by Dawn Brower
“Right,” Lana said. “I keep forgetting that.”
Tony nodded. “Not a problem. Do you have anything to write with or something for me to jot it down on?”
“Sorry, no,” Lana replied. “I don’t even have a purse. There was a fire at my house, and I lost everything. I’m here getting some things to get by until the insurance is settled.”
She’d never been so thankful for that damn fire. Tony wasn’t a bad guy, but some things were better left in the past. Their relationship was one of them. They didn’t work then, and they sure as hell were not going to work now. Not when she had Sullivan in her life. He’d always been the one she’d wanted, and now she had a real chance with him.
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Tony said earnestly. “But I’m glad you’re all right. Things can be replaced, but if the world lost you that would be a tragedy.”
“That it would be,” Jessica said. “If you’ll excuse us, we have a few more things to do. You know—shopping, dress fittings, doctor appointments. I’m sure you understand.”
Lana wasn’t herself or she’d have found a way to excuse herself from the conversation already. Doctor appointments? Dress fittings? What the hell was Jessica talking about? Had she missed something? “Yes, Jessica is right. I have a tight schedule, and a lot to accomplish before I can finally get some much needed rest.”
“Dress fittings?” Tony said. “Is that for the wedding?”
That was what Jessica had meant. Crap, she did still have to go the bridal shop for one last fitting on her dress. She’d have to call them and make an appointment. The wedding was in a week. “Oh, yes,” Lana said. “It’s going to be an exciting day. It really was good seeing you. We’ll talk again soon, right?”
Tony’s face darkened a little bit, but whatever bothered him cleared away as fast as it had appeared. He became the lighthearted guy she’d always known him to be. He nodded at her and said earnestly, “Of course.”
Lana walked away from him as fast as possible in a manner that didn’t seem as if she was actually trying to escape his presence. She yanked Jessica into the lingerie shop, but she had lost all ambition to shop and grabbed the first few pairs of panties and matching bras she found in the right size. As an afterthought, she grabbed a black lacy negligee that looked sexy enough. She really had wanted to try things on... No helping that now. All she wanted to do was pay for her items and go back to the apartment. Tony had ruined her fun by acting so weird. She couldn’t be sure what his deal was; however, she did know she hadn’t liked it at all.
“You can be rather quick on your feet.” Lana headed toward the cashier. “Where did all that come from? Fittings? Appointments?”
“Claire pointed out you hadn’t gone in for your final fitting when I saw her the other day. You might want to take care of that,” Jessica said with a shrug. “And Preston mentioned that you would need a new supply of medications when I called him a little bit ago. He arranged to have them delivered to the apartment from the hospital pharmacy. He’s worried you won’t be able to function without them. I forgot to bring it up earlier. Do you want me to take you for your check up in a few days?”
“You know far more about my health than I do,” Lana said and blew out a breath. “I suppose that’s fair considering your own health scare and my bullying you to the doctor not too long ago. Thank Preston for me, will you?” Lana frowned. “It slipped my mind that my pain meds would’ve burned in the fire too. I don’t know what I was thinking...I’ve been running on adrenaline or something.”
“That you’ve had more than one scare in the past month? I’ll always be here for you.” Jessica hugged her and stepped back. “Now, are you sure you don’t want to finish shopping?” She lifted a brow. “Sullivan can certainly afford it.”
Jessica did have a point and he’d offered. She would need a lot more than she’d already bought. There was no telling how long it would take for the insurance to clear, and she had no access to any of her legal paperwork to withdraw money from her bank account. She literally had to replace everything in her house. Why not do a little more shopping before she returned to the apartment. Her mood lifted now that she was no longer near Tony’s creepiness. “You shop more than I do. Why don’t you take me to a few of your favorite places?”
“Oh, good,” Jessica said rubbing her hands together. “I have expensive taste too. Let’s rack up one hell of a bill for Sullivan.”
With those words, Jessica looped her arm through Lana’s and led her on a shopping expedition she never would have imagined...
SULLIVAN WALKED INTO the apartment, half expecting Lana to be there waiting for him in his bed—naked. Perhaps that was more wishful thinking on his part then something that might actually happen. A guy could hope, couldn’t he? After a morning of almost-pleasure, he’d been rather keyed up, and his dick showed no sign of giving in. He wanted to strip Lana bare and have her ride him until they were both exhausted. The images would not leave his head no matter how hard he tried to push them out. That was the problem though, wasn’t it? He was harder than he’d ever been in his life, and he wanted to push himself between Lana’s thighs. God help him...
He shoved his hands through his hair and then plopped onto the sofa. It was still a mess from him using it as a bed the night before. The small decorative pillows sat on the floor where he’d tossed them, the cushions were askew, and the blanked remained a rumpled mess at the end. Finding the energy to straighten it eluded him. He’d much rather leave it as it was and then maybe snuggle or something a little more debauched with Lana later.
The doorbell chimed. Sullivan sighed. The interior decorating firm he contacted about redoing his office had called to set up a meeting. He had no desire to go back to his office, so he’d suggested they come to the apartment for the meeting. He really didn’t care what they did to the office as long as it didn’t resemble the current décor. He stood and walked to the door, then pulled it open. Immediately, he was taken aback by who greeted him on the other side. He should have looked through the peephole.
“Victoria,” he replied hesitantly. “What are you doing here?”
She beamed at him as if she was a canary who’d scored the juiciest worm to be found. He didn’t quite like comparing himself to an invertebrate. Why his mind jumped to such things, he’d never know. “Is that any way to greet someone you’re planning to do business with?”
Shit. She had gone to school for interior decorating. How had he forgotten that little detail? “You’re with Gilded Renovations?” The company had come highly recommended, and he’d impulsively called them. That alone was unlike him and a testament to how shook up Wilson’s murder made him.
“That I am,” she said. “Are you going to invite me in?”
He wanted to say no. Victoria Masters was a part of his past he wished he could forget. She was one of the few he’d dated for a longer span of time. It had been more to please his mother than any real inclination to be with Victoria. She was gorgeous, intelligent, and ambitious. All things he normally gravitated toward, and also why he hadn’t found it unappealing to date her—for a short time. After a while, she’d become clingy and too demanding. Not to mention she had a mean streak a mile wide and snobbish airs that made all of her assets rather unpleasant in the aftermath.
“Must I?” he asked drolly.
Having his teeth yanked out sounded more pleasant. The elevator dinged, and a delivery guy stepped out, heading toward his apartment. He stopped in front next to Victoria and glanced at them both. “Dr. West wanted these delivered for...”
“I’ll sign for them,” Sullivan interrupted him. They must be Lana’s prescriptions. He’d talked to Preston earlier and he mentioned he’d send them over. Sullivan scribbled his name on the form and took the bag from him. “Thanks,” he said, giving him a tip.
Victoria sneered at the guy and he rushed away. Sullivan was tempted to go inside his apartment and ignore the witch. She turned her attention back to him. “Now are you goi
ng to invite me it?”
“Please join me,” he replied reluctantly. “Might as well get this over with.” He gestured for her to come inside.
Victoria brushed past him and sashayed over to his sofa. He was starting to regret not straightening it up. He didn’t like looking at her sitting in the spot he had planned to do wicked things with Lana in earlier. It seemed rather wrong. Why did she have to be the interior decorator?
“So you want to redo your office?” she said as she pulled out a portfolio. “Is it your office here or at work?”
Sullivan walked over to a table and set the bag of prescriptions down for Lana to find when she returned. She was probably already in pain without them. He hadn’t thought to suggest she take some over-the-counter pain killers he kept on hand. Maybe he should call her... No, he had to handle Victoria first. Then he’d figure out where Lana was and make sure she was all right. He headed back to the living room where he left Victoria. She’d made herself rather comfortable on the sofa.
“Work—my office and conference room,” he replied, answering the question she’d asked earlier. “And before you ask me what color scheme I want or any other mundane questions, I’ll make this simple. Just go to Brady Blue and completely redo those rooms. I want everything gone, replaced, and completely different than it is now. Spare no expense, and you have free rein to make it into whatever you envision.”
Her eyes widened. “You must be kidding me.” She glanced around. “Are there some cameras here? Is someone going to jump out and tell me I’m on a practical joke reality show? No one gives free rein in decorating. Opinions are given freely and much more often than I would like. There are some people out there with absolute abysmal taste.” Victoria’s voice held every inch of the snobbery he’d remembered and it disgusted him. How had he spent so much time with her in the past?
“I jest not,” he said dryly. “Let me know when it’s finished and send me the bill. If that’s all, I can show you to the door.”
She showed no indication of leaving. She stared at him blankly for several heartbeats. He had to find a way to make her leave. He didn’t want her in the one place he deemed his sanctuary. It was a bad idea to have the meeting in the apartment to begin with. He should have insisted on a lunch or dinner meeting. Before he could do anything though, the door swung open and Lana came inside with Jessica right behind her. He silently prayed it wouldn’t be as bad as his imagination was playing out. They could all be reasonable adults—most of the time. Ah, hell, who was he kidding? A nightmare in the making had walked through his door.
Victoria’s lips curled up. “Oh, the help is here. I wouldn’t want to be in their way. It was so nice seeing you again, Sully. I’ll be in touch.”
“Don’t leave on my account,” Lana said scathingly and dropped several bags onto the floor. “I clean up after no one.” She then spun around and left the same way she’d come in. Jessica shrugged her shoulders, appearing a tad confused, and then followed Lana out.
Fuck. He would have to go after her. First, he had to take out the thing that had sent her spiraling in the other direction. He didn’t need his office redone that bad. Losing Lana would be far worse. He turned toward Victoria and ordered, “Get out and don’t bother with the contract. I can find someone more reputable to do the job.”
“But Sully...” Her voice bordered on whiny. “We’re friends.”
“No, we’re not and never will be.” He looped his arm through hers, grabbed her briefcase and led her to the door. Once there he shoved her out and dropped her case by her feet. “Don’t bother gracing me with your presence again.” He shut the door in her face and turned toward the packages Lana had dropped off. After staring at the numerous bags a moment, he picked them up and put them in the bedroom.
Maybe later she’d feel up to showing him what she’d purchased. That was if he could talk her down from her current irate mood. Luckily, he had enough charm for the task, and he rather looked forward to it. With a plan forming in his mind, he went to the bathroom to shower. For what he had devised, he had to be at his best and that didn’t describe his current state. Lana would be his in every way before the night was done.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Nothing had gone as planned. That seemed to be Sullivan’s mantra of late. He didn’t know why he expected for his life to fall in line with what he wanted. It never had. Ever since he was a small boy, his life hadn’t ever truly been his own.
When Daniella had gone missing, his parents had turned into overprotective worriers. They had already lost one child, and if they’d lost Sullivan too... After growing up under that strain he had vowed to never have a family of his own, to never care that much about another person he would fear the worse, and never ever open his heart to the possibility of being shattered. That was why he was a serial dater. If he didn’t get attached to one woman, he would be able to keep himself safe from impending emotional disasters.
He should have realized that was a foolish endeavor and given in to the inevitable a long time ago. Lana had squeezed inside his heart when he wasn’t paying attention, and she mattered far more than he would have allowed otherwise. He hadn’t seen the signs until it was too late. He was fully and completely in love with her. Now she was so pissed off she wasn’t talking to him. Days upon days of the silent treatment had driven him stark raving mad. It was time to force her out of her temper tantrum and make her at least speak, even if it turned into yelling. They couldn’t work through their issues without some open communication.
“Lana,” he rapped on the bedroom door. That too—he was done with the couch. They would start sharing a bed and soon—even if it was platonic. He snorted. As if he could sleep with her and not touch her. He’d have to at least hold her or nothing else would do. “Please come out.”
No answer.
Sullivan sighed. What could he do to make her at least speak to him? Piss her off more? That might actually do the trick. She’d come out with guns a-blazing—figuratively of course. He hated the idea of angering her, but he was growing desperate. He’d known she didn’t like Victoria, and for good reason; however, he hadn’t fully grasped how great that hatred ran. A mistake he wouldn’t make again. When Victoria had showed up on his doorstep, he should have slammed the door in her face. Revisiting his past was not one of his favorite activities.
“Fine,” he said exasperated. “If you can’t be bothered to attend the dinner, I’ll go by myself. Maybe I can even find someone there who enjoys my company.” He didn’t mean another female. At least, not the way it sounded. It was his sister’s rehearsal dinner, after all. There were women there that loved him, such as his mother. Still, no sound came from the other side of the door.
He should just give up and go to the dinner. His family was counting on him. He walked over to the hallway mirror and adjusted his tie. The click of a door opening echoed through the room. He turned toward it and his breath caught in his throat. Lana was simply amazing to behold. She wore a black cocktail dress that hugged her body as if it was made for her alone. One shoulder was bare while the other one had a split-capped sleeve holding the dress in place. A slit was cut up the right side from her knee up to the middle of her thigh in the shape of a V—Sullivan wanted to skim his hand up that thigh and slip them underneath. He could trail kisses over her bare shoulder as he pleasured her with his hands. His cock hardened at the thought.
“Can you help me with these shoes?”
Sullivan hadn’t even looked past the slit in her skirt. He trailed his gaze downward to the three-inch spiked heels. They had straps that wound around her ankle and sparkling strap across the toe. They could barely be called shoes as they held so little material.
Sullivan nodded absentmindedly and kneeled before her. He slid one strap into place and secured it, and then did the other one. He had to make things right with her before they left. Whatever it took—he would make it happen. He was already on his knees before her. It was the perfect position for begging, and he would do
it if he had to.
He ran his hand up her leg and cupped it around her waist, then leaned forward and kissed her bare leg where the slit of her dress opened at the edge of her thigh. She sucked air into her lungs, and her breathing became ragged. Lana wasn’t immune to his touch, and if he could use that to his advantage, he would. Sullivan skimmed his other hand lightly across her bare skin and waited for her to tell him to stop. She didn’t.
“We can stay here,” he said huskily.
“No, we can’t,” Lana replied, her voice hoarse with desire. “Your sister is counting on us.”
“She’d understand,” he said. “She’s a woman in love, and marrying that very man tomorrow.”
He hated the idea of letting Daniella down. She’d been missing from his family almost her entire life. This wedding was a reunion of sorts. The answer his family would give to the world regarding her place in their lives. No one would question that she belonged in the Brady family afterward. She was the heart of the family, and when she returned, it had been restored to its rightful place. The hurt would never go away; nevertheless, they would be able to move forward, stronger and whole.
“You’re not going to convince me to stay, Sully,” Lana said. Her voice faltered a little bit—perhaps with indecision. “You love your family, and you would regret it if you missed anything important to your sister.”
Why did she have to be right? He would enjoy pushing up Lana’s skirt and fucking her against the wall, but afterward he would be mad at himself. For more reasons than one... Yes, he would be pissed that he missed Daniella’s rehearsal dinner, but he’d also be mad he rushed his first time with Lana. He wanted to savor it, and for that, he would have to regain some measure of control. So, yes, they would go to the dinner, would drink, make small talk, and they would socialize the hell out of it. But when they returned, all bets were off. He would strip that dress off her with the finesse he’d learned and make her scream his name repeatedly. “All right, you win. We’re going to a party.”