by Marie Force
Flynn knocks on my door shortly after five. “You got a minute?”
“Yep.”
We spent a big chunk of today talking logistics for the film we are making about Natalie’s story.
Flynn closes the door.
“Everything okay?”
“I owe you an apology.”
“What for?”
“Nat told me that she gave Aileen the 411 on you and the BDSM. She shouldn’t have done that, and I told her so.”
“It’s fine,” I say, waving away his apology. “She saved us a lot of time and angst by filling in the blanks for Aileen.”
“Still, it wasn’t her story to tell.”
“Aileen said Natalie didn’t want us to go through what Hayden and Addie did when he refused to let her into that part of his life. She does make a good point. We’re all about the communication in our lifestyle, and yet we have the hardest time telling new people.”
“You’re taking this better than I thought you would. We all know how fiercely private you are.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“You take it to a whole other level. After fifteen years, sometimes I feel like I don’t know you any better than I did the day I met you.”
“You know the things that matter.”
“Do I?”
“What’s this about, Flynn?” I feel cornered, and I don’t care for that feeling. It brings back too many memories I’d sooner forget.
“Nothing. I just wanted to apologize.”
“No need. It’s all good.”
“So you and Aileen…”
“Night, Flynn,” I say, forcing a smile.
“Just tell me one thing…”
I raise a brow in inquiry.
“You’re being careful with her, right?”
The implication that I wouldn’t be infuriates me. “Good night, Flynn.” This time I say it without the smile.
Thankfully, he lets it go and leaves with a wave.
Why am I so damned mad that he felt the need to ask me that? I know he’s only looking out for his and Natalie’s friend, but still… It’s offensive that he felt he needed to ask. But when I think about all the things he’s seen me do with other women, the fury dissipates as quickly as it formed. He has every good reason to be concerned for his friend, and I can’t blame him for putting me on notice that I’ll answer to him if any harm comes to her at my hand.
That won’t happen. I’d rather die than cause her harm.
I text him. Sorry for being a dick. She’s safe with me. I promise.
All good, he replies.
My concentration is totally blown, and I can’t wait another hour and a half to see her. I text her. Cutting out of work early if you want to come sooner.
We’ll leave in ten.
I grab my keys and phone, leaving the piles of work I’d normally bring home with me. Fuck work. I have far better things to do tonight than work.
Lori looks up with surprise when I emerge from my office about two hours earlier than usual.
“Will you call this in for me?” I hand her a piece of paper where I’ve written the number of the pizza place and the order for a large cheese, a large veggie and a house salad.
“That’s a lot for one person,” she says, giving me a curious look that I ignore.
“Did you ask Cecilia to call my friend?”
“It’s all set. She’s going over there tomorrow to meet her and her kids. And she’s thrilled to have the chance to make some extra money.”
“Tell her it can be a regular thing if she wants it to be.”
“I’m sure she will. She has hideous student loans.” Lori props her chin on her upturned fist, settling in for a good gossip session that I have every intention of avoiding. “Does someone have a girlfriend?”
“Oh damn.” I check my watch. “Look at the time. Gotta run. Call in that order.”
“Yes, sir, Bossman.”
When she calls me sir, it does nothing for me. But when Aileen did it last night… Stop or you’ll be hard before you get on the elevator.
It seems every Quantum employee has a question for me that has to be answered before I reach the elevator and press the Down button, determined to make my escape without further delay.
The doors open, and Addie walks out, looking flushed. Her lips are swollen, and there’s a bite mark on her neck.
“Oh, hey, Kris.”
“Addison. Are you coming from the directors’ suite by any chance?”
“How’d you know?” she asks, having the good sense to look a little guilty.
Laughing, I shake my head. She’s made Hayden so damned happy that what do I care if they’re taking a little “break” at the end of the workday? Addie keeps Flynn ruthlessly organized and has done wonders for Hayden’s surly disposition. That makes her one of our VIP employees. “It’s written all over your face—and your neck.” I kiss her forehead and get on the elevator. “Have a good night.”
She sticks her hand between the doors to keep them from closing. “Tenley has an appointment with Aileen tomorrow. I told her to give Aileen the full treatment, including hair, nails and makeup. Hope that’s okay.”
“That’s what I wanted. Thank you.”
“Not a problem. Flynn tells me I’m excellent at spending other people’s money.”
“You have to do what you’re good at.”
“Exactly! Can you tell him that?”
“I’ll make a point of it.”
“I know we’re not talking about this, but I’m really happy for you and Aileen.”
“Don’t jinx us.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She removes her hand, and the doors close.
On the ride to the ground floor, I realize I’m smiling like a crazy loon as an unfamiliar feeling bubbles up inside me. What the hell is that? Whatever it is, I’ve never experienced it before, but it sure does feel good.
The kids are almost as excited as I am to go to Kristian’s for pizza and to play in the game room that Logan tells me is “sick.” I didn’t see it the last time we were there. Flynn took the kids upstairs while I stayed with Natalie, Addie, Ellie and Marlowe downstairs. Of course, Kristian was there, too, which is the primary reason I never made it upstairs.
Traffic is a beast, and the slow crawl into town gives me far too much time to relive last night for the three thousandth time. I’ve been distracted and off my game with the kids today, which of course they noticed.
Logan keeps eyeing me, even now that we are in the car.
At a stop light, I glance over at him. “What’s up?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you lying?”
“No.”
“Logan…”
“Are you sick again?”
“What? No! I feel great.”
“Oh.” He deflates before my eyes, as if he’s releasing a breath he’s been holding all day. “That’s good.”
I glance in the rearview mirror to make sure Maddie still has her headphones on as she watches Frozen for the millionth time on the iPad. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“Duh, Mom. I know what a secret is.” The words drip with disdain that makes me wonder what the teenage years will be like.
“What would you say if I told you Mr. Kristian might actually be my boyfriend now?”
“That’s cool. I told you before that I like him.”
I glance over at him, noting the wistfulness in his expression.
“What’re you thinking?”
“That it might be nice to have a dad. Someday.”
Oh God. He breaks my heart. “It’s still very new. But today, when I was kind of zoning out—”
“Kind of?” he asks with a goofy grin.
“Okay, totally zoning out… I was thinking about him.”
“That’s a lot better than you being sick again and not wanting to tell us.”
“Yes, it certainly is.” I reach
for his hand and curl my fingers around his. “Don’t worry about me getting sick again, okay? Everything is fine, and I’d tell you if it wasn’t.” Telling them the first time around was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
“Okay.”
“So you don’t care if I have a boyfriend?”
“I don’t care. I want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy with you and Maddie.”
“That’s different.”
“Yes, it is,” and I’m stunned that my nine-year-old already knows that there’re different kinds of happy.
We arrive at Kristian’s building a short time later, and it takes me a minute to find the entrance to the parking garage. I lean out the window to punch in the code he gave me, and the door opens to admit us. I park in an empty space.
“Whoa,” Logan says, taking in the fancy sports cars that line the opposite wall.
Do they all belong to Kristian? Holy crap. Of course, I know he’s loaded, but to see proof of his staggering wealth is somewhat overwhelming.
“Do you think he’ll let me check them out?” Logan asks.
“I’m sure he would.”
“That’d be so cool.”
I love to see him so excited and animated. During the bleak months of my illness, I had reason to wonder if any of us would ever be excited or animated about anything again. But those days are far behind us now, even if the residual trauma lingers in all of us.
Maddie fell asleep during the drive, so I unbuckle her from her booster seat and lift her into my arms. She’s gotten so big recently. I won’t be able to carry her for much longer. I no sooner have that thought than the elevator dings, and Kristian is there to greet us.
My heart kicks into overdrive, and my mouth goes dry at the sight of him and the way he looks at me… No one has ever looked at me like that, and I feel dizzy until I realize I’m holding my breath.
“Let me take her,” he says, reaching for Maddie.
He lifts her effortlessly into his arms, curling one arm protectively around her while using his free hand to ruffle Logan’s hair. “What’s up, my man?”
“Are those cars all yours?”
“They are.”
“Holy cow. What kind are they?”
Pointing to each one, Kristian says, “McLaren MP4, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Audi R8, Tesla, BMW M6 and Mercedes G-Wagon. I keep a bright red Lamborghini in New York.”
“Whoa. Can I sit in them?”
“Sure. Why don’t we do that after dinner?”
Logan smiles up at him. “Okay.”
“Will you push the Up arrow on the elevator?” Kristian asks him.
“Yep.” Logan runs ahead of us to summon the elevator.
Kristian curls his free hand around my neck, bringing me in for a quick kiss. “Longest day ever,” he says gruffly.
That’s all it takes to put my girl parts on full alert. “For me, too.”
He gives me a small smile before releasing me to give Logan his full attention, encouraging him to push the button for the penthouse and showing him how to work the key card that gives us access to his home—all this while continuing to hold my sleeping daughter.
Then he hands me the key card, and the meaningful look we exchange is full of so many things, I can’t process them all. “Keep that so you can come over any time you want.”
We’ve been here five minutes, and I’m already dying to be alone with him. But that’s not going to happen tonight. We arrive in Kristian’s spacious contemporary home with the windows that look out over the Hollywood Hills. He gently puts Maddie on the sofa and pulls a light blanket over her.
“Is it normal for her to be so tired?” he asks.
“Not usually, but after her night in the ER and the time-zone change, she’s still catching up.”
“Can we go play games now?” Logan asks.
Kristian glances at me. “You want to stay down here with her while I take him up?”
“Sure. I’ll wake her in a little bit so she’s not up all night.”
He turns on the TV and hands me the remote. “Pizza should be here soon. You can buzz them up from the intercom next to the elevator.”
“Okay.”
He places his hands on my son’s shoulders. “Come on, Logan. Let’s go shoot some stuff.”
“Awesome!” Logan bounds up the stairs to the second floor, where I assume Kristian’s bedroom is also located.
I take a seat on the sofa, curling my legs under me and hugging a throw pillow. I’m torn between wanting to be upstairs with them and here with Maddie. I decide to let her sleep for another half hour and entertain myself by watching the news. I’m interrupted when the buzz of the intercom startles me, even though Kristian told me to expect it. I fumble with the intercom, pressing the wrong button before I find the correct one.
The elevator opens, and the young delivery guy greets me with a smile as he hands over two large pizzas and something in a brown bag. “Thanks so much.”
“Any time. Tell Mr. Bowen that Mitch said hi.”
“I will.” He’s gone before I can ask if Mr. Bowen tipped him.
Kristian and Logan come down the stairs, apparently racing to see who can reach the bottom first.
Logan is laughing as he jumps from the third step to land a second before Kristian.
“Nice move,” Kristian says, smiling at my son. “Have you considered a career as a stunt man?”
“You think I could do that?” Logan looks up at him with a wistful expression that tugs on my heart and makes me realize I’m not the only one becoming invested in this relationship.
“You can do anything you set your mind to,” Kristian tells him as he gets out plates and cutlery, moving around the kitchen with easy familiarity that has me wondering if he cooks.
There’s so much I still don’t know about him, and I want to know everything. I kiss Maddie awake.
Her eyes open, and she smiles at me.
“You want some pizza?”
Nodding, she sits up and looks around at where we are. Kristian’s apartment is an upscale bachelor pad, complete with comfortable leather furniture, glass tables and vintage Hollywood artwork.
I help Maddie up and usher her toward the counter, where Kristian has set up dinner around the bar.
As he lifts Maddie onto a barstool and offers her lemonade, I wonder if he has any idea how good he is with kids. Some people are awkward and clumsy around them. He’s a natural.
“I’m surprised you’ll eat pizza,” I say to Kristian.
He winks at me. “It’s gluten free.”
“Of course it is.”
“That room is awesome,” Logan says around a mouthful of cheese pizza.
“I want to play, too,” Maddie says.
“As soon as you finish eating,” Kristian tells her. “I’ll teach you how to play Frogger. It’s my favorite.”
“I remember that game,” I say, sharing a smile with him. “I loved it when I was a kid. I didn’t think it existed anymore.”
“I had a heck of a time tracking down a machine that still works, but I found one in San Pedro a couple of years ago and fixed it up.”
“You did that yourself?”
“Uh-huh. I like to tinker.”
“Do you cook, too?”
“How’d you know?”
“The way you move around the kitchen was a dead giveaway.”
Since we’re on one side of the counter and the kids on the other, they can’t see when he lays his hand on my leg, making me forget where we are and who is watching. I go completely stupid in the head, until his thumb moves ever so slightly, jarring me out of the stupor to remind me I can’t let this happen. Not here or now anyway.
I try to push his hand away, but he won’t be pushed.
Without missing a beat in the conversation he’s having with the kids about the amusement park at the Santa Monica Pier, he continues to stroke my inner thigh with his thumb while chowing down on pizza and salad. I add “master mult
itasker” to the list of things I’ve learned about him.
Thanks to Kristian scrambling my brain cells, I’m still working on my first piece of pizza when the rest of them finish.
He finally removes his hand from my leg and leans in to kiss my forehead. “Take your time, hon. I’ll entertain the troops. Come on up when you’re done. Third door on the right.”
They take off, leaving me with a rare moment of total peace and quiet. Except for when they’re in school and I’m at work, the kids and I are usually together. Money has always been tight, and I hardly ever leave them with sitters, other than the lovely woman in our former building who watched them for free whenever I needed her. So it’s truly unusual for me to have someone else to entertain them. I ought to curl up on the sofa with the Kindle app on my phone, but I want to be where they are—and where he is—so I put the leftover pizza away, clean up the kitchen and head upstairs to find them.
Third door on the right, he said… I glance into the other rooms, one of which might be a guest room. Another is a gym. At the far end of the hallway, past the third door on the right, are open double doors that I decide to investigate. I duck my head into the room and see a king-size bed that’s been hastily made. It’s covered by a navy blue duvet and has gray accent pillows. The furniture is cherry, maybe, pretty but not fussy.
I can hear the kids in the game room, so I resist the urge to further explore and go to see what they’re up to. I step into a full-on arcade that has every conceivable game—pinball, pool, air hockey, driving games and others I can’t easily identify. But what I see before me truly stops my heart—Maddie standing on Kristian’s feet, his arms around her as he teaches her how to play Frogger.
I can’t even…
He glances over his shoulder, sees me there, and the look that passes between us is so full of emotion that my heart contracts almost painfully. Then Maddie needs him, and he returns his attention to her, but I’m left reeling from the knowledge that I’m falling in love with him—fast and hard.
Chapter 13
I can’t let it go even though I know I should. Natalie was trying to help her friend, but it wasn’t her place to tell Aileen about Kristian’s sexual preferences. Trust is a critical element of our lifestyle, especially in light of who we are to the rest of the world. Natalie knew she could trust Aileen, and Kristian doesn’t mind that she told her. But that might not always be the case, and I have to make sure she understands the critical need for discretion.