Embrace: The Secret Billionaire Asher Christmas Duet, Two (The Dark Christmases Book 9)

by Z. L. Arkadie

  The limo was the same one Jake and I had ridden in to the masquerade party. It had a full bar next to the door, stocked mostly with chilled bottled water, but this time there were chocolate-covered strawberries, pralines, and turtles sitting next to a fresh bouquet of roses.

  Grinning from ear to ear, I read the card.

  “What does it say?” Zara asked.

  I stuffed it back in the envelope. “It’s private.” It read I can’t wait to be inside you.

  She grunted thoughtfully. “A neurosurgeon with his own personal driver?” Zara said, reaching for a strawberry. “And it’s so unnecessary in New Orleans, which means he’s pretty loaded. Only the filthy rich spend this much money on frivolous shit.” She bit into the strawberry. “Oh fuck, that’s good.”

  Kirk snorted a chuckle, which was even more evidence that he was sweet on Zara. Jake was his employer, and she had just criticized him. The beautiful Zara had stolen his loyalties away from Jake.

  “Jake is a strange individual,” I said to pacify her.

  “Oh, okay … You’re not engaging, then? Is that it?”

  I shrugged. “Engaging in what?”

  “His money. How rich is he?”

  Zara and I stared at each other until she began laughing.

  “You’re so damn good at keeping secrets. I mean, not one person knew I was in DC, only you and Angela, who can keep a secret almost as good as you can.” She polished off the strawberry.

  I shifted abruptly in my seat, signaling a welcome change of subject. “Speaking of DC, when are you moving there?”

  Kirk was watching her again. Zara looked down at her lap and shrugged.

  “What does”—I mimicked her shrug—“mean?”

  She looked at me. “What does what mean?”

  I showed her the shrug I’d copied from her.

  “I don’t know, Pen. Maybe I was too hasty when I left.”

  I glanced at Kirk. I didn’t want to mention the other guy as long as they had chemistry flowing between them. But I so very much wanted to know what had happened with that relationship.

  “Then you’re ready to be a surgeon again?” I asked.

  Zara groaned as she sighed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  “But Zara, you’ve almost completed the program.”

  She threw her hands up. “Pen! Because you’re almost done with something doesn’t mean you have to finish it. Especially if you don’t love it, and I hate it.”

  My frown gave me a slight headache. To say I was confused was an understatement. “Then what in the hell were you hasty about?”

  “Leaving New Orleans?”

  “And not quitting your neuro residency?”

  “Hell, no. I’m done with that.”

  For some reason, the feeling of being stuck in intense crisis mode gripped me. “But it doesn’t make any sense, Zara,” I said, flinging my hands emphatically. “You were almost at the finish line.”

  “You said that already.”

  “Well, I’m saying it again. It’s right there in front of us, and we’re about to cross it. So why are you quitting now after thousands of dollars and hours spent becoming a surgeon? And you’re a damn good one at that. Why now?”

  Zara slumped as she sighed. It was as if she’d blown all the tension out of her body. “You’re right about the thousands of hours and dollars. Sure, I put the time and effort into being a surgeon, but I didn’t do it for me. It’s over. I’m an adult. I’m not a traditionalist like my parents are, and therefore I’m not interested in pleasing them anymore. So as far as I’m concerned, the bill is on them, not me.” She took her phone out of her tiny purse. “I want to show you something.”

  I was still processing her reason for leaving the program. She’d said that she was only a surgeon to please her parents so many times I couldn’t count. I’d never taken her seriously because she was one of the best in our program. Not only that, but I could never connect to her circumstances. I’d never had parents tell me I couldn’t do this or that, parents who thought I belonged to them and not myself. The dark circles under Zara’s eyes were gone. The dusty-rose red was in her cheeks. Her appearance was healthy, almost angelic. From the outside, leaving the program seemed to have done her some good.

  However, I just had one more thing to say. “But how did you stick around so long? Usually, those who are in it to parent-please, they fuck up early and often. You never did that.”

  She shuffled through photos. “Because I take pride in everything I do,” she said matter-of-factly as she stopped on a photo of a woman wearing a long silver gown and hunching her shoulders. The picture looked as if it had come out of the pages of a fashion magazine.

  I was about to ask why she was showing it to me when she said, “I’m the photographer. I’ve been hired by Fashion F Mag. They’re one of the hugest publications in the business. Not only that, but they’ve started dabbling in e-commerce as well, which means they’re going to be around for a while.”

  Her eyes danced excitedly as she spoke about how she was able to split her time between New Orleans and New York.

  “How the hell did this happen? I thought you were interested in politics,” I said.

  Finally, Zara rolled her eyes and rubbed my back. “Pen, it’s all right. I’m going to be fine.”

  I pressed my lips together, wondering why she’d said that. Perhaps I was more perturbed by her life decisions than necessary. It wasn’t healthy on my part.

  “You can’t control the things in your life that you love, Pen, and that includes me. I’m happy you’re upset, because again, that means you love me like a sister. And I love you that way too. Seven years, we’ve been each other’s family. You know, the kind we pick, not the sort we’re stuck with.” She shook her head. “Can’t you see that you’re the reason I stayed? You’re my family.”

  My sinuses became tight as Zara and I stared at each other. Suddenly, I realized why I was taking her leaving so hard. We had spent more time together in the past seven years than I had with anyone in my life. It hadn’t felt as if we were two peas in a pod until that very moment. Since day one as interns, she and I had melded. We’d assisted each other in every assignment, examination, and surgery, and had sometimes forsaken sleep for twenty-four hours, trying to figure out how to irrigate a difficult brain bleed without damaging surrounding nerves. Then we had lunch or dinner, and Zara talked about anything but what was going on inside the hospital. Unlike me. She kept me connected with the world beyond the confines of our daily routine.

  “Okay,” I said lowly because my throat was too tight.

  “Things changed career-wise for us, Kit Kat. But we’re always going to be in each other’s lives.”

  I grimaced. “I hope so.”

  She put an arm around me, then we leaned our heads against each other.

  “I know so,” she said.

  Right on cue, Kirk stopped the car along the curb of a large house not far away from the mansion where the masquerade party had taken place.

  “How the fuck can she afford this house?” I asked, marveling at the sheer size and scope of it. It was a white stone mansion with large trimmed trees. The landscaping alone had to cost an arm and leg.

  “Oh, you didn’t know,” Zara said.

  She had my complete attention, and I was pretty sure it showed in my expression. “Courtney’s been married twice to two very rich guys. I don’t know what they did for a living, but the first husband bought her the house. And when she married the second husband, the alimony stopped from the first husband, but the second was richer than the first. The second guy supposedly cheated on her with another guy, but he gave her whatever she asked for so that she wouldn’t out him. But the fact that I’m telling you this story means that at some point, Courtney wagged her tongue. Because no one would ever have known the guy was gay unless Courtney told.”

  I belly laughed so hard that my cheeks ached. Even Kirk chuckled.

  “Are you beautiful ladies ready to exit?”
Kirk asked.

  “Yes, but we can …”

  Before I could finish, he was out and opening the door for us. I was about to tell him we could’ve done it ourselves.

  For a moment, I caught the steady eye contact between Zara and Kirk before she looked off bashfully. Regardless, I asked him if he would be picking up Jake later, and he said he would be.

  Before Zara and I started up the pathway, which was lit with bulbous lanterns that were staked into the grass, she waved goodbye to him, and he waved back.

  “What’s going on between you and Kirk?” I asked as we walked with our arms linked.

  “Nothing,” she said as though she were a kid caught with her hand in the candy jar.

  “I’m not blind, Zara. I can clearly see the two of you flirting. Is it the fact that he’s a driver?” I asked.

  “Pshaw,” she said, jerking her head back. “I’m not a snob. You know that.”

  About six people were hanging out on the large porch, very interested in our approach.

  “But is that his name? Kirk?” she asked.

  I flinched. “Damn it, I didn’t introduce the two of you. That was a total miss on my part.”

  “It’s fine. No need to beat yourself up about it.” She stopped walking, and I followed suit. “But now that it’s just the two of us, tell me, how rich is Jake Sparrow?”

  I sighed then pursed my lips, pondering whether answering would betray Jake’s trust.

  “I mean, if he’s going to send you to a party in a limousine, one that will be attended by the nosiest people at the hospital, then apparently he’s not trying to be cautious,” Zara said.

  I shook a finger. “True.”

  “Okay, so what’s the answer?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be a lawyer? You’re so good at making your case.”

  She scrunched her face playfully. “Stop stalling, Penina.”

  I sighed. “Jake is very rich.”

  “How rich is very rich?”

  I shook my head as if offended. “What do you mean, ‘how rich’? Do you think I’d ask him where he gets his money?”

  Zara grinned goofily. “Yes.” Then she studied me with one eye narrowed. “Fuck. No, you wouldn’t.”

  We laughed.

  “He just took me by surprise,” Zara said as our laughter simmered.

  I frowned. “Who?”

  “Kirk, the driver. He’s very handsome. Kind of sexy. No, really sexy.”

  “Should I formally introduce the two of you?”

  We both turned to look at the car, and Kirk was standing against the passenger-side door, watching us—or more like watching Zara.

  Zara’s eyes narrowed seductively as she continued watching him. “He’s a big boy. If he wants a formal introduction with me, he should know how to make one himself.”

  I nodded. “True.”

  “Anyway, so how is he in bed?” she asked.

  I knew who she was talking about. The question remained stuck in my mind as I closed my eyes and let it sit there. Then the tears rushed to my eyes.

  “What is it?” She sounded sorry she’d made me sad.

  “Nothing. It’s just …” I sniffed and wiped my eyes.

  “Is that you, Penina?” a recognizable male voice called.

  Zara and I turned to the porch. Rich was leaning on the banister, holding a beer in front of his lips.

  “You chose to wear that dress?” he griped.

  Zara and I widened our eyes at each other.

  “What’s wrong with your dress?” she muttered, trying to keep her lips from moving as much as she could.

  I shook my head softly as I rolled my eyes.

  “Oh shit, let the games begin,” she whispered as we walked forward.

  For the first time since we’d broken up, I was happy that Rich had made an appearance. I could say for certain that I had been on the verge of confessing to Zara that Jake and I might be related. I wasn’t sure I would’ve gone as far as to tell her everything, but Zara was too clever, and the more I talked, the closer she came to coaxing the truth out of me.

  Once we were close enough, Rich glared at my tits then my face, making me feel as if I should cross my arms over my cleavage. I wanted to explain that I was dressed classy but sexy for another man, not him. But then I thought I shouldn’t feel bashful or inappropriate because he was still turned on by me. He’d ruined our relationship. He was the cheater. Then he’d started a relationship with Courtney. Screw him.

  I stood tall as Zara and I walked up the steps.

  “And how are you tonight, Rich?” Zara asked as we were passing him.

  He snarled at her and chugged his beer.

  “What a tool,” she whispered in my ear.

  “And not the sharpest one in the shed,” I muttered.

  Courtney’s house smelled of potpourri mixed with incense. There were a lot of furniture pieces in every visible area. It was all tied together by the same sort of lacquered cherrywood, gold-leaf trim, and silk cushions. I was standing under one of two crystal chandeliers. Zara and I were still in the foyer. There was another enormous chandelier in the living room. And every shelf, cabinet, and table had some sort of expensive knickknack on the surface. Plus, the brocade curtains had gold tassels. Of course, the brocade curtains have gold tassels. Her taste was just as gaudy as I knew it would be.

  “There you are,” a high-pitched voice squealed from somewhere amongst all the bodies.

  Zara and I looked at each other with wide eyes then grinned.

  Suddenly, Courtney appeared, making a path between two groups of tall, athletic men who were ogling Zara and me as if we were buck naked.

  “Oh, Zara, you’re back. Glad you came,” Courtney said excitedly as they hugged.

  “I talked to you last night, remember? You called and asked if I was coming,” Zara said.

  “Oh,” she said, feigning as though she’d just recalled that tidbit. “Right.” She hugged me. “But, Penina, Greg’s here, and he’s been asking about you since he arrived.”

  I ruffled my eyebrows at her. Frankly, I was speechless, until I wasn’t. “I told you I wasn’t interested in being Greg Carroll’s date.”

  “He’s nice,” she squealed. “You’ll like him.”

  “I’m going to go mingle while Court tries to set you up with another winner,” Zara whispered into my ear.

  I caught myself before I rolled my eyes. Since Jake had pointed the habit out to me, I was dead set on controlling it.

  “What did she say?” Court asked, grinning uncomfortably.

  I was certain that she only wanted Zara around because Zara kept rejecting being close friends with her. Courtney was one of those women who hated being told no, which was why I had to get something straight with her.

  I put my hand on her nimble shoulder. “Court, I’m not in the market for a boyfriend.” I made sure I got very close to articulate the second part of what I had to say, because I was sure she needed to hear it. “Nor am I interested in your boyfriend.”

  The back of her hand shot up so fast in front of my face that I had to lean away to keep her from hitting me. “You mean my fiancé, and I know you’re not interested in Rich, and he’s not interested in you either.” It was amazing how she said all of that in her I’m-a-nice-Valley-girl and peppy-cheerleader tone of voice.

  “Good,” I said, not in the least bit insulted by her need to claim Rich as her fiancé and pretend that he wasn’t still in love—perhaps it was more lust—with me. I nodded while examining the room. “You have a nice turnout, though.”

  There were more athletes than I could count in the large room as well as the women that sniffed their tails. When Rich and I had been together, I learned that being a groupie was a full-time job. Those girls followed players from city to city, hooking up with them behind their girlfriends’ and wives’ backs. I was certain Rich had fucked his share of those career-athlete chasers. He probably had a steady diet of fucking two a day. I patte
d myself on the back for caring enough about myself to make him wear a condom every time we had sex. However, Rich was right to accuse me of being the one responsible for our sex life dwindling to nonexistence. The more he’d cheated, the less attracted to him I became.

  However, athletes and groupies weren’t the only guests. Of course, lots of people were from the hospital, including Angela, who waved at me wildly when I spotted her. I waved back just as enthusiastically. There were also people from other walks of life, which included the worlds of entertainment and business. I knew that because I’d seen them at other functions. They were mostly Rich’s friends.

  “So how are you anyway?” Court asked, forcing small talk.

  I wondered why she was still beside me and not mingling with other newcomers. “I’m fine.” I located the group I wanted to go chat with, my entire team of residents, who looked to be having a laughing good time discussing whatever they were talking about.

  “Just come with me,” Court said.

  To my utter surprise, she latched on to my arm and dragged me in the opposite direction from where I wanted to go. She was strong for such a tiny person. I would’ve had to really get aggressive to resist her, and that would’ve caused a scene. Since it was her party, I decided to give in a little and went without a struggle.

  I was in sort of a daze as I tried to think of how to get out of whatever Court had planned for me as we walked down a narrow hallway.

  “Listen to me, Pen. I know what’s best for you,” she said, guiding me as we entered a den. There were more muscular men and sexily clad women there. “Greg!” Courtney waved a hand wildly.

  A tall man, about six feet five and built like a gladiator, turned away from the doe-eyed girl he was standing close to. The woman was still flapping her eyelashes at him as he stared at me. I was shocked that he seemed happy to see me. It was as if the sight of me hypnotized him or something. His reaction was very strange, since I’d seen him only once, maybe twice before, while I was still with Rich.