by Dana Delamar
As if by magic, a gorgeous woman with long black hair done up in a ponytail roller-skated right up to him and laid her hand on his shoulder. “What can I get you, love?”
“Righto,” Carter popped off in his overdone British accent. “A whiskey for me.” He turned to me and Riley, full Billy Idol sneer in place. “George, Madonna? What’s your fancy?”
It took several minutes before we stopped laughing enough to place our orders.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m having ‘The Time of My Life,’” I said, barely holding back a snort.
Carter raised his lip. “The only question is ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’”
“Please stay,” Riley countered. “‘We’ve Only Just Begun.’”
Kenji dropped down into a seat across the table from us and shot me a look of pure disdain. “Pun wars. That’s beneath you, my ‘Caribbean Queen.’”
“Oh, I’m not used to being ‘Under Pressure,’” I challenged.
Carter rubbed his jaw. “It’s a ‘Shock to the System’ for sure.”
Riley opened his mouth. There was a slight look of panic in his gaze until the waitress returned with our drinks. “Ah,” he said, taking his vodka Collins. “Saved by the Bell.”
“Cheater!” Kenji shouted. “That’s a television show.”
“Ah, well. What can I say, Ken.” Riley grinned like the cat that ate the canary, and I knew something good was coming. “‘You Spin Me Round.’”
“From what I can see, you should be saying that to Paige.” Kenji tapped a brightly painted nail to his bottom lip. “Or should I say C-er-Eric?”
Riley wrapped his arms around both our necks and tugged us in close so our faces were all scrunched together. “Both,” he said. “You both spin me right the fuck around.”
Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the music, the surreal atmosphere, or the scent of desire in the air. Or maybe it was knowing that, at least for now, I was a part of something unique, something special. Whatever it was, I didn’t feel even a shred of self-consciousness when our playful huddle turned into a not-fit-for-public-consumption three-way kiss. Or maybe it was that kissing both these men at the same time in front of God-knew-who was possibly the sexiest, most exciting thing I’d ever dared do in my thirty-six years of existence.
Maybe heaven really was a place on earth.
RILEY
What if Kenji laughed in my face?
Man up, Kendrick.
I looked up from my breakfast at the Grosvenor Arms to see him headed my way. I swallowed hard. Ken had agreed to eat with me, though he didn’t know why I had asked.
“So, Professor Templeton,” Kenji said, plopping himself onto the chair across from mine, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I need to ask a favor.”
Ken’s eyes twinkled. “A favor, you say?”
“Yes. I want to talk to you about writing.”
“Moi?” Ken put a hand on his chest. “The great Riley Kendrick seeking advice from little old me?”
I looked around. No one seemed to be paying us any attention. But still… “Could you please not say my name so loudly?”
Ken grinned. “Honey, I haven’t even started to get loud.”
“Kenji, please.”
Ken stared at me for second, then he signaled the waiter, Gerry, who’d once again been good-naturedly flirting with me. He was cute, but I was off the market. “Okay,” Ken said. “But no more demands until I’ve had some caffeine.” He ordered a cup of coffee and a light breakfast. “And you’re paying.”
“Of course.” I waited until Ken’s food was served, the two of us rehashing the prior night at the club, Ken regaling me with the tale of “flexible Brian,” who apparently had made Ken’s night.
After Gerry left the table, Ken took his time doctoring his coffee with cream and sugar. Finally he took a sip, then fixed me with a not entirely friendly stare. “So, you want a favor. Something about the old typey-typey?”
Here goes. My cheeks grew warm, and I cast about for a way to ask. “I need some advice. So far, everything I’ve written, I’ve taken from my real life. Some details got changed along the way. But most of it was more or less what actually happened.”
“So when you fucked Holden in the hot tub, that happened?”
I nodded.
Ken clapped his hands together. “I always knew that one would love it in the ass.”
We were getting off-track. “So, what I was wondering was how do you write something that’s entirely fictional? I don’t seem to get it. How to make the story up, the characters. I’ve tried, but they don’t seem real. Or that exciting to me. Not like when I write about what’s actually happening in my life.”
Ken clasped his hands on his crossed knees and leaned forward. “You’ve never actually studied writing, have you?”
“Well, academic, technical writing. But not fiction.”
“That’s the whole issue. You need some grounding in plotting, character development, and GMCs.”
“GMCs?”
“Goals, motivations, conflicts. They’re the things you structure the plot around. There’s an entire book on the subject.”
“And once I understand this stuff, I’ll get how to do it?”
Ken nodded and took another sip of his coffee. “More or less. You really should be discussing all this with your editor.”
I reddened for real this time. “I… kind of didn’t want to tell her.”
Kenji laughed. “Honey, she already knows.”
“How?”
“I’m sure she’s figured it out, especially after everything came out in the papers.”
“She hasn’t said anything.”
“Why would she? You’re Riley Kendrick. You could take a dump on a page, and people would pay for it.”
“That’s not true.”
“As long as it had sex in it? Yeah, it’s true.”
“But…” How to make him understand? “I don’t want to write crap. I want to write books people can’t put down.”
“Look at you, all Mr. Quality.”
“Ken, I’m serious.”
“You are?”
“I am. I can’t write about Paige and Carter. They’ve made that abundantly clear.”
“So you got a scolding and then came running to me.”
“Something like that.”
Ken nibbled on a croissant and took another drink of coffee. “Okay, I’ll send you a list of the best books about writing commercial fiction. And I do recommend talking this over with your editor. She can help you refine your plot and make the story and characters stronger.” He grinned. “You could’ve avoided this whole convo with me.”
I took a deep breath. “I know I lucked out. I get that, Ken, I do. I know I didn’t bust my ass in the trenches for years and years trying to break into publishing.”
“You’re a fucking unicorn. No one hits it that goddamn big on the first go. No one. Until you.”
“I got lucky.”
“Yes, you did. But now you have to do all the work you skipped over the first time.” He regarded me over the rim of his raised coffee cup. “I shouldn’t do this, I should let you wallow in your crap, but I occasionally like to think I’m the bigger person.”
“I owe you majorly, man.”
“I’ll take payment in sexual favors.”
“Um…” What the fuck did I say to that?
Ken roared with laughter. “OMG. Your face!”
I laughed weakly. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Just not that.”
“I know. And if you could blurb my next book, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Can do. Gladly.”
“Even if there is a jackass character named Riley in it?”
“Even if.”
Gerry came back to the table, his eyes fixed on me. He pulled a copy of the Daily Mail out from under his arm. “Almost forgot your paper,” he said as he handed it over. There was a strange look on his face, and I stopp
ed him. “Is something wrong?”
“You’d best look at page six, is all I’m saying.”
Uh-oh. A sick feeling started in my stomach. Had someone seen us at the club and put two and two together? I opened the paper and Ken leaned forward. I angled it so we could both read it.
I turned to page six and my stomach plummeted. There, splashed across a two-page stretch, was a full-color photo of me with my arms around Paige and Carter, the three of us engaging in a kiss.
The caption sealed my fate. “Infamous Riley Kendrick Finds New Love—and It’s Another Trio!” More pictures were featured on the subsequent page.
Kenji patted my hand, then sat back. “Oh, honey. You done screwed the pooch.”
“You think?” I stared at the picture, my breakfast threatening to spew all over it.
I had to tell Paige and Carter before they heard about it from someone else. They were both going to freak.
And Carter would lose his job as soon as the news hit stateside, if it hadn’t already.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
It had all been too good to be true, hadn’t it?
Chapter 13
PAIGE
My heart in my throat, I walked down the hall to Riley and Carter’s room. Riley had called me a few minutes ago, and his tone had instantly put me on alert. Something was wrong, something we needed to discuss in person.
I knocked on the door, taking a deep breath. Maybe it wasn’t that bad? When the door opened, the grim looks on Riley’s and Carter’s faces confirmed my worst fears. Something was definitely, seriously wrong. I stepped inside and followed Riley over to the sofa in the room’s sitting area. I sat across from them, looking from one to the other. “So, what’s wrong?”
Riley looked at Carter, then turned to me. “I have bad news. Someone recognized me at the club last night.” He pulled a folded copy of the Daily Mail out from under his arm and opened it, laying it down on the coffee table facing me.
A two-page spread showed a large picture of the three of us kissing and embracing, with more photos on subsequent pages. And it was quite obvious that all three of us were involved. Intimately involved.
And in case the message hadn’t been obvious, the headline made it abundantly clear that the London press had no trouble recognizing our ménage for what it was. The three of us, together.
My stomach a hard knot, I scanned the article, looking to see if Carter and I had been identified. So far, it seemed not, but it was only a matter of time before someone recognized us and said something.
“I’m so sorry, Paige,” Riley said. He reached over and took Carter’s hand. “And Carter, shit… I’m so damn sorry. I hope your work doesn’t find out.”
Carter squeezed his hand. “I knew there was a risk. And I took it. So don’t blame yourself.”
“How did this happen?” I asked.
“Ken warned me about some reporters being in the bar. I should’ve listened to him. I just didn’t want to end our fun,” Riley said. He looked so miserable. “It’s my fault. I should have been more careful.”
“You haven’t been recognized anywhere else,” Carter said.
“I think the employee at the spa who sat with us in the sauna recognized me.”
“Do you think she had something to do with the paparazzi finding you here?” I asked.
Riley raised his hands palms out. “We’ll never know.” He turned to Carter. “I hope this doesn’t cost you your job.”
Carter shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant, but the gesture was stiff. “What happens, happens. I made my choice.”
“You didn’t ask for this,” Riley whispered.
“It was my choice to kiss you—both of you—in public. It was my choice not to be more careful.”
“I still feel like it’s my fault.” Riley ran a hand through his dark hair, leaving it rumpled. “If they fire you, I’ll do what I can to help your family.”
My eyes widened. My parents! What were they going to think? My mom had been almost as bad as Ari, urging me to get back out there, but this… this was not what she’d meant.
“Paige, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Carter said.
“My parents,” I whispered.
Carter crossed his arms. “My mom has barely accepted my interest in men. She’s going to freak when she finds out about us.”
“Mine too. And my dad…” I could imagine what he’d say. My parents had been supportive when I got pregnant with Emma and when Dylan left me. But I’d been a lot younger then. I was certainly old enough to know better now.
Riley came over and crouched down beside me. “Paige, it might not be as bad as you think.”
I shook my head and snorted. “You don’t know my dad. He’ll be mortified to see this in the press.”
Riley started to rise, looking like I’d slapped him, and I took his wrist. “It’s not your fault. Really. I wanted everything that happened. I knew what I was doing. I just didn’t think I’d get caught.”
He bent over and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I swear I’ll make this up to you somehow. I’ll make it up to you both.” He touched Carter’s cheek.
My cell phone started ringing, and I glanced at the display. It was Ari. “It’s my boss. I better take it.” Had Ari already heard the news? Was she planning to chew me out?
I walked onto the balcony for some privacy and pressed the answer button, mentally bracing myself for Ari’s disappointment. “Ari?”
“Paige, first off, I wanted to let you know Emma is okay. But she needs an x-ray. I’m going to hand you over to a nurse so you can authorize it.”
“X-ray? What happened?”
“She slipped and fell on a drink someone spilled at the coffee shop. They think her wrist might be broken. Not sure.”
“Is she scared?” I ought to be there, taking care of Emma, instead of making a public spectacle of myself with Riley and Carter.
“She’s okay. A few tears, but they gave her something for the pain, and she’s even flirting with the doctor.” Ari said something to someone, then came back on the line. “Let me put the nurse on.”
I listened as the nurse explained that the x-ray was a precaution, then I authorized the procedure and gave my insurance information.
Ari came back on the phone. “They’re taking her down to radiology.”
“Can I talk to her first?”
“Not yet. But she’s fine.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t be working there. The pace is so fast—”
“Paige, Emma loves it there. You know she does. She could’ve been a patron and slipped and fallen. You can’t cover her in bubble wrap.”
Ari was right. But still… “I feel terrible that I’m not there with her.”
“Am I chopped liver?” Arianna asked, the indignation in her voice making me smile. “Your parents are on the way. Emma is fine.”
That was probably true, but I needed to be with my daughter.
And I needed to tell Riley and Carter about Emma. Which meant there’d be no point hanging around afterward for the awkwardness. No need to force them to make excuses and dance around the truth.
It was over; I’d known it was coming. And if I left now, I’d just spare us all a lot of grief.
“Ari, could you take over the trip for me? I’d really like to go home and be with Emma.”
“Paige, that’s not necessary.”
“I need to be there.”
Something in my voice must have gotten through. “You’re upset about something else. What’s going on?”
I sighed. I might as well tell her and face the consequences. Ari, Daniel, and Javier would know soon enough. And if they wanted to fire me, I’d deserve it. “Riley got recognized. And Carter and I were with him. And we were all kissing. It’s all over the papers here.”
“Shit,” Ari said.
“If you’re going to fire me, tell me now. Please.”
“Fire you? Why?”
“It’s going to look bad for TI. It’s only a ma
tter of time before the press figures out who I am.”
Ari laughed. “Chica, you’re not going to get fired. Teased, for sure. But not fired.”
“Why not?”
“In this business, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. This will only make Total Indulgence more popular.”
“I don’t think—”
“Paige, this is what we do. We sell luxury adventure, fun, excitement. And if you get laid along the way, so much the better, right?”
“But—”
“Everyone is going to be jealous of you.”
“Everyone is going to think I’m a slut.”
“Fuck them. Fuck anyone with that shitty attitude.” Ari lowered her voice. “The people who matter won’t care.”
“My parents are going to care. A lot.”
“They’ll get over it. As long as you’re happy.”
My eyes welled. “That’s just it. I am. But—” I let out a sob. “It’s over.”
“What happened?”
“I haven’t told them about Emma. But I’m going to. And that’s going to be the end of it. No more lies, no more fantasies.”
“Calm down, chica. Give them the benefit of the doubt.”
I laughed, but it was humorless. “I know how this is going to go, Ari. I need you to get on a plane and take over for me tomorrow.”
“How about you talk to them first, then call me back.”
I shook my head. “Please, Ari.”
“Okay. But I’ll wait an hour to book a flight. You call me if I don’t need to fly out.”
I agreed and hung up. I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath. I could do this. I had to do this. It was time to tell them the truth.
I stepped inside, and they both turned to look at me, concern all over their faces. “What’s wrong?” Riley asked.
My insides quivered and my knees felt weak. I sat down before I fell down, then clasped my hands together. “I have a daughter. She’s eighteen, and she has Downs. She was injured today at work. That’s why my boss called me.”
“Is she okay?” Riley asked.
I nodded. “Her wrist might be broken, but she’ll be all right.”