His hands tightened slightly. “No, it isn’t. I’m glad to formally meet the woman she’s talked about for so many years.” Gazing up, he added, “Have you been introduced to Harper?”
“No, I-I haven’t. Our families work together but…we’ve never met.” Delkin lifted her top hand and held it. Her other was still held between Elijah’s and the simple contact with both men made her head spin.
“Miss Hernandez, a pleasure.”
He bent and kissed the back. His lips were hot on her skin.
“You can call me Brie.” The words were barely a whisper.
He was so close and when his eyes lifted, silver pupils surrounded by thick black lashes enthralled her.
“You will call me Harper.”
One side of her mouth lifted. “Thankfully, I’ve grown accustomed to bossiness.”
“It will save time.” At her small gasp, he returned to his full height but didn’t release her hand. He seemed to analyze her. “For what are you willing to make an exception?” She struggled to change gears. “You wish to bid on a piece of art?”
“Yes. I…” She swallowed hard. “The whale.”
Harper stared at her for a long time. “You like it very much.”
“It makes me feel wonderful.”
“Your painting of the building was spectacular.”
“Thank you.”
“I want you to paint my family home.” She started to shake her head and he interjected, “Money is no object.”
“Money doesn’t matter.”
“Money always matters, Miss Hernandez.”
“Not to me, Delkin.”
Her unintentional use of his last name in the way Hudson always used it caused the man’s eyes to widen. She heard Natalia stifle a laugh at her side. Her best friend remained interestingly quiet.
“I’m sorry, I…”
“Don’t apologize, Brie.” She met Elijah’s laughing green eyes. “You’re unique. He has no frame of reference.” Squeezing her hand, his smile spread. “What he meant to say was that it would be lovely to have you visit. While there, perhaps you’d be inspired.”
“Visit…?” She was confused.
“Harper holds a gala in the fall to celebrate the anniversary of the company. A three-day affair to which Hudson and Natalia are always invited. Perhaps you’ll join them.”
Looking down at her lap, she murmured, “I can’t travel right now.”
“Brie?” Raising her face, she noticed his light brown lashes were tipped in platinum blonde. “It’s an annual event. When you’re able to travel, consider your invitation an open one.”
Elijah knew about her accident. She assumed Harper did, too.
Inhaling carefully, she explained why she wasn’t taking commission pieces. “I…did the painting for Hudson because he’s my friend. It was a gift. Even if I wished it, to do another painting of such scale, I have to stand for long periods. For his building, I used a step stool to reach the top of the canvas. It isn’t possible for me at this point.”
“Your invitation has no conditions.” His fingers moved gently over her hand and wrist. She felt unusual callouses on the tips. “Being an artist and a Washington native, you’ll appreciate the beauty of the estate, whether you ever paint it or not.”
“Miss Hernandez…Brie.” She looked up and Harper frowned down. He held her hand firmly. “I misunderstood.”
Her smile was amused as she guessed, “That must have been painful to admit.”
“A dagger to my chest.” She laughed and he stared at her for a long moment. As if a bit irritated to admit it, he murmured, “You are lovely.”
Unable to respond, she glanced at Elijah. He nodded. “You truly are.”
“I…” Raising her eyes to Harper’s, she replied, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your evening. We’ll meet again.”
The words sounded like a threat. “Alright.”
Both men kissed her hands simultaneously, Elijah rose with another wink, and they nodded to Hudson and Natalia. They turned and the bodyguard preceded his boss into the crowd.
She watched them until they were out of sight. Looking up at her friends, she asked carefully, “What was that?”
“Explain.”
She looked at Natalia who had one brow lifted and frowned. “Are you putting me in front of those men?”
“Darling, you are a beacon in the darkness for men such as Harper.”
Narrowing her eyes, she quipped, “He seems easily annoyed with me.”
“He is annoyed by things he doesn’t understand. Much like Hudson.” Bending, she moved a stray curl away from her face and asked quietly, “Are you opposed to getting to know him?”
“I’m in no condition…”
“Stop.” Hudson’s voice was firm. “You will cease acting as if you have nothing to offer. Being the person you are is more than enough to fascinate those around you.”
“I’m embarrassed. The scars and this stupid chair…”
He crouched and took her hand. “You are not a fucking circus pony who must perform on cue. You were hurt. You are healing. There is no reason to be embarrassed, Gabriella.”
Inhaling slowly, she nodded.
* * * * *
The rest of the evening was spent listening to people talk about business, art, and mutual acquaintances. Her friends included her and she was careful to appear present and animated.
Inside, she couldn’t stop thinking about the way it felt to have her hands held by Harper and Elijah. It was such a simple contact that she knew she was making it bigger than it had any business being.
She wondered at her interest in men she’d just met.
They were attractive and smelled incredible. Harper was known to the people in Hudson’s circles and was a business associate of her parents. Other than that, she didn’t know much about them.
Before they left the party, she inquired about the sculpture she wanted so desperately. Natalia told her that auction winners would be contacted the following day.
Riya, Tawny, and their men crashed her late dinner with Hudson and Natalia. They spent hours talking about the play, the building, and more but Brie wasn’t really paying attention.
As much as she loved each and every one of them, she was grateful to return to her silent apartment in the hour before dawn. Natalia insisted on helping her out of the formal gown and into something comfortable. She gently brushed her hair and loosely braided it down her back.
Then her two friends kissed her goodnight and she locked up behind them. Racing thoughts made it impossible for her to sleep.
When the apartment phone rang at eight in the morning, she picked it up in surprise.
“Brie, this is Carlo. You have a delivery. Is it alright for the men to bring it up?”
“Of course.”
Using the walker, she made her way to the front door as the freight elevator beeped. She watched as the enormous whale she’d fallen in love with was carefully wheeled out of the interior and across the hall.
Barely able to speak, she directed the men to set it up in the corner of her living room. It was even more spectacular in her apartment.
When they were done, she said, “Wait a moment, I’ll grab my bag…”
“No, ma’am. We’ve been taken care of already. Have a good day.”
The last man handed her a heavy linen envelope with her first name written in masculine scrawl and he nodded as he pulled the door closed.
Lowering slowly to the edge of her sofa, she opened the envelope and felt her heart hit a hard gallop.
Gabriella,
You are captivating.
My brother was thrilled to learn you were so taken with his work. I could not risk it falling into less-appreciative hands.
May it continue to bring you pleasure.
Harper
She re-read the short note several times. Then she picked up the phone and called Natalia.
“Darling…why are you awake?”
“Is everything alright?”
“Harper bought me the whale from the auction. It was just delivered. Is this…I mean, if I keep it am I committed to something?”
“You mean is it similar to my collar?”
“Something like that.”
“No, darling. It’s simply a gift. An extravagant one but nothing more than a gift.” There was a long pause. “Do you want it to be more?”
“I have no idea.”
“Brie, give it some thought. They will pursue you more openly going forward. I’ve known Harper for two decades. He won’t stop until you either tell him no or agree to belong to him…and his oldest friend.”
“I don’t even know what that means…not with him.”
“Let’s have lunch.” There was the sound of rustling in the background and Brie heard Natalia sigh. “Make that dinner. We’ll answer any questions you have, darling.”
“Thanks. Enjoy naked time and send my apologies for interrupting.”
“No, Brie. I’m so glad you woke me up. I’ll call you later.”
Making her way into her studio, she unclipped the sketch she’d drawn of Harper and Elijah the night of the building commemoration from her easel.
It was a sketch her friends had noticed but not questioned.
She’d gradually added to it over the past weeks, including splashes of color and giving it more substance. Much like her original drawing of Hudson and Natalia, the level of detail announced it to be a project she returned to often.
Brie hadn’t wondered why she didn’t put it away. Most of the sketches she did were stored or gifted to the subjects in them. Removing stationary from her desk, she set down the picture and quickly wrote a note.
Harper,
Thank you for the sculpture and the compliment.
I didn’t make the connection that Harrison was your younger brother. I last saw him when he was barely a teenager. His work is truly remarkable.
Please accept a far simpler gift from me in thanks.
Brie
Before she could second-guess her decision, she sealed the envelope and made her way to the lobby business center using her walker, passing Carlo who was shocked to see her downstairs alone.
Printing Harper Delkin’s name on the priority box, she returned to the front desk to speak to the concierge.
“Can you help me find a mailing address?”
Taking the package, the young man’s expression was confused as he read the name. “You don’t need to mail this, Brie.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mr. Delkin owns an apartment on the floor below Mr. Winters. He rarely uses it but as it happens…ah, here he is now.”
Ladies’ Night
A Short Story by Shayne McClendon
April 2015 – Undisclosed Bar in New York City
Tawny Ratliff smiled as the bartender handed her a tray filled with shots and mixed drinks.
“Do you need help with this?”
She laughed. “Nah, I got it. Thanks. I’ll tip heavily in case there’s vomit or breakage over the course of the evening.” He blinked but said nothing. Winking, added, “Later.”
At a large corner table of a dive she’d been trolling in New York City for way more years than her best friend realized, the ladies cheered as she approached.
They were already drunk…but Tawny could do better. As long as she got them home in one piece, she was going to make sure they were well and truly bombed before she let them out of her sight.
“Riya. I promised the guys you’d return with all the clothing you left wearing so if you put that back on, I won’t have to fake a crazed game of hide-n-seek the second I get off the elevator. ‘Kay?”
Stomping her foot under the table, the brunette pulled her shirt over her head clumsily. “Can’t do nothing ‘round here!”
“You can get drunk off your ass and I can record it. That’s a thing.”
Linn laughed so hard that liquor flew out of her nose. It made her twin sister hysterical and therefore useless to offer assistance.
Teddy, a woman who could probably create gourmet fare from canned meat, staggered to her feet and patted Linn’s back. Incredibly helpful until she fell, rather gracefully, across the sisters’ laps and the threesomes’ laughter reached new heights.
They’d coordinated their rare evening out as a group around the sisters’ play, Not that Desperate. The cast and crew wrapped their third successful season the week before and were ready to consider next steps in their personal and professional lives.
Nearest the wall, Gabriella Hernandez shook her head with a smile. She was the only one other than Tawny who was still sober.
Even never-a-hair-out-of-place Natalia was giggling girlishly at something Marcy whispered in her ear.
Seeing the blonde fully relax was always worth a stern look from Hudson that he didn’t mean anyway. He loved when they hauled his lifelong friend and fiancée out to play.
“We gotta watch her or she’ll end up ass out in public…again. The guys would kill us this time for sure.” Brie quirked a brow. “I’m shocked they still let her come out with us.”
“All noise complaints and public nudity threats aside, we keep her safe and those two love being able to baby her ass the morning after. Don’t let them fool you.”
“Shit.” Brie reached out to stop their friend from working her bra off under her clothes. “Not taking that off.”
“I need to be free!” was Riya’s loud proclamation.
Setting another shot in front of a woman who had the alcohol tolerance of a newborn kitten, Tawny grinned. “That’s what I’ve been saying. Now, have your shot so I can get video of you trying to get paper towels out of the dispenser in the bathroom. That shit never gets old.”
“Preach.” Brie held up her glass and Tawny clinked it.
Flipping a chair around, Tawny straddled it backwards and crossed her arms on the top. “I’m pretty shocked you’re not on the floor with all the meds you’ve been taking.”
“Alcohol does nothing after almost a year of morphine or worse. I was determined to wean myself off that shit slow and careful. Mm, how I have missed tequila.”
Tawny inclined her head at the heavy-duty cane leaning against her chair. It was something she’d been able to switch to in recent weeks. “Better?”
“Still sucks. My ninety-year-old grandmother uses a little wooden one. It’s better than the chair or the walker but fuck! I look forward to being on my own steam again.”
“What’s the ETA? Your doctor still pushing it out?”
Brie’s expression was frustrated. “He won’t consider releasing me completely from medical care for a few more months.”
“Think you’ll be mobile for the wedding?”
“I won’t stop until I am and my physical therapist has been warned. I just need to know I can go the entire thing without help.” She pointed at her friend. “It took days of begging to talk those two into setting a date.”
Natalia somehow crossed her arms noisily. “I will wait forever for you, Brie. No wedding without you and that’s final.”
“I know, you sweet drunken woman. I’ll be ready.”
“You’ll be so pretty that Harper and Elijah will drool over you. I picked the loveliest dress for you.”
“Thank you, Natalia. You whisper with Marcy and I’ll talk to the only other coherent person at the table.” A wicked expression crossed Brie’s face as she turned back to Tawny. “The doc agreed to upgrade my status based on my PT scores in a few weeks. I want to tag along with Riya in August.”
Tawny’s grin was enormous. “Bullshit. You’ll be cleared to fly?” Brie nodded. “Fuck yeah! I’m going, too.” She leaned close. “You know the club she’s visiting for business, right?”
“Lots of kinky fuckery in that club…” Natalia made the announcement in a loud singsong voice. “I love it.” Suddenly, she sat up with her eyes wide. “I want to go! Can I go,
too?”
Riya took her by the shoulders and shook her, shaking herself in the process. “Of course you can! Let’s all go!”
“Uh uh,” Teddy said as she tried to maneuver herself off the sisters’ laps without any help from them at all. “I have Emma and I know all about that place. Nau-ghty. You can tell me the wild stories when you get back!”
Brie’s smile was brilliant as she turned back to Tawny. “They’re seriously shit-faced.” Tawny nodded. “Well played.”
“Why thank you.”
“To answer your question, I know enough about The Playground to know I want to see it for myself. One of my first clients put me in touch with the owner for tweaks to her web design. Riya was thrilled when she found out. A little bit of scandalous is just what I need.”
“Hell yes it is.”
One shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I’m still not ready for monkey business but I’m thrilled I get to see the inside. When she says exclusive, KiKi Espinosa doesn’t play around. I can live vicariously through all of you lucky bastards.”
Around the bar, several men in expensive suits watched the women from a discreet distance. Tawny sighed. “Too bad you’re not up to fucking around because Marcy’s security team is seriously hot.”
“Right? I’ve been licking them in my mind.” Brie released a long sigh. “You know I’m scarred from head to toe now…it won’t be the same. It was hard before my surgery but my insecurity was focused in one place.”
Tawny quietly stared at her for a long moment. “Any guy doesn’t find you to be the perfect goddamn package doesn’t deserve to touch you any fucking way. They’re scars, girl. Proof that you survived some serious shit. Own them. Against some hard-core odds, you made it.”
“You know, Tawny, I don’t think anyone gets just how badass you are in every possible way.” She lifted her glass and Tawny tapped hers to it with a roll of her eyes.
“Ain’t that the fucking truth?”
“They aren’t strippers…?” From across the table, Riya asked the question at top volume about the men keeping them under watch. Despite their best efforts, several of Marcy’s highly trained team were unable to hide their smiles.
Backstage (The Barter System Book 4) Page 30