Seducing Lola

by Jessica Prince Author

  “Wh-what are you doing?”

  “I’m leaving,” he answered flatly. “I’ve said everything I needed to say. I know you well enough to know that fighting you anymore would be pointless.”

  “But—”

  “You need time to think,” he stated, finally looking up to meet my gaze. “If I push you anymore tonight, you’ll shut down completely, so I’m giving you what you need. I’m going to leave and let you have your space. But know this.” He was back in front of me, his hands on either side of my neck, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles beneath my jaw. “I’m not letting you go. I love you. And despite what you say, I know you have feelings for me. You wouldn’t have been so hurt about those lies in the papers if you didn’t.”

  “Gray—”

  “Go home, baby. Get some sleep.” He’d cut me off again. It was really starting to piss me off.

  I narrowed my eyes to angry slits. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but I knew I at least wanted to say something. “Will you just—”

  He silenced me with a quick kiss, not letting me get a word in edgewise. He finally released his hold, taking a step back and reaching into the pocket of his pants. “Here. Don’t want you to forget this.” Grayson took my hand and placed my cell phone in my palm. “I’ll pick you up Saturday for the gala.”

  Then he turned and left, leaving me all alone in the dark, quiet office with kiss-bruised lips and an aching heart.

  Lola

  IT TOOK NOTHING short of selling my soul, but I’d somehow successfully managed to talk Dominic into getting our mother out of my house under the guise of shopping so I could have Daphne and Sophia over and we could all get ready for the gala together. I needed my girls. I needed to talk about absolutely everything that had happened in our office three days ago — with the exception of admitting we did the dirty on Daphne’s desk — and pick apart every word he’d said… like women always do.

  I went into great detail about the earth-moving sex while Daphne did my hair. I talked through, analyzed, overanalyzed, and picked apart his words while Sophia worked on my makeup. By the time we were all glitzed out, I’d been talking for three hours and still felt no closer to settled than when I started.

  I was a freaking mess!

  “I don’t know what to do,” I admitted on a pathetic cry. I wanted to throw myself down on my bed all dramatically like one of those damsels in the movies, but I was afraid doing so would ruin my hair. And if I did that, Daphne would surely kill me dead.

  “Well,” Sophia started, leaning in to the mirror above my dresser to apply her red lipstick, “the way I see it, there’s really nothing you can do.”

  “How do you mean?” I asked, as I pulled my gown from the garment bag and took a second to admire it before slipping it on. It was the best gown ever — a sleeveless, black bandage Herve Leger gown by Max Azria with intricate beading, a wide V-neck and rounded back, and a kickass fringe hem. It hugged every one of my curves from chest to midthigh, then flared out with embellished strips of fabric all the way to the floor. It was flapper-meets-classic. It cost me some serious cake, but I loved it more than any article of clothing or pair of shoes I’d ever owned.

  Sophia turned to eye me as I slid the dress up over my hips. “Babe, isn’t it obvious?”

  I shot her a look, sliding my arms through the inch-wide shoulder straps. “If it was, would I be asking?”

  Daphne let out a small giggle, and I turned to look at her as she pulled up the side zip of her one-shouldered crepe gown in a stunning coral that looked beautiful with her blonde hair and light coloring. “Lo, you’re totally in love with the guy, and from everything you just told us, he’s crazy about you. What Sophia means is there’s nothing you can do because fighting what you feel for him is pointless. You’re miserable without him. Might as well face facts and just accept it.”

  Sophia nodded sagely while capping her lipstick and dropping it into the beaded gold clutch that matched her white, Grecian-style gown. “Can you honestly tell me you’ve been behaving like a functioning adult these past couple of weeks?” I opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but she wasn’t finished. “You’ve cried yourself sick, eaten more ice cream than is healthy, snapped at anyone who looked at you cross-eyed, and got yourself suspended for breaking your boss’s nose, for Christ’s sake! That is not behaving like a sane member of society, honey.”

  “I was not suspended.” Yes, that was what came out of my mouth. “It was a mandatory paid vacation.”

  Sophia rolled her eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed, her voice soft as she said, “You love him, Lola, just admit it. It’s not bad, and it doesn’t make you weak.”

  “Wouldn’t you rather be happy than keep going like you’ve been?” Daphne asked compassionately.

  I looked down at my hands. My fingers were clasped together so tightly my knuckles had turned white. “Yes,” I answered on a whisper.

  Sophia stood and came toward me, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Then stop fighting it. Stop fighting him. You love each other. That’s all that matters for now. Quit waiting for something bad to happen and let yourself enjoy it.”

  My eyes grew watery, hot tears blurring my vision.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” Daphne cried out in warning. “Don’t you dare cry. You’ll ruin your makeup. Then I’ll start crying and ruin mine. And we all look hot, so don’t screw that up.”

  I got control of my tears by laughing. That was just one of the many reasons I loved my girls — they had my back no matter what. I sucked in a fortifying breath and walked to the full-length mirror in the corner of my bedroom. My hair was pulled back and slightly teased, pinned up at the crown of my head. Thick, glossy curls hung around my shoulders and down my back. My eye shadow was smoky, the eyeliner winged, creating the perfect cat-eye look. She was right, I looked hot. We all did. Messing this up would be a travesty.

  I spun around, prepared to thank my two best friends for everything, when my cell phone trilled from my bedside table.

  “Answer it,” Sophia hissed when I stood frozen to the spot.

  That snapped me out of my self-induced panic and I rushed to the phone, sliding my finger across the screen and holding it to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Abbatelli, Mr. Lockhart is here for you.”

  Rabid butterflies took flight in my belly and my hands began to tremble. “Okay. Thanks, Maury. I’ll be right down.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Wait!” I shouted into the receiver before he could hang up. “How… how does he look?”

  “Uh… pardon?” Maury asked.

  “Does he look angry? Like, is he scowling? Or is he smiling happily? Or maybe stoic? Do you think he looks more stoic or pensive? It’ll probably be one of those two.”

  “I—” Poor Maury, I really was a handful for the poor guy. “I don’t think I’m a good judge of—”

  “For Christ’s sake, Maury! It’s either stoic or pensive. Pick one of the two! I need to know what I’m walking into here.”

  A rustling sound came through the line, and then Grayson’s deep, velvety voice filled my ear. “I look eager, baby. Will you cut poor Maury some slack and get your sexy ass down here already?”

  My heart did a trillion backflips in my chest at the sound of his voice. True to his word, he’d stepped back and given me space. I hadn’t heard from him since our encounter in my office, and I missed him. I missed him fiercely.

  “It’s not nice to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations,” I muttered lamely… because what I said was definitely lame.

  His chuckle rumbled in my ears, sending tiny bolts of lightning straight to my core. “Are you coming down, or am I going to have to come up and get you?”

  His words were a sinfully delicious threat, painting an erotic picture in my head of what would happen if he were forced to come up. I almost asked him to come get me when a throat cleared from behind me, pulling me from my sensual daydreaming and reminding me that I wasn’t a
lone.

  “I’ll come down,” I spouted quickly. “Give me just a sec.”

  I ended the call and dropped my phone into the black wristlet lying on my bed before turning back to my friends and taking several deep breaths. “He’s here.”

  Daphne snorted and Sophia rolled her eyes before saying, “Well no shit. I couldn’t have guessed.”

  “Oh God,” I sputtered, the beginning dregs of panic clawing at my stomach. “I love him. Shit! I love Grayson. Oh God. Oh no.”

  “Don’t panic.” Daphne rushed to me and helped me sit on the edge of the bed, forcing my head between my knees. “Slow, deep breaths. It’s all good. Think about all your favorite fashion designers, and the smell of Starbucks in the morning, and attending Hogwarts.

  That did the trick. “Okay,” I said on an exhale as I sat up. “That’s good. I’m good. All better now.”

  “Good,” Sophia chirped, grabbing my hands and pulling me up. She shoved my wristlet at me, took me by the shoulders, and spun me around. “Now get moving. We’ll lock up.” With a slap on my ass, she sent me on my way.

  I kept my eyes closed and counted silently in my head the whole elevator ride down to keep myself calm. When the ding alerted me to my arrival on the ground floor, I inhaled deeply and stepped onto the glinting marble floor on shaky legs.

  I kept my eyes on my feet as I took three careful steps, so I didn’t immediately see Grayson’s expression when he caught his first glimpse of me in my amazing dress.

  “Holy fuck.” At the sound of his pained exclamation, I jerked to a stop and my focus shot up. All the wind whooshed from my lungs at the sight of him. Holy fuck was right. I’d drooled over Grayson in a suit. I’d jumped him the first time I saw him in jeans and a tee. But nothing… nothing could have prepared me for what he looked like in a tuxedo.

  “Sweet Christ on a cracker,” I muttered under my breath.

  His chest expanded as he pulled in a breath. “Wow, baby. You look….”

  “Like sex on a stick,” I whispered.

  Grayson’s face broke into a blinding smile that only made me want to climb him like a tree even more. “Yeah. Exactly.”

  What? I gave my head a cursory shake to clear the lustful haze. “No… I mean thank you, but I was talking about you. You look… just… whoa.”

  “The feeling’s mutual, Lola. That dress is made for sin.”

  I stared at him for several seconds, wondering if I could take a running leap and launch myself at him without tripping and falling on my face in the middle of the lobby. The desire to touch him was almost too much to bear. But before I could put my plan into action, a throat cleared, pulling our attention to the front desk where Maury stood, looking increasingly uncomfortable with each passing second.

  I couldn’t help the short giggle that erupted from my chest. Poor Maury.

  “You ready, gorgeous?”

  I turned my eyes back to Grayson and instantly melted. Last month, last week… hell, even three days ago, I would’ve said no. But standing there now with his hand extended out to me, my chest warmed, my heart felt light, and I knew… I was totally ready.

  I was in love with Grayson Lockhart. And what was more, I believed him when he said he loved me.

  “Grayson,” I said, placing my hand in his. “I need to tell you—”

  He gave me a little tug and began leading me from my building to the waiting town car. “Tell me in the car. We don’t want to be late.”

  His driver was standing at the rear passenger door as we descended the steps to the sidewalk. I grinned widely at his familiar face. “Hey, Tommy. How’s it hanging?”

  He rolled his eyes heavenward, but I could tell he was trying to suppress a smile. He tipped his chin down with a crooked smirk. “Miss Lola. Lovely to see you again.”

  “Right back ’atcha.” I gave his shoulder a playful smack as he opened the door for us, then climbed into the back seat, sliding over to make room on the supple leather bench for Grayson.

  “You’re rather chummy with Thomas,” Grayson said with a smile as the door shut, closing us in the tiny space together. The subtle smell of his cologne filled my nostrils, overpowering all my other senses. Would it be too much to lean over and lick him?

  “He’s a cool dude,” I answered while trying to stamp out the sudden wave of unquenchable lust.

  Thomas returned to the driver seat, and within seconds we were on our way.

  I was staring out the window, watching the cityscape as it passed, when I felt Grayson’s warm breath on the bare skin of my shoulder.

  “So… what was it you needed to tell me?”

  I turned my head, surprised to find he’d moved so close without me noticing. Less than two inches separated his body from mine. If I leaned in just a bit, I’d be able to taste his lips.

  “Lola….”

  I hadn’t realized I was staring, my mind having drifted off, until I heard him say my name. “Huh?”

  “You said you needed to tell me something.”

  I did? God, it was so hard to think straight when he was so close. All my brain could compute was want, need, here, now, mine, all mine. I closed my eyes and shook my head in the hopes of getting my thoughts in order. “Oh… right.”

  “So what is it?”

  “I….” Then, like the coward I was, I totally chickened out. “I forgot.”

  “You forgot?”

  I pasted a self-deprecating smile on my face. “Yeah, sorry. Maybe it’ll come back to me later.”

  His expression dropped into a frown, and I could’ve sworn I saw disappointment lingering in his jade eyes. “Yeah… maybe.”

  He slid back over to his side of the bench and turned his attention out the window, leaving me to stew in my own miserable self-loathing.

  Lola

  GRAYSON’S DEMEANOR DIDN’T improve much once we arrived at the Seattle Art Museum, but to his credit, even though I could tell he was unhappy about our exchange in the car, he didn’t let it show outwardly. He smiled for the cameras that lined both sides of the carpeted entrance while holding me close, in what would appear to onlookers to be a loving embrace. He offered polite greetings and kind words to those who stopped us on the way to the ballroom.

  He even placed his hand on the small of my back, leaned in, and asked if I wanted a glass of champagne once we made it into the ballroom. When I nodded, he moved off toward one of the two bars that lined the far walls of the spacious room to retrieve my drink.

  “Oh, Lola. Darling, I’m so happy to see you!”

  I spun on my heels, the fringe of my skirt swinging out in a glittering whirl of jet-black beads. “Cybil, hi.”

  Grayson’s mother grabbed me by the forearms and leaned in to place a kiss on my cheek. “You look absolutely stunning.”

  “Thank you, so do you.” I smiled sweetly, Cybil’s presence helping to calm my rapidly fraying nerves.

  I didn’t realize I’d been joined by anyone else until another person spoke up. “You do look lovely, dear. That dress is something else. I think I want one of my own.” I laughed at Grayson’s nana. I really did adore that woman.

  “How about I let you borrow this one?”

  “Oh, you’re on. I think I could pull it off. I might be old, but I’ve still got it.”

  “Oh that you do, Nana. Most definitely.”

  I felt his presence seconds before he spoke. “Mother. Nana.” Grayson stopped close to my side and handed me a crystal champagne flute before leaning in to place a kiss to his mother’s and grandmother’s cheeks. Once he stood tall, his arm looped around my waist, pulling me into his side. I didn’t even try to stop myself from nuzzling even closer.

  I knew my actions caught him off guard because his entire body went stiff for a moment before that arm around me tightened. I looked up at him, trying my best to tell him with my eyes that I was right where I wanted to be.

  I must have pulled it off, because the wall he’d placed between us in the car suddenly fell and he returned my smile
with one so full of love it took my breath away.

  “Aren’t you two just adorable,” Cybil sighed, pulling my gaze back in her direction.

  “Where are Dad and Deacon?” Grayson asked, stealthily moving the conversation in another direction.

  “Oh, they’re milling about somewhere.” Cybil waved her hand at her side. “Probably at the bar. You know how your father feels about these black-tie events.”

  “And he’s not wrong,” Nana grumbled. “I think I’ll join them. I’m in need of a whiskey.” Nana turned and started in the direction of the bar, her cane tapping silently on the carpeted floor as she went in search of libations. I couldn’t help but think that an inebriated Nana would certainly liven up the evening.

  Just then, Sophia and Daphne came waltzing into the ballroom. Having spotted me the moment they entered, they made a beeline to our little huddle. I made quick introductions between Cybil and my friends.

  Hearing their names, Cybil’s entire face brightened.

  “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m such a fan of your show.”

  Dear Lord, his mother listens to our show? I gave a bug-eyed look to my girls, who were trying their best to stifle their laughter.

  “Thanks,” Sophia offered. “Glad you enjoy it.”

  “Oh, I do! That segment you did on vibrators was rather enlightening.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Grayson grunted as I choked on air. My friends laughed as Cybil scowled at her son.

  “Grayson! Language.”

  “Well excuse me, Mom, but what the hell do you expect? I don’t need to hear that shit.”

  “I’ll have you know your father’s still as amorous as ever. That doesn’t die in a relationship just because you get older.”

  He let out a slow “Fuck” and looked down at me. “Are my ears bleeding? They feel like they’re bleeding. I think I might need to go to the hospital.”

  “So dramatic,” his mother admonished. “Anyway. Lola, darling, I just wanted to tell you that I think what you and your friends are doing tonight is admirable. I saw the program. There’s no doubt you’ll raise a ridiculous amount of money for such a good cause.”