The Sunday Arrangement

by Lucy Smith

  As though she could sense my brazen insecurities, she leaned closer into Pierce, her breast touching his arm. She whipped out a small notepad and scribbled down something he was saying. It was then that I recognized her—she was the woman I saw with him at the French restaurant the day before we flew out. Granted, that evening she hadn’t been wearing a pair of silver wire-rimmed glasses, but she looked just as lovely. I hated her for it. And I knew he was sleeping with her. Jealously raged through my veins.

  He smiled at us when we get closer. It wasn’t a true smile. It was a polite grin, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. I found myself wondering what a genuine smile on his face would look like and how I could make that happen on Sunday. He walked forward and held out his hand. “Mr. Hart, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope your flight out here was a good one?”

  Toby also gave a polite smile and briefly shook his hand. “Yes, it was, thank you.”

  “Lauren and Mr. Hart, this is my assistant, April. She flew in last night.” He glanced at her like she was an adorable puppy he couldn’t help but love. “I’m kind of lost without her, so I had to get her out here. The paperwork is really starting to pile up. And you know how I feel about e-mail . . .”

  I resisted the urge to gag. Paperwork had nothing to do with the gorgeous secretary’s sudden arrival in Vegas. Were our Sunday rendezvous not enough for him?

  April smiled coyly. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Her voice was sweet. She had a thick Southern drawl that was hard to ignore. It only added to her unique charms, which were becoming overwhelmingly annoying. It wasn’t like me to dislike someone so instantly, but she represented everything I was not: thin, beautiful, and at Pierce’s right arm. Green was certainly not my best color.

  I clenched my fists, trying not to picture the two of them screwing. It was nearly impossible, and I hated myself for even caring. It wasn’t like Pierce was committed to me in any way. As far as I was concerned, he could sleep with whomever he wanted. I only wished she wasn’t so outstandingly gorgeous. Maybe that would make it a bit easier to bear.

  Toby lifted his hands in the air “So, where do we start?”

  “April, give him the dimensions of the lot,” Pierce said.

  April tapped around on her tablet for a moment before she found the document she was looking for. She handed the tablet to my brother and glared at me as she did so. I looked to see if Pierce noticed her snarky stare. He didn’t seem to notice or care, and I could feel my irritation for the girl begin to fester within me. She had to go. Her disgust for me was as evident as her boob job, which made me feel a little better. Clearly, she saw me as somewhat of a threat.

  Toby quickly scanned the tablet screen. His free hand stroked the imaginary beard on his square chin. “Well, we have a lot of space to work with. That’s never a bad thing.” He looked up at Pierce. “What are your initial thoughts on how it should look?”

  “Lauren, do you want to go first?”

  “I’m leaving this part up to you. It took us three days and a hundred lots for you to find one you liked. I figure you have a specific vision in your head of what you want to do,” I said. “I’ve got my notes though. I’ll chime in if I need to.”

  Pierce got an excited look in his eye as he stared at me. “She’s right. I know exactly what I want us to do together.”

  My stomach flip-flopped as I saw the glimmer in his eyes. His insinuation wasn’t lost on me. He still wanted to be with me on Sunday, even if Miss New Boobs was suddenly in town.

  “Basically, Mr. Hart, I want—”

  “Please, call me Toby.”

  Pierce nodded. “I want something new, something fresh. I want a casino unlike anything Vegas has ever seen. I want artsy and eye-catching, something that’ll make people want to step inside and see what we have to offer.” Animated hand movements accentuated his words. In the few days I had been around him, I had never seen him so excited when talking. “We are not only going to have a gambling area, but a ballroom and spa area also. In one of the spa areas, we want a wall-sized aquarium that’s big enough to house large fish and mermaid actors—think new age and curvy and magnificent.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound hard at all,” Toby said. “I’m sure it will be real cheap, too.”

  Pierce didn’t seem pay attention to Toby’s sarcasm. “Your father actually told me you’re one of the best.”

  Toby smirked. “That’s funny. He never tells me that.”

  “If you’re the best,” Pierce said firmly, “my little designs will be like child’s play to you.”

  I saw my brother stiffen at the challenge in Pierce’s words. “I suppose so.”

  “All right then, let me share with you some of the specifics I’d like you to incorporate into your initial design. We’ll talk more about those back at the office.” He gestured toward the vast, open lot. “Take a walk with me. I’ll show you where I want things to go.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Toby and I went to a club that featured one of his favorite magicians, The Incredible Geronimo. The dinner theater was small, the stage simple. It was packed. People were crammed into small tables all across the dimly lit room.

  “The Incredible Geronimo will be performing here shortly,” the waiter said as he ushered us to our table. “Please have a look at the menu while you wait. Just raise the Top Hat here once you’re ready, and I’ll swing by to take your order.”

  “I wonder if he’s going to do a cannonball into a swimming pool,” I said after he left.

  “Yeah, that’d be a real splash,” Toby added with a laugh. “Obviously, he has to yell his name when doing it.”

  “Obviously! That’s kind of the point,” I said. As we settled into our quaint booth near the front of the stage, I glanced over the eclectic dinner menu. “I’m glad I made reservations. This place looks slammed. I guess he really is incredible after all, huh?”

  Toby grinned. “He really is. You’ll be amazed. Margret and I couldn’t figure out how he does any of his tricks, but especially his grand finale. It puzzled me for days until I finally gave up on ever understanding what he does.”

  “Well, I’m going to need some alcohol in me before we take notes on this guy’s main act.” My shoulders felt lighter. I was glad my brother was here to distract me for a while.

  Toby turned from the empty stage to look at me. “I’m surprised you’re not already drinking. That guy you’re working with, he’s a real piece of work.”

  “I didn’t think he was that bad today.”

  “He won’t settle for anything less than a new age Taj Mahal, Lauren. It’s simply not possible. He’s going to have to compromise on something. I mean, a floor-to-ceiling underwater aquarium?”

  “That’s actually really cool. We saw one at a club a few days ago.” I licked my lips, recalling the sexual story of the Little Mermaid and her erotic merman.

  “Still. The guy is a little too sure of himself and thinks this project is no-holds-barred.”

  I bit my lip and stared at the black-and-white tiled tabletop. “I’m sorry if he was mean.”

  “He’s not mean. He’s unrealistic and a bit condescending. But it’s not like I can’t handle it, Lauren. He isn’t the first douche bag I’ve worked on a project with.”

  “Oh, right. There’s always Dad.”

  Toby, once again, traced his fingers over his imaginary beard. “Pierce doesn’t hold a candle to Dad, and you know it.”

  “Well, I’m sorry for whatever he said to you in your meeting.”

  “Why are you apologizing for him?”

  I swallowed. Had I gone too far? Was Toby suspicious now? “I don’t know. It’s your first day working with us. He should have eased you into his grandiose plans better instead of raking you over the hot coals.”

  “Sis, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got thick skin. It’s you I worry about. I mean, how do you put up with that guy every day?”

  I think about having sex with him. What could I say? It
worked. “It’s not easy. The scary thing is I’m starting to get used to it. In a weird way, it’s inspiring. He wants this casino to be the best thing Vegas has ever seen, and I find myself buying into it and wanting the same.”

  Toby shook his head. “I honestly can’t figure out Dad’s motive behind this. We’re already one of the richest families in the country, and our issues with the tabloids aren’t that bad . . . or at least, they’re not anymore.”

  “For you, they aren’t. You chose to branch away from the family business and since there was no bad blood because of it, the muckrakers didn’t find you very interesting.” I fiddled with the fork on the table. “Pick up a gossip magazine the next time you go to the store. You’d be surprised what you’ll find. Journalists, and I use that term loosely, for some ridiculous reason care about the multi-millionaires in New York especially if they have a beef between them. The Mavericks and the Harts are perfect bait.”

  “I guess you’re right. I know Margret gets bombarded every once in a while when she’s out with the baby.”

  I shrugged. “It’s just part of our lifestyle now. That’s why I like to hole myself up.”

  “You’re a hermit tried and true.”

  “It’s part of the reason I haven’t dated in so long,” I said, really laying it on thick. “You remember what happened with the professor.”

  “How could I forget?”

  “All I’m saying is I understand, from a publicity standpoint, why Dad would think bringing our families together in a business venture would benefit the company. But that’s the only thing I remotely understand from this . . .”

  He raised his beer as though to salute me. “Whatever you say, baby sis.” He took a long pull from his Shiner Bock. “But about you not dating anyone . . . I think we need to fix that, huh? Mom’s been hounding me with questions about when I think you’ll settle down and give her more grandchildren.”

  I sipped on my mojito before answering. “That’s probably not going to happen anytime soon. I don’t plan on dating for a while, and I sure as hell haven’t met anyone I would want to spend the rest of my life with.” Only someone I wouldn’t mind banging for the rest of my existence . . .

  “What about the young and charming, Pierce Maverick? Not looking for arrogant and overbearing?” he jested.

  Even the mention of his name made my heart beat rapidly. Overbearing on the mattress, I could handle. Overbearing off the mattress? Not so much. Sunday was only two days away. “In his dreams maybe, but not in mine.” We laughed and went back to the show and nursing our drinks. It had been a long day.

  Chapter Nine

  The rest of the week passed in a blur of e-mails, calls, and plans with my brother. Pierce rarely left my mind, but thanks to Toby’s companionship, I was somehow able to muddle through the next two days. I was thankful for his presence—we had holed up in my penthouse condo to work after receiving lengthy instructions from Pierce. Feigning annoyance with the Maverick man, I pretended to gladly welcome a change of scenery from the cramped conference rooms Pierce kept renting out. It was partly true. Seeing April and Pierce working so closely together—her flirtatious giggles, his obvious attraction to her—made my stomach curl. Every moment, I wanted it to be Sunday.

  On Saturday afternoon, Toby flew back to New York to start building a 3D model of the casino, promising to return soon. The design would take him quite some time to finalize. I was sad to see him leave; I knew my concentration would suffer once again though I couldn’t deny the eagerness that coursed through my veins. I was ready to spend the day in bed with a man who, against all odds, I was insanely attracted to.

  When Sunday morning finally arrived, I awoke in a pool of sweat. My dreams had been twisted and dark. Pierce had been an unforgiving tyrant in the bedroom, merciless in his ravenous sexual appetite. In my dream, he brought whips, chains, and blindfolds to my bed—none of which I had ever used in sexual intimacy before. He was heartless in his use of erotic weapons against my sensitive body, including the weapon he girded between his legs. I struggled to match his intensity and was even a little scared of him.

  I hadn’t realized how anxious I was to discover the fantasy that Pierce had concocted. Eager, sure. But what if his fantasy was something that completely blindsided me, leaving me terrified and motionless as I had been in my dream? Taking deep breaths, I gathered the plush, white comforter and hurled it to the other side of the bed. Whatever it was, I needed to get up to discover what sexual exploits we would conquer today. Silently I prayed that the Maverick maniac would remain a figment of my imagination and that only the kind, sexually explorative Pierce from last week would be here today.

  The intercom in my apartment buzzed. I quickly walked across my living room and answered groggily. “Yes?”

  “Ms. Hart, this is the front desk. You have a package in the lobby. Is now a convenient time to have it delivered?” a woman’s voice said.

  I could feel heat rise in my chest, and I was thankful the woman couldn’t see me. Pierce hadn’t forgotten about me after all. April hadn’t completely thrown him off course with her big, obnoxious breasts and her gorgeous face. Against all odds, he still wanted me.

  “Yes, yes. Please come up as soon as possible,” I said hurriedly. Immediately I knew I sounded too eager, but I didn’t care. This lady wasn’t Pierce, and I didn’t need to put on any airs with her.

  “Of course, Ms. Hart. Right away.”

  My heart sped up as I waited to hear the ding of the elevator. I hurried to the bathroom to put on my black silk robe as I suspected it was against the apartment’s policy to greet employees naked. Finally, I heard the buzzer.

  “Hi there,” I said, opening the door.

  A young man stood there, clad in a blue bellboy outfit. I supposed the condo owners wanted their elite tenants to feel the luxury of hotel service. “You received a package this morning. Are you Lauren Hart?”

  “Last time I checked.”

  He gave me a nervous smile and fumbled as he handed over a long, rectangle-shaped box that was lavender in color with a thick dark blue ribbon tied around it. Under the ribbon was a note. I picked it up and read it.

  Ms. Hart,

  Wear this tonight.

  Pierce had left it unsigned. Good. I smiled. That didn’t sound too complicated.

  “Thank you for bringing this all the way up here.” The young boy’s face flushed crimson as he watched me put the card back. I had a feeling he’d stolen a look at the note; he seemed like the nosy type. As he walked back toward the elevator, he turned to look one last time over his shoulder. I smiled, and once again he blushed brightly. Yes, he’d read the note—I was certain of it.

  I wanted to tear the box open as soon as the bellboy left. Question marks pelted my mind: Had he bought me some dicey lingerie? Was it a costume? Would I even look good in it? I crossed the room and sat on the couch, opening the box like a child eager to unwrap a birthday surprise. Moving the elegant white tissue aside, I saw it. A French maid uniform. It was lacy and small, essentially a sexy bustier with a detachable thong and garter straps. It had gorgeous princess seams that were laced up with satin ribbon. It even had a tiny silk apron. The costume was the most elegant, erotic garment I had ever worn for a man. I glanced at the small tag; it was my size down to the cup. How had he figured that out?

  A small, black hat and a feather duster were also in the box. I bit my lip, imagining how the rest of the day would play out. A French maid was a bit cliché for a fantasy, but I didn’t mind. I was thankful he was easing me into this Sunday arrangement so gracefully. He wanted fantasy sex, and I was going to play the most sensual maid I could.

  “Bonjour Monsieur Maverick,” I whispered to myself. This was going to be fun.

  ~*~*~*~

  “Are you alone?” I paced my living room, talking into my blue tooth. “I don’t have a lot of time.”

  Kat hesitated before answering the question. “Yes, why? Wait . . . let me guess. You want to have hot, kinky le
sbian phone sex?”

  I laughed. “As tempting as that is, no. I have a secret that I need to share or I’ll explode. You have to promise not to utter a word about it to anyone.”

  She sighed. “We’ve always kept each other’s secrets. I’m not going to start sharing them now.”

  “I know. I know.” I took a deep breath.

  “What are you doing with Pierce now?” she asked before I had a chance to tell her.

  “God, am I that obvious?”

  “You sound nervous. I just assumed—that’s all.”

  I swallowed. “I guess I am a little nervous about sleeping with him again.”

  “Sleeping as in sleeping with him in the same bed?”

  “I hope you’re joking.”

  “Kind of. Do y’all canoodle after you’ve done the deed? Or are you all business?” she asked.

  I sprawled out on my bed, no longer caring if my curls held up. Pierce was sure to mess them up soon. “You act like this has happened a lot.”

  “So just the one time, huh? That was a whole week ago.”

  “I know. I know,” I said again. “We actually have this arrangement. . . . You see, we’re going to play out a fantasy every Sunday.”

  Kat whistled a low cat call. “Damn, Lo. That sounds ridiculously fun. I’m jealous he gets to do that with you.”

  I fiddled with the lace of the bustier. Ever since I’d known her, Kat had joked about hooking up with me. She had also meant it in good, clean fun, I know, but part of me always wondered if there was a little bit of truth in her subtle jests. Maybe she really did want to sleep with me. Maybe she really was jealous of Pierce.

  “So are you going to tell me what you two are doing tonight, or do I have to guess?” she prompted.

  I walked to the bathroom and looked at myself for the millionth time in the mirror. Even I had to admit, the French maid costume was incredibly sexy. I grabbed my breast with my free hand and willed it to appear fuller and perkier. “This time is his turn. He has me dressing up as a French maid. Not sure why he chose a maid, but this is quite the contraption. Took me ten minutes to put on these goddamn garter straps.”