“Did you want to discuss my proposal, Mr. Blackthorne.” Her tone was breathy, and the way she licked her lips and cocked her hip made him groan.
“A proposal, yes,” he said. “I think you’ll find it…refreshing, intriguing, and…titillating.”
Raising her eyebrows, she said, “Is that so? Sounds interesting.”
“Come here, Cori.” Still seated behind his desk, he wheeled his chair back, making room for her to stand in front of him.
She did as he said, adding a little extra sway to her hips as she walked. “I see you brought in lunch. Are you…hungry?”
“Insatiable,” he growled, taking to his feet, closing the space between them, backing her up against his desk. “Did I mention what I was hungry for?”
“I don’t believe you did. By the way,” she murmured as she looked over her shoulder, “is that door locked? I would hate to have any interruptions. It is a working lunch, after all.”
“My afternoon has been cancelled, and my assistant is holding all of my calls. No interruptions.”
A little uneasy with the idea of a door left unlocked, despite what he arranged, she hesitated. A loud clicking sound from the door caught her attention once again, and she looked at him with a suspicious stare.
“I have a button – its locked – better?”
“Much,” she said, her eyelids heavy with desire and voice dripping in seduction.
“Get your ass on my desk, Ms. Dash – we have work to do, sweetheart.”
She obediently listened and was greatly rewarded when he hiked up her skirt and ripped off her panties in a single pull. He unbuttoned her shirt and feasted on her breasts then freed himself from his pants before his fingers caressed and toyed with her tight bundle of nerves. When her breathing became quicker and heavier, he turned her over his desk and entered her from behind. He placed his hand over her mouth, remembering this was the position that made her scream the loudest.
***
The rest of the week was much of the same. If it wasn’t secret office rendezvous, it was clothes off at the door, the minute they were home, followed by more long talks about everything and nothing. Sometimes, it was over dinner or while cuddling, naked, on the couch or in bed.
Though there was a growing elephant in the room as the trip to the Hamptons approached, and the end of their ruse…neither brought it up. They wouldn’t deal with that until they had to. It was safe to say that both had hoped the other would simply forget.
Before they knew it, Friday had arrived, and they were readying for their long weekend. Not only was there a new gown and cocktail dress found hanging together in her side of the closet, but shoes that she didn’t recognize. She took the hint and walked a garment bag with the new dresses in it to the bed where her suitcase was so she wouldn’t forget them. Sitting next to her suitcase were two jewelry boxes. One she recognized as the one that held her jewelry from the gala; the other was new.
She rolled her eyes and giggled. He was impossible. But she wouldn’t have him any other way.
“Do you like it?” he said, leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed, watching her open the new jewelry box.
“Nick. You can’t keep doing this. It’s far too much,” she said gently so as not to hurt his feelings. “It’s all so beautiful but too extravagant. I can’t accept this.”
“Sure, you can. Besides, I lost the receipt, can’t return any of it,” he teased, wearing a big Cheshire cat smile as he crossed the room to be closer to her.
“You lost the receipt? Seriously, you couldn’t do better than that?”
He shrugged before placing his hands on her shoulders and pulling her closer, “It isn’t real, none of it, not even the dresses. In fact, if it rains, you’re screwed – the color will bleed everywhere.”
“I had a sweater do that once. And…I know you’re full of crap. What am I going to do with you?” Leaning in for a kiss, he met her halfway and pulled her into him before lifting her off the ground.
“I have a few ideas,” he said. “But we don’t have time right now – tonight – you can model the jewelry and new shoes for me…naked.”
“Tonight? I have this thing I’m going to – kinda busy,” she taunted in between kisses.
“No, you’re not. Tonight, you’re in my bed, in those heels and diamonds.” With a stern swat to her ass, he made her jump. Looking down at her, still in his arms, he said, “Lyle should be here soon. We need to pack all of this up. How can I help?”
“Lyle? Helicopter Lyle? Here?”
Confused by her question, he wasn’t sure what was unclear – as far as he knew, she only knew the one Lyle. “Yes.”
“We’re taking the helicopter to the Hamptons? From here? How?” she questioned.
He pointed up, indicating the roof’s landing pad, and smiled at her innocence. Most women in Manhattan would expect nothing less, but Cori was taken aback by such luxuries. “Yes, from here, rooftop. And everyone takes their helicopter to the Hamptons; it’s the best way to get there – avoid traffic.”
“Right…everyone…because who doesn’t have a helicopter?” Her tone was light and teasing, but her point serious. This was a moment where the differences between their two worlds was blatantly obvious. She would just enjoy the moment…while it lasted.
“I’m going to call downstairs and confirm the dog walker for the weekend so they’re taken care of. Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll grab your bags for you.” He kissed the top of her head and left the room.
Watching him leave brought on a sense of sadness she hadn’t experienced before. It was almost like a reminder that he would be leaving after the weekend was over. It was all coming to an end, and she didn’t know how to deal with it. That all too familiar ache returned to her chest. Though she knew this was just a ploy, a game, she had somehow let herself become invested, and breaking it off now was going to hurt – badly. A real relationship with this man would never work long-term; she knew that, but it didn’t ease the pain she was already feeling.
Chapter 19
Their flight to the Hamptons had been much quicker than that to Martha’s Vineyard, but not any less amazing. Cori would never get over seeing her favorite city this way – from the air. It was a far stretch from where she came from or where she thought she’d ever be. It was only a matter of time before Winnie was likely to point out exactly that.
Nerves settled in as thoughts of Winnie and her vindictive ways danced in her mind. Surely, she would take every opportunity to point out Cori’s flaws or make her feel badly for just about everything. Nick squeezed her hand, sensing her unease, comforting her. She was thankful that he was with her. How they came together and remained together was simply odd, given the circumstances, but she was glad to have him nonetheless.
“They’re going to know, aren’t they?” She panicked. “This isn’t an hour at a bakery or crowded gala…this is one on one. They’re going to know.”
“They aren’t going to know. There’s nothing to know. We have been living as a couple for weeks now – we. We’ll be fine – you’ll be fine.” Nick peppered kisses along her neck and collarbone, trying to distract her from her thoughts and relieve the tension.
“Yeah…I suppose you’re…right. Oh, my God, stop that, we can’t…not in front of people,” she said, nodding to Lyle.
“Sure, we can, and have been. Don’t go prude on me now, woman, or the jig will be up.”
“We can do this? I can do this?” she questioned, searching for her own confidence.
“Yes, we can – especially together.”
“Okay. Good.” She settled back into her seat, took a deep breath and calmed her nerves. He was right. They just had to be them.
“You good?” he asked.
“Yes. Totally. One hundred percent!”
“Good because we’re here, and the welcoming committee is waiting for us.”
When she looked down, an enormous estate came into view behind the large round helicopter pad
they were about to land on. She also saw Winnie and Phillip as the welcoming committee, standing off to the side, leaning against the golf carts that likely drove them down from the house. The expressions they wore were less than inviting as they each appeared to have a gold plated stick up their ass.
“This place is enormous. Maybe we won’t have to see them all weekend,” Cori admitted.
“It’s show time – kiss me.” Before Cori could register what he was saying, he was on her. He didn’t just kiss her…he kissed her.
When Lyle opened the door for them to climb out, they couldn’t be bothered. They were putting on a show and were first to jump the starting line. So as not to seem tacky, they finally broke away from each other, acting surprised to see that they had landed and had an audience. By the looks on their hosts’ faces, they won the first round already and hadn’t even disembarked.
After a quick welcome, Jeeves, the butler, took their bags from Lyle, loaded them on one of the golf carts and drove them to the main house where they would be staying, putting them in their room. Jeeves was assigned as their butler for the weekend, should they need anything.
“Just follow Jeeves, and he’ll show you to your room. I hope you enjoy the view. It’s right next to ours,” Winnie said. “Though the grounds are absolutely stunning, you’ll want to keep your golf cart nearby – we really have a lot of property – it can be exhausting to get around.”
“Right, I can see that,” Cori said, looking around, taking in the sprawling estate.
“Okay, now. We have other guests to tend to; you aren’t the only ones here today, Cori,” Winnie said, as if they were demanding of her time. “It’s couples game time in an hour. Meet on the south lawn. Maps are in your room. Tootles!”
“Is she serious? Maps just to get around this place? Now I know why she wanted us to come.” Cori admitted. “And there is no way that guy’s name is actually Jeeves. Who really has a butler named Jeeves.”
***
Their room was stunning, as was the view they had of the water. If they stayed in their room the entire weekend, neither would complain. But, they were guests and had to make their presence known, so they changed into their attire for their first event.
“So, what is this couple’s games? Why do I have to wear this ridiculous outfit?” Nick hollered to Cori, who was changing in the bathroom.
“Tennis. I guess we all go up against each other. I thought we should match.” Wearing a bright pink tennis dress with a halter top and short bottom, she made her way to Nick who was fixated on the ample cleavage her dress provided.
“Well, now I know why my shirt is pink…we match.”
“Right?! How cute are we? Besides, the itinerary said the bride was wearing white so I took that as, ‘don’t wear white.’” She said with a shrug.
“Or, you saw this, knew you would look hot in it, and decided, screw you Winnie. Am I right?”
She chuckled, and gave him a quick kiss. “Maybe. Now let’s go. Don’t want to be late.”
As they approached the south lawn, they noticed something was off. Why wasn’t anyone wearing tennis clothes? When they reached the larger group, already well into their games, they realized it was because they weren’t playing tennis – that explained all of the plaid capri pants and sweaters draped over shoulders.
Cori tugged at her too short skirt and half-hid behind Nick when all eyes moved to them in their glaring hot pink, which they wore like a neon sign.
“Cori dear, what are you wearing? We normally class it up in the Hamptons – not trash it up.” Winnie chuckled, her cackling bitch posse joining her. “Whatever are you wearing.”
As if it wasn’t already obvious, Cori answered, “A tennis dress. The itinerary said couples tennis.”
“Oh, silly Cori. That’s the old itinerary – you didn’t get the update? Its couples croquette! Were you really going to wear that for tennis though? Oh, honey…you really are new to this lifestyle.”
Winnie walked away, her friend Eliza at her side, and in a loud whisper said, “You can take the girl out of the country, but she’s still tacky and stupid.”
“Didn’t she live on a farm?” Eliza asked.
“Who cares, same thing. How does he take her anywhere?” Winnie finished. She turned with a smile as fake as she was and added, “Cocktails are at three, by the pool, and dinner immediately following. You know how to dress for that, don’t you? If you need to borrow something appropriate to wear, let me know.”
Nick grabbed Cori’s hand, reminding her she wasn’t alone, but not even that could prepare her for the last dig when Winnie not so quietly said, “She probably has a dress from the Bargain Barn.”
Eliza matched Winnie’s annoying cackle, “She isn’t fooling anyone in her fake couture.”
“Speaking of couture,” Winnie interrupted, “I can’t wait to show you my dress. It was so expensive, but I had to have it. It’s a beautiful vintage lace…”
“Let’s get out of here,” Nick said.
“Like leave? No. I can’t let her win.” He gave her a look she hadn’t seen before. “Just cocktail hour, and we’ll go from there. She doesn’t calm down, and we leave.”
“You, sweetheart, are a glutton for this stuff.” They walked back toward their room, and he had a better idea, for the time being. “How about we get out of here for now, then. Back in time for fruity drinks and comparing wallets.”
Laughing, she nodded. “Sounds like a good idea. You have an adventure planned, don’t you?”
“That I do.”
He wasn’t kidding. After they changed their clothes, he borrowed one of the estate’s vehicles and took her for a drive, showing her around the Hamptons. He had a place there as well, but only drove by it as there were plenty of other things to show her, and the last thing he needed to do was to flash money like the others already had. It was important to him that she like it there so maybe she would come back, with him, despite the terrible first impression. Their time together may be coming to an end, according to their agreement, but he wasn’t giving in or giving up.
They returned to the estate, to ready for the cocktail hour, when Nick had to take a business call. While he stepped out, she laid on the bed, reflecting on their day so far. So much had happened in such a short amount of time – Nick saw to it that the good far outweighed the bad. She was grateful for that – grateful for him. Why were they even wasting their time there? Why did she let Winnie and Phillip get the best of her? Why was Winnie’s expensive dress suddenly weighing on her mind?
After the cocktail hour, they would leave. Cori was done playing the game and had real life to deal with. Winnie was a bitch. A cold hearted, snake of a bitch. She needed a taste of her own medicine – then they would leave.
Peeking out of the bedroom door, she saw that the halls were clear; everyone must still be drinking mimosas and playing croquette. Who plays croquette at an engagement party anyway, she thought? She crept next door to the only other room in that wing and knocked. Winnie said they were staying next door. This had to be the room. When nobody answered, she let herself in and found the room empty – thankfully because she didn’t know what she would have done had someone answered or been in there.
Sweat starting to bead above her brow, she found herself planning the ugliest thing she had done to date. She didn’t have to look far; the very thing she was looking for was hanging right in front of her – Winnie’s incredibly expensive, vintage lace dress. It was also a very white dress that would easily show a blot of makeup, or perhaps a tad bit of wine. Cori didn’t have either, other than the makeup she was wearing. Sick of being treated so poorly for so long, by two people who didn’t even really matter, Cori wanted to get the last word.
She leaned down, ready to blot her forehead with the neckline of the dress, just enough to get a little make up mark to seal its fate when her conscience stepped in. What the hell was she doing? This was beneath her, as was Winnie and her behavior. Following through would make her no
better than the devilish duo, Winnie and Phillip. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and collected herself, embarrassed by what she was about to do, and proceeded to leave.
When she got to the door, however, there were voices – women’s voices. Shit! Looking around, she found few options for hiding. She knew that had to be Winnie, the only other room down this hall was hers. She quickly jumped into a coat closet adjacent to the entry, just as the women walked in – Winnie and Eliza.
Backing further into the small space, she could see very little but heard them loud and clear. When a hand snaked around her waist and another large warm one covered her mouth, she nearly screamed until she felt the hard body behind her, and his unmistakable scent filled her senses. Nick.
“Shhh.” He whispered in her ear. “It’s me.”
“What…what are you…” She didn’t even finish her question when his eyebrows went up as if he knew what she was going to ask and thought I could ask you the same.
She turned around, facing away, tuned in to the ladies because facing him right now was too embarrassing and liable to get them caught if they weren’t quiet.
“It is strange.” Winnie said. “It’s like they were a couple out of nowhere.”
“The timing is off. I don’t buy it.” Eliza said, as if she knew something.
“I don’t know – they definitely seem together. You should see them together; it’s disgusting how good they are,” Winnie admitted.
“I guess we’ll find out,” Eliza promised, her words peaking Cori’s curiosity. Find out what?
“I guess I’ll find out tonight – if I hear them. A guy like that is sure to make you scream.”
Not liking where the conversation was going and feeling the tension in Cori’s body, Nick dragged his hand down from her waist to under her skirt. Cori shivered and her breathing came heavy. She liked what he was doing.
“Oh, my God. You’re going to listen?” laughed Eliza. “What about Phillip?”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll enjoy it, and I’ll just picture the guy next door on top of me.”
Imperfect Love: Liar (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 12