This wasn’t me being dramatic or melancholy, it was just the truth as I saw it. Already our Friday night dinners were now a family affair, and I didn’t begrudge Poppy our greatest wish, I just wish it didn’t mean I was getting pushed out.
But I was. Slowly, but it was happening which meant it was time for me to start thinking about my future. “I think this is it,” Poppy declared of the sweetheart neckline with the beaded bodice and princess skirt. “But we won’t do any alterations until a week after the baby is born.”
I scribbled the notes in my tablet, scheduling the fitting for six weeks from today, exactly one week after she was scheduled to go into labor. I felt better once I slipped into assistant mode. That was my role here today, more than as the maid of honor. More than best friend. “Okay. I had them pull all the bridesmaids dresses that match your color scheme, so choose.”
Lacey and I tried on about ten different dresses, all in varying shades of green. I tried each one on and modeled them, giving almost no opinion on any of them. This was her big day, so I’d wear whatever she wanted.
“This one looks great!” Lacey modeled a mint green dress that flattered her figure and her coloring.
“What do you think, Talia?”
I gave my best smile. “It’s great. Perfect.” She didn’t look convinced, but she was too tired to argue. “Now the mother of the bride.”
Maple took great pride in her coveted position, and enjoyed her moment in the spotlight, twirling in every dress which she wore like a dream. If Maple wasn’t the greatest woman alive and the closest thing to family I had in my life, I’d hate her for looking so damn good at her age.
“Well?”
“Forest green looks gorgeous on you Maple.” I hugged her, smiling down at her beaming face.
“Thanks, sweetie. Wait until Fred sees me!”
“Poppy might not be the only one walking down the aisle soon,” I whispered and kissed her cheek as I guided her back to the dressing room. That much was true, Fred was a smart man, and ever since he’d gotten Maple to agree to a date, he hadn’t left her side. He was a rarity, a good man. “Okay, are we all ready to go?”
Everyone nodded, and we filed out of the store into a little huddle. “We should have lunch,” Lacey declared excitedly. “Talk about the bachelorette party and accessories and stuff!”
Poppy and Maple were excited at the prospect, but not me. “You guys go on and have a good time. I have plenty of work waiting for me at the office. Lacey can you get Poppy home?”
“Of course I can! I always wanted a sister to boss around,” she said and winked, looping one arm through Poppy’s and the other through Maple’s, Lacey herded them towards her car.
Poppy pulled away and came to me, eyes uncertain and worried, and instantly I felt like the worst kind of friend.
“Are we okay, Talia?”
I smiled. “Always.” We would still be friends, it would just be a different kind of friendship than we had before. More hands-off and from a distance. “Go on, enjoy your day. You found a dress!”
Her smile was dim and I hated that, but, I did have a lot of work to do. “I did!”
“That’s a good thing Poppy. Be happy.” I gave her a quick hug and walked her to Lacey’s car before taking off and heading back to the office.
Today was the first Friday in about a decade that I hadn’t shown up for what was now family dinner at Poppy and Maple’s place. After dress shopping I felt too raw and vulnerable to sit around a crowded table and pretend everything was all right. So I decided to head to the burlesque club where I used to work as a dancer, but now occasionally consulted as a coach and choreographer. Dancing had been my dream for most of my life, at least until my best friend inherited an outdoor sports apparel company and asked if I could help her out until she got on her feet.
Two years later and I wondered if I’d ever be able to leave.
But I wasn’t thinking about anything too taxing tonight, nothing other than whose shimmy was off and whose booty needed more shake in it, that was all. I watched the girls dance, most of them much younger, perkier and more flexible than my twenty-nine years, slightly jealous that they were still up on stage fighting for their dreams. It wasn’t a way to earn a real living as an adult, I got paid more as a choreographer than I ever did as a dancer, but I never loved anything more. I sipped my martini and lost myself in the moves and the music, the sexy costumes, lights and the sexy pouts they all sported.
I checked my vibrating phone just to make sure there were no work emergencies I was missing, even though everything in me resisted being tied to the damn thing nonstop. It was Poppy this time, but everyone had called and left at least one message. Lacey and Maple had called and texted, multiple times. I didn’t want to deal with it right now, so I shoved the phone back in my purse, down to the bottom and hoped I wouldn’t regret that move later tonight.
The show was spectacular, and as proud as I was of how flawlessly the first show had gone, I was feeling too restless to stick around and congratulate them. Another night I’d buy dinner and drinks, but tonight I just wanted to get some food and veg out at home.
An hour later, I walked inside my little apartment with a burger and salad, changed clothes and made a pitcher of sangria before I settled myself and my food on the table. In front of the television. My new best friend. I was halfway through my burger when the door-bell rang. It took me half a second to decide to ignore it, because the only person who would stop by unannounced was Poppy, and she was in no position to do it.
The bell rang again, so with a groan, I got up and went to the door. Luke. I should have realized. I opened the door and scowled. “What are you doing here?” I was suspicious immediately because this was unlike Luke, which meant he was up to something.
“I missed you at dinner,” he said honestly.
I doubt that. More likely the truth was that he was horny, and I lived a few blocks away from Poppy and Blake. “Sure, you did.” I rolled my eyes and his mouth kicked up to the right in that sexy, boyish way of his. It was irresistible, but I was determined to resist.
“You busy?”
“Yep. Finish my dinner and catching up on my cooking shows.” I didn’t cook much, but I’m sure if I ever ventured into the kitchen for more than vermouth or fruit, I’d kick ass from all the tips I retained.
His smile grew brighter as he pushed in, past me and into my place. “Sure, Talia, I’d love to join you.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“No,” he said, turning and pressing a finger to the tip of my nose. “But you want me to.”
I didn’t comment, because he was right. As much as I didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to want him, I did let him in. “So, I want your body and you know it, big deal.”
He dropped down on the sofa, still grinning as he crossed his legs on my coffee table. “Good because I want your body too.”
“I know,” I told him and dropped down beside him. “That’s why you’re here.” He was going to deny it, I knew he was, but I didn’t want to hear any words that would try to convince me otherwise, so I climbed into his lap and put my lips to his, hoping like hell he loved the taste of turkey bacon cheeseburgers.
Three seconds. That’s how long it took for Luke to relax under me and accept my kiss, kissing me back, but slowing the kiss to a less frenetic speed. I wanted it faster, but he kept it slow, teasing his tongue along the length of mine, tracing the shape of my lips with it. A slow tease meant to torment, and it was working.
Damn, him.
And then everything exploded all at once. It was hard, from both of us, he rammed up into me each time I slammed down onto his erection. There were no words this time, just silence and incoherent pants and moans, the sounds of both of us scrambling for more pleasure.
Luke’s hands were everywhere, but when they cupped my breasts, squeezing and kneading before gliding up to the nipples, I was done. Pleasure rolled through my body in waves as an orgasm finally erupted in
a loud, shuddering moan. I collapsed on his chest, listening to his racing heart while his hands gripped my hips and fucked me, holding me as close as he could while he shot his pleasure into me.
“Ah fuck, Talia! Shit you’re always so tight.” He kept grunting, saying dirty things in my ear as he tortured me with slow strokes. So deep I didn’t think he’d ever get that piece of himself back. Head thrown back over the couch, muscles pulled tight as his orgasm shook his body and stole his energy. Jaw clenched, he jerked each time my fingers brushed up and down his chest. “Shit, babe.” I shivered as his mouth and tongue worked my neck, my earlobe.
“That was great,” I told him and tried to stand, but deciding to roll to his side and give my legs a chance to get blood circulating again.
“I knew you wanted me to come in.” His words were smug and I knew if I opened my eyes and looked to him, he’d be wearing a matching grin. “Why didn’t you come to dinner? Poppy says you always come.”
“I had a few things to take care of.”
“Is it us?”
And now I was getting annoyed. I smacked the sofa and pushed myself up. “There is no ‘it’ Luke. I had shit to do, so I skipped out on dinner to take care of it.” I didn’t bother to tell him there was no ‘us’ either, given what he was like, it seemed redundant. “I’m going to clean up.” I took my time, needed to clear my head of all the sex hormones raging through my body, hormones that sometimes made me believe there was more to our sex, than sex.
There wasn’t.
It was a trick. A surge of hormones. A lifetime of wishful thinking. By the time I got myself together enough to face Luke, five minutes had passed and I felt as ready as I could with shaky legs.
Not that it mattered, when I got back to the living room, Luke was gone.
Luke
I shouldn’t have left Talia’s place the way I had. It was a dick move and worse, it was cowardly. It was nothing but a hard fuck, physical release was the only goal of what had gone down between us five days ago, but it felt different. It was intense. Dark and heavy. We came together so hungrily, so feverishly that it shocked me. Floored me, really. A deep unfurling had taken root in my chest and I panicked and got the fuck out of there before I did something stupid.
Only, judging by her radio silence, I did indeed do something stupid. She couldn’t avoid me forever, or even for the rest of the night, because we had more plans. Wedding plans to be exact. At least it was just the final, final round of menu changes, and not something worse, like tablecloths or place settings. If I’m ever crazy enough to get married, we’re eloping on the beach instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars to see my bride lose her mind.
When I spotted Blake and Poppy at the entrance, disappointment settled over my shoulders. Talia was really pissed if she’d sent in reinforcements. Maybe she decided not to show up at all. “Hey lovebirds.” I greeted them with my best CFO smile, keeping my physical distance in case Blake read the tension between me and Poppy. “I thought you were on bed rest.”
“I’m just taking it easy,” she said breezily.
That was the end of my ability to engage on pregnancies, so I sat and waited for the food. Quietly.
“How is this supposed to work?” Blake asked.
I shrugged and so did Poppy. “Talia knows.”
“And Talia is…?” Blake was already annoyed, clearly realizing he’d made the right choice in pawning off his wedding responsibilities to me. His blue eyes were on me, looking for an answer like I had one to give.
“Running behind,” she said as she walked in and took her seat, removing a tablet and binder from her bag before she even looked around the table. “I’ll let them know we’re ready to start,” she said, popping right back and up and disappearing.
Something was definitely wrong, but I couldn’t think about anything other than the way her ass and legs looked in ripped grey jeans. She wore a black leather jacket that kicked up the whole sexpot thing another ten thousand notches. Shit, this wasn’t good. I should have already been done with her, and now I was quantifying her sexy.
“Does Talia seem weird to anyone else,” Poppy wondered aloud, almost worried about her friend.
“Quieter,” Blake said with a shrug. “Not surprising, you did dump a lot on her.”
I wanted to jump in and defend myself because I had done a lot too, but the truth was, without Talia everything wouldn’t be as efficiently done.
“She’s busy. Exhausted.”
Poppy’s gaze narrowed on me. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”
“Are you sure it isn’t?” I wouldn’t take her shit just because she was sleeping with my brother. Poppy was entitled to her opinion, but she was mistaken if she thought I would answer to her.
“Five minutes,” Talia said when she returned. “We’ll have flat and sparkling water, and wine for whoever wants to pair it with the food options.” She looked at each of us for confirmation, and then back down at her screen, unaware, or not caring she hadn’t even offered up a greeting.
“Good to see you too, Talia.”
She looked at me with a blank look that shocked the hell out of me. “Hello, Luke. Poppy. Blake.” She gave each of us a long look, devoid of all emotion as she spoke our names. “Now we’ll get three choices for everything, rank your favorites and Luke and I will be the tie-breaker if that becomes necessary.” All business she was, eyes hardly ever leaving her tablet.
“Does that say mashed potato bar and…a slider station?” Poppy’s excitement had her near vibrating.
Talia unleashed her first genuine smile all night. “And they have vegan and vegetarian options too.”
“That,” Poppy said. “I want both of those, babe. You can decide on the proteins since I’m being a potato dictator.” She batted her lashes and my brother crumped like a cheap suit.
“Okay. You can choose the starters, you have good taste in starters.” His words were pointed and she smiled wide as a blush stained her cheeks. Again, Talia was completely unaware.
The first plates came out, three tiny salad plates for each of us. Blake chose Caesar’s and garden salad.
“That was easy enough. Next is the main course, and remember there are a dozen vegetarians on your invite list.” And so it went, for more than an hour, dishes coming out while Talia ran us through it all like a drill sergeant. Like a wedding planner, instead of the best friend of the bride. She didn’t look happy, not unhappy for her friend, just not happy in the general sense of the word. She looked overworked and tired. Still, hot as hell.
“Do we need dessert if we’re having wedding cake?”
Talia shrugged. “You don’t need any of it. This is your wedding Blake, what do you want to do for dessert?”
Blake blinked like it was a novel idea to him. “Lava cakes. They’re delicious, decadent and go great with scotch.”
Talia jotted it down, and disappeared again without a word. “Okay, tell me I’m imagining things,” Poppy said as she watched her friend rush off.
A few minutes later she returned. “They can do it, but we’ll have to wait so I told them to bring it out last.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much Talia. This is all fantastic,” Poppy enthused.
“My pleasure.” Her words were right, but her face said pleasure was the last thing she was feeling. “These are the forms for the slider station and mashed potato bar, just check off what you want for each.”
“What do you want,” Poppy shot back, trying to pull her friend back from wherever she’d retreated to.
“This place is great, so I’m sure whatever you choose will be okay.” Poppy wasn’t appeased, and I finally got to see Talia in action, full assistant and best friend mode. “This is your wedding day, Poppy, to the man you love. The father of your child, who you will be breastfeeding and burning like a million calories a day, pick what you want.”
“Fine, I just thought we would do this together.”
Talia held in her sigh, but I saw the way her c
hest expanded subtly. “We are doing this together, Poppy. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve already narrowed it down to what I knew you’d like.” Then tension was back as Talia’s spine straightened like a rod, her hand slowly reached for the water and she took one small sip. “You know your guests better than I do, both of you. Excuse me.” Talia dashed off again.
“Babe, why don’t you relax a bit?” Blake spoke softly to Poppy, but she wasn’t in the mood to be consoled.
“No! She’s my best friend, and we’re supposed to do this together! She’s barely looked at any of us, or said anything that wasn’t wedding related!” She turned to me again. “What did you do?”
“Me? Maybe you should aim that accusation right in a mirror, Poppy.”
“Lukas,” Blake said, his tone a warning.
“Really Blake?” I stared at my older brother, my father figure, boss and protector for most of my life, right now looking at me with hell in his eyes. All because of a woman. “Tell you what, handle the wedding your damn self.” I didn’t need to stick around for this nonsense. Talia was ignoring everyone, and all of a sudden I’m the asshole? No thanks, I’d rather be anywhere but here.
“This is a surprise.” It was more than a surprise, given the cold shoulder Talia had reserved for me lately, I figured I wouldn’t see her around the office again.
“You’re the only one who can stop by for a quickie?” She stood there, leaning against the door with her hands behind her back, turning the lock inside the knob.
“I never said that.” If she wanted to show up for a quick fuck, that was fine by me.
Naughty Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Boardroom Games Book 3) Page 6