by Kendall Ryan
“Okay, but just give me, like, three sentences, Em. How was Florida? How are things with Gavin? Learn anything new about the situation with the dead ex?”
It was three in the afternoon, and all day, Bethany had been poking her head into my office every hour on the hour, grilling me for information.
I groaned and rubbed my temples before shooting a dirty look her way. “Look, there’s nothing to tell. And even if there was, it could wait until after work.” I was a bad liar and I knew it, but there was no way I could talk to Bethany about Gavin here. I’d only been gone for a couple of days, but I somehow had at least a week’s worth of work to catch up on.
Bethany raised one eyebrow and shook her head. “You’re evil, Emma Bell. I don’t believe for one second that you and Gavin shared a boring, run-of-the-mill weekend getaway. Those brothers are too sexy and too mysterious for anything they plan to be that vanilla.”
She’s got me there. “Go away, Bethany. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Fine, but we’re getting drinks when you’re done. And you’re buying. That’s what you get for withholding information.” Bethany winked and started to close the door before quickly pushing it open and popping her head back in. “Blink twice if you two did the dirty,” she said, waggling her eyebrows and suppressing a smile.
“Oh my God, leave!” I laughed as I crumpled up a piece of paper and threw it at her head.
Turning back to my computer, I sighed at all the work I had left to do. My brain wasn’t stuck in vacation mode; it was stuck in Gavin mode. And in Gavin mode? It was impossible to get anything done.
A couple of hours later, Bethany and I were walking into our favorite bar around the corner from the library, just in time for happy hour. I got our drinks from the bar while Bethany grabbed us a small table in the corner. As soon as I placed her drink in front of her, Bethany took a long sip, crinkling her nose after she swallowed.
“What’s in this?” She coughed, looking at me like I’d just served her cat pee.
“It’s supposed to be sangria, but I swear I saw the bartender pour some vodka in there.” I laughed, shrugging my shoulders. Bethany said nothing, simply shook her head and swirled the red liquid in her glass.
“It’s the drink special of the day, okay?” I said, growing a little defensive. Working for the Kingsley brothers might pay well, but fixing up my beautiful brownstone was quickly eating through that money. If I was paying for our girls’ night out, we were drinking the cheap stuff.
“Fine.” Bethany shuddered as she took another sip of her drink. When she was done, she drummed her fingers on the table and gave me a mischievous grin. “All right, missy, it’s time. Spill.”
I took a long swig of my drink, coughing as it went down. Bethany was right. This stuff was strong.
“What do you want to know?” I asked, propping my elbows on the table.
“Um, everything?” Bethany said, mirroring me. “Start with what happened when you arrived in Florida.”
“Florida was . . . good, mostly. Productive. Things were tense at first.” I thought about our time on the jet. “But during our first dinner, Gavin opened up about what happened with Ashley. Like, really opened up,” I said, staring at the red liquid in my glass. “It was the first time I felt like I could really see him. He was so vulnerable . . . almost soft. It was like a glimpse into the darkness he’s been carrying around inside him all these years.”
When I looked up, Bethany was staring at me with eyes the size of tennis balls. “The powerful, oversexed businessman Gavin Kingsley has a soft side?” She shook her head. “I almost don’t believe it.”
“He does,” I said, swirling my drink.
“What’s the catch? Mr. Dark and Mysterious doesn’t just bare his soul one day without a catch.”
“Well, he shut me out a little bit after that, but I think I understand why now. I don’t think he’s trying to hurt me when he gets distant. I think he’s scared. The only women he’s ever loved, he’s lost. It’s no surprise he’s a little skittish when it comes to emotional intimacy.”
“He’s not the only one with a right to be scared, Em.” Bethany’s playful smile fell into a frown. “Did he ever explain how his last girlfriend wound up dead in his bathtub?”
I pushed my hair over my shoulder. “Not exactly,” I said, weighing what Gavin told me over dinner. “He talked about finding her body in the bathtub, but he got so emotional, I couldn’t bring myself to press him for more answers. If you could’ve seen the look on his face, Beth, you’d know. There’s no way he killed her.” Especially not after what happened to his mother. I knew now that Gavin was a man who wanted to protect women, not hurt them.
“If you say so.” Bethany crossed her arms, studying me. “But are you sure this is the brother you want to end up with? Even if Gavin didn’t kill his last girlfriend, it might be nice to be with someone who doesn’t have so many skeletons in their closet. From what you’ve told me, Cooper is like Prince Charming incarnate. Are you sure you don’t want that kind of happily-ever-after?”
Staring into my glass, I couldn’t help but pause at Bethany calling Cooper Prince Charming. There was no denying that he was a sweetheart, the kind of guy who would cook me a romantic dinner one night and rub my feet while watching Netflix with me the next. But Gavin and me? What we had was intense and as scary as hell, but it felt more real than anything I’d experienced before.
I smiled softly, shaking my head. “After everything that happened with Nathan, I never thought I could trust another man again, let alone allow myself to be in another relationship. Yes, Gavin is dark sometimes, but being with him feels so incredibly different from being with Nathan. Even after everything he’s been through, Gavin’s not violent or mean. He really cares about me. He’s just a little nontraditional in the ways he shows it.”
Bethany gave me a sympathetic smile. “Well, if nontraditional makes you happy, I won’t be the one to stop you. I just want to make sure you’re safe and with the person who will truly take care of you.”
“Gavin does,” I said, smiling back at her. “Something changed while we were in Florida. I can feel it. Like just the other night, I thought I caught him with another woman, but he explained the whole situation, and I believe him. I could see it in his face. It’s like I can read him so much better now.”
“Hold on, I’m sorry . . . what? You caught him with another woman and you’re just telling me this now?” Bethany cried out, waving her arms in exasperation.
“That’s the thing, Bethany. After he explained what happened, it didn’t feel like a big deal anymore. I believe him, I trust him, and that’s it. Case closed.” I shrugged.
Bethany scoffed, still reeling from this new piece of information. “Who the hell is she?”
“Her name is Sonja. She works for Gavin. Or, worked, I guess. He fired her right in front of me. I feel kind of bad for her, actually. It didn’t seem like she had much of a life outside of the company.”
“What happened?”
“They had a late night at the office, putting out a media fire. I guess Gavin fell asleep on the couch in his office, and when he woke up, Sonja was on her knees next to him, stroking his . . .” I lowered my voice and raised my eyebrows. “Manhood.”
“Oh my God, ew! She’s a freaking molester!” Bethany said, loud enough that the couple at the table next to us turned to give us a dirty look.
Whoops. Maybe the alcohol in these drinks was stronger than we thought.
“I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call her a molester,” I said. “When I walked in on the two of them like that, she looked at me with the most desperate eyes I’ve ever seen. It was almost like she was asking me to let her have that moment with him. I think she was lonely and confused. Really confused.”
I nodded, trying to convince myself that Bethany was overreacting. Besides, even if Sonja was dangerous, she was out of our lives now, and there was no way Gavin would ever let her back in. That much was obvious.
&nbs
p; Bethany sighed, shaking her head. “It’s just that, from what you’ve told me, Gavin sounds like the kind of man who gets what he wants. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t know if Sonja would’ve done that if she didn’t think it was what he wanted.”
I stared at her for a moment, surprised by her insinuation. “He fired her on the spot, Bethany. Gavin may be cold sometimes, but he’s not cruel. Besides, he would never do that to me. He’s a monogamy type of guy.”
“I’m not saying that he told her to fondle him in his sleep, but maybe it has something to do with his personality. He has such a dominant, demanding presence, it kind of makes sense that Sonja would do anything to please him. He doesn’t seem like the kind of man you want to make angry.”
“I didn’t realize that was how you felt about him,” I said, looking at Bethany with my brow furrowed.
She shook her head. “I just feel like you need to be careful. I know that you care about him, but there’s still so much you don’t know. When you’re leaning toward the cold-and-dominant brother, even though the warm-and-loving one wants you just as much, it makes me worry about the kind of relationship you tend to go for.”
I looked away, swallowing the lump in my throat. Bethany was just trying to be a good friend, but her warning totally caught me off guard.
Was I making a huge mistake? Was Cooper actually exactly what I needed? My heart said no. But my brain? I really wanted to shut it off with more of this nasty sangria.
Bethany sighed, reaching out to take my hand in hers. “I just want you to be happy, Em. You deserve to be so, so happy, especially after what Nathan did to you. No matter who you choose, I’ll be here to support you. Just make sure that whatever you decide, you remember who has the control. Both of these guys are swoon-worthy, sure, but in the end, it’s your life. You have the control. It’s up to you.”
I took another sip of my drink, finishing what was left of the now watered-down liquid. My head was spinning a little, but I couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol or what Bethany had said to me. Either way, one thing was clear.
I had a decision to make, and I had to make it soon.
Chapter Seven
Emma
By the time Thursday evening rolled around, I’d checked my phone roughly a dozen times and had changed my outfit six—yes, six—times. I wasn’t sure what was making me so nervous. Gavin had simply invited me to a dinner with his brothers. It was no big deal, really. I’d been around all three of them many times before.
Still, there was something about the curt, gruff tone of his message that had me on edge. He hadn’t explained why they were having dinner or why I was suddenly invited, and when I asked, I’d gotten no reply. I’d attributed his crankiness to the most recent outpouring of news stories about the company’s alleged sordid dealings, but I couldn’t be sure. I had a feeling the lack of sex was getting to him too.
The doorbell rang, and I straightened my top for the thousandth time before heading to the foyer and pulling the door open. I’d settled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a red silk top with gold buttons.
As usual, Gavin stood there looking positively scrumptious while his limo idled in the street behind him. He was more casual than I’d seen him before, wearing dark-washed jeans and a weathered gray Henley-style shirt with three little buttons at his neck. The scent of crisp, masculine cologne hung in the air around him, ever so subtly, and I wanted to nibble him from head to toe.
“You look stunning,” he said, reaching a hand toward me.
My heart gave a little flutter at his words, but there was something stiff and mechanical about the way he spoke. Like he had something else on his mind.
Which he will tell you about as soon as he’s ready, a little voice in my head reminded me.
We’d shared a lot lately, and I wasn’t about to add to his burden by pressuring him again.
“Thank you,” I murmured. “Shall we get going?”
He offered me his arm, and I took it after locking the brownstone behind me. Together, we clambered into the back of the limo as soft music floated through the speakers. It was a chilly night and I hadn’t worn a jacket, so I rubbed my arms casually while I studied Gavin’s profile.
I could tell he was trying to remain impassive, but it wasn’t working. His jaw was locked tight, and the second the car pulled onto the street, he reached for the wine bottle in the chiller and poured himself a glass.
“Would you like one?” he offered.
I shook my head, banishing every one of my inner warnings. “I’m worried about you,” I said baldly. “I want to know what’s going on. You’re acting weird, and you didn’t answer my texts.”
“Right.” Gavin took a sip of his wine and replaced the bottle. “Well, I thought it would be better to tell you all this in person. Things at work have been strained lately.”
“I can imagine.”
“Sonja leaving was a big blow to the company—”
“That’s funny, considering that’s exactly what she’d been hoping for,” I mumbled under my breath, unable to withhold my anger at the woman.
Gavin just gave me a dead stare and continued. “Whatever the case, she played an integral role, and we’re scrambling a bit without her.”
“Are you telling me you’re hiring her back?” Anger rose in my chest at the thought, but Gavin gave me a decisive shake of his head.
“No, God, no. It’s just that between the Sonja issue and the media storm, we can’t be fighting with each other too. I need everyone to get along so we can work together and move forward as a unit.”
“Okay.” I frowned. “So, something’s wrong between you and your brothers? Did I come between you and Cooper again?”
“We had a minor disagreement, but no. That’s not it. It’s . . .” Gavin stopped and swirled the wine in his glass as I tried to read his expression.
“Quinn doesn’t like me? Is that what this is about? I mean, if it’s not you and it’s not Cooper?”
Hurt and confusion coalesced into a nauseating brew in my stomach. I’d barely spoken to Quinn . . . how could he not like me? And how was I supposed to face him tonight, knowing how he felt? I opened my mouth to ask Gavin why he’d put me in that position without even letting me know until it was too late, but he shook his head again.
“It’s not that Quinn doesn’t like you. He barely even knows you. He just doesn’t like me . . . with you.”
Not better. Not even a little, but I nodded slowly, my throat aching with unshed tears. “I see.” My chest suddenly felt heavy, and now I saw that I had every right to be nervous about this dinner.
“I just wanted you to be prepared because things have been a little tense.”
“But you’re hoping once Quinn gets to know me, he’ll see what all the fuss is about? Is that it?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Yes, that’s exactly it,” Gavin said with a wry grin that almost reached his eyes. “I always said you were a fast learner. Now, come on. I don’t want to be late.”
Looking around, I realized with a start that we’d pulled up alongside a ritzy glass building. Gavin helped me from the car, and a nicely dressed doorman was waiting with the door open as we approached. I smiled and thanked him as Gavin ushered me to the elevator.
With every passing floor, my blood pressure ratcheted up another notch. By the time the doors finally opened directly into the penthouse apartment on the top floor, my knees were shaking.
Almost immediately, my senses were flooded by the smell of rosemary, thyme, and lemon. I took in a deep breath, wanting the homey smell to ease my frazzled nerves.
The place was stunning. Modern, but also masculine and comfortable at the same time. The floors were a striking bamboo in a worn grayish hue that made the place feel welcoming and lived-in, and the furniture was oversized and meant for comfort.
Gavin led me inside and nodded at Cooper, who sat at the dining room table, sipping a glass of red wine. He looked as casual and easygoing as ever, though the skin arou
nd his left eye was shaded with a faint purplish color that looked suspiciously like the remnants of a black eye.
“Hi, Cooper.” I smiled politely at him.
“Hello, princess.” He smiled back, giving me that full-on tilted grin I loved on him.
“What happened?” I pointed to his eye with a frown.
This, apparently, was the exact wrong thing to say. Quinn grimaced at me as he walked into the room in the middle of my sentence, carrying roasted chicken on a platter.
My cheeks flushed as it hit me all at once. Gavin had hit Cooper. A minor disagreement, indeed. I was going to kill him for putting me in this position. If I survived tonight, that is.
Cooper, however, shrugged it off. “Just clumsy, princess. Nothing to worry about. Can I get you some wine?”
I nodded, knowing I’d need something to do with my hands. Clutching the stem of a wineglass seemed just the thing.
Seeing that I was in good hands, seated at the table opposite Cooper, Gavin peeked into the pristine white kitchen through the wide door connecting it to the large dining room where we sat. “Need a hand with anything? What are we having?” he asked Quinn.
“Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots. Family-style,” Quinn said, emphasis on the word family.
So that explained it. This was meant to be one big kiss-and-make-up session. I just hoped that Quinn was willing to accept me and allow me into the fold.
“Perfect,” Gavin said, and my stomach rumbled in agreement as he took a seat next to me.
“Can I help with anything?” I offered, but Quinn waved me off as he padded back into the kitchen.
“No, no, I’ve got it all under control.”
I took a sip of the wine Cooper had poured for me, watching as Quinn came out a few seconds later bearing a steaming bowl of butter-glossed mashed potatoes in one hand and a serving dish of perfectly glazed roasted carrots in the other.
“You guys must have been spoiled with Quinn cooking like this while you were growing up,” I said.
Quinn joined us at the table, shaking his head. “It took a long time to develop my culinary skills,” he said with a low chuckle. “They’re more familiar with Velveeta than camembert, I think.”