Vandervilles: Book 1 : When Beauty Met The Beast

by Khardine Gray

  "So, what is Chloe stressed about?" He looked at Chloe, trying to appear casual.

  "I'm not stressed."

  "Oh please," Taylor scoffed, gaping at her. "She's worried she won't get the creative director job. You know Mom never opens a new role, and if and when she does she always has someone in mind for the position before she's even announced it."

  Wade met Chloe's uncomfortable gaze. He'd known her all his life and the one constant about her was that she was always into fashion. Not as in dressing fashionable, which yes she did, but she did more than that. She studied it, emulated it, and he had to admit was en route to being a copy of his mother. Wade was certain Chloe had nothing to worry about.

  "You'll get it." He tipped his head in a curt nod and was pleased to see a small smile pull at the corners of her delicate mouth.

  "Very good." Taylor tapped his shoulder. "Keep this up. I like it. I know you guys can get along if you try."

  He agreed wholeheartedly. "Sure, we’ll try." Once he found his way back to Chloe's lips he'd be fine and would show her just how well they could get along.

  Taylor smiled wide and nodded with appreciation. "Excellent. Right, I'm going to sort out my face. And hair. I'll be back down in about half an hour."

  "How about I help you?" Kelly offered, much to Chloe's dismay. She looked like she didn't want to be left alone with him. With her cheeks tickled pink and an uneasy expression, she turned back to the baking bowls on the kitchen counter while Kelly joined Taylor and the two went upstairs. On the way up they talked about how good Taylor's mask was, and the great effects the ginger extract and banana blend would have on her skin.

  In the meantime, Wade concentrated on the beauty before him, and the effects her glowing skin were having on him.

  He made his way over to her and stood a few paces away. Wade thought he'd tone his forwardness down a notch tonight, just to allow her a chance to get used to him, and for him to get what he wanted.

  She looked at him out the corner of her eyes first, then she turned to face him, gaping at him through cautious eyes.

  "Hi," he began. His gaze moved over her flawless skin. This closeness reminded him of the past, and he conjured up the image of her naked body, perfect in every way, soft and tempting. Waiting for him to seize.

  "Hi." She brought her fingers together.

  "Stop worrying about the job. You shouldn't worry about things like that. It's just a job."

  Laughter escaped her lips. "Says the billionaire playboy."

  "I'm not a playboy." He wasn't, not anymore.

  She laughed again. "Oh, I thought that was a joke."

  "It's not."

  "Okay." She didn't bother to hide the sarcasm in her voice. "Please don't tell me you think you're a saint."

  "I'm not a saint, Chloe." A saint wouldn't be trying to guess what color underwear she was wearing, or thinking of her naked. "I'm not a saint, not a playboy, and definitely not a billionaire."

  "Right, okay. The last time I checked you were still Wade Vanderville. You must at least think you're a billionaire."

  "No, but my parents are."

  "Of course, I see how that differentiates." Sarcasm mingled with humor. At least she wasn't looking at him with the usual scowl.

  "I plan to work, to earn a living too, but my job won't be the center of my universe. Anyhow, enough of that. Come on, let's go." He managed to tame the uncontrollable beast within for all of two minutes.

  "Go?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

  "Yeah, you may need to bring a jacket."

  "Wade, I'm baking. And even if I wasn't, the answer is no."

  She had to be the very first woman who'd ever said no to him. It felt odd, but he loved a challenge.

  "Why no?"

  "I'm baking, my friends are upstairs, and we're having fun night."

  "You'd have more fun with me." He liked this part, where she'd start blushing and look shocked at his openness and purely sexual focus on her. Now he moved closer and lowered to taste those delicious lips that fueled his obsession.

  He smoothed his mouth over hers, and the kiss immediately became fiery. Wade enjoyed her and the smoothness of her tongue on his.

  God, he wanted her bad, and he wanted her now. That was it, enough of this child's play. He pulled away from her and took her hand to usher her outside and into his car.

  But she stopped as they got out into the sitting room and pulled back, shaking her head.

  "Wade, I can't do this." She struggled to catch her breath and placed her hand on her chest drawing his attention to the hint of cleavage she displayed. "You're driving me crazy."

  "Crazy isn't such a bad thing, baby."

  "Maybe not for you, but for me it is. Wade this whole thing is crazy, and I think you may be under the influence of something," she stated tentatively.

  "You think I'm on drugs." It was natural for her to assume it. He doubted it was something Taylor would have discussed with her in depth, or anybody else for the matter.

  "I think there could be a big chance."

  "I've been clean for over five years. I am not on drugs," he declared, remembering with perfect clarity his final contact with drugs. That last stint cost him dearly, and he would give anything to change time and change what resulted from that. The effects of that one incident had been enough to make him stop and change forever. He held her gaze, suddenly desperate for her to understand and believe him.

  "Okay, well that's good. I'm glad, I am. As much as I can't stand you, I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."

  "You can't stand me?" He chuckled.

  "No, I can't." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself as opposed to him.

  "You seem to like my lips. I have quite a few more parts you'll like." When he gave her a cheeky grin, she rolled her eyes and turned to walk away, but he caught her arm and pulled her back to him. "Chloe, I thought we addressed this elephant last night."

  "That's all you think it takes?" She looked at him with expectancy.

  "What do you want?" He allowed his emotions to guide him. Emotions and urges. He thought everything else was just details, so he didn't worry about that. But maybe she did. He guessed he had to factor that in.

  "I don't know."

  He knew what he wanted. The image of her wearing nothing but that pink thong flashed in his mind. But this time he embellished the fantasy by adding her laid out on his bed with her hair sprawled across it. Her hair was much longer now, longer and sexier. Her breasts were bigger, too, and she'd grown into her womanly curves that screamed at him for exploration.

  "Wade." She said his name sharply and glared at him. "Stop looking at my breasts," she snapped.

  "I'll try."

  She rolled her eyes again and shook her head. "Don't you think this is weird? We're at each other's throats for years, and now you have this sudden interest in me?"

  It wasn't sudden. He couldn't exactly explain it, but this wasn't sudden. All he'd ever gone by is how he felt. That was why it was so easy for him to be an addict. The drugs enhanced him, made him feel invincible. When things were shaky at home between his parents, he'd just dose up, when things were rough in college and he teetered on dropping out, he'd just dose up. It was his answer to everything, and the women that were at his beck and call were just an added bonus. It was a dark way to live, and the whole thing nearly destroyed him; it did destroy him, and he'd hurt a lot of people in the process.

  That life started in his first year of college and didn't end until he left L.A. She might think he rejected her and that he enjoyed the awkwardness between them, but what he was doing was keeping her away from him. From the dangerous way he lived his life, from how he was back then.

  "I guess your silence means I'm right." Her brows pulled down in concentration.

  "No. Doesn't mean you're right, doll, not one bit. My interest in you is definitely not sudden." Something sparked within her eyes as she looked at him. He hoped she'd drop this resistance now. He didn't wan
t to talk about the past. As much as it held the fantasy image of her he didn't want to forget, it stirred up too much pain. His answer seemed to appease her, and since he knew she was attracted to him he chose to focus on that.

  "Go out with me."

  "I'm busy."

  "Tomorrow." He smiled.

  "I can't."

  "Why not?"

  At that moment Pisces, Taylor's white Persian cat, ran across the room, jumped through the flap on the back door, and ventured into the night. Her fur looked stark against the darkness.

  "I have to brush the cat," Chloe giggled.

  "Baby, get someone else to do it. Chloe, when can I take you out?"

  She was trying to hide the smile of contentment on her face.

  "How about you just stay for fun night?"

  "How about we create our own fun night?"

  "Wade." She bit the inside of her lip and gave him a pointed look. "If you want fun night, we already have one scheduled."

  Ugh. He really didn't want to stay. He could just imagine them watching those boring chick flicks he absolutely hated while they ate cake and gossiped. But if that's what she wanted, he'd do it.

  "You could help me bake," she teased, slipping out of his grasp and sauntering back to the kitchen. He watched her and followed, indulging on her perfect figure. He took in the definition of her tiny waist, then the curve of her behind.

  Before she grabbed the wooden spoon she left near the bowl, he took her hand again.

  "One more kiss, baby. You kiss me." It would fill the gap for tonight.

  She was trying hard not to smile but failed miserably. He hooked his finger in one of the loops in her shorts and pulled her closer.

  She pressed her hands against his chest as he smoothed his around her waist, coming in contact with smooth, silky skin. He didn't think he'd ever felt skin so soft.

  "Come on, doll, remember don't think. Just do. Kiss me."

  She smiled as she gazed up at him. "Come here then." She pressed against him as she stood on the tips of her toes and he helped her out a little by bending down to those lips that filled his dreams.

  This kiss was sweet, just like her, but with a promise of something more. It reached out to that need he had for her, and also to that need he had for better in his life.

  And like last night she consumed his thoughts. Filled his mind with her sweet kisses and fantasy body, sealing herself to his memory.

  Chloe filled his thoughts even as he met with his friend Jared on Thursday to talk about a potential business idea. He called Jared last week while he was still in Japan. It was then that Jared put the idea to him: A company that arranged adventure and experience packages like sky diving, bungee jumping, and anything that could appeal to thrill seekers. At the time Wade had been contemplating coming home, and the idea just kind of helped him make up his mind. It was one more reason to come back. Something new that could be successful.

  Wade and Jared were both adrenaline junkies, and he couldn't think of a better idea to suit them both. It seemed fitting to set up their own business where they could do what they liked doing the most, what came naturally to them.

  Jared had worked for himself before so had the know-how of how to organize everything. Wade would provide the collateral from his trust fund, and that was as far as money from his parents went. When that was gone, he wanted to be in the position to have a good income he would make from the business and a good name for himself. Sure, it was a substantially large trust fund that might take a while to get through, but that was his plan.

  Today's meeting would give them a chance to fire their thoughts out and also catch up. It was the first time that Wade had seen Jared since he left, so he felt a little guilty for thinking about Chloe when he should have been focusing on his friend.

  They were on the rooftop of Mani's, their favorite sports bar. The perfect office away from an office. They'd talked a lot already about how they would organize everything and when they would start. Jared also mentioned meeting a marketing guru he'd come across and spoke highly of. A guy called Zeek who he wanted to bring on board to set up a campaign for them. He was supposed to be joining them here in a little while.

  "This all sounds good, man. I'm very impressed," Wade commented, taking a sip of his drink.

  "Glad you like it. I think this will take off massively." Jared grinned, his bright blue eyes lit up as he spoke. "And, what's even better is the competition is low." He brought his hands up to his black spiky hair.

  That was a definite bonus. There were maybe three other companies in L.A. that offered a similar service, and of those, he would only class one of them as being serious competition for what they had planned. It was called Thrills, and Wade only thought of them because they were established and well known.

  Wade was hoping that some of the clients at Thrills would venture their way. It might not happen but there was no harm in hoping. He thought they could start with a bang and offer some free packages that would bring people in.

  "So, when should we start?" Wade smiled. They hadn't decided on that yet.

  "I think end of next month." Jared sighed. That would take them into April. It would be spring and people would be planning for spring break and other getaways. That was a perfect time. "It will give us time to set up our shop, the packages, and market them."

  Wade nodded, agreeing. "And with the packages, should we go in big with the jungle tours and excursions to Europe and Asia? Or just stick to the smaller ones?"

  "Well Wade, you're the money man. It's up to you. I'm game for either." Jared laughed.

  "Then let's go big and offer everything."

  Why not? If they were doing this, they should do it properly. The aim shouldn't be to be as good as Thrills. It was to be better. Going in big may be expensive because it would mean getting more staff and outsourcing the places they wanted to arrange the adventures in, but it would be very profitable.

  "Great. And the name, what should we call ourselves?” Jared looked excited. “I was thinking of Adrenaline." His face became more animated as he spoke and he made a show of lingering on the last syllable.

  Wade nodded, liking that idea. "I love it."

  "Woohoo, looks like we're in business man." Jared raised his hand to give Wade a high five. Like they used to back in college.

  "I'm so excited to work with you," Wade smiled. "This is good for me."

  It felt good to be doing something positive, moving in the right direction.

  Jared offered an understanding smile. "Good. You're sure you're up to all this?"

  "I'm fine, and it will be great to work with you."

  "So, business aside." Jared straightened and clasped his hands together. The way he did when he was about to ask Wade something awkward. Then he got that tentative look everyone else had around him. "How are you keeping?"

  That translated to "are you still on drugs?"

  Wade took no offense to it. Jared had been his friend for years, and it was natural to ask. It was also understandable to ask because they were about to enter into a business partnership. Wade was sure Jared didn't want him messing things up.

  "I'm not on drugs, and I don't plan to be ever again," Wade responded with a small smile.

  Jared pressed his lips together and had that same guilty look everyone who asked had. "That's good. But, I really did just want to know how you were."

  "Thanks. I appreciate that. I'm okay."

  "Is it weird being home?"

  "It's weird but feels right. I'm going to check out apartments as soon as I can."

  "What, the Vanderville hotel isn't to your liking?" Jared laughed.

  Wade smiled and shook his head. Vanderville hotel, he was perhaps right to call it that. His parents' house was huge with its five bedrooms, two living rooms, an office each for his mother and father, a tennis court, and swimming pool. It looked more like a hotel or holiday resort.

  "I need my own space," he replied.

  Being home was nice, but he wante
d somewhere he could call his. Also, there was whatever was going on with his parents to think about. He knew all too well the tension that could cause. His father was definitely up to something that would inevitably be to his mother's detriment. Knowing that alone had made it uncomfortable for him to live there.

  "You should check out Riverside. They've got some cool new condos close to the beach."

  That sounded nice. It sounded like him.

  "Oh, hey, our marketing wiz just came in." Jared lifted his head and motioned to a tall, lanky guy with blonde curly hair.

  "Hey," the guy said with a bright smile when he approached them.

  "Hey man. Thanks for coming." Jared got up to shake his hand. "Zeek this is Wade."

  Wade put out his hand to shake Zeek's. "Hi Wade. I actually went to school with you."

  Wade widened his eyes. He had no recollection of this guy. "Really? I'm sorry I…" It was perhaps rude to continue and let their marketing contact know he couldn't remember him at all.

  Zeek chuckled. "It's cool. High school was a long time ago, and the jocks don't usually tend to remember the geeks."

  Wade remembered Wesley. But that was more likely because he was with Chloe all the time, like a damn rash. He bit the inside of his lip hoping Zeek hadn't suffered the torture of High School Wade. He definitely wasn't a nice person back then, or yes, any other time, but particularly then.

  "I'm sorry. But Jared tells me great things about you." That was him being nice and bringing the subject back to the purpose of their meeting.

  Zeek pulled up a chair and sat opposite Wade.

  "I'm glad to hear that." Zeek nodded.

  "Tell him about the air show." Jared laughed.

  Zeek straightened up. "Now that is a story to tell. I did a campaign for these stunt guys that flew World War II planes. Within a week, I sold a hundred thousand tickets. Then there was so much demand they had to schedule in another three shows."

  "Whoa." Wade was thoroughly impressed. "How'd you do that?"

  Zeek smiled. "I have my ways."

  "Sounds like you'll be good for us."

  "Believe me. I have all sorts of things planned." Zeek nodded with enthusiasm.