Steve nodded. “Yeah, bro, I’d not mess with her morning coffee. She will fight you. and I’ve yet to meet a man she won’t cut, if it’s before her caffeine fix.” Steve looked at the kitchen clock. “Is that the time?”
“Yeah, always is,” Gabby said with a frown.
“Shit, I need to get a move on. I’ve got an early flight.”
“But I thought you were taking the redeye,” Gabby said.
“Change of plans. I couldn’t get a ticket. Sorry, love.”
“Damn, bro, I was hoping we could catch dinner.” Nick looked at his watch. “You need me to do anything for you?”
Steve shook his head. “Nah, I got it covered. You just hold down things here. Take care of yourself, don’t go breaking any hearts, and watch out for our girl here.”
Gabby growled. “I told you I don’t need watching.”
Steve just laughed and Nick snorted. Yep, it was the same old dance.
“Oh, shut it, the both of you.” Gabby stepped around the counter and shooed Nick out of the way then pointed to Steve. “Let me at least make you a goodbye breakfast to send you on your way.”
Steve leaned over and kissed her on her forehead then looked over at Nick. “See how lucky I am? You take care of her. She’d better be in one piece when I get back or I’m holding you personally responsible.”
Gabby looked past Steve to a cool and unreadable Nick. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll keep a close eye on her.”
The sudden pounding in her chest and the tingling in her deepest center told her this promise was something she should be wary of.
Chapter 5
Steve was gone, and it turned out Nick Ross was a very early riser. Gabby heard a light click of the front door at 5:30 A.M. She frowned and peeked at her nightstand clock again when she heard the click of the tumblers at 6:30. Gabby screwed her eyes shut but let out a groan when the shower in the back bedroom came on. The thought of him so near and in the shower… there was no way she could sleep.
Later, in the kitchen, they skirted around each other, Nick trying to scoot out of her way by going to the other side of the counter with his toasted bagel. She shimmied past him, butt to butt, as she went to get creamer for her coffee, hoping it was with all confidence and none of her inner turmoil and nervousness.
Gabby glanced briefly at his cup of black coffee, her face screwing up.
They’d already shared a brief though cordial good morning and she was glad to see that he was fully dressed, thank goodness, not trolling the apartment in his underwear this morning. No, by 7:15 Nick was in full financial combat mode. Pinstriped slacks with a razor sharp crease, silver cufflinks, black tie with grey fleur de lis accents, and his trademark suspenders, today in a deep crimson hue. Her nostrils flared and Gabby blinked and swallowed down the fizzle of desire that ran though her body. It was nothing—she always had that reaction to a good-looking man in a nice suit. It was those damned suspenders that were setting her panties on fire, even if they did send him tipping into the rakishly dandy column.
Gabby stared at Nick, who was intent on looking at something on his iPad, and she watched as his brows drew together in concentration.
“Is everything okay?”
He looked up at her as if noticing her there for the first time and shook his head a bit as if coming out of a trance. It was infinitesimal, really hard to catch, but still she saw it when his eyes went from dark and brooding to that cool nothingness in the space of a nanosecond. “Yeah sure, everything is fine. Just looking at something in the business section,” he said.
Gabby frowned. “Does it affect your company?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think it will.” He seemed to grow more sure with each word he spoke. “No. It shouldn’t at all.”
She could tell something was troubling Nick. Despite their recent estrangement, she’d known him for a long time. But it suddenly dawned on her how little she knew about his work life. “I know you work in finance, but what is it you do again?”
He leaned back and looked at her, and Gabby wondered what he was seeing and how he was perceiving it. Was he seeing her or the her she used to be? Today she was wearing one of her own designs: a full, ballet-style skirt that fell just below the knee with a tee that was loose and fell off one shoulder. The whole look tightened with a wide, red belt at her waist. She felt her trim waist was her best asset and she liked to show it off as much as possible. But right now, with her very feminine getup, Nick was giving her a “little girl, this is above your pay grade” look.
Gabby shook her head. “Don’t you dare, Nick. If you keep looking at me like that, I might have to school you.”
“Like what?”
“Like my little brain can’t handle what you’re about to dish out.”
His lips thinned. “You really think I’m that much of a jerk?”
Gabby just stared.
“Well, that answers that.”
“No,” she quickly chimed in. “I don’t. And I’m sorry. I guess I need to lighten up. I really should. It would make both our lives easier.”
He let out a long breath. “Yeah it would.”
“I’ll try.”
And with that he looked at her and smiled. “You really want to know what I do?”
She raised a brow but smiled back.
Nick raised his hands. “Okay, but remember you asked for the whole boring story. It’s not all that glamorous.”
“Really? In that getup, I’d think you’d make anything you do glamorous.”
He had the good sense to blush at that. Smirking just a bit.
“Well, I do have to look the part for clients. Money likes to see money.”
Gabby tilted her head. “If you say so. So what else do you do besides look like money?”
He shook his head. “I deal in risk. I check out companies’ financial profiles, and then I calculate when a company should take a risk and expand, and when they should cut bait and run.”
Gabby looked at him long and hard and then let out a snort of laughter. “Risk, huh? Well, Nick, then I think you just may be the perfect man to have around.” She turned from him, opened the fridge, and reached for the creamer, shaking the container. “Shit.”
“Look to the right.” His voice had taken on a low and sexy timbre. She ignored the ripple as it snaked around her middle.
“Huh?”
“Over to the right. In the door. I noticed you were running low, so I picked up some more when I was out on my run this morning.
Gabby grabbed the fresh container. “Thanks. You didn’t have to, but I’m glad you did.”
“Hey, I listen. Steve said you were serious about your coffee and I wanted us to get started on the right foot.” He looked sheepish for a moment. “Well, at least a better foot.”
She added the cream to her coffee and took a sip, letting her eyes close as she took her first swallow of the rich brew, a smile coming to her lips. Her eyes opened, and her stomach fluttered. He seemed to be studying her intently, his dark eyes taking in her every motion.
“We’re fine,” she said trying to make things light. “You make a good pot of coffee. What more could I ask for? Hey, what do I owe you for the creamer?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Stop it. You don’t owe me anything. Thanks for letting me stay here while I get my act together.”
He looked so uncomfortable. Having to crash at their place must be killing him. “Are you okay?”
He straightened and cleared his throat. “I’m fine, thanks. I went to the apartment and cleared out the rest of my things.” Gabby watched as he straightened the iPad in front of him, putting it at a perfect parallel line with the counter’s edge as he spoke. He then took his coffee cup and put that at a direct forty-five degree angle to the left of the iPad. He continued to talk as he brushed stray crumbs that had fallen from his bagel to the counter back onto his plate and placed it carefully to the side.
“And?”
He looked up
at her as if surprised she’d have another question. “And what?”
“And how did that go? Was she there? Were there tears? Did she beg you to stay? Are you all right?”
Nick shook his head. “No, nothing like that. It’s an inconvenience, nothing more, but it should all be cleared up very soon.”
Gabby felt her lip twist, and she let out a snort. Nick seemed to bring out the best in her etiquette.
He looked from his iPad and back to her. “All right, so what did I do now?”
“Nothing. You are you, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Nick smiled that wicked smile that Gabby knew, if she weren’t careful, would do more than curl her toes. “And you insult me very prettily, Ms. Russell.”
She lowered her eyes before looking back at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to insult you. It’s just that you make it sound so cut and dry. Like a business deal. What does Claire have to say about things or does that even matter?”
He let out a slow breath and shook his head, then flipped his wrist sharply, checking his watch. She studied him as he grimaced slightly, his bottom lip curling in frustration. “It matters.” His voice started coming out in a fast-paced rush. “But I misjudged Claire, and that part’s on me. I want to get things cleared up as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Claire made her decision when she carnally intertwined with her yoga teacher.” He tapped on his screen a few times, shutting it down, and looked up at her. “This is not about being cold or heartless, but it is about business, and today is Monday morning so I’ve gotta get down to it.”
“Huh?” Gabby asked. He talked so fast and the words were so smooth that if Gabby didn’t know him, she’d almost believe he didn’t care.
He gave her a grin. “Really, a ‘huh’? It’s not very often that you’re left speechless, Ms. Russell.”
Gabby took a long gulp of her coffee and shrugged, throwing up her hands. “You know what? It’s none of my business. I’m glad you’re good. I’d better get ready to hit the road too.”
He went to the sink, and she watched as he carefully washed both of their dishes and put them neatly in the drying rack. He then gave her a look that had her gulping down the rest of her coffee and then he held out his hand to take her cup from her. She handed it over, careful to not brush her hand against his. The morning had already had enough familiarly to send her reeling. She feared a brush of his hand might send her into overload.
He washed her mug—it was the one that said, “Designers thread it all together”—and she couldn’t help but glimpse the way his hands looked as they carefully glided over the rim of the mug. All slow and methodical and soapy. She pushed away from the counter.
“I’d better get ready.” Damn. Was that her voice all dry and croaky?
They ended up meeting back at the front door and awkwardly walked out of the building together. Gabby tried hard to push the odd hominess of the morning aside. She’d tangled with Nick before and had the scars on her heart to prove it. She didn’t need that type of pain again.
“Wow. It’s even hotter today than it was yesterday.” Nick’s voice was deep and mellow from over her head. It was also, she noticed, all easiness, reminding her this anxiety she was feeling was indeed all in her head.
“That it is. They say we’re due for a heat wave.” The morning was overcast but she could see the sun fighting to peek through the clouds. She looked up at him. “Is this the usual time you’ll be leaving in the morning?”
“Is that a problem?”
Of course it was. She wanted her space, not some reminder of her lack of anything but. “No, not at all. I just was wondering if we should come up with some sort of schedule.”
He looked down at her, all coolness in his dark unreadable eyes. “Well, it looks like we timed things perfectly today.”
Gabby looked down the street and spied a business-ready couple: the woman straightened the man’s tie and gave him a quick kiss as he caressed her backside through her pencil skirt and they headed off toward the train station. Gabby stared at the couple. “Yeah, it would seem we did,” she mumbled.
“Are you going toward the subway?”
She blinked, shifted her eyes, and looked at him. “No. You go ahead. I like to take the bus. It’s less crowded and more scenic.”
He seemed to recoil at that. “Are you nuts? The train is so much faster.”
Gabby smiled and patted his chest, all friendly. Still she couldn’t help but be surprised once again at the feel of his hard, unyielding flesh underneath her fingertips. She pulled her hand back. “That is so you, Nick. Always in a rush. You hurry off and assess some risk.” She gave him a wink. “Have a good day, dear.”
• • •
Nick watched her turn on her heel and go. He let himself look at her for a total of five seconds before he booked it to the subway station. On the way downtown, he replayed those five seconds no less than fifty times over in his head. That, mingled with her tub scene, plus the way she’d danced with him over the weekend, and even the way she looked just sipping her damned coffee. It all made for a pretty fast ride. The whole time he hardly thought of the Claire situation or the fact that he had to get on his new apartment hunt or the new retail mergers he’d read about in the papers today. His head was just chock full of her. Just as it had always been. His beautiful, luscious distraction.
But all distractions were put aside the moment he walked into his office. He was five minutes later than usual, and as it turned out, five seconds of watching a woman walk away meant a lot when your boss, who happened to be your ex’s father, was waiting on you. Nick had barely made it to his office when his assistant, Lea, took his bag, handed him and cup of coffee and a file, and told him that Bill Elliot was ready for him.
An invisible stone dropped in his belly and Nick inwardly grimaced as the scene with Claire rushed back to his mind. How easily she’d intertwined so intimately with another lover and then how easily she’d dismissed it. The fact that she expected him to so easily dismiss it, still sent him reeling. It was as if she didn’t know him at all. Maybe she didn’t. How much of his authentic self had he really shared with her in the few months they’d been together? What did she know of his values and what he expected from a relationship? After he’d retrieved his things from their apartment, he’d left his key by the door, along with a check for another month’s rent and texted her to let her know. Despite what Gabby said this morning, Claire had taken it all in stride, sending him a text back saying thank you and that she hoped he’d see the light and be back soon. She seemed to think he just needed a good cooling off and he’d be back and ready to fall in line. That her veiled threat about her influence over her father would have him falling at her feet ready to do her bidding. He felt his jaw tighten. Honestly, for someone, she really was the perfect woman. Most men would welcome the occasional threesome with two hot women. If word got out he could lose his guy card, but he just couldn’t do it. After her stunt, he knew that bending to Claire, though on paper looked like a perfect partnership would mean him losing out in the end. He may bend now but in time he’d be broken.
Nick let out a breath. But now it was time to face this perfect woman’s father.
Bill’s secretary announced him before he walked in, and Nick instantly perked up, letting his fight or flight instinct take over. He paused, straightening his collar and putting his game face in check. He didn’t know how much Claire had told her father, if anything, so he’d have to take his cues from Bill to see how to spin things. There was no way he could tarnish Bill’s sweet little girl’s image and come out a winner.
“Good morning, sir.”
Bill Elliot turned around from his two-sided view of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. The sight never failed to leave Nick momentarily breathless. “How many times have I told you to call me Bill?”
“Sorry, Bill. Just giving respect, sir. It’s a habit.”
Bill grinned. “That’s what I like about you. None of that bulls
hit entitlement that you see from so many young people coming into the workforce nowadays. Come on in, Nick, and have a seat.”
Nick walked into the modern office and took a seat at the small seating area that Bill gestured toward.
Bill offered him coffee. “No thanks, sir,” he replied and got a look in return. Nick smiled as Bill took a seat and cleared his throat. He knew by that throat clearing it was time for business.
“So, this file?” Nick placed it on the coffee table and flipped it open. He had a feeling that what he’d read online over breakfast would spell work for him. Sutton Industries had been a longtime client of the firm, and their fashion and textile business had been struggling for a while. Now, with Bakers and Acrons, two of the biggest retailers, lowering their profit margins, they couldn’t compete. The Sutton family wanted to close their freestanding stores and go exclusively online—something Nick understood, but didn’t know if they had the customer base to be successful.
“Yes. That file,” Bill said.
“I saw the news about Sutton and its new online push. Is there something else I should know? Are they looking to change their minds? Because I’m not entirely sure about the move but didn’t know they were open for talks,” Nick said.
Bill smiled pensively. “I’m glad you are already up to speed. I knew you would be. What you should know is that the older brothers are fighting. Pierce wants to sell out entirely, while his brother wants to go exclusively online and get out of textile manufacturing, cut some lines, and focus only on the big fashion sellers mainly in the women’s market. The grandmother…well, she’s torn. She’s not quite ready to let go of the business or do the online deal. It’s an old company that has been leaking money, frankly. But I like Roselyn Sutton; I consider her a family friend. Her son was a good friend of mine before he passed away, and I promised her that I would look out for her best interests. I’m trusting you to study this carefully.”
Threads Of Desire (Creative Hearts Book 3) Page 5