“Mr. Gabrini is on line three.”
Grace was surprised. She hadn’t expected any call from him, not ever. “Thanks, Mag,” she said and pressed number three. “This is Grace,” she said.
Tommy was in his office signing off on a stack of documents, with one of his assistants waiting to retrieve them. When Grace’s voice came onto the line he dropped his pen and leaned back in his swivel chair.
“Hello, Grace,” he said. “It’s Thomas.”
“Thomas or Tommy?” she asked.
He smiled. “Tony.”
She laughed. “Hello, Tommy. What can I do for you?”
You just wait and see, Tommy wanted to say. “I thought we’d set a date for that date you promised me,” he said instead.
Grace sat down. She had assumed he wasn’t serious when he didn’t bother to get her cell number. She didn’t even consider the fact that he knew where she worked. “Okay, sure,” she said. “When’s good for you?”
Tommy pulled out his Blackberry and checked his calendar. As usual he was booked solid, including a business meeting with some investors tonight at one of his restaurants. Normally he didn’t cancel those kinds of meetings. For some reason, this time, he was considering it. “How about tonight?” he asked her.
Grace was surprised. A guy who didn’t set the date well into the future usually meant that he was definitely interested, although she had a pretty good idea what he was interested in. But she was a woman who kept her word. Just as she was about to answer in the affirmative, she realized what tonight really was. Her birthday. As in her surprise party. She knew she hated surprises for a reason!
“Can’t do it tonight,” she reluctantly said.
This stopped Tommy cold. He was accustomed to a lot of things, but being turned down by a woman wasn’t one of them. His smile dissolved. He waved his hand, and his assistant left the room. “You can’t?” he asked.
“I can’t, no.”
“And why can’t you?” He didn’t mean to sound peevish, but he couldn’t help it. He was willing to cancel a very important business meeting for this date. He wanted to know what it was that she wasn’t willing to cancel.
“It’s my birthday, you see,” she said. “And some friends of mine are throwing me a surprise party tonight.”
“Oh,” Tommy said, feeling ridiculous. “Of course you can’t miss that. So this is birthday number?”
“Guess.”
“Twenty-five?”
“Bless you. Thirty.”
“Oh, you’re a big girl now,” he said, relieved to hear her age. “But wait a minute,” he added with a frown. “If it’s a surprise party, how would you know about it?”
“Because I have one particular friend who can’t keep a secret if his life depended on it.”
Tommy nodded. “Got it,” he said.
Then Grace added, rather hesitantly because she knew she was going out on a limb: “You’re welcome to join us.”
Tommy hesitated too. He dreaded the idea of another get together, especially with a group of people probably much younger than he was and none of which he probably knew. But for some crazy reason he was very anxious to see those big, brown eyes of hers again. And to hear her laugh. And, if he was man enough to admit it, to fuck her.
“When and where?” he asked her.
Grace smiled, relieved, and told him what he needed to know.
CHAPTER FIVE
The celebration at Moors was nearly two hours old by the time Tommy made his way into the private dining hall. Grace had been looking for him ever since she and Nayla arrived, and it pained her that he had already consumed that much of her attention. But she couldn’t help it. She was anxious to see him again.
She was the first to see him when he walked through the side door. He was once again dressed to the nines, this time in a light-brown sports jacket, dark-brown slacks, a blue dress shirt and a gold and white ascot around his neck instead of a tie, a minor addition that made him look tantalizingly gorgeous to Grace. She hadn’t planned to display such pleasure when he arrived, but she couldn’t help it. She was pleased. As soon as he walked in she was making her way to his side.
“I was just about to give up on your,” she said over the blare of the music and the loud conversations. “I wasn’t sure if you were coming.”
“And miss your not-so-surprising birthday celebration?” Tommy asked as she approached him. “Not a chance.”
Grace smiled and extended her hand. Tommy shook her hand but felt compelled to do more. So he pulled her gently to him and kissed her on the cheek. A kiss that seared her. Grace could only hope that her blush wasn’t showing.
Tommy tried not to show his own blush as his lips pressed into her tender, creamy-chocolate skin, rubbed against it, and then sucked off of her in a tender kiss that left him wanting more already. Even his cock was beginning to throb just from his close proximity to her. And by the time they began to pull apart and he was able to see the golden brown of her sensual eyes as they drowsily reopened, and could smell her soft, sweet scent, his throbbing was slowly becoming a full-fledged erection. He knew he wanted to see her again, but not until now had he realized just how badly.
“Let me introduce you to my friends,” Grace said and was about to turn away. But Tommy pulled her back toward him, his hand clasping her elbow.
“First I want to know how you’re doing,” he said.
Grace looked at him. He was a first things first man and she liked that. “I’m doing great. Thanks for asking.”
“Cam Birch hasn’t been bothering you again, has he?” he also asked her. He’d already had his man look into that relationship. Dated for a few years, became engaged, and then broke up for good after she caught Cam in bed with not one, but apparently two females. Cam took the breakup hard and had been trying to get back with her ever since. But Tommy was pleased to learn that not once since Grace kicked Cameron to the curb did she ever try to pick him back up again.
Grace was kind of surprised that he would ask about Cameron, and then she realized he witnessed their little scene last night at Jillian’s. “Cam gets on my nerves,” she said, “but he’s got more sense than to try to bother me.”
Tommy smiled. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“What about you? How have you been doing?”
“Since last night?”
“And in general, yes.”
Tommy exhaled. “I’ve been working,” was about all he could say about it.
“Yeah, me too.”
“I can see that. You look tired.”
She agreed. “I am. But I figure you only get a birthday celebration once a year, so tired or not, I’m going for it.”
“You looked tired last night, too.”
Grace was a little embarrassed to hear that. What woman wanted a man to tell her she didn’t look her best when she thought she’d looked fine? “I didn’t realize I looked tired last night. At least not enough to notice.” She also noticed how Tommy was actually looking at her, rather than past her.
“Are you taking care of yourself?” he asked her.
“Probably not,” she admitted. “Not like I should, anyway.”
“That’s going to change,” Tommy said flatly.
His bluntness seemed to take her by surprise. But he wasn’t taking it back. For some reason, around her, he had no stomach for beating around the bush.
“I don’t know what I can do about it now,” Grace said slightly defensively. “The work’s gotta get done, and I’ve gotta work.”
Tommy smiled. “Understood. But you have to make time for yourself, too, Grace, come on.”
“Tell that to Jillian, will you? I can’t catch a break with that woman.”
“You’re her chief of staff, at least that’s what I think she said. That should give you some pull.”
“Yeah, right. I’m her chief flunky. That’s about it in the pull department.”
This concerned Tommy. “Why would you stay on a job if it was that lim
iting?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Try me.”
Grace thought about it. “My father used to work there.”
“At Trammel?”
“Yeah. He was the vice president. I was already working there as Jilly’s assistant, but after Dad died I guess Jilly promoted me in honor of his legacy or some such business, but she still views me as just her assistant. So here I am. Chief of staff. Which is a good job, don’t get me wrong. The department heads respect me because they know I can at least talk to Jilly when they can barely get an audience with her. But it’s grueling work. I feel like I put out fires all day long. I can’t even remember the last time I was able to take me a vacation. It’s always some crisis I have to deal with.”
“That’s no way to live.”
“I know,” Grace said, looking to see what that sudden burst of laughter across the room was all about. Tommy took a look down the length of her as she looked away.
“Do you like massages?” he asked softly when she returned her attention to him.
She hesitated before answering. She knew it was probably one of his usual lines to get a woman interested, but Tommy had such a serious look when he spoke about even unserious things that she wasn’t too sure. “You mean in general,” she asked, “or for myself?”
“For yourself.”
“Yes,” she said, getting serious too. “I love massages.”
“When was the last time you had one?”
“Oh, my goodness,” Grace said, looking up. Tommy looked at her long, smooth neck when she did. “It’s been a long time. Probably some years,” she admitted as she looked back at him.
“I’ll have to give you one.”
The way he said that caused Grace’s vagina to tingle. But she played it off. “Oh, you will, will you?” she asked with a smile.
“I will.” He wasn’t smiling at all.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I know it’s not a good idea, are you kidding?” he asked. “It’s a terrible idea.” Then he smiled. “But what does that have to do with anything?”
Grace smiled, too, and then she laughed.
What she didn’t realize was that she had two keen eyewitnesses to her laughter. Nayla Santiago, her best friend, and Jamie Rogers, another close friend, had been spying them from the moment Grace hurried to Tommy’s side. And they both were baffled.
“Who is he?” Jamie asked as his small dark eyes trailed up and down Tommy’s impressive physique.
Nayla shook her head. “I have no idea. I thought you knew.”
“I don’t know a thing, child. She never mentioned him?”
“Not to me she didn’t.”
Jamie looked him up and down again. “He’s delicious,” he said with a smile. “I have to give him his props. White boy got game.”
“But who is he?” Nayla wanted to know. “You saw how happy Grace was to see him, and the way he’s got her laughing now.”
“Ain’t she happy?” Jamie agreed. “But then again who wouldn’t be with eye candy like that on her arm? And look at that outfit he’s wearing, girl. I’ll bet it’s worth thousands.”
“And those shoes, check them out.”
“Oh, your boy got some serious greens, all right. Ain’t nothing fake on that man’s body. Not even that man’s body.”
Nayla would normally laugh at Jamie’s one liners, but not in this case. She and Jamie were the only two who planned this surprise party, and neither one of them had invited Mr. America over there. “But he isn’t exactly her age, though, is he?” Nayla asked.
“No,” Jamie agreed, “but so what? The point is she’s got her somebody substantial. That has to be the point.”
“Yeah,” Nayla said, nodding. “Has to be. But why wouldn’t Grace mention him? We rode over here together, and she didn’t say a word.”
Jamie stretched his eyebrows. “That is strange since she tells you everything. But who knows? Maybe she didn’t want you trying to take him from her.”
Nayla looked at Jamie as if he was nuts. “Take him from her? I don’t roll like that, what are you talking about?”
“Cam. Hello?”
“I told you I never touched that fool!”
“That’s not what I’ve been hearing.”
“Well you’ve been hearing lies, Jamie. Whoever’s been telling that to you is a liar, and I’ll say it to her face. I’m just grateful Grace didn’t believe it. She knows I wouldn’t do that to her.”
Jamie looked at Nayla with doubtful eyes. “Whatever, child,” he said.
“You don’t have to believe me,” Nayla said, although what Jamie said was true. She and Cam did hook up once, after Grace dumped him. But Nayla didn’t see where Grace needed to know that. “Anywho,” she continued, “this isn’t about me, anyway. This is about Grace, and who in the world could that hunk of flesh standing beside her be.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Jamie said, sitting his glass on a nearby table, “I’m going to find out for myself.”
“Find out?” Nayla asked, alarmed that he would even dream of injecting himself into Grace’s conversation. “Jamie!”
But Jamie was undeterred. “I’m going to find out who he is,” he said as his slender body began to make its way toward the twosome.
“Jamie, wait!” Nayla said, but he was already on his way. She felt she had no choice, at that point, but to sit her wine glass down, too, and follow him.
Grace saw Jamie coming and smiled. “Here comes one of my partners in crime now,” she said to Tommy.
Tommy looked where she was looking and saw a young black male, seemingly in his mid-to-late twenties, coming their way. Tommy wondered if he would be his competition.
“Let me guess,” Grace said with a smile as Jamie approached. “You’re curious?”
“As a mother fuck,” Jamie said and he, Grace, and Tommy laughed.
He extended his hand. “I’m Jamie Rogers,” he said. “And I’m dying to know who you are.”
“Hello, Jamie,” Tommy said, shaking his hand.
“I may as well wait for Nay,” Grace said, “and let one introduction do for all.”
“I told him not to bother you,” Nayla said as she approached. “But you know how Jamie is.”
Jamie looked sidelong at her. “And how is Jamie?”
“Nosy,” Nayla said with a smile. She, too, extended her hand. “I’m Nayla Santiago, by the way.”
“Ladies, hide your men,” Jamie said under his breath. Nayla could deny being a man stealer all she wanted, but Jamie knew better.
“This is Tommy Gabrini,” Grace said as Nayla extended her hand. She was gorgeous and she knew it, Tommy thought, as he shook her hand. “He’s a friend of mine,” Grace added.
“Since when?” Jamie asked in his usual deadpan way, and Nayla elbowed him.
“Since last night,” Grace freely responded.
“Oh,” Nayla said. “At Jillian’s party?”
“That’s right. We met there. Although I’ve known him for quite some time.”
Tommy looked at her. He wasn’t sure if she was kidding.
“You may not know it,” Grace said, “but I’ve seen you coming and going over at Trammel for years. You’re what we call a ‘Jillian territory’ client.”
Tommy smiled. “A what?”
“Jillian territory. She said guys like you are offended if people of a lower rank than hers have any dealings with you. So she does all the wheeling and dealing with you and a handful of other clients. But I’ve seen you around for years.”
Tommy was a little taken aback. He never recalled seeing her, not ever. But if Jillian was safeguarding him as Grace suggested, he would understand why.
“But these two guys here,” Grace moved on, “are my two closest friends.”
“I’m her best friend,” Nayla said, “and he’s the wannabe.”
“Forget you,” Jamie said. Then he moved closer to Tommy. “So what are your intentions,” he asked
, “regarding our Grace?”
Nayla looked alarmed. Grace laughed.
“Yeah,” Grace said in a playful spirit, “what are your intentions?”
Tommy held up his hands. “I come in peace,” he said.
“Yeah, right,” Jamie said half-jokingly. “That’s what those bank robbers said who robbed that bank the other day. They said they came in peace, too, and then robbed those poor people blind. So can you honestly tell us that you don’t have a robbery on your mind?”
“Oh, I’ve got it on my mind,” Tommy said to great laughter from Jamie and Grace.
Then Tommy looked at Grace. “But only if she’s willing to be taken.”
Jamie smiled. He liked that response. He liked it a lot. “You’re all right,” he said with a nod of his head.
Nayla, however, wasn’t sold. She looked at Grace, but then stared at Tommy.
An hour later and Tommy and Nayla found themselves the only two still seated at the long center table. Grace was dancing with Jamie, and their other friends were on the dance floor, too. Nayla took her drink and moved to the seat next to Tommy.
Tommy smiled. “So you’re the best friend?”
“That’s right,” Nayla said proudly. “Since we were kids in middle school.”
“You’re still kids,” Tommy said.
Nayla laughed hysterically. It was so exaggerated, in fact, that Tommy just stared at her.
“But for real,” Nayla said when she settled back down, “I’m actually older than Grace.”
Tommy looked at her. What did that have to do with anything? “Are you?”
“Actually I am. I’m four years older than she is. Most people think she’s older, can you believe it? They’re always telling me how I look younger and prettier and some guys even have the nerve to say how Grace doesn’t even compare to me.”
Tommy continued to look at her. He knew a come-on when he saw one.
“You should hear them,” Nayla went on. “Just because I have hazel eyes and she doesn’t, and I like a good time when Grace wouldn’t know one if it bit her in the butt.” She laughed at this. “But I don’t know. What do you think? Would you prefer a good time girl, or a prude?”
Tommy gently stirred the liquid in his glass so that the Angostura bitters of his gin and tonic would blend. Then he took a sip sat his glass back on the table. “I prefer Grace,” he said and then looked Nayla dead in the eye so that they could fully understand each other. Because he wanted to be clear: he wasn’t going to be fucking around with her.
ROMANCING TOMMY GABRINI Page 6