how much she makes me want her. But I’m patient, so I let her answer first. She replies through labored breaths, “I have to play his game.”
“Why?” I whisper as I take her earlobe between my teeth and just breathe.
Her nipples are hard, her body squirming. She closes her eyes as if in pain, squeezing them shut. When she reopens them, she says, “Because he’ll ruin you if I don’t.”
“No one can ruin me. No one but you, baby.”
I take her wrists in hand and our bodies gravitate closer. “Make love to me, Danny.” The plea is guttural, a desire driven from hunger and erotic pleasure, not matching the sweet words.
My grip on her wrists tightens as I try to fight my own desire for her. I release her and back away to the counter.
She looks surprised, not happy. “What? Why did you let go?”
“Because I didn’t think I could.”
“You were testing yourself? What? To see if you could resist me?” The water pours down in the shower and I wonder if I should either get in or turn it off, but I stay where I am despite the debate. She looks confused. “You want to let me go?”
“No,” I say, “I want you to let him go.”
“I have.”
Shaking my head, I look down. “I want to be with you, Reese. I want you so much. I want you in ways I should probably go to church and confess my sinful thoughts.”
“You’re not Catholic.”
“That’s my point. I think it’s lust that draws me to you, but then you’re asleep in my arms with no makeup and you look like an angel. You’ve got me all fucked up, but when you say you have to play his games, I come to my senses.”
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