Rebel: Wolfes of Manhattan One

by HELEN HARDT

  “I see.”

  Riley had seemed a little off when she and I had dinner. She’d definitely wanted to talk to me about something, but then she’d reneged.

  “Did she ever mention anyone who lives out of town? Anyone she might be visiting?”

  “We aren’t really that close, Lacey. We’ve done a few runway shows together, but that’s the extent of my relationship with her.”

  “All right. Thank you, Fox.”

  “I am really glad you called, though. I enjoyed meeting you and would love to see you again for a drink. This time just the two of us?”

  When it rained, it poured. I seemed to be a magnet for pretty boys—as Rock would call them—lately.

  How to let him down gently…

  “I’m flattered. Really. But I think I’m a little old for you, Fox.”

  “Age is only a number.”

  “Really? How old are you, then?”

  “Twenty-one.”

  God. Even younger than I’d imagined. “I’m thirty-one. That’s a decade.”

  “Yeah, thanks. I can do the math, Lacey.”

  “The math says no dice. I’m sorry. You’re a really nice guy. You certainly shouldn’t be lacking attention from women.”

  “Most of them are too young,” he said, laughing.

  “The right one will come along. In the meantime, you’re twenty-one. Have fun. You deserve it. Enjoy the money you’re making.”

  “Oh, I get it. You’re looking for a relationship.”

  I wasn’t really, but if that would send him packing… “Right. And you’re way too young to be settling down.”

  “I guess you’re right about that. Oh!”

  “What?”

  “I’m so stupid. You’re dating Riley’s brother, aren’t you? He sure wanted to take care of you the other night.”

  “Actually, no. We’re not dating.” Just fucking.

  “That’s good. No offense, but he seemed like kind of a dick.”

  Yeah, he didn’t do a great job of hiding that. “He has his moments,” was all I said.

  “I’m sorry you’re not up for some fun,” Fox said, “but I respect your decision. Maybe we’ll see each other around.”

  “Maybe.” Though I doubted it. “Thanks for the information, Fox. Have a great day.”

  “You too. Bye.”

  That hadn’t yielded much information at all. Did Rock know his sister was missing? He hadn’t mentioned her last night. Was it even my place to tell him?

  I bit my lip. He’d been a complete shithead last night but then had given me incredible pleasure, and he was taking me to dinner tonight.

  Still, he’d made it damned clear that he didn’t want a relationship. Were we friends? Not really. I didn’t know any more about him than I did when I first met him. We weren’t in a relationship, and we weren’t even friends. What the hell were we?

  Fuck buddies?

  I’d never had a fuck buddy before.

  Rock Wolfe was a terrific fuck buddy, if that was what I was looking for.

  I’d told Fox I was looking for a relationship, and I thought I’d been lying. Was I? Maybe I did want a relationship. I loved the idea of children, and I was thirty-one already. The biological clock was ticking away, almost like a time bomb.

  If I wanted a relationship, I couldn’t be with Rock Wolfe. He’d made that clear. Anything with him would be a waste of time. A fun waste of time, but a waste nonetheless.

  In fact, it might be best to call off dinner tonight. Should I tell him Riley seemed to be missing?

  No. Best to stay out of family business. I cared about Riley. I cared about all of them, but I couldn’t get in any deeper. Rock would find out soon enough.

  I grabbed my cell and then realized I didn’t know his number. We’d never talked on the phone. No matter. It would be in the Wolfe file, which was sitting on the corner of my desk. I located the number quickly and called.

  “Rock Wolfe,” said his deep husky voice.

  Already my skin tingled.

  “Hi, Rock, this is Lacey.”

  “Hey, sweetheart.”

  “I’m going to have to cancel our dinner plans this evening.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  Exactly why I was canceling. He was a dick, as Fox had said.

  “Yeah, I am, actually.”

  “Nope. I’m picking you up. See you at your place.”

  “Rock, you need to listen to me.”

  Nothing.

  “Rock?”

  Had he really just ended the call?

  Fine then. I wouldn’t be home when he picked me up.

  35

  Rock

  Lacey Ward was feisty, I’d give her that. But she and I were having dinner tonight. I’d show her how a man should truly treat a lady of her caliber. After her split check with pretty boy yogini, she’d be impressed.

  Impressed? I laughed aloud. Why was I so intent on impressing Lacey Ward? I’d never worried about impressing a woman before now. Especially not the one who was currently hogging my bathroom. Nieves had gone in nearly an hour ago to shower. Did she not realize I had a company to run?

  A brick hit my head. How could I have been so obtuse? Of course. That was why she was here. She’d heard I’d inherited a billion dollar company, and she wanted to get back in my good graces.

  I’d felt something for her once, but if she wanted me back, she’d have come by before now. Nieves was all about Nieves, which was a big part of why I’d ended things.

  I pounded on the bathroom door. “Time’s up. I’ve got things to do today, all of which require me to be showered.”

  The door opened, and there she stood, buck naked, the mermaid tattoo snaking around her midriff as it always had. I didn’t like that one near as well as the one on her shoulder.

  “Come on in,” she said. “Nothing stopping you.”

  “For God’s sake.” I yanked a towel off the brass rack. “Cover yourself.”

  “You never minded looking at me.”

  “I mind now. I booked you your own room for the next two nights. That will give you time to make plans to go home.”

  “I’m not going home.”

  “The hell you’re not.”

  “I’ve decided to move here, Rock. I want us to try again.” She sauntered toward me, wiggling her hips. “Haven’t you missed me at all?”

  “We ended things over a year ago. I’m over it.”

  “I’m not.” She grazed her hand over my bare chest.

  Again, nothing from my cock. Just a look from Lacey got me hard.

  I wrapped the towel around her and led her out the door. “Get dressed. I need to wash.”

  I locked the door. Knowing Nieves, she’d try to hijack my shower.

  “Carla,” I said, walking into the office. “Get my mother on the phone.”

  “Actually, she’s in your office, Mr. Wolfe.”

  Of course she was. “From now on, she can wait out here unless she has an appointment, which she doesn’t.”

  “Yes, Mr. Wolfe. I’m sorry.”

  “No reason to be. Now you know the procedure.” I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. “Hello, Mother.”

  “Rock, good morning.”

  “I have good news for you.”

  “I figured you would.” She smiled.

  My mother had been beautiful once. Dark hair and blue eyes, high cheekbones and classic beauty.

  Now she looked plastic. Bleached blond and plastic.

  “I’ve decided to give you the allowance you requested. I’m not exactly sure where all the money is at the moment, but I’ll get it taken care of as soon as possible.”

  And it would stop as soon as my father’s murder was solved, but I didn’t add that little tidbit.

  “I knew you’d see reason, darling.” She stood and patted my cheek.

  Her touch burned. Not in a good way.

  “Now get out of my office.”

  “I’ll need some cash to tid
e me over. You know, to get back on my feet?”

  “You were never off your feet, Connie. Dad has only been dead a little over a week.”

  “Whatever you have in your wallet should be fine.” She smiled.

  “I’ve got nothing.” True words.

  “Goodness. I guess I could go down the hall and see Reid, then. I just hope I don’t talk too much.”

  “Don’t threaten me. I know what you’re up to. I’ve got no cash on me, so you’ll have to make do. It’s not my fault you managed your millions so poorly.”

  “I didn’t get near what I earned, putting up with your father all those years.”

  “Cry me a river. Now if you’ll excuse me. I’ve got work to do.”

  She exited with a huff.

  The day was rough. Meetings and more meetings, and I didn’t understand anything Reid and the others talked about. This wasn’t going to be easy. But I’d do it. I’d cursed my father more than once today for putting me in this position. I could bail. But screwing over my siblings like that?

  No, couldn’t do it.

  “You thought I’d bail, didn’t you?” I said out loud to my dead father. “That way you could fuck all four of us over.”

  I’d decided long ago never to have children. I sure didn’t want to be a father like my own old man. He’d had no love for any of us, and this final straw from the grave was proof of that.

  I’d show him. I wouldn’t bail on my brothers and sister. We’d all have what was rightfully ours.

  I walked out of the elevator and toward Lacey’s door, an adolescent spring in my step. I was looking forward to this. To being with her. Yeah, we’d fuck later, but I was actually looking forward to spending time with her.

  Damn.

  And I’d told her we didn’t have a relationship. I didn’t think I wanted one. Could I have been wrong?

  I slid down the wall right by her door into a sit.

  Damn.

  Damn. Damn. Damn.

  She was right behind that door, waiting.

  The elevator door dinged, and she stepped out.

  She wasn’t behind the door waiting. My heart quickened just seeing her.

  “Rock, what are you doing here?”

  “I came to pick you up for dinner.”

  “You’re late. And I already told you I’m not going.”

  “I said eight o’clock.”

  “Your note said seven, genius.”

  “Shit. Well, you’re here and I’m here, and our reservation is for eight thirty. Let’s go. I’ve got a cab waiting.”

  “Uh…no. I canceled, remember?”

  “You’re obviously not busy.” I took the grocery bags from her.

  “I am, actually.”

  “Yeah? Doing what?”

  “None of your business.”

  I peeked into one of her bags. “Microwave popcorn. I see. You’re busy watching TV tonight.”

  She gripped the handle of the other bag with white knuckles. “You’re such an ass!”

  “Doing what I do best, baby.” I grinned.

  “Go home, Rock.”

  “I no longer have a home.”

  “You have a luxury hotel suite. Go there.”

  “Come on. Let’s go to dinner. You look great.”

  “I’m in my work clothes.”

  “So? You still look great. Here, let me.” I took the key from her hand and opened the door, went in, and set the groceries in the kitchen. “Any of this perishable?”

  “Just the milk.”

  I located the quart of milk and put it in Lacey’s refrigerator. “All done then. Let’s go.”

  “You do speak English, right? You understand what ‘no’ means?”

  I split my face with a grin. “I do. It means ‘let’s go.’”

  She shook her head, but her lips were curving upward. She was trying to stop it, but she was melting.

  “Come on. I’m going to show you how a real man treats a lady for dinner.”

  36

  Lacey

  I went.

  I couldn’t explain why, but I went.

  Fact was, I wanted to be with Rock. I was in for heartache, I knew, but I couldn’t help myself.

  “Reservations for two. Wolfe,” Rock told the maître d’.

  “You two?” The man darted his gaze to me.

  “Yeah.”

  “But your date has already arrived, sir.”

  I lifted my brow.

  “My date is right here beside me,” Rock said.

  “She arrived ten minutes ago. Black hair, gorgeous?”

  “For God’s sake.”

  “This is my cue to leave,” I said.

  “No. You’re not leaving. She is.” Rock walked into the restaurant.

  Five minutes later he walked back out. “She’s not my date, but she’s refusing to leave without making a scene. Do you have another table for the two of us? I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Wolfe. We’re booked solid.”

  Rock went rigid. “Let me tell you something. This is the last time my family comes to this place. You screwed up. She’s not my date.”

  I tugged on his arm. “Then how did she know you’d be here?”

  “She saw it on my calendar, apparently.”

  “And how did some strange woman have access to your calendar?”

  He sighed. “It’s a long story.”

  “Apparently we’re not going to have dinner, so start talking. Seems we’ve got all evening.”

  “No. Fucking no. Set another place at the table,” he said. “My date and I are going to eat. Then, call the police and have Ms. Romero escorted out.”

  “That would cause a scene,” the maître d’ said.

  “Do I look like I care?” he asked, seething. “She will leave. She can’t afford to eat here.”

  “Who is this woman, Rock?”

  “A blast from the past,” he said. “One I really don’t want to deal with.”

  “I think you’re going to have to deal with her.”

  “Unfortunately, you’re right, but trust me. This won’t take long.” He headed into the restaurant.

  Should I follow? I had no idea. In the end, though, my curiosity won. I wanted a look at this “blast from the past.”

  “Ma’am,” the maître d’ said, “was he serious when he asked me to call the police?”

  “I’ve never known him not to be serious. And he will boycott this place, I assure you. He and his entire family. I’d do what he asks.”

  The man nodded. “Very well, then.”

  I headed into the restaurant.

  Rock stood at the edge of a table secluded in a corner. A very private table. I smiled. He’d arranged this for us, and at the moment, another woman was in my seat.

  Not for long.

  The woman was indeed beautiful. Fair skin, dark hair, and an emerald sequined dress with a plunging neckline. Bigger breasts than I ever hoped to have, and a biker tat on her shoulder.

  It worked for her.

  I was still in my work clothes, and God himself only knew what my hair looked like.

  This woman was everything I wasn’t at the moment.

  “The police are on their way, Nieves,” Rock was saying. “You can either leave now or be escorted out.”

  The woman simply shrugged and then lifted her brow when she met my gaze. “Is this your lovely date?”

  “She is. Have a seat, Lacey.”

  What the hell? “Thank you,” I said sweetly, and sat down across from the woman he’d called Nieves.

  The other woman smiled, her dark pink lips framing perfectly straight, white teeth. “Nieves Romero. Nice to meet you.”

  She actually sounded sincere.

  “Ms. Romero is just leaving,” Rock said.

  “Why?” I asked. “Why don’t the three of us have dinner?”

  Rock sent me a dark glare.

  I simply smiled. I’d called him to cancel, but he hadn’t taken me seriously. The
n I’d come along anyway like a lapdog. So why not throw him for a loop now? I found the idea oddly exciting, plus this woman offered me a glimpse into Rock’s past—something he hadn’t been overly forthcoming about.

  “That’s not what I had in mind tonight,” Rock said gruffly. “Besides, the cops have already been called.”

  “You can take care of that,” I said.

  “Sure you can,” Nieves agreed. “Call off the dogs.”

  The maître d’ approached the table and addressed Nieves. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I made a mistake. This table is reserved for Mr. Wolfe and his guest. You erroneously told me you were his guest. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  “I’ll be joining Mr. Wolfe and his guest,” she said.

  “No, she won’t be,” Rock insisted.

  “I’ve had to summon the police at Mr. Wolfe’s insistence,” the man continued. “If you’d like to leave now, we can avoid you being escorted out.”

  Rock glared at her.

  He was serious.

  Bummer. I was hoping to get some information about Rock.

  “Fine.” Nieves stood with a huff. “I’ll be in touch, Rock.”

  “Please, don’t be.” He thanked the maître d’ and then sat down in the vacated seat. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “So tell me,” I said. “Who exactly is she?”

  “I told you. A blast from the past.”

  “I’m looking for a little more detail here, Rock.”

  He sighed. “We dated, okay? I’m sure you already figured that out.”

  “Yeah. I guess I’m looking for more specific information. I mean, she must have meant a lot to you if she thinks she can hijack your dinner plans.”

  “It meant more to her,” he said. “When things got serious, I ended it. This all happened almost a year ago. I haven’t heard from her since, until she showed up in my room last night.”

  “She was in your room last night?”

  “Yeah. She got someone to let her in. I had the night manager fired this morning.”

  “Hmm. Normally I wouldn’t condone getting someone fired, but he shouldn’t have let her in your room.”