When Colby, the one responsible for starting this charity foundation, walked towards me, I smiled. Without sounding condescending, I was proud of him in this impressive endeavor to use his family’s business to start a cancer foundation for children.
“Nice to see you, Catherine. And thank you for offering up the fashion show.” Colby gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s my pleasure, and I’ve got quite the lineup.” So far, I had obtained fantastic models, including Will. Also Bart Chesley, one of the best photographers in the business, had volunteered his services. I hoped to feature the entire charity show in my magazine.
“Ah, speaking of which, nice to see you, Will,” Colby greeted over my shoulder.
“You too, Colby. Hiya Catherine.”
I had to take a moment before turning because my need for him took my breath. After rotating around slowly, I did a slow perusal of the man. He looked amazing dressed in dark slacks and a cobalt blue dress shirt.
“Hi, Will. How was your trip up?” He was here at least two hours early and I wondered why.
“Good, thanks.”
We both stood there for a moment, eyes locked, until I realized something was off with him. I wasn’t sure what, but now, unfortunately, wasn’t the time to ask. As if serving to remind me of that, Kenzie’s voice broke through, and we were both swept up with other people.
I mingled at the party for the next thirty minutes, wishing I could get Will alone to ask why he was here so soon. I became distracted from these thoughts when Haylee crossed the room with a handsome gentleman by her side that I didn’t recognize him.
“Catherine, I’d like to you to meet Doctor Trevor Patterson. Dr. Patterson is one of the oncologists that the charity is working with at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.”
He smiled warmly before taking my hand. “Pleasure, and please call me Trevor.” The good doctor was handsome, with salt-and-pepper hair and nice brown eyes.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
We made small talk, and I noticed Haylee give me a wink behind him before walking off. That’s when it dawned on me that this had been a setup. A few months ago, I would’ve been thrilled, but now I feigned naiveté when Trevor, who was new to the area, hinted at needing someone to show him around the city. How was that for irony? For once I wasn’t clueless when it came to getting the cues.
Excusing myself when my eye caught Will heading downstairs, I hurried to catch up with him.
“Hey,” I said from behind him, slightly breathless.
“Heya,” he replied and waited for me.
“You’re here earlier than I’d expected.”
He grabbed the back of his neck in a nervous habit I’d never seen from him. “Yeah. Unfortunately, my appointments cancelled. You look incredible, by the way.”
Stress was apparent in his features, but maybe it was because he wouldn’t get paid for his no-show clients. Attempting to change the subject to something more pleasant, I moved closer and placed a hand on his chest. “I maybe wore the red for you.”
“Mm, it is my favorite color on you, although I’m also a fan of blue, which brings out your eyes—or nothing at all,” he murmured.
“Come on, I have an idea.” I walked by him and crooked a finger, loving the unfiltered look of hunger that came over him.
He followed close behind, and we went into Josh and Haylee’s condo. This was essentially four apartments remodeled to be their living space. I led him to the bathroom furthest away from the front door and flipped the lock.
His brow arched when I turned. “And what is it you’re going to do with me now that you’ve got me alone?”
I hadn’t yet revealed this sort of sexual confidence, but in this moment, I was definitely feeling it. I reached for his belt and unfastened the buckle. “I’ll give you a hint. I think it may relieve the stress you have reflected on your face.” Whispering this, I reached for the next button of his slacks.
“Jesus, Cath.”
“Oh, you think you’ve figured it out, have you?” I pushed his slacks and boxers over his hips and down his legs to reveal him hard and ready.
“I can only fucking hope so…” His hands tangled in my hair while his breaths came out ragged. “Those red lips will be etched in my mind forever as wrapped around my cock.”
I wished we had more time, but unfortunately we might be missed at the party at any moment. So there was no place for teasing and only time for rocking his world. Which I proceeded to do in five minutes.
Then he returned the favor in three.
***
We snuck out of the bathroom giggling like teenagers who’d just gotten away with fooling around without the parents noticing. This reminded me of my earlier thought this evening.
“Hey, one question real fast.” I stopped in the hall before we returned upstairs.
“The answer is yes.” He was all smiles.
I quirked a brow. “You don’t know what I was going to ask.”
He winked and lowered his head to whisper. “After a blow job like that, I’m not very likely to say no to anything you request.”
My face heated, but I played along. “Good, then we’ll go tell people we’re together. Or maybe it would be more fun to have you pull me close, lean in, and kiss me breathless to see who notices.”
His face morphed from smiling to shock to horror in three seconds.
“Okay, based on that expression, I’m guessing it’s a no, then.” I attempted to walk by him only to feel my arm pulled back.
“Please don’t walk away. You took my off guard. I mean, why now?”
“Why not? Unless I totally misread how you feel about me.” Shit, had I really managed to be off base again when it came to reading him? Old insecurities were starting to well up in a hurry.
“No, no, of course you didn’t. I’m absolutely crazy about you, Cath, but you have your career to think about. I’m a part-time model who moonlighted at a sex club, so either you’re incredibly naïve about that, or reckless.”
My temper flared. “I’m going with neither of those options since both are insulting. A simple no, you weren’t ready would’ve sufficed.”
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I just don’t want your association with me to cause you any fallout.” His eyes appeared burdened with raw insecurity.
I decided to be clear about something I wished I’d said way sooner than this. “Will, I’m proud to be with you. I thought maybe this would be a natural next step, considering we have mutual friends. But if it’s freaking you out, then it can wait.” Maybe he needed more time to believe I meant it, but then something struck me about the way he’d phrased moonlighted. “Wait, why did you say you moonlighted at the club, as in the past tense?”
He swallowed hard. “I quit tonight when they gave me an ultimatum to change what I offered. That’s why I was up here early for the party.”
My face drained of color. “Oh, my God. It’s all my fault because I showed up last night.”
He hurried to reassure me. “No. It’s not. It’s been brewing for months. Honestly, there’s a large part of me that’s relieved to finally walk out of there for good.”
“But what are you going to do?”
“I’ll figure it out. But I don’t want you to worry about it. At all.”
“Okay.” My anxiety was growing by the second over the fact that I was partially to blame.
“And as for you wanting to tell people we’re together, I’m at a loss for words—in a good way. But can we hold off for now?” He squeezed my hand, his eyes intense on mine, pleading for me to understand.
“Yes. Of course. I didn’t mean to make things complicated.” Here he was whirling with what he’d do for income to pay for his brother’s care, and I’d been busy plotting ways to have him grope me in public.
He leaned in and kissed my neck. “Don’t you dare apologize. Just know it means—well, a lot. But let’s discuss it later. Yeah?”
I nodded,
wishing there was a fast forward button for the party.
***
The knock came on my hotel door ten minutes after I arrived in my room. After opening the door, I tugged Will inside—barely—before pulling his head down for a kiss.
He didn’t hesitate to reciprocate, his hands coming up to frame my face.
“I’d love nothing more than to fall into bed with you right about now,” he murmured in between kisses.
“Why do I sense a but in there somewhere?” I felt his lips trail down my neck to the base of my throat.
He pulled away hesitantly. “Because we need to talk.”
“That’s what Johnny Taylor said before he broke up with me in eleventh grade,” I tried to joke, but he wasn’t smiling.
Giving me a heavy sigh, he took my hand and pulled me over to the bed where he tugged me onto his lap. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier that the audition went great. I think I might have a real shot at the contract with Claus, which would be quite lucrative.”
“That’s amazing.” But noticing he wasn’t excited about the prospect cued me in that I was missing something. “But you’re not happy about it?”
“The job with Claus would mean moving to LA.”
My breath caught in my chest. “What? Why?”
“He photographs primarily in Cabo San Lucas and the events over the next few months are mostly in LA and Las Vegas. If I still had a job here in New York, then I’d contemplate flying back and forth, but without one, it doesn’t really make sense.”
“Maybe you could look for another job in New York, then. One that you’d actually enjoy.”
“I wish, but the likelihood of finding one which both pays well and I enjoy is pretty low.”
“Right.” What else could I say? He’d made it clear time and time again he didn’t want my help. Besides, he might not even need a second job if he moved to LA for the modelling contract.
“It wouldn’t be an easy decision, but it would allow me to finish up my last semester of school for my Masters and make enough money with modelling to keep Thomas where he is for at least the next year. After that, I’ll have to figure out something else.”
I didn’t know what to say as this seemed like the best decision for him. Who was I to keep him from such an opportunity?
“It sounds too good to pass up. Uh, what time do you leave for your shoot in Miami tomorrow?”
“Right after the luncheon. I wish you could sneak down to be with me for a couple of nights.”
I felt like I was on autopilot with my answer, still reeling over the thought of him moving to the West coast. “Yeah, me, too, but unfortunately I have meetings all week that I can’t miss.”
He smiled, stroking my face. “I understand.”
***
The feeling of waking up in Will’s arms the next morning was one I realized I wanted every morning. Unfortunately, it was also a reminder that if he moved away, I’d miss it greatly.
His arm pulled me in closer, and I could tell he was awake. Or at least part of him was. I shifted and wrapped my fingers around his arousal, moving them up and down his length slowly.
“I could get used to this kind of morning,” he murmured, sleep still in his voice.
“Me, too.” I moved so I was straddling him, loving how this position allowed me complete access to his chest and the ability to watch his face, which was looking more awake by the second.
After riding him to mutual orgasms, I collapsed on top of him, breathing into his shoulder because—morning breath. I basked in the feel of his strong hands rubbing my body.
The sound of his stomach growling intruded on the descent from our high. “Breakfast?” I questioned, hungry myself.
“Depends. What time is it?” He moved me carefully, dropping a kiss to my nose and hopping out of bed in a hurry, like he’d suddenly remembered something.
“Um….” I rolled over, checking the clock on the nightstand. “Eight. Why?”
“Golfing. I’m supposed to meet the guys at Josh’s place at nine.”
“You golf?” I slipped out of bed, grabbing the phone and dialing down for room service.
He shook his head. “Terrible at it, but none of them are competitive, and it’s normally a good time.”
We ordered omelets, and after Will downed his, he gave me a kiss at the doorway. “See you at the luncheon.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
With the guys doing their thing on the golf course and me up early, I texted Sasha to see if she wanted to meet for coffee. I didn’t think twice about the state of my room until she walked in and looked at me with wide eyes.
“Catherine Davenport, did you have sex last night?”
My entire body flushed red with her question. “Oh, my God. How could you tell?” I was mortified and quickly tried to usher her out the door.
She started laughing. “Because your room looks like the one Brian and I are in, with tangled sheets and room service plates for two on the table.”
“I completely forgot about the plates,” I muttered, cracking a smile. I’d intended to confide in her about Will anyhow, but not quite this way. At least she hadn’t told me the room smelled like sex, although it probably did.
We walked down to the coffee shop on the corner, each chose our latte of choice, and then we meandered to a park a block away, stopping to sit on a bench. “I love fall up here,” I commented, taking in the leaves that were turning color and the crisp morning air.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s beautiful. Now, spill it. Did your mystery man travel up here to surprise you last night?”
I laughed at her impatience. “Uh, not exactly. He was at the party. As a guest.”
Her brow furrowed as she obviously took a mental inventory of the people in attendance. “It couldn’t have been the doctor because you hadn’t met him before. So who?”
“Will.”
Her expression was priceless as it morphed from confusion to shock to a huge grin. “Holy shitballs.”
I chuckled, having said the same thing to her when I found out she was seeing Brian. “Indeed. And you’re the first I’ve told, so I’d appreciate it if it stays between us for now.” Based on Will’s reaction last night to the idea of people finding out about us and his possible plans to move to LA, I didn’t want everyone knowing now.
“Of course I won’t say anything. I don’t know him very well, but he seems really sweet and, not that I have to tell you—gorgeous. Haylee and Kenzie can’t say enough nice things about him.”
“He’s incredible.” Not just as my lover, friend, or whatever other label I’d put on it, but as a human being.
“So when did this happen? How?”
My version of the story focused on our return flight from Vegas when he’d had appendicitis and I’d helped him. I omitted the Club Travesty connection altogether and went on from there.
“Wow, so you weren’t kidding about having a good time in Australia, then.”
“No, I wasn’t. Only one big problem.”
“What’s that?”
“He just found out he may be moving to LA for the next year if he gets this big modelling contract.”
She sighed, looking sympathetic. “Not sure how you feel about long distance or him, for that matter, but Brian and I did it for months, and Josh and Haylee are managing it. So I’d say it’s something to think about. California is a long ways, but it’s not impossible.”
No, it wasn’t.
***
After the charity luncheon, which was being held at our hotel in one of the ballrooms, I knew that Will had to go straight to the airport and fly to Miami. This meant I wouldn’t get a chance to be alone with him. Clearly, he’d been thinking along the same lines because he texted me:
“Meet me on the third floor next to the Roosevelt room.”
I immediately smiled. The last time I’d received a message from him asking to meet like this had been during my magazine’s gala. Only now when he came out from a door next to the
designated room and pulled me in with him, I wasn’t surprised and met his kiss with one of my own.
He nipped my neck. “Like the thought of a supply closet these days, do you?”
“With you, absolutely.”
“I just wanted to get you alone for a proper kiss goodbye. I’ll be in Miami until Friday.”
“Only a kiss then?”
He pulled back smirking. “God, I wish I had more time, but Haylee is literally waiting downstairs to drive me to the airport.”
I begrudgingly let him go, giving him one more kiss for good measure. “When do you think you’ll find out about the contract and LA?”
He sighed, tucking my hair behind my ear. “With any luck by the end of the week. And I hate the idea of hoping for it because it would mean moving away from you.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him how he felt about long distance relationships, but his phone buzzed and he grimaced. “Time is up. I’ll see you Friday.”
Right. Friday.
***
By Monday night I was restless. I had a list of reasons, including my meetings this week, against hopping on a plane to Miami to see Will, but one big one that had me booking the flight anyhow.
Because I was in love with him.
And for once in my life, I didn’t want a list of pros and cons to dictate my happiness. My gut was saying to go for it and tell him. Once upon a time, I’d hoped my husband would come back to me. But at the end of the day, I’d never made a grand gesture to go after him because I didn’t have it in me. Nor had he been worth making such an effort. Somewhere in my subconscious, I’d known that even back then.
So with all rational thought put aside, an email to my assistant to reschedule all of my meetings for tomorrow, and a host of rehearsed things that I was sure would fly out of my head the moment I saw Will, I booked myself on the next morning’s ten am direct to Miami flight.
Teach Me Something (Something Series Book 4) Page 23