Hot Summer Nights

by Lisa Marie Perry

  “You said you don’t use food for sex play.”

  “I don’t. Well, I didn’t before tonight. I had extra fruit on hand. Oh, we’re having oranges for breakfast.” She sat up and when he reached for her, she shook her head. “Shower first. There are places on my anatomy that grapefruit shouldn’t contact.”

  “All right. But you’re coming with me.” Kissing her, he picked her up and brought her to the bathroom.

  *

  “I need a Who’s Who of the Hollywood elite to navigate this party,” Robyn confided to Gabrielle as they stood among a group of Belleza employees gathered near a lighted cerulean pool. The outdoor space was expertly adorned in lights and silk. The sun was gently bleeding over the jagged line of mountain. The private party had launched almost an hour ago with violinists and guitarists and drummers on point. Compliments were already rolling in for the appetizers Gabrielle and her team had prepared. Guests were still arriving in anything from limos to sports cars to luxury Hummers.

  “Champagne, girls?” Kimberly said, looking stunning in a plum gown, presenting a bottle in one hand and a tray of flutes in the other. “A toast to another success. The Belleza Resort and Spa isn’t cursed. It’s blessed.”

  “Agreed,” Robyn decided. The pop of rich red in her dress complemented her skin tone and was as beautiful as the sunset. “Cheers!”

  “Cheers.” Gabrielle accepted a flute of bubbly. She and her friends took a few minutes to catch up and then Jaxon Dunham swept his fiancée away in the fray of dancers. Having accepted that Geoffrey would be too preoccupied with his guests to steal moments with her, she was dumbstruck when he came to her and kissed her in front of his clients and colleagues and competition. Cameras flashed in the night and she didn’t care. Even when she noticed the guest of honor dancing with the Pearl’s hostess, she didn’t hurry over to block their interaction. She was in the outfit she’d worn for Geoffrey last night and all she could think about was finding herself bare flesh to bare flesh in his arms again.

  “I didn’t think we’d get a chance to dance tonight,” she commented as he held her.

  “You made this possible. You had a vision and are as controlling as I am. If I can’t dance with you, what the hell am I doing?”

  “I’m happy, Geoffrey.”

  “Me, too.”

  They danced through the next song, until someone tapped their shoulders. “Can I cut in? She’s the prettiest woman here.”

  Gabrielle eased away from Geoffrey and gaped at the tall, almost regal and equally ruthless man separating them. “Josh? What are you doing here?”

  “My firm represents one of the labels here tonight.” He held out his arms for a long moment. “Are you going to leave me hanging like this, Gabby, or are you going to give me that dance you owe me?”

  “Who is this?” she heard Geoffrey say as she was twirled into the other man’s arms.

  “Geoffrey, this is Josh Royce.” She refused to dissolve in tears at being confronted in public, at being forced to be civil for the sake of protecting the man she loved. “He’s my brother.”

  “I think you’re acquainted with my law firm, Girard. My client and my team are looking forward to seeing you in court.”

  Gabrielle knew her eyes were round with surprise. “Court?”

  “His client is the label that coerced one of my clients to be in breach of contract—”

  “What?” she screeched, but Josh was already talking over her, snuffing out her voice, like always.

  “Girard, Girard, come on, man. Save the accusations for the court. This is a party, isn’t it? Celebrate Phenom Jones’s success and find someone to dance with who isn’t my sister.”

  “Your sister’s my date tonight.”

  “I’m familiar with how you work. Don’t think you can make my sister one of your discards.”

  “Stop,” she said, her teeth grinding together. “Both of you. I’m literally caught in the middle of this, and I don’t want to be.”

  Josh’s dancing ceased, but he still held on to her possessively. “What have you been doing out here, Gabby? Have you been sleeping with this guy?”

  “I’m with him, Josh. If you’d cared to show interest in my life, I might feel comfortable updating you and the family more often.”

  “I’ll forgive the backtalk this time. Another thing—I don’t think Mom and Dad care for updates on the men you happen to be screwing.”

  She pushed him away and was fully prepared to deck him if tried to grab her. Just like her family to intrude on something good in her life and exploit it. She rushed over to Robyn.

  “That’s your brother?” Robyn asked.

  “Yes. As destructive as ever. I can’t… Of course he’d show up here. Of course something horrible would happen. I was too thrilled with the night.”

  “Don’t talk that way.”

  Robyn didn’t know. They’d been friends since boarding school, but she just didn’t know how deeply the Royces could cut.

  “What you’re doing with my sister? It ends now,” Josh said, darting his head as he spoke in that threatening voice all her brothers and her father shared.

  The music continued, but conversations around them tapered off and Gabrielle caught the glimmer of camera flashes.

  No…

  “Gabby told me her family didn’t support her dreams. Look at what she’s made of herself here. Can’t you be proud of that?”

  “Proud that my sister’s some roughneck record producer’s groupie of the night? Not really.”

  Gabrielle rubbed her temples. “You were saying, Robyn?”

  “It doesn’t matter. How can the two of you be from the same family?”

  Geoffrey grunted a laugh at Josh. “You’re a miserable human being, but don’t put that misery on Gabby. She deserves better.”

  “She has the best. People have been handing her success all her life. She’s a spoiled princess. She hasn’t accomplished anything other than holding on to the gig her rich bestie gave her!”

  Geoffrey frowned and she saw doubt in his eyes. “Gabby?”

  “Kim Parker and my sister and…where’s the other one? Oh, there she is. Robyn Henderson. The three of them have been friends since they went to this all-girls prep school back East. My sister’s the top chef here because Kim handed her the job.”

  Gabrielle was too stunned to defend herself or attempt to separate the lies from truth. “I can’t stand around and watch this,” she told Robyn. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” Her friend let her go and she moved as swiftly as her shoes would let her.

  She found excuses to stay indoors over the next few hours. For her, the night was ruined, but maybe with her out of the way things had smoothed over and when she finally reemerged she’d find Geoffrey waiting to hold her close and tell her again that he was thankful for her.

  Cute fantasy, but how likely is that to happen?

  “I still don’t believe in the curse of the Belleza,” she said aloud, and only a line cook nearby grunted in agreement. “I just want to believe in love.”

  Eventually, Geoffrey came to her. By then she’d gotten word that the party was fizzling and guests were generally pleased and moving on. When he stepped into the kitchen, she rushed him for a kiss.

  “I knew you’d come.” But his hands hardly held her and the kiss was one-sided. “Geoffrey?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were from a wealthy family or that you went to prep school or that you’re friends with the family that owns this place?”

  “None of it affects what we have,” she reasoned. “I know you asked before and I skirted around it, but I never lied.”

  “You did. A lie of omission is a lie. If you don’t know that, then we have a hell of a problem, don’t you think?”

  She released him. “Hey, if you’re taking your anger at Josh out on me, all that’s going to do is hurt me. He’ll be fine. We’re not close.”

  “That’ll change when you finish playing chef and go back to the family fold, though
, right?” His eyes were impossibly cold for a summer California night. “Your brother’s confident that you’re going through a phase and will come to your senses when you realize what’s important. He seems to think you want someone with the same breeding as yours. He seems to think you’re only playing at being a chef, and playing me.”

  “He’s wrong.”

  “He’s not wrong about prep school and your friendship with the Parkers.”

  “Well, no, but—”

  “I fell for this. I fell in love with you, Gabby, and what I loved was a lie. This is friggin’ unbelievable.” Holding up his hands, he backed away and shoved out of the kitchen.

  Spinning around, she found the line cook there with open arms, and she cried on his shoulder.

  “Aw, Gabby, it’s an argument. He’ll miss you in no time. He’ll be back.”

  “No,” she said, sniffling. “I’m going after him. My brother.”

  Gabrielle recruited Kimberly to help her find Josh. He’d rented a room at the resort overnight, so she had no trouble finding him and going straight to his door. “You had no right,” she said calmly as she walked into his room. None of her brothers responded to raised voices or threats. “No right to strut into my life and exploit me at a high-profile gala. Mom and Dad wouldn’t approve of that.”

  Josh conceded with, “That’s true. I apologize if my temper—”

  “It’s not your temper. It’s your personality. This is who you are. You want to elevate yourself by climbing on others, and I will have no part of it. I live here now and this is my life now. I’m an accomplished chef. I’ve worked damn hard to get where I am, and simply because someone offered me a chance doesn’t mean I haven’t struggled to make something solid of that chance. Tell me you understand.”

  “I could tell you that and lie to you, or I could give you the truth.”

  “Josh, even if you and the family don’t accept my career, you need to respect my relationship with Geoffrey. I love him. He loves me. That’s a miracle.”

  “It’s not. It’s sex.”

  “He left me tonight because you told him that I’m only playing him. How could you make that accusation when you don’t even know me anymore?” She jammed her fists to her hips. “Oh, but you’re the lawyer so proud of manipulating another record label’s client. I guess it’s my fault for expecting you to have integrity when you wouldn’t know ethics if it bit you on the ass.”

  “Are you done with this childish tirade of yours?”

  “Almost.” She walked to him. “I love you and the rest of the family, but I will never forgive you for your behavior. If Mom and Dad somehow are aware of your coming here and spying on me, tell them that if I’d been thinking about coming back to the fold, I wouldn’t now. It won’t happen.”

  “They don’t know. I didn’t know you were with Geoffrey Girard until I saw you with him. My client’s dispute with his label? It’s business. Worry about yours and I’ll worry about mine.” Josh opened the door before she could slam out of the room. “Gabby, when you think about it, really, it didn’t take much to make him walk away.”

  Chapter 11

  Gabrielle hadn’t turned off her phone, but she wasn’t answering his calls. For the first couple of days, Geoffrey had thought it smartest to give her the space she evidently wanted. When three days had passed without his hearing her voice or seeing her walk past him with that perky bop in her step and the adventure hunger in her beautiful brown eyes, he got the feeling that he was losing her.

  He’d blown up at her the other night without giving her a chance to talk, and in that way he’d been as much of an asshole as her brother. As he drove to the place where he knew he’d find her—home—his mind replayed clips of their time together. Great sex, even better conversation and above even that was peace.

  Geoffrey had known peace when he was with Gabrielle. He couldn’t give it up without trying to fight for it first.

  He carried a dozen white roses into the Pearl and stopped at the hostess’s desk. “Charlene, hi.”

  “Hi. How many florists did you put in the black buying all those flowers?” She must’ve noticed the apprehension on his face. “You’re looking for Gabby Royce. She’s gone. Took a vacation to get away from all the negativity.”

  “Damn,” he muttered, and defeat hit him hard.

  “Kidding! She’s here.” The hostess grinned, but it dropped when he glared at her. “She’s preparing a menu, but I can get her. I promise, I only mean to help this time. What can I do?”

  Geoffrey thought quickly, and when Charlene went to retrieve Gabby, he set the roses on a table and went back to the entrance and waited. He saw the pair of women emerge from the kitchen and navigate the dining room. The memory of the first day he’d eaten here came rushing back.

  Once again she didn’t see him. She was so focused on her job. So committed to the career she loved.

  He loved her. No matter what she decided about her future with him, he had to tell her that he loved her and he was sorry. But talking wouldn’t get her attention. He’d tried to talk, but she wouldn’t pick up his call.

  This time he wouldn’t talk.

  As he saw her slowly approach the table piled high with roses, and the hostess turned back to give him a thumbs-up, he stepped forward and began to sing. It was the R&B single he’d recorded and released before he’d shifted to producing. At his private studio, he’d been irked to hear the song but she’d drawn him into a dance and quietly demanded that he not deprive her of the chance to know that part of his past.

  Gabrielle turned and bumped the table, and some roses bounced onto the floor. Her mouth shaped the words, “Oh, my God.”

  Guests scooted around in their chairs and some held up their phones to capture the moment, and he knew that this would be the wisest decision he’d made in a long time, or the biggest failure.

  But she was worth every wait and worth every risk.

  There was no back track to help him, nothing to enhance the effect. He was a man asking his woman to stop and listen. As he continued to sing, he held out a hand for hers.

  She didn’t lay her hand in his. She threw her arms over his shoulders, and he banded an arm around her waist and they rocked together to the ballad until he stopped singing and dared to kiss her.

  Applause circled them. Parting, he let her swipe a rose from the pile and then he led her through the dining room and out of the restaurant.

  Outside, he hugged her and apologized. “I was so wrong. If I could kick my own ass, I’d do it.”

  She laughed. Oh, God, that laugh. He didn’t deserve it, but he selfishly let it restore the peace in his soul. “Kicking yourself won’t be necessary. I do believe you’re sorry and I accept the apology.”

  “I love you, Gabby. It hurt, though, that you didn’t trust me with the truth.”

  “Would you have come to love me if you’d known the truth from the beginning? I doubt it.”

  Geoffrey nodded. As shameful as it was, it was the truth. “I was too hung up on the fantasy of you as someone like me—self-made. From that first day, I knew you were different and I thought the difference was that you didn’t have this life handed to you. Who am I to judge you for how you found this career?”

  “It’s not that I didn’t trust you. Eventually, I really did. But it seemed too late to try to go back and say, ‘Oh, by the way, I come from a wealthy and prominent family that’s all but disowned me and one of my best friends hired me at this resort.’ I’d hoped that you loved me for me, not because of where you thought I came from.”

  His reaction to the truth about her revealed some truths about him. “I was so damn wrong and I don’t think I deserve you now, but stay, Gabby. Stay in love with me.”

  “I am.” She tightened her hold. “I love you and I’m not walking away. But you have to know that I’m not the person you first thought I was or the person my brother made me out to be. I need to show you, so come with me.” Her gaze touched his thoughtfully. “Trust me?”r />
  *

  Taking him home might be the silliest mistake of the summer, but Gabrielle could think of no other way to illustrate to him the truth. She was a Royce by blood, but not in spirit. She marched to the beat of her heart, not to the dictatorship of her father. She didn’t follow in her brothers’ footsteps or fall in line behind her mother.

  To reveal the truth to Geoffrey, she’d brought him to her parents’ home. Once she’d belonged here, but that was before she’d become whom she wanted to be.

  The palatial estate with its dozens of staff and unapproachable vibe was as Gabrielle had remembered. She tucked her hand in Geoffrey’s as they approached the threatening main building. She didn’t need a man to hold her hand, but it felt good to touch him.

  “Big house, small-minded people,” she said, neither angry nor sad. She had long ago accepted her family for what they were: unaccepting of her. “Are you ready for this?”

  In answer, he rapped on the door with the antique knocker.

  A butler answered but didn’t let them inside. Instead, he shut the door and a moment later her mother opened the door again.

  “Gabrielle.”

  “Mom.”

  “Who’s this?” Gabrielle’s mother appraised Geoffrey quickly. “An answer, someone?”

  “Mom, this is Geoffrey Girard. According to Josh, who behaved terribly at a party in Belleza where I live and work, Geoffrey’s the man I’m currently sleeping with. According to me, he’s the man I love.” She laid her hand over his chest. “Geoffrey, this is my mother—”

  “Mrs. Royce. Let’s not forget our manners, shall we, Gabrielle? I’ll get Mr. Royce. Step inside, I suppose.” When the stately woman rushed through the foyer, she pivoted so fast that her high heels screeched on the polished floor. “Oh, stay there, would you? The floors were just done.”

  “In case you didn’t pick up on it,” Gabrielle told him, “that was Mom’s way of not inviting us in. When I was growing up, she would say that to people she didn’t want inside the house. It was her signature brushoff move.”

  “And she’d use it on her own kid?”