“I’m sorry, I’ve got a couple of meetings to attend. But I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can. I made you a coffee,” he says, nodding at a mug on the nightstand.
I don’t want to be a needy wife but after spending all our time together for the past week, the thought of being apart doesn’t seem right.
“Danni will be up later. She’s taking you out for the day.” Thoughts of spending time getting to know his sister perk me up a little. “Will you be back for dinner?”
“Try stopping me. Everything you’ll need is either in the dressing room or the en suite, but if I’ve missed anything or got anything wrong, you can buy whatever you like while you’re out.” I watch as he places a credit card on the nightstand.
“Harrison, no I—” My words are cut off when he places a finger over my lips.
“No arguing, Summer. That card is yours and you can do what you please with it. There is no limit. What’s mine is now yours, no matter how much you might not like it.”
I pout under his fingers but all he does is smile at me.
“I’m serious. If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted but couldn’t afford, go and get it. I want you to be happy here.”
“I am,” I whisper. “I don’t need stuff, I just need you.”
“Hearing that means more to me than you could ever know. Shit,” he says, glancing at the alarm clock. “I’ve really got to make a move. I’ll see you later. Have a good day.” Leaning forward, he replaces his fingers with his lips and kisses me until I’m desperate to pull him down on top of me. He doesn’t allow it though, and after rearranging himself in his pants he walks over towards the door. “Don’t let my sister get you into any trouble,” he calls over, just before leaving my sight.
“I’ll do my best.” I can’t help but smile as I listen to his deep laughs as he descends the stairs.
Sitting up and leaning back against the headboard, I once again take in the vast room around me. This room, just like every other in this house, is white. In contrast, all the furniture is black. I like the modern look but I can’t help but feel it needs a woman’s touch to make it feel a little more homely. Other than those few photographs I was looking at last night, there are no sentimental items anywhere. Focusing on the stark walls and the plain sheets I’m covered in, I soon decide that I might spend just a little bit of money today. He keeps reassuring me that this house is now ours, so I need to put just a little bit of me inside it.
Mentally writing a list of things I want to look for, I pull the covers back and walk through the dressing room towards the en suite. After spending an obscene amount of time in the walk-in shower, which is about a million years away from the pathetic thing Ireland and I shared in Vegas, I find myself wrapped in a giant fluffy towel—white, of course—staring at the rows and rows of wardrobes in front of me. Harrison has assured me that everything I could need is here, but I’m yet to see what that entails.
Pulling the first three doors open, all I find are his suits. He has every shade of grey, black and blue there is, all lined up in color order. I laugh to myself at his obsessive traits before turning to the next door. I sigh when for the first time this morning I see color—yes, it’s still perfectly arranged like a rainbow, but in front of me are hangers full of bright and colorful women’s clothes. Pulling the first item from the rail, I stare down at the stunning pink summer dress with spaghetti straps. Turning it around, I notice it still has the tag on, and as I stare down at the price, I balk. “Jesus,” I mutter to myself before putting it back and searching through everything else, mentally tallying up the cost of just this one wardrobe in front of me.
Moving over to the next set of doors, I find shelves and shelves of shoes and purses. I don’t even bother looking for price tags on those, I can already see from the designer labels and red soles that they are extortionate. Coming to a set of drawers, I gingerly pull one open at a time, already predicting what I’m going to find. He’s already warned me about his penchant for fancy lingerie. Once again, perfectly arranged, is an array of stunning lace underwear lined up ready for me to select. There’s not a pair of cotton panties in sight.
Deciding that I’m not ready to dive head first into Harrison’s lavish world, I pull out a pair of denim shorts, a tank and one of the few pairs of sneakers amongst the flashy heels. I pull them on over a simple black lace underwear set, and by some miracle, everything fits perfectly. Harrison is a little too good at this.
Heading back to the bathroom and rummaging through the cupboards, I find one dedicated to me. There are fancy bottles and potions, all with names on I’ve never heard of before. But I make the most of what I find and in only a few minutes I have my hair dried and curled and just a hint of makeup on.
As I stare in the mirror, I still look like me, but I look like a much happier and carefree version of myself that I don’t think has ever been reflected. I’m still not sure how I feel about suddenly having half of whatever Harrison has, but having the weight of my financial worries taken away sure does look good on me—that and the tan from Greece.
Walking out of the room and towards the office, I once again glance at the two doors Harrison said were storage. Feeling nosey, I walk over to the first one and grab the handle. I press it down and go to push, but nothing happens. It’s only then I notice a keyhole. It’s locked. Trying the next one, I find the same thing. Why would he need to lock them if there’s just furniture inside?
Vowing to question him about it later, I continue down the hallway, hoping I’ll find what I need.
Pulling open each desk drawer I rummage through looking for a tape measure. I can’t help but smile to myself when I realise I’ve found the only part of the house that seems to be a mess. Pushing the pens, paperclips and batteries aside my fingers land on a set of keys. My mind immediately goes to the two locked doors I was just stood at. I’m desperate to see inside but as I hold the cool metal I know I shouldn’t. I need to trust him. If he tells me they’re storage rooms then I need to take his word for it.
Eventually, I find what I came for and after getting all the measurements I think I’ll need I head towards the kitchen.
It takes me a good few minutes to find the cupboard with the mugs, then even longer to figure out how to get the coffee machine working. Thankfully the doorbell sounds out throughout the house, putting an end to my frustration.
Nerves race through me at the thought of spending the day with Danni. She seemed lovely last night and I really hope we’re going to get on okay. I really could use a friend here.
“Morning. Everything okay?” she asks the second I pull the door open.
“Yeah, I just can’t get the damn coffee machine to work.”
“That’ll explain it. Come on, I’ll show you. I’ve got the same one.”
I follow Danni down the hallway and into the kitchen before she shows me what buttons I should be pressing to get myself a simple mug of black coffee.
“Are you sure you don’t want any milk in that?” she asks, screwing up her nose.
“No, thanks. This is perfect.”
“I love coffee, don’t get me wrong, but I can’t drink it like that. It tastes like treacle. So what did you want to do today?”
I explain my desire to brighten the house up a little and Danni tells me she knows just the place. Once I’ve had my coffee fix, I grab my purse and we head out.
“You can ask me whatever it is you’re thinking about, you know? Believe it or not, I’m the nice one of the three of us,” Danni suddenly says as she drives us through the city in her little sports car.
“Harrison’s nice.”
“Maybe to you. But you haven’t seen him at work. Let’s just say I’m glad I’m his equal and not his employee.”
“Oh?” I can’t imagine him as a harsh boss, but I’ve no reason to doubt what Danni’s telling me.
“Trust me, he has two very different sides. If we’re done in time, I’ll take you to see ‘boss’ Harrison.”
T
houghts of seeing him in action cause tingles to race through my body. Since the day I first met him, Harrison’s been nothing but a gentleman, kind and caring. Okay, so he can be a little dominant at times. I squeeze my thighs together at the thought. My squirming doesn’t seem to go unnoticed.
“See, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve met dominant Harrison. Now just imagine that, but on steroids.”
“Shit.”
“Exactly. Right, we’re here. Let’s add some color to that bachelor pad of his.”
We spend well over two hours selecting everything we need to brighten up my new home. Danni seems just as excited about it as I am as she points out different bits she thinks Harrison will like.
As we stand and wait to pay for everything, I pull out the credit card Harrison left for me and suddenly I feel very unsure about my purchases. What if he wants his house left as it is? What if he doesn’t want any of this and just expects me to fit in with the way his life has always been?
“Are you okay? You’ve gone really pale,” Danni says when she glances at me.
“Am I doing the right thing?”
“With what?” she asks sceptically.
“All of this. What if he hates it?”
“He won’t hate it. He just wants you to be happy, and if this will make you happy then he will be, too.”
“Are you sure? It’s a lot of money.”
“Trust me, Summer. He’s got plenty.”
The chatty cashier cuts off any more conversation about Harrison’s wealth. I can’t say I’m not a little disappointed to not to be able to dig for a little more information. I know he’s got money, that much is obvious, but how much money exactly have I married into?
“Where now?” I ask once we’ve filled Danni’s car to the max with my purchases.
“We’re going to see your husband in action. I think it’s only fair you find out who you really married.”
My stomach tightens with apprehension of seeing Harrison in work mode. The drive is short and we’re soon parked out the front of a stunning old, red brick building with an expensive looking antique shop on the ground floor.
Following Danni’s lead, I get out of the car and walk around to the side of the building. She waves her handbag in front of a little black box on the wall and then pushes the door open.
“Do you work here too?”
“I sure do. Although only on and off at the moment as I’m studying for my masters.”
“In what?”
“Business management. I’ve no real interest in antiques like Harrison, but my passion for this business is just as strong as his.”
Listening to her speak, I have no reason to doubt her. She may look sweet but the more she talks the more I get the impression that she might be a woman not to be messed with.
The building is deadly silent as we walk down the hallway of the top floor. Glass windows allow me to see into every office, but each one has been abandoned.
“Where is everyone?”
“Management meeting.” I look up just as Danni opens a large door in front of us. I panic, but it’s too late. Every head in the room has turned our way.
“What I need from you is—” Harrison’s voice booms around the room. It’s deeper and with a stern edge like I’ve never heard from him before. “Sorry, we’re…oh.” His voice and expression instantly soften when his eyes find me. A small smile curls up the sides of his lips before he pushes away from the table and walks over to us.
“Everyone…I’d like you to meet my wife.” Coming to stand next to me, he grabs my hand and lifts it to his mouth so he can kiss my knuckles. “This is Summer, the reason you all have extra work to do.”
Quite a few sets of eyes widen and a number of chins drop at Harrison’s words but on the whole, everyone looks happy for him, if not a little shocked.
A wave of introductions starts, but the only person I take any real notice of is the lady introduced as Harrison’s PA. She’s the only one who doesn’t look thrilled to meet me. Unlike the wide smiles everyone else wears, her pale face is hard, her eyes narrowed in my direction the entire time we’re in the same room. I get the impression we’re not going to be friends any time soon.
“Well everyone, I think that’s the perfect time to end. If you need me, your first port of call is Rachael,” he says, nodding to the woman still giving me a death glare. When she notices Harrison’s attention, her face transforms into a smile and her eyes light up. “She’ll decide if it’s important enough to bother me with.”
Giving my hand a squeeze and gentle tug, I’m pulled from the meeting room and back down the long hallway until we get to an office at the end, the only one without a glass wall. Harrison pushes the heavy walnut door open and encourages me inside.
The door’s barely shut when he spins and pushes me back against it. His hands slide up from my waist until they’re cupping my breasts. His lips press against mine and his tongue finds its way into my mouth. He moans and just presses himself against me when his cell starts ringing, vibrating between the two of us and ruining the silence of the room.
Ignoring it, Harrison continues to kiss me and eventually, it rings off, only to instantly start again.
“For fuck’s sake,” he mutters, stepping back from me. His eyes are dark and his chest heaving under the white cotton of his shirt. Pulling his cell from his pants pocket, he looks down at the screen and groans. “I’m so sorry, she won’t go away if I don’t answer,” he says before turning and walking over to the windows. Following his movement, I take in the most incredible view of London beyond his office.
“Wow,” I breathe quietly as I appreciate the beauty.
“What?” Harrison barks the second he has his cell to his ear. “None of your fucking business.” I hear a shrill female voice on the other end, and it puts me on edge. It’s her. Anger knots my stomach at just knowing who he’s speaking too. I know hardly anything about her, but it’s enough to know I’ll never like the woman. Just hearing how she treated Harrison is enough for me to never want to meet her—ever.
“Why should I tell you? You fucked off to Madrid without any prior warning.” I keep my focus on his face and watch as he transforms from the Harrison I know and love to someone else entirely, someone full of anger and hate. “That’s a bit fucking rich, don’t you think, when you only care about yourself? This conversation is over.”
Pulling the cell from his ear, he stabs his finger into the screen as he lets out a long, frustrated breath. His eyes are dark and haunted and his shoulders have sagged. He’s no longer the powerful businessman he was just minutes ago.
Stepping up to him, I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. We stand there together for the longest time. His beating heart is the only thing I can hear until he speaks.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. It’s so quiet I might have missed it if it weren’t for the vibrations of his chest. “She’s just—”
“Shhh, it’s okay.” It’s not entirely true, but I know better than to make him explain at this very moment.
“No, it’s not fine. Unfortunately, Rachael’s her best friend. The second we left the meeting room she must have been on the phone to her. Rebecca seems to think it’s fine for her to have a life outside of what we were, but apparently, it doesn’t work the same for me.”
“She’s a bitch.” I regret the words the second they fall from my lips but I was powerless to stop them. “Shit, I’m—”
“Don’t apologize, it’s true. Enough about her; let’s get out of here.”
Grabbing my hand, Harrison gently pulls me from the room and then back out of the building. We see a couple of people on the way down but he doesn’t hang around long enough to chat.
“What about Danni?” I ask when I spot her car parked by the sidewalk full of my shopping.
“She can look after herself.” That wasn’t quite what I meant, but the second we’re standing next to his Aston Martin, I’m gently ushered inside before
the door shuts behind me.
“What do you want to do?”
“Don’t you have work?”
“Nope, that meeting you walked in on was me telling everyone that I’m not going to be around as much. My life doesn’t just revolve around work now; I intend on spending plenty of time with my wife.”
“Sounds good to me. Can we go and look at some possible art schools?”
“We can do whatever you want.”
Harrison
I’m fascinated by the look on Summer’s face as I drive around the streets of central London. Every now and then she’ll point something out like it’s the most incredible sight in the world. I make all the right noises, not wanting to ruin her fun by telling her I see most of this stuff on a daily basis. I drive her to a couple of different universities and sit in the car while she runs into reception to get some information. I can’t help the wide smile that stretches across my face every time she reappears with an armful of stuff and a smile plastered on her face. I know how nervous she was about coming here and starting over once again, so seeing her delight means everything to me.
Watching her is a welcome distraction from that phone call earlier. I knew it wouldn’t take long for Rebecca to find out I’d remarried, but I wasn’t quite expecting Rachael to be that efficient. It’s a shame she’s so bloody good at her job, or I would have got rid of her by now, because she’s almost equally as good at sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted. Rebecca has no right to criticise me for getting married again so soon, let alone having the audacity to be worried about how it might affect her. She was always so lovely, and even now, when I think back to our childhood, I never remember her as anything other than kind and caring. I guess it’s why the change in her was so obvious.
“What’s all that?” Summer asks the second we step foot inside our house and find boxes scattered around the hallway. “Oh my god, is it the stuff from our honeymoon?” she asks excitedly as she starts pulling the boxes open. “Yesss…I’ll be back in a minute.” She turns on her heel and dashes out the front door before I have a chance to say anything.
Her Kensington: A British Billionaire Romance (The Cocktail Girls Book 2) Page 6