“I have a lot of decisions to make and I want to be absolutely sure I’m making the right ones.”
Cameron leaned back in his seat and chuckled. “I assume these decisions are about Farrah Langley.”
Xavier raised a brow. He’d never discussed Farrah with anyone, although he was certain after Donovan’s wedding a number of his friends—his godbrothers in particular—had figured he and Farrah were involved in a hot and heavy affair. “How did you know?”
Cameron chuckled. “Because I know you. You started paying late-night visits to the same woman on a rather frequent basis. And since you never discussed these visits or the woman with me or anyone, that was the first sign.”
“Sign?”
“Yes, a sign that this particular woman meant something to you and that you thought she was different from all the others.”
Xavier nodded slowly. Yes, Farrah was different from the others. At first he’d just enjoyed being in her bed, but then something had begun happening to him, although at first he hadn’t known exactly what. It had taken half a year of not being with her to make him realize Farrah was more than a woman he just wanted in his bed. Once he’d seen her again, spent time with her, he’d known she was the only woman he wanted in his life for always. “I’m crazy about her, Cam,” he admitted.
“Does she know how you feel?”
Xavier shook his head. “Hell, I just figured it out myself a few days ago. We broke up a week after Donovan’s wedding—her idea, not particularly mine. She thought our short-term affair had gone on longer than intended and it was time to move on. I didn’t argue and will admit at the time I thought maybe she was right. And then a couple of days ago we ran into each other here in New York. She’s in town on business like I am. We went out to dinner that first night and a Broadway play the next. I enjoyed her company and realized just how much I had missed her. Then I knew exactly what had been truly missing from my life for the past six months.”
Cameron smiled. “Now you can understand why I wouldn’t let up in my pursuit of Vanessa, although it didn’t take me as long as it took you to figure out I was in love, and that Vanessa was the woman I wanted in my life.”
“Um, that might be true, but I have a feeling I’m going to work just as hard to win her over,” Xavier said. He paused, thinking of all the things Cameron had done during his pursuit of Vanessa, and then shook his head and laughed. “Hell, I hope not.” Cameron couldn’t help laughing as well. “But in the end it was all worth it.”
All Xavier had to do was to see them together to know what Cameron said was true. “I’m definitely in love with Farrah, Cam.” Xavier wasn’t surprised how easily the words flowed from his lips.
“Good. I like her, so what’s the problem?” Cameron asked.
Xavier sighed deeply. After all Cameron had gone through for Vanessa, if anyone understood his plight, it would be him. “She can’t seem to get over a bad marriage. Her husband cheated on her and ended up marrying the other woman. He even went so far as to have a child with her while married to Farrah.”
Cameron shook his head sadly. “Some bastards really make it hard for the rest of us, don’t they?”
Xavier nodded in agreement. Farrah’s ex was making it nearly impossible for him. “Yes, it’s going to be difficult for her to trust another man.”
“Be patient. Some scars are harder to heal than others.”
Xavier understood that. It had taken him years to get over the damage Dionne had done to him. But he truly believed in his heart that Farrah and Dionne were nothing alike, and now he had to prove that fact to Farrah.
“I’m sure you have a plan, Xavier.”
Xavier chuckled. Cameron knew him well enough to know just how he operated. “Yes. Last night I got her to agree to resume our affair with no limitations. That in itself wasn’t an easy task, so I feel good about it. The next thing I intend to do is prove to her that there’s more between us than just great sex.”
Farrah had expected to get carted off to his bed last night. He could tell. A part of him believed she was somewhat confused as to why he hadn’t slept with her. She had tried more than once to tempt him, and he’d known exactly what she was doing. A few times his traitorous body had almost given in, but luckily his ironclad control had ruled.
“Thanks for listening to my woes, Cam.”
“Hey, no problem. That’s what friends are for. Now, I’m out of here. That snow storm they had predicted for Sunday is blowing in early, and I intend to be gone before then.”
Xavier glanced out the window, noticing for the first time the weather had changed. The sky was white and heavy, the wind blustery. He needed to call Farrah to see if she planned to leave for Charlotte today. A smile touched his lips. Although he knew it would be a bad idea with all the temptation she would present, he kind of liked the idea of her getting snowed in, in the city. Of course he would invite her to move in with him until the worst of the storm passed. He could imagine how it would be if that were to happen.
“What are you smiling about, Xavier?”
He glanced up at Cameron. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
“I’ve made a decision about things, Ms. Langley.”
Farrah glanced over at Lori. Her husband hadn’t come with her today, and as far as Farrah was concerned, that was a good sign. She wondered if today would entail another long, drawn out session. They had covered a lot of ground yesterday, revisited a lot of memories, and Farrah hoped doing so had worked.
“And what decision is that, Lori?”
“That I’m fine with a seventy-thirty split. Kerrie’s right in thinking that I don’t deserve fifty-fifty. Besides, I admit to telling her that years ago, and I won’t go back on my word now. Our friendship means more to me than that.”
Kerrie glanced over at Lori. “I think you deserve more than seventy-thirty Lori. I’m willing to go back to the original contract between us and honor that.”
Lori shook her head. “I won’t let you do that. I walked away from the business. You’re the one who made it into what it is today, and I won’t be greedy about it.”
Kerrie then asked, “What about Rudolph? How will he feel about it?”
Lori shrugged. “I told him my decision this morning. He’s not happy about it, but it was my decision to make. He’ll just have to get over it since this doesn’t really concern him. These past few days have made me realize that the business was based on our friendship, our trust and love for each other. I can’t let anyone destroy those things.”
Farrah couldn’t help but admire Lori for the decision she’d made and for standing up to her husband. She wondered if it was the first time Lori had defied him. “Well, I’m glad we’ve resolved the matter, and I’ll get the papers ready to be signed so we can all leave before the weather worsens. It looks like it’s about to start snowing any minute.”
“It does,” Lori said in agreement. “And I want to thank you for reminding me that true friendship will outlast anything, and that’s what Kerrie and I have always had.”
Kerrie nodded in agreement before reaching across the table and taking Lori’s hand in hers.
Farrah drew in a deep breath, feeling good about the resolution and happy about how things had worked out in the end. She glanced at her watch, wondering if she would be able to get a flight out today before the storm hit.
An hour or so later she checked her phone and saw she’d received a text message from Xavier. All it said was—Cold outside. Car will pick you up.
Moments later when she exited the building, she saw his private car parked at the curb waiting for her. Jules smiled when he saw her and quickly opened the car door. “Mr. Kane sent me with instructions to take you wherever you want to go, Ms. Langley.”
Farrah smiled as she slid onto the backseat. It was cold, and she couldn’t help but appreciate the vehicle’s warmth. “Please take me to my hotel. I want to get a flight out before the storm arrives.”
At that minute her phone rang
. She smiled when she saw it was Xavier and immediately clicked on the call. “Xavier, thanks for sending the car.”
“I promised to keep you warm, didn’t I?”
Her smile widened. “Yes.”
“So did things get resolved today?”
“Yes,” she said excitedly. “I feel good in not only resolving another case, but with this particular one, renewing a friendship. Now I’m headed back to the hotel to pack. The storm’s coming and I’m afraid if I don’t get a flight out today, I might get stranded here.”
“I hate to tell you this but you might already be stranded. I heard on the news that they’ve already started canceling flights headed to New York, which means that flights leaving the city are being impacted.”
Farrah frowned, disappointed. “The last thing I want is to get stranded here.”
“In that case you might be in luck. Cameron is here and will be flying out in his private plane in a few hours. If you’re ready to leave, then you can fly back to Charlotte with him.”
Farrah blinked. “I can’t impose on Mr. Cody like that, Xavier. He doesn’t know me that well.”
Xavier laughed. “Cam knows you’re a close friend of mine. I’ll make the necessary arrangements with him. You just get packed. I’ll touch base with you in an hour.”
Farrah clicked off the phone, thinking just how appreciative she would be if Xavier could arrange for her to leave New York before the storm hit. But to accompany Cameron Cody in his private plane, she thought, was asking too much. Although he and his wife were Natalie’s cousins-in-law, as she’d told Xavier, she didn’t want to impose on the man.
She shook her head, somewhat disappointed. If she left the hotel and went straight to the airport, that would mean she wouldn’t see Xavier before leaving. Nor had he said anything about wanting to see her again before she left.
“We’re here, Ms. Langley.”
Farrah pushed her disappointment aside. This had turned out to be a happy day, and she refused to let thoughts of Xavier put a damper on it.
Xavier couldn’t ignore the shiver of pleasure that ran down his spine when Jules pulled the car up in front of Farrah’s hotel. And then moments later he watched the woman he loved come through the revolving glass doors pulling luggage behind her.
She looked all bundled up in her leather coat, gloves, boots and a furry-looking hat that covered her head. It was cold outside, and according to the weather reports, it was the coldest it had been in New York all year. If the forecasters were right, the following days would get even more frigid with record-breaking temperatures. Combine that with snow and it was a recipe for disaster.
Jules opened the car door for her, and the wide-eyed look of surprise and the warm smile that lit her face caused a sensual jolt to his midsection. “Xavier! I didn’t think I’d see you before I—”
He didn’t give her a chance to finish what she was saying. In fact he barely gave her time to get settled in the backseat before he leaned over and captured her mouth with his. Damn, he needed her taste. He needed her. And at that moment there was no doubt in his mind that he loved her.
Their mouths mated hungrily and fused passionately as their tongues tangled in a wild and frenzied exchange that had him groaning. Thankfully, Jules drew the privacy shield closed without being told, and Xavier proceeded to pull Farrah into his lap. At that moment he couldn’t fight the rush of desire that suddenly consumed him, making him hot, almost causing him to overload. She was returning his kiss measure for measure while sensation after glorious earth-shattering sensation tore into him.
They finally ended the kiss, but he kept his mouth close to hers, a breath away from her moist lips. The look in her eyes almost sent him over the edge. If he were to spread her out on the seat, strip her naked and take her, she wouldn’t resist. There was no doubt in his mind that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
But he wanted her to do more than just need him. He wanted her to love him as much as he loved her. To reach that goal he had to prove to her there was more between them than just the physical. That didn’t mean he would stop making love to her. He just needed to find a balance between the physical and the emotional so that she would see she was not only desired but also loved.
“Now what were you about to say?” he asked, pulling her close to him while wrapping his arms around the back of the seat.
His gaze went immediately to her lips when they began moving again. He liked kissing them, nibbling on them, licking them and doing all kinds of naughty things to them.
“I said I didn’t think I would see you before I left,” Farrah said.
Unable to resist any longer, Xavier leaned down and swiped a slow lick off her lips. “Did you honestly think I would let you leave without seeing you again and saying goodbye?”
“After last night I wasn’t so sure.”
Xavier pulled her closer to him. “Well, I am here, and in fact I intend to go back to Charlotte with you and Cam.”
She blinked as if she wasn’t certain she’d heard him correctly. “You’re going back to Charlotte?”
“Yes, there’s no reason for me to get stranded here, too. Besides, if the storm is as bad as the forecasters predict, the office will be closed anyway. I can fly back sometime next week to finalize things.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve got a favor to ask of you,” he said, pulling off her gloves, needing to feel his skin enmeshed with hers. “What?”
He entwined their fingers and felt the warmth of her flesh. He looked down at their joined hands in her lap. “I’ve been invited to several holiday parties and I want you to go as my date.”
He felt her flinch but chose to ignore her reaction. “I had originally planned not to accept the invitations, but since we’ve decided to remove the limitations on our affair, I think it would be nice for us to share the holiday spirit, don’t you?” Xavier figured those parties would be perfect for him and Farrah to be officially seen out together as a couple.
Farrah wasn’t sure if what he was proposing would be nice or not. She certainly hadn’t expected him to ask her out on a date so soon. And from what he’d said, it sounded as if it would be several dates. She knew it might sound pretty sleazy to some, but she much preferred sharing her time with him in the bedroom in a strictly physical and nonemotional affair. However, it had nothing to do with the reasons he had accused her of last night. To get him to believe that would be close to impossible.
Instead of answering his question, she posed one of her own. “How many parties are we talking about, Xavier?”
He leaned over and began nibbling on her neck, ears and the corners of her mouth. “Um, I think we’re talking about three or four. And then there’s the New Year’s Eve party that Uriel and his wife, Ellie, are hosting at the lake.”
She gazed up at him. “And you want me to attend all those parties with you?”
“Yes. Is there a reason why you can’t? Have you made other plans for the holidays?”
Farrah inwardly sighed. Unfortunately, she hadn’t made other plans. She figured on it being a low-key time for her. Her company was closed for ten days, and she had planned to buy a number of books and to stay in, relax and have a read-a-thon.
“Farrah?”
Why did he have to say her name in such a way that waylaid her senses and sent a ripple of desire through her? “Yes?”
“Have you made plans for the holidays already?”
“No, but—but—”
He lifted his head and stared down at her. “But what?”
How could she tell him that she wasn’t comfortable dating the way normal couples did? How could she explain that she equated dating with establishing the foundation for something more serious, and she didn’t do serious?
Instead of wasting her time explaining anything, she said, “Nothing. Going to all those events will be fine. Just let me know when and where and I’ll meet you there.”
Xavier threw his head back and laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart
, but it doesn’t quite work that way. I’ll let you know when and where, but I’ll pick you up. We won’t show up in separate cars.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip wondering why it mattered if they both ended up at the same place. But she didn’t want to argue with him about it. She glanced out the window and noticed they had passed the exit for the airport. “Where are we going?”
“Back to my place to get luggage. When I talked to you earlier I was at the office finishing up a few things.”
She nodded. “And where’s Mr. Cody?”
“Cameron has his own private car and will join us at the airport at the designated time.”
“Okay.”
She settled back against his chest, and when he shifted positions, she could feel his hard erection pressing against her backside. What she felt was a sure sign that he wanted her, so why wasn’t he taking her?
As the car sped toward Long Island, she sat cuddled in Xavier’s lap, thinking and wondering just what was going on in that mind of his.
Chapter 13
A few hours later Farrah entered her home, and Xavier walked in behind her. He thought the flight from New York had gone well, with Cam and Farrah chatting amiably during most of the trip. More than once Cam had shot him a look that had clearly asked, Why have you kept her hidden?
He closed the door, leaned against it and watched as she moved across the room and switched on a lamp. Although it was late afternoon, it had already been dark when the plane had landed. Two private cars had sat waiting on the airstrip. One had whisked Cameron home, and Xavier had placed Farrah and her luggage with him in the other.
Swallowing thickly, he recalled how tempted he had been to take her directly to his place instead of bringing her here. In the end, his common sense had won out. He had to be patient in his handling of her.
When she moved to turn on another lamp he glanced around thinking how he had missed coming here.
Bachelor Unleashed Page 13