by A. C. Arthur
Chaz held it back from her. “I’ll do it.”
She was going to question him because she felt a trickle of fear at how serious and at the same time how wonderfully intimate this felt, but she couldn’t find the words. Instead she stood there and waited while he squeezed shampoo into his hand and then put the bottle back on the shelf.
“My hair’s really thick so you might need a little more,” she said, then clamped her mouth shut.
His hands were already in her hair, moving until he’d built up a lather. Then he was raking his fingertips over her scalp, massaging and raking, rotating until Riley could no longer hold back her moan.
“That feels fantastic.” And she wasn’t even exaggerating. It almost felt sensual in a clean sort of way. She couldn’t actually explain it, just knew that it was a feeling she thoroughly enjoyed.
When he was finished massaging her scalp until Riley thought she might curl up on the shower floor and fall asleep, Chaz eased her back under the spray and rinsed her hair clean. Riley reached into that same alcove and pulled out the bottle of body wash. There was a cloth on the shelf as well, and she filled it with body wash before replacing the bottle.
She touched it to his chest first, watching the big frothy bubbles cover the toned pectorals and move down his sculpted abs. She washed his whole body, wondering if he was experiencing the slow burning warmth spreading throughout like she was. After he rinsed, Chaz returned the favor and before long the shower was over. Chaz turned off the water, but they did not move. They stood in the center of the shower stall, water dripping from their bodies, and simply stared at each other. As if really seeing each other for the first time.
It was in that moment that Riley knew. It had come to her sometime during the night—this crazy idea that she and Chaz could be like this for real, in public and in private, for a very long time.
It had come to her and now she worried there was no turning back.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ON MONDAY MORNING Riley rode in the back of the town car with Chaz. The windows were tinted and the driver, the man she’d seen driving Chaz many times before, stared straight ahead as usual. Riley wondered if he knew who she was and, if so, why he hadn’t leaked to the press how many times he’d seen her and Chaz together. It was a sobering thought, especially since she’d spent the entire weekend in Chaz’s apartment not thinking of their affair as a secret at all. In the privacy of his home they’d been free from any scrutiny or recriminations, something she was certain they both enjoyed.
“This week is going to be hectic for me,” Chaz said. “I’m sure your schedule is similar.”
She ran a hand down the leg of her pants. When it seemed apparent that she would be spending the weekend with Chaz, they’d taken a quick trip to her penthouse to grab some clothes. Still, they’d decided it was best for her to abide by her normal workday routine and drive her own car from her building garage to work.
“Definitely,” she replied. “Our show is Sunday and there’s still so much to do. We have the media brunch on Saturday and from what I heard parts of the show are still being choreographed.”
“I had no idea how much work went into these shows,” Chaz continued. “We had a situation at the rehearsal on Friday that I’m sure I’ll have to deal with this morning.”
“Really? I hope it wasn’t anything that’ll affect your show.” Riley meant those words.
King Designs was a great fashion house that produced quality work. She could admit that regardless of what happened between her father and Tobias. And to be quite honest, she was anxious to see their collection this season, especially since this was the first time Chaz had been actively involved in the business.
“I’m not sure.” His words and the pensive look on his face said he was truly worried about whatever had happened.
“There’s always something at the last minute. Some glitch with the technical plans for a show or, more serious, an issue with a design. If things ever went too smoothly we’d probably all need to be concerned. But I’m sure it’ll work out.”
She reached for his hand and squeezed. When he looked at her and smiled, Riley felt the familiar warmth they shared.
“I’m sure your new collection is going to be a big hit. Your family will be impressed, and the press will have no choice but to give you the respect you’ve earned.”
Riley smiled and let that bit of validation settle over her comfortably. His confidence in her had never wavered and because of that she believed his words.
“I know I didn’t design the gowns but I feel like this entire collection is mine. I’ve worked so closely with the designers and production team to bring this new vision into fruition. Usually I’m all about my numbers and reports but this time I actually had the opportunity to put all my research into a product that RGF can be proud of.”
Chaz lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “You’re good at what you do, Riley. I know that and I’m not even as ensconced in this industry as you are. And you’re passionate about your work. That’s what really counts.”
“You’re not passionate about the fashion industry, are you?” Riley wondered if once Fashion Week was over, Chaz would return to Miami and to his media corporation.
He shrugged. “I’ve sort of been on the outskirts of the industry all my life. Living in that gray area I like.” He grinned and Riley thought how liberating it must be to create a safe space to live and not give a damn what anyone thought about it.
“But I have to admit using my skills to create a brand that best represents my uncle and his vision for the company has been fun. I mean, I never actually thought I had a place at King Designs because it wasn’t like my father had built that company. I figured I’d have to make my own place in this world and I have. I love what I’ve built at Conversation Media and I’d never totally walk away from that. Speaking of which, the new app is launching on Thursday, the day before our show.”
“Oh, wow, you really do have a big week. Well, I just might download the ChatMe app to see what it’s all about.”
“It’s not a dating app.” He said those words quickly. “Not that you would ever need an app to help find a date.”
“No,” she replied, a bit more sober now than she’d been just a few seconds ago. “I don’t usually think much about dating.”
They fell silent and Chaz ran his thumb over the back of her hand.
“We’ve been having a good time, haven’t we?”
She nodded. “Yes. We have. I didn’t really know what to expect, but yeah, this has been fun.”
“Fun enough to keep going? I mean, to continue seeing each other?”
Hadn’t this been what Riley thought about all weekend?
“I’d like that.” The words slipped easily from her lips just as the car pulled up in front of her building. She looked out the window and then back to Chaz.
He leaned over and touched his lips lightly to hers.
“I know you have to go. The talented Riley Gold has to be great this week. And I, the outsider, have a lot to do, as well. So we’ll talk about this after we’ve both survived Fashion Week.”
His voice was a deep whisper against her lips and Riley eased in for another kiss. “Yes, we’ll definitely talk about this when this week is over.”
Their next kiss was longer, slower and sweeter than Riley had ever experienced. She loved it and did not want it to end.
“I’ll call you later,” he said when they pulled apart.
Riley smiled. “Or I’ll call you.”
Chaz grinned and in the next second the driver was opening the door for her.
* * *
Twelve hours later a tired but invigorated Riley pulled into the garage and parked her car before taking the elevator up to the penthouse. Her stomach growled as she walked through the door and Riley immediately thought about ordering a pizza. It was
a little after eight in the evening and she hadn’t eaten since a tuna sandwich at two in the afternoon. She knew there was something in her freezer that she could just pop into the microwave, but she wanted pizza with everything on it and fries.
She wanted that connection to Chaz.
Speaking of which, once she was in her bedroom and had kicked off her heels, Riley reached into her purse for her phone. No call or text from Chaz, not since earlier in the day when he’d checked to see if she’d eaten lunch, which she’d dutifully ordered as soon as she hung up with him. Her afternoon had been swamped and she figured his had been, too, so she sent a quick text.
Thinking about you.
It was honest and sincere and the first time she’d ever said such a thing to a man. Riley smiled with how good it made her feel. She was about to grab some pajamas and head into the bathroom for a shower when her doorbell rang. A giddy flutter whirled through her stomach as she hoped it was Chaz surprising her with dinner and company for the evening. Her penthouse suddenly seemed too big for just her and definitely too quiet. But when Riley walked back into the living room and excitedly pulled the door open, her happiness faded fast.
“Hey, Dad. RJ. Come on in.”
“We need to talk.” Her father’s tone was brisk as he removed his coat and walked into the living room.
RJ followed Ron inside. His expression was somber, his tone grave as he said, “Hey.”
She closed the door and followed them inside.
“What’s up? Did something happen during rehearsal? Is there a problem with one of the gowns?”
RGF was presenting a record forty-two designs during this show. Ten of them were from Riley’s bridal collection.
“Yes,” Ron replied tightly.
“Sort of,” RJ added.
Riley looked from her father to her brother and back to her father again. “Just tell me what happened.” Because she was certain something very bad was about to go down.
She could see it in the lines on her father’s forehead and the muscle pulsing in RJ’s jaw.
“Why don’t we start with you telling us where the hell you were this weekend?” If she hadn’t been certain before, her father’s tone conveyed every bit of the anger he was feeling.
Riley squared her shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. “I’m an adult, Dad. I don’t have to explain where I was or why without knowing the reason for the request.”
It was a bold statement to make to a man like Ron Gold but Riley didn’t care. She didn’t like her father and brother coming into her house at this time of night, questioning her and staring at her as if she’d done something wrong.
“If you would just tell me what’s going on—”
“What’s going on with you and Chaz Warren? Why were you photographed getting out of a limousine with him and going into his apartment building? And this morning you were dropped off here by a car registered to King Designs.”
The vein in her father’s head that only popped out when he was seething with rage was throbbing front and center, and Riley’s fingers clenched at her sides. RJ had folded his arms over his chest in what she knew was his authoritative stance.
“I have a right to a personal life” was all Riley would say.
“With him?” RJ asked. “You know the story and you know how this looks.”
“I know who makes me feel good,” she snapped. “And what, are you two having me followed? Is that what we do now? Follow Riley around to make sure she doesn’t mess up again?”
“But you have messed up,” Ron countered. “Because not only are you sleeping with the enemy, but the enemy is stabbing you in the back as expected.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That editor I know at that little tabloid—he called me an hour ago to give me a heads-up.”
That giddy feeling Riley had felt in her stomach just a few short moments ago was now a heated ball of dread.
“A heads-up about what?” She said the words slowly, as if she didn’t really want the answer.
“Not only are the pictures of you and Chaz going to be printed in tomorrow’s paper but they’re attached to a sneak peek at King’s new collection. A wedding gown, Riley. And it looks very similar to one of ours,” RJ said.
“Not similar,” her father roared. “It’s the exact same gown! They copied our gown and are offering a sneak peek before the shows so it’ll look like we’re the ones who copied them. Chaz Warren is behind this! He probably stole the sketch while you were sleeping in his bed.”
Riley felt hot all over. Her arms began to shake and for just a second her vision blurred. This could not be happening. Not again.
RJ stepped closer to her. “What did you tell him, Riley? Did you show him the sketches?”
“No!” She could not have said the word more vehemently. “I would never do such a thing.” And Chaz would never ask her something like that.
“You bring work home with you all the time. Was he here? Could you have left him alone with sensitive information? It would have only taken a second. Just like his uncle, dammit!” Her father persisted.
“He is not like his uncle!” The minute the words were out Riley realized her mistake. She saw the concern on RJ’s face and unabashed fury on her father’s.
She turned away and walked toward the window. Tears stung her eyes. They wanted to fall but Riley wouldn’t let them. She almost folded her arms over her chest, to cradle herself and hopefully bring some comfort to the deep slice of hurt that had been opened in her. But she didn’t. Instead she took deep breaths. She was way too upset for the breaths to be slow, as she’d been taught to do when threatened with an anxiety attack, but at least she was breathing. Her hands were shaking and she finally gave in and clasped her fingers together in front of her.
“Riley.”
RJ was right behind her and she prayed he wouldn’t touch her. After the breakup with Walt her family had rallied around her, each of them hugging her and consoling her to the point that all Riley had done for days was cry over a man she’d never loved. Tonight, the tears that burned were for a man she’d just begun to believe she could love. And she was an idiot for giving in to the dream.
“I never left any sensitive materials around him, even though I never believed he was with me just to steal our ideas.” Saying the words aloud meant something. Riley just couldn’t figure out what, not right now, when the pain was so raw.
“That’s how they work. They befriend you and then they stab you in the back. You should have known better. You should have kept a closer eye on him.”
Riley swung around. “You were friends with Tobias King for thirty-four years. The two of you worked side by side at your father’s company. You didn’t just leave sensitive information around him, you shared a business with him. So don’t lecture me about what I should have done differently.”
RJ touched a hand to her shoulder and Riley shrugged it away.
“I don’t know how they got the information. Maybe the reporter is making this up.” She needed to believe there was another explanation.
RJ came close again, this time putting his phone in front of her.
“Here are the pictures of you and Chaz together.” He swiped left. “And these are the pictures of the gown.”
Her chest caved with dread but Riley held it together. She swiped to the right to see the pictures of her and Chaz. It was Friday night when they’d left the party in Lennox Hill. They’d dressed quickly after their tryst and Chaz had suggested they go to his place. He was holding her hand as they walked to the curb to wait for the limo he’d reserved. She could still remember the warmth of his touch and how close he’d sat to her in the back of the limo. Swiping to the next picture, she cringed because it was just as her father had stated: this morning when she’d gotten out of Chaz’s car in front of her building.
“W
ho would have been following us?” She looked up at RJ. “We hadn’t been at a fashion event and we were far away from either of our offices, so somebody must have intentionally followed us.”
Ron frowned. “Yes, that’s something I absolutely will not tolerate. We have to get ahead of this. I’ll contact the police just to get a complaint started. Also, my guy’s agreed to run the picture of our gown at the same time as the King gown.”
“No!” Riley shook her head. “We don’t give in to the press. We don’t let them get the upper hand. Isn’t that what you’ve always told me?”
“I also told you not to give them ammunition, Riley. Now we don’t have a choice but to play this hand all the way.” Ron looked at RJ.
“Send the picture to him tonight and we’re pulling that gown from the show. Make it known that we’re outraged at Tobias’s duplicity and that we don’t feel King Designs is in any way a threat to us.” Her father spoke in absolute terms so that RJ only nodded.
“But we’re doing the exact opposite. If we’re so sure they’re no competition to us why not show our entire collection on Sunday as planned? So what if theirs is hitting the papers tomorrow? You don’t think people will see the difference and know which is the better product? You don’t trust your clientele?”
“I don’t trust Tobias King or his nephew,” Ron told her. “And you shouldn’t, either. Whatever you were doing with Chaz Warren, you should stop it now. He’s only interested in you because you’re my daughter.”
All the air left Riley’s lungs and she felt light-headed. She rubbed a hand down the back of her neck and sighed. “I need to be alone.”
“Let’s just meet tomorrow,” RJ said when Ron looked as if he was going to say something else. “Be in the office at seven.”
“Fine,” Riley snapped and walked to the door to see them out.
RJ followed her, then leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “It’s going to be all right.”
Riley closed her eyes and accepted her brother’s words. He loved her and wanted what was best for her—he just didn’t know what that was. And for the record, at this point, neither did Riley.