by Opal Carew
“Then just stay here.” Gaines crossed his arms over his wide chest. “No argument necessary.”
I pulled my bra on. “I don’t work that way. You can’t just boss me around like one of your VPs.”
Gaines narrowed his eyes. “I’ve noticed that, and I don’t like it.”
I smirked. “If you want me to stick around, you’re just going to have to get used to it.” I slid my shirt over my head.
“You sure we can’t convince you to stay?” Cade stared up at me, his amber eyes sultry in the low light.
I waffled internally, then reminded myself that I needed to set some boundaries. “I’m sure.”
“Let us walk you out.” Cade strode into the closet, and Gaines followed.
They came out wearing jeans and T-shirts, looking sexy as hell. Why am I leaving?
I shook myself inwardly. Leaving was the smart move.
“We’re going on a three-day business trip tomorrow, leaving in the morning.” Gaines led me to the elevator. “We’ll be back Sunday night. Can we see you then?”
My heart sank that I wouldn’t be able to see them for a few days. But maybe it was a good thing. Time would help me clear my head. “Sure, Sunday sounds good. Where are you going?”
“Rio. We’re looking into opening a new operation down there.” Gaines called the elevator.
Cade sent a text and then slid his phone into his pocket. “Ben will be waiting downstairs.”
They followed me into the elevator.
We rode down, one on either side of me, our arms touching. Despite the amazing sex and my ensuing sleepiness, there was still a charge between us. I couldn’t deny it.
At the ground floor, Gaines glanced around. The coast was clear; only the doorman remained in the lobby area.
They walked me to the front door.
Cade glanced through the glass. “Ben’s here.”
“Well, I guess this is goodbye.” I dropped my gaze.
“For now.” Cade pulled me into his arms. “Just for now.”
I looked up at him and he kissed me, slow and gentle.
“See you when we get back.” He dropped another kiss on my nose.
Gaines took me next, crushing me to him and planting a kiss on me that left my knees wobbly. “Don’t forget us while we’re out of the country.”
Not a chance. “I won’t.” I smiled and stepped away from them before I changed my mind about staying. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
Cade nodded. “We’ll call as soon as we touch down. Dinner at the Vargas.”
“Wow.” The Vargas was the hottest ticket in Manhattan. High-end and fabulous, I could only dream about visiting. “That’s, um, thanks. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Good.” Gaines popped my ass. “Now get out of here before we drag you back to our lair.”
I winced at the ache between my thighs and blushed as the doorman winked. I hustled past him and out into the waiting car. My heart twinged with regret as soon as the plate glass doors separated me from the guys. I reminded myself this was for the best. Staying the night would only complicate things more. I steeled my spine and directed Ben to take me back to my apartment. With a small wave, I said goodbye to Gaines and Cade.
Chapter Seven
“They didn’t give you their credit card like in Pretty Woman?” Brynn frowned at the price tag on the emerald green dress I’d just tried on.
“No. I’m not a hooker with a heart of gold. I can buy my own things.” I’d actually taken Saturday morning off to shop for something special. I wanted to wow the guys when they got back from their trip. Bringing Brynn with me to help had seemed like a good idea at first, but considering all she did was sit in my dressing room, play on her phone, and shoot down all my choices, I was beginning to reconsider.
This was my first Saturday off in over a year. Though I wouldn’t have gotten much work done anyway. I’d spent all of Friday morning thinking about Cade and Gaines and ducking Mr. Tarver. But when an enormous arrangement of roses and tulips arrived at the office, I became the center of attention. I’d never seen so many flowers in one vase before, and the arrangement barely fit through my door. It took up a quarter of my tiny office, and I’d kept my door shut for the rest of the day. There was no note, but I knew who they were from.
“This one’s hot.” Brynn held up a red dress with a plunging neckline. “It’ll show off your epic rack.”
I studied the dress, then stripped off the blue one I had on and handed it to her. “Hang on to that one. I think it’s a frontrunner.”
She shook her head and tossed it in the “no” pile. “No cleavage. I don’t like it.”
I rolled my eyes and shimmied the red dress over my head. It had a stretchy sort of material that hugged my curves. Once I got it situated, I gawked at how low the front dropped.
“Take off the bra.” Brynn glanced at my bra straps then went back to texting. “It’ll look hot. Trust me.”
I unhooked my bra and slipped it off. Once free of it, I turned and checked myself out. The red looked good on my fair skin, though I felt more than a little exposed from the deep V between my breasts.
“Stunning. Buy that one.”
“You haven’t even looked.” I tended to agree with her assessment, though.
She paused her thumbs and gave me a full up and down look. “You are sex on a stick in that dress. It’s perfect. Promise. Get it, and your wildest sexual fantasies will come true.” She snorted. “Again.”
I blushed and swept my hair off my shoulders. “Maybe I should do it up?”
“Nah.” She shook her head. “Men love long hair. More to grab onto.” She cocked her head to the side. “Hey, do you know if they have any rich friends? I’m in the market for a boyfriend who sends flowers and takes me to fancy restaurants.”
I arched a brow at her. Brynn was the epitome of a free spirit—brightly colored hair, visible tattoos and piercings, and an unabashed lust for life. I envied her sometimes. I was too caught up in trying to be the model associate to ever do anything with flair.
“I don’t know, but I’ll be sure to ask if they know of anyone who can handle you.”
She grinned. “Make sure he has strong hands and is into playing Pokemon Go. Everything else is negotiable.”
“Can do.” I inspected the dress one final time, wondering if the hemline was too short.
“It’s perfect. Stop second-guessing.” She clapped once, then rubbed her palms together. “Take it off. Let’s buy it and go. I’m starving.”
We spent a quick half hour grabbing lunch before heading back to our apartment. When the elevator opened on our floor, we found a delivery man leaning against the wall next to our door.
“Um, hey.” Brynn sauntered up as I eyed the two large boxes on the dolly next to him.
“Leah Waverly?” The young man shoved off from the wall and picked up a digital signature pad.
“That’s me.”
“Sign here for me.” He handed me the stylus.
Brynn drummed her fingers on the top box. “How long have you been waiting?”
“About two hours.”
She whistled. “Paid extra for that?”
“Yeah, the instructions said to make sure you were home before I delivered.” He smiled, his boyish good looks showing through.
“Lucky us.” Brynn was on the prowl.
I signed and unlocked the door as she chatted up the delivery guy. He wheeled the boxes into our apartment then ducked out into the hallway, Brynn on his heels.
I rummaged through the kitchen drawers until I found a pair of scissors. I made quick work of the first box. When I opened it, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. Then my mouth dropped open. A mix of smaller boxes and bags were arranged inside, all of them with luxury emblems.
I pulled the first package out. It was a shoebox. I opened it with shaking hands. A pair of Gucci heels, black with a spiky heel. They were familiar.
“This isn’t possible.” I dug out another item.
I ran my hands along the dust bag covering it, then opened it. A leather Dolce & Gabbana bag, also familiar. “Oh my god.”
Brynn walked in. “Do you like apples?”
“Huh?” I pulled out another shoe box.
“I got his number. How do you like them apples?” she said in her best Southie accent.
“Whoa, what’s all this?” She sat beside me on our couch. Grabbing the Dolce bag, she inhaled the leather smell and stared at it. “Holy shit. This is real, isn’t it? This looks like—”
“Like the one I put on my wish list at CoutureCloset.com.” I ran my hand across my face, disbelief still spinning in my mind.
Brynn and I had gotten bored about six months ago and gone on a wish list frenzy after watching an episode of her favorite fashion TV show, Look Expensive. We added anything and everything that struck our fancy—designer shoes, bags, accessories, clothes.
“It’s like Christmas!” Brynn dug into the box and pulled out a package. She ripped it open. Tissue paper flew everywhere. She found a coral top and squeaked as she held it up to her to see if it would fit. Then she snagged another shoebox and revealed a pair of patent pumps with red soles.
“I can’t accept all this.” I stared at the large, unopened second box.
“I can.” She bent over and reached into the box, retrieving an armful of items and sitting on the couch with them, a gleeful giggle bubbling up from her throat.
I leaned back as Brynn went on an opening spree. My heart raced, and I wasn’t sure if it was from exhilaration or sheer shock. Why did they send all this, how did they get it done while they were out of the country, and for that matter, how on earth did they get access to my wish list?
“Don’t look a gift Gucci in the mouth.” Brynn grabbed the scissors and sliced the other box open. “Look, there’s a note.”
I sat straight up and reached for it. “Gimme.”
“Here.” She handed it to me and squealed as she grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag.
My hands shook as I slid my finger across the envelope’s seal.
Leah,
We worried you might forget about us while we were gone, so here are a few things to remind you of us. We apologize for raiding your CoutureCloset.com account, but we own a share in that enterprise, so it was a lawful use of business information. Legit. We may have added a few items, as well, that we thought you’d enjoy. Please accept these gifts (yes, we already know you feel conflicted about them; don’t). We want you to have them and look forward to seeing you Sunday.
All our best,
Cade & Gaines
“Huh. Nice. Since when did you wear lingerie?” Brynn held up a black garter belt and a pair of black thigh-highs. “Oh, and”—she pulled another item from the box—“crotchless panties?” She waggled her eyebrows.
I snatched the lacy garments from her. “I didn’t pick those.”
“Even better.” She grinned.
“I can’t believe they sent all this.”
“I can.” She kicked her shoes off and started trying on all the new pairs. Her feet were two sizes too big. It didn’t stop her from jamming her feet into a pair of strappy sandals. “They’re billionaires. They made the money to buy all this in the blink of an eye.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
“Let them spoil you.” She held her foot out, her toes already turning a bright red as the straps cut off her blood flow. “These fit me perfectly.”
“If you want to be an amputee, then yeah.” I dropped my head in my hands. “I’m in such strange territory. I can’t let them run my life, you know?”
“This isn’t running your life. This is giving you nice things.”
“I know, but I told you how they acted about my job. I can’t start depending on them. Just because they have tons of money, amazing looks, business smarts, street smarts . . . did I mention perfect bodies?”
“Look.” She squeezed my knee. “Let them buy you things and just see where it goes. You’re so busy worrying that you’re missing the fun stuff.” She tossed me an unopened shoe box.
I slid the lid off and found a pair of heeled sandals with a rhinestone ankle strap. The retail price on them was almost a month of my rent.
“I just need them to know that they can’t tell me what to do.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She gave her toes a break and slid the shoe off. “They wanted you to quit a job you hate. That’s not controlling. That’s common sense.”
“But don’t you think it’s weird for all three of us to have this sort of connection, especially since we only just met?”
“Weird? I think it’s amazing.” She sank into the couch, the tissue paper crinkling around her. “Stop being so skeptical and enjoy it.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I am.” She grabbed another leather bag and inhaled deeply. “Nothing smells better than leather. Nothing.”
I laughed. Brynn wasn’t exactly level-headed, but she’d given me some good advice over the years. Maybe she was right this time, too.
Chapter Eight
I fidgeted with my dress, trying to pull the hem down, as Ben navigated through the dark streets. Problem was, whenever I yanked the hem down, the neckline plunged even deeper. There was only so much fabric to go around.
“Nervous?” Ben asked.
I stopped squirming. “I don’t know.”
“Seems like it.” He smiled and took a left.
“Can I ask you something?”
He shrugged. “Sure.”
“Have there been others?”
“Others?” He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “What do you mean?”
I tangled my fingers together, awkwardness shooting through me. “I mean, do they do this a lot? You know, with different women?”
“Oh, others.” He nodded. “I see.”
“Yeah.”
“They have dated quite a few women, yes. I imagine you already knew that.”
“Yes, but have they done the same things.” I waved my hand around at the car. “Like have they done all this?”
“Hmm.” He scratched his nose. “Let me put it like this. They’ve dated women, taken more than a few home. But I’ve never seen them act the way they have with you.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Let’s see. The lunch with you the other day was the first time in years that they’ve actually had an enjoyable meal without talking business. They work around the clock. But, for you, they took time and just enjoyed your company. That was a first.”
“Wow.” I hadn’t realized how much they must have put into keeping their business ventures running smoothly.
“And the gifts—yeah, I know about those—that’s new.” He took a right, the lights of uptown glowing brightly outside the windows.
“They haven’t bought things for women before?”
“Small things here and there, sure. Nothing like that, though.”
My palms started to sweat as I pondered all the effort they’d put into wooing me. Maybe they were more serious than I wanted to admit.
“Look, you want my advice?” He pulled up in front of the restaurant.
“Yes.” I locked eyes with him in the rearview mirror.
“These men, women are always throwing themselves at them. Plenty of ladies see them as an opportunity. Sometimes the guys have fun with those kinds of women and then send them on their way. You’re different. They want a connection with you. Not one night. You follow?”
I nodded and swallowed hard. “I’m just scared. They’re so . . . so overwhelming, you know?”
“I’m aware.” He grinned. “When they see something they want, they don’t stop until they get it. That’s how fortunes are made. But for you, keep in mind that you can set your limits. You have backbone. They wouldn’t have chosen you otherwise. Use it.”
“Okay.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “I will.”
“Good.” He opened his door and walked around to help me out. “J
ust be you, and things will be fine.”
“Thanks, Ben.” I stood and smoothed my dress.
“If it helps, you look like a billion bucks in that dress.” He winked and led me to the front door of Vargas. “Have a good time.” He opened the door for me, and I walked into the hottest restaurant in the city.
Fashionable men and women milled around a central bar. The restaurant beyond was well lit with a series of lights above made to resemble a swath of the Milky Way. Some lights twinkled lazily while others remained strong and bright.
I hurried to the maître d’ station, my heels clicking on the tile floor.
“Yes?” A rail-thin woman with bright pink hair piled on her head greeted me with a glare.
“I’m here with Mr. Everett and Mr. Robins—”
Her frown turned upside down almost immediately. “Right this way.”
She hustled in front of me, slipping easily between the diners and tables. I followed, staying conscious of my footfalls lest I slip in the new shoes I was wearing. Anticipation heated my veins. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed them until that moment.
We reached the back of the restaurant, skirted along the open kitchen—the smells of savory meats and spices making my stomach rumble—and arrived at a small alcove where Gaines and Cade sat in deep conversation.
“Here you are.” The pink-haired woman turned on her heel and returned to the front of the restaurant.
Gaines saw me first. A wide grin spread across his handsome face as he stood. Cade matched him with a warm smile and got to his feet.
“Wow.” Cade let his gaze travel down my body. “You look amazing.”
“That dress.” Gaines shook his head, his eyes growing wider as he surveyed me. Then he smirked. “Nice shoes.”
“Thanks.” I stepped closer. “Some very nice guys bought them for me.”
“Nice guys, huh?” Cade wrapped his arm around my waist. “You’re fired.” He nuzzled my ear, his warm breath sending a tingle shooting through me. My nipples hardened.
Gaines seemed to notice, his gaze going to my chest. He adjusted himself in his pants and cleared his throat. “Let’s sit before things get out of hand.”