by May Sage
Wren broke into an endearing boyish smile, visibly happy, and she couldn’t do anything but smile along with him.
“An iPhone. I might upgrade mine, too. It’s pretty old. If they aren’t pink enough for you, we can get a girly cover.”
She scoffed, “My favorite color is green, I’ll have you know.”
That made her blush just a little, because up until recently, it had actually been red; but his emerald eyes had changed that.
“A green cover, then,” he nodded. “Now that I have you all compliant, I’d also add that it might be an idea to get you some clothes, too; maybe even something that fit.”
She glared at that, but Wren shrugged indifferently. “What would you wear to an interview if you scored one tomorrow?” he challenged her, and she just glared harder, because he had her there. Dammit.
Lucy had taken her shopping the day after getting her out of Bruce’s flat, and Cali had just picked a dozen plain t-shirts sold in bulk and some leggings. To Lucy’s annoyance, she hadn’t accepted anything else. Stupid of her, but she hadn’t even thought about what she’d wear at a job; it wasn’t like she’d had any real prospects anyway.
“So you’re going to spend your entire day off shopping with me?” she clarified.
He shrugged indifferently.
“If I must.”
Wren
Cali was oddly compliant for the rest of the day; somehow Wren had managed to get her to a point where she’d shed the stupid shyness, indecision, and pride; she just let him take care of her, without mentioning anything about cost.
She had a phone now – a fancy new one, too – and they were at Saks, picking out some clothes. She had said she wasn’t all that fancy, but when Wren had replied, “I am,” she’d just rolled her eyes and let him lead the way.
“How does it look?” she asked, getting out of the changing room in front of which he was waiting for her.
Wren lifted his gaze from his new phone’s screen, and thanked his fortune he was already seated; otherwise he most definitely would have fallen on his ass.
Up until today, he’d known that Cali was pretty, and sexy, too. He loved her mouth; its plumpness beckoned to him, making him want to possess it, have it everywhere on his skin. He’d also looked at the shape of her breasts, although he couldn’t see much under her baggy T-shirts; he was a guy, and the woman had tits. But her clothes really hadn’t revealed anything about what her body might be like.
Turned out, what she’d hidden behind the clothes had been perfection. He couldn’t look away. She was shaped like a pinup, rather than a Barbie. Her hips were wide, her legs, curvy and sensual; she wasn’t flat anywhere, but he’d had flat before, and it wasn’t anything to write home about; he could imagine himself holding her waist and dropping his mouth to her ridiculously fantastic tits. Hot damn hell. He couldn’t comprehend how such a prominent pair of breasts could stand so proud and firm on a frame so slight in comparison.
Wren swallowed, hard. There were quite a few things that he could have said without sounding like a complete dick, but he just couldn’t help it. He just wanted – needed – to see all of her.
“Turn around,” he commanded, his voice hoarse.
She complied instead of telling him to go fuck himself.
Fucking hell.
Wren had always been an ass man but the view from up front had made him believe otherwise; now that he saw her other side though, he was back to square one, his mouth watering about the delightful ass encased in red velvet rather than her boobs.
He didn’t think he’d ever seen one like that, not even in a music video; he closed his eyes, willing himself to wake up, but when he’d open them again, he was still staring at the curvy, plump ass, carved by the gods, and destined to be worshiped.
“It’s a little tight,” Cali said self-consciously, pulling the bottom of her dress down, which only served to make it fit more snuggly. “Maybe we should get a bigger size?”
“Does it feel comfortable?” he asked her, and she nodded.
“Yeah but it looks…”
Fantastic. Fantastic was the word she was looking for, right?
“I don’t know, it definitely nails it home that I should do some sort of exercise,” she said, turning in front of the mirror, a frown marring her expression.
Oh, hell to the no.
“Sure, you do need exercise,” Wren replied, glaring at her, “Because it’s healthy. I can add you to my gym membership, if you want. But don’t you dare try to change any of this.”
He waved in her general direction, his gesture including everything.
“You know, guys like you always say that, when they’re being nice,” she told him, glaring in his direction, “and yet, you somehow always end up with the model type.”
Wren shook his head in disbelief, and bit his tongue, rather than to go on about what he could imagine doing to her sensual, voluptuous, irresistible self. She wasn’t ready to hear it.
“Stop fishing for compliments, Cal. We’re getting that dress, but it won’t do for an interview. Get that ass moving or we’ll still be at it tomorrow.”
“I’m never shopping with you again,” Cali swore, dragging her feet home. Her hands were full of bags, because although Wren had carried as much as he could, he only had two hands. “Ever.”
So, he might possibly have overdone it, but he’d enjoyed watching her in all those different outfits.
“I’m pretty sure we spent the equivalent of a brand new car. And there’s no way I’m ever going to use the fancy dresses you got me.”
“I go to plenty of parties that require them, Cali.”
She snorted and replied; “Yes, you do.”
Somehow, he prevented himself from saying anything. Sometime over the last ten hours since he’d realized he wanted the woman, he’d come up with a plan of action. She was fresh out of a horrible relationship; that meant she wasn’t likely to jump back in the dating pond right away. He’d wait, he’d be patient, show her that they were good for each other. And the second she sent him the right vibe, he’d pounce.
In the meantime, he was more than happy to carry on spending as much time as possible with her.
“Movie and take out?” he offered, and she nodded enthusiastically.
Wren had no clue what the movie they’d put on that evening had been about, because all his attention was focused on the woman next to him on the sofa, trying to understand the pull she had on him. They’d had a long day, although a nice one, so he wasn't a surprise when she fell asleep, her head dropping on his lap. She snored – and not softly either – and for some weird reason, he found it adorable.
Wren dropped his lips to the side of her face, the kissed her cheek briefly, taking a second to inhale her enticing scent, before gathering her in his arms in carrying her upstairs, to her room.
He was glad to see that it looked much more like her now, warm and welcoming. She didn't wake up through him carrying her all the way there, dropping her on the bed, or tucking her in under covers; the poor girl must have been exhausted.
Wren sat on her bed, and looked at her, wondering what sort of sorcery had made him care so damn much about someone who, just over a month ago, had been a stranger.
“Soon,” he swore, before walking away.
Cali
Cali loved the new rhythm that had started out since the beginning of Wren’s vacation; as her shiny new phone had access to the internet, she didn’t need to go to the library every day, so she just tidied up when she woke up, then they had breakfast – the man could cook simple things; pancakes, omelettes, waffles – before ending up on the sofa, where they chatted. She got the Wren Richards 101 and he got a crash course in Cali Reynolds. They put the TV on in the background at first, but by day two, neither of them bothered, done pretending they were actually watching it.
“Wait, so you’re an artist?”
The way he said it, he might as well have said an alien, instead.
She shrugged.
�
��Never finished my degree, and I haven’t painted anything in three years, so, hardly.”
She was trying to sound indifferent, but it wasn’t working, given his expression.
“What medium?” he asked, ignoring everything she just said.
“Any, really. I never specialised. Although I love watercolours.”
The next day, of course, Amazon Prime was delivering water paint, sketching pads, and brushes that made her squeal like a crazy person. Everything she’d given up; Bruce had thrown her supplies to the trash in a fit, long ago.
She didn’t even think, throwing herself at Wren and hugging the shit out of him; it only got awkward when she felt all the muscles under his shirt, and wished she could run her hand through them softly, taking her time to explore them.
“Are you feeling me up?”
Dammit.
“If I was, pointing it out wouldn’t be very gentlemanly, now, would it?”
“You’re totally feeling me up.”
“Shut it, Richards.”
On Thursday, she stopped by the library in a hurry, to drop back a book and catch the next in the series.
“Hey,” Vee greeted her. “I haven’t seen you since Monday.”
Cali proudly lifted her phone, “I have one of those now; as I was done with my resume and cover letter, I can easily apply for jobs on there.”
“About that,” Vee said, “my friend Erin did get back to me; turns out, she has a job you might be interested in.”
Cali’s mouth opened, and stayed that way all the way through Vee explaining about the potential position. Vee’s friend was normally a headhunter for the whale companies of the world, but one of her friends was looking for an assistant.
“She’s a writer,” Vee explains, “And all she wants is someone who loves romance books, and can learn the ropes. Given the fact that you’ve borrowed about forty of these in five weeks,” she said, pointing to the book she was returning, “I said you’d probably be a good option.”
Cali could have kissed the woman, but as that might have ended up costing her the job, she refrained, just dancing like a crazy person instead.
She was all proud, and delighted when she got home, announcing, “I have an interview tomorrow.”
Then, she bored Wren to death about that Cassandra Franklin author who was after an assistant.
Wren
Wren acted like he was delighted for Cali all day, and most of the night, but it was pretty damn hard. Her having a job, and being so proud of it, wasn’t the problem, of course. He wanted her to have that. But at the same time, he knew what it meant. She was going to talk about leaving his place, and soon.
Wren ran the possible conversations in his mind, and decided to just broach the subject himself the next morning, instead of waiting for his doom.
Cali was wearing the silk beige blouse and pencil skirt they’d picked out as a perfect interview outfit, and she’d done something casual, yet fancy with her hair, dangling on the side.
“How’s that? Do I look efficient and all?” she asked, twirling, and he smiled at her.
“You look breathtaking.”
He stared at his coffee, replaying the variations of the conversation he’d ran through his mind the previous night – and he just decided to drop it, delaying it because if she said something he didn’t want to hear, it was going to ruin the rest of his break. Sunday. He’d ask Sunday.
Turned out, he didn’t have to.
After dropping her off in front of an elegant building, he distracted himself by going to the gym, and finally meeting Anna and Finn.
His college friends always amused him, because Wren, Trick, and just about anyone who knew them had a bet going, guessing how long it would be until they stopped arguing like an old couple, and just get it over with. They needed to fuck; then, Finn needed to get down on one knee, and they’d live happily ever after. They loved each other so damn much it was embarrassing to watch. The small touches, the secret smiles…
Today, though, Anna’s attention wasn’t entirely focused on Finn, for once. She was pissed at Wren, her eyes sending him daggers through most of the lunch.
“I was working, princess,” he told her, trying to break the ice. “You know I can’t use my phone most of the time, and when I get home, I just collapse.”
“Well, maybe you need another job; it’s not healthy!”
He didn’t tell her that, actually, he was thinking of it. Working at a private practice meant more money, more stability, better hours…
A while back, he would have scoffed at the very idea, but he saw the appeal now. Funny how having someone to come back to changed things.
“Hey, Finn also spends eighty hours a week at work,” he pointed out, deflecting like a pro.
The man lifted his arms up in surrender.
“Don’t you bring me into this. You’re the one who’s in deep shit, today.”
“Sincerely, though. I get that you’re driven to succeed – both of you. But that’s not a way to live, man. You haven’t even played video games at our house this year.”
Ours, because Anna and Finn still lived together, of course.
“Well, I don’t think Wren is killing himself working without any distraction, Annie-Bear,” Finn told her, caressing her forearm without even noticing how intimate his gesture was. “You see, he told me he’s living with a woman, now. And he said she’s cool.”
That got Anna’s attention; her eyes lit up and she popped her head forward, demanding, “Oh, nice one. Not sexy, not banging, not hot – cool, right? Tell us all about her!”
Wren shook his head, wishing his friends didn’t know him as well as they did; but he did as he was bidden, and started singing Cali’s praises.
He made it home just before her, and had the time to get dinner started – his pasta sauce was always complimented and he couldn’t help showing off around her. Things were slowly simmering when she made it home, smiling so bright he didn’t have to ask how her interview had gone.
“You got the job.”
“Yaaas!” she yelled, jumping up and down and throwing her hands in the air. “I was so lucky! We just talked about books for a while and then, Cassie told me that I seemed perfect; her main requirement isn’t experience, it’s willingness to learn her way. She wants to train me to help with her marketing and her day to day admin. But she said that her one problem was the lack of character reference. I panicked and said you or Lucy wouldn’t mind vouching for me,” she winced at the revelation, but Wren smiled to make it clear it has seemed like a good idea, to him. “Anyway, she couldn’t believe it, when I mentioned Lucy. Turns out, they’re friends! She gave her a quick call and hired me on spot. As I pretty much got the job before, I don’t mind that Lucy helped me secure it.”
Wren engulfed her in a tight hug, wishing he could get away with touching everything he felt under his torso, like she had the previous day.
Then, of course, she had to say it.
“Cassie will pay me at the end of the month, so I’ll be able to get my own place in January. You don’t mind if I pay you back for the clothes in instalments, right?”
There it was.
He stiffened, letting her tatter on and on about deposits, payment plans, and other such things until he just couldn’t take it anymore.
“Or,” he said, “You could stay here.”
He moved to turn the sauce which didn’t need turning yet, glad to have something else to do for a second.
“The rental rate is crazy in New York. Everyone has a roommate, nowadays. Stay. Save some cash.”
Seconds stretch, and as she said nothing, he had to turn around.
“You didn’t have a roommate before.”
“Well, that was rather stupid of me. I like having you here.”
He held her gaze, refusing to let it go.
“I’d have to pay rent.”
Prideful, stubborn woman. But he knew there was no way to argue against that one.
“Fine. Then
we’re hiring a cleaner.”
After a few seconds, Lucy was nodding, and extending her hand, smiling broad as she said, “Deal!”
Damn straight they had a deal. And if he played his card right, it would change sooner rather than later.
Wren
“Wren, can you take Camella to the gala on Thursday?” Arianna asked, passing him by in the corridor. Then without waiting for an answer – because his answer was always yes – she added, “Pick her up at seven.”
Wren glared at his boss, his jaw set; she must have sensed it, because she looked up from her notebook.
“What?” she asked, visibly confused, “You know she's very fond of you, and her father donates so much every year.”
Yeah right. The spoiled girl was fond of him and that was it; no one cared about him being pimped out for the sake of pleasing the investors.
Honestly, up until recently, he hadn’t cared either.
“I can't,” he said, firm and final.
Arianna Williams lifted an eyebrow, surprised. Sad as it was, it was probably the very first time that she heard those words coming from him; he'd never said no to her.
“You can’t?”
Wren shrugged; it wasn’t like it was in his job description; the woman couldn’t say anything about it. He didn’t even have to show his face at the gala, and he hadn’t intended to. In the past, he’d gone to that sort of thing because he quite simply didn’t have anything else to do; besides, Finn and Anna often went, too.
“Yep, I can’t. That girl is a nightmare; she touches things, for Christ’s sake,” he shivered at the memory of attempting to keep his junk away from her wandering hands. “My girlfriend might have a thing or two to say against it,” he announced smugly.
For a minute, Wren was quite proud of this one, and wondering why he hadn’t used that excuse ages ago; but Arianna made him realize he’d messed up in her next breath.
“A girlfriend, hm? Well, that’s new. Alright, I’ll deal with it. Looking forward to meeting the woman who managed to catch your eye on Thursday, then.”