“What?”
“I saw you talking to that girl tonight,” he said.
“Yeah.” I tossed him a rag. “And?”
“You know who she is right?” He cleaned off his side of the bar.
“I don’t know. I mean, I guess she looked familiar.”
“That chick is Benjamin Lewis’s daughter.”
“You mean?”
“Yeah, that Benjamin Lewis.”
The billionaire. Great, now I’d gone and insulted the daughter of the wealthiest guy in town.
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t recognize her?”
I rolled my eyes and went to the back. It had been a long night. I just wanted to go home.
“Two hundred bucks says you can’t get her in bed by the end of the summer,” he said.
“Who are you?” I grabbed my car keys and removed my name tag.
“Come on, man.” He slapped my shoulder. “It’s just a little bet. For fun.”
“I don’t gamble.”
“Who says you have to be a gambler to score?” he laughed.
“Unlike you, I don’t play games and I don’t screw around.”
“And how’s that working for you?”
I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were a monk.”
I grabbed his shirt and slammed him up against the wall. “My sex life is none of your damn business.”
“Wow.” He held his hands up as I released him. “Sorry, dude.”
I grabbed my things and headed for the door.
“Maybe you need to blow off some steam, man! A one night stand would do you good!”
I left the restaurant and walked home. Max was starting to be a real pain in my ass. But I had to play it cool, or I’d miss out on the biggest career move of my life.
When I made it to my apartment, Beth was asleep on the couch. It was so good to have her in town.
I turned the TV off and put a blanket over her. We’d always looked alike, even as children. Sometimes, we were mistaken for twins. It wasn’t too far off, since she was only my kid sister by a year and a half.
I went to my bedroom and took a shower. Then I got in bed and looked at my phone. I had tomorrow off work, which was great since it was Beth’s last day in New York. Ever since I left Louisiana, it had been like this. But I couldn’t go back there. Beth was the only one who’d ever been able to understand.
Lying awake, I got bored and googled Benjamin Lewis. Sure enough, there were pictures with the girl I’d met tonight. So I typed in her name and clicked on images. She was pretty gorgeous. But the online photos didn’t do her justice. Because she’d looked even more gorgeous in person.
I set my phone down and sighed. There was no way she would ever approach me again.
Which was a shame, since I’d actually felt something for the first time since my whole word fell apart five years ago.
But she’d never be interested in someone like me. I had a past that wasn’t picture perfect.
And Bailey had lived her whole life under the microscope of mainstream media.
I rolled over and closed my eyes, trying not to think about her. But she was in my head all night.
“RISE AND SHINE!” BETH hit me in the head with a pillow. “It’s past ten and I’m bored.”
I groaned and sat up in bed. Thankfully, she was already there with a cup of coffee.
“I forgot why I only let you visit so often.”
“Hey!” She slapped my arm and I chuckled.
“So what do you want to do today? You need to pick out something for your birthday.”
“Well.” She stood in front of my dresser and played with her hair. “I want to go shopping.”
“Oh please.” I slouched in bed and rubbed my eyes.
“You’re my big brother and I miss you. We need to spend some quality time together.”
She pouted and gave me a look I’d never been able to resist.
“All right,” I said. “Fine. But please don’t take me to every shoe store in town.”
“I’m not.” She sat down beside me. “I just want to go to this one place. And then we can get lunch.”
“Okay. That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Great.” She stared me down while I drank my coffee.
“What?”
“You could move a little faster.”
I shook my head and laughed. “Beth.”
“Come on!” She jumped up and pulled me with her. “Let’s go!”
I’d never understood how she had so much energy. But it did come in handy when I just wanted to lie in bed all day. So I let her drag me around the city in search of this mysterious store I’d never heard of.
“You know somethin’, Carter? You really need to get out more.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets and sighed. This felt like a repeat of last night.
“I’m worried about you.” She touched my arm. “You haven’t been the same since—”
“Hey, I’m fine,” I said. “Everything is fine. Okay? What are Mom and Dad saying?”
“They wish you would visit more than once every millennium.”
I looked away and scratched my head. It was true. But what could I say?
“I like it here,” I told her. “I’m happy.”
“Have you been seeing anyone lately?” she asked.
I hated these questions. What was so wrong with being single?
“Beth,” I said.
“I’m sorry.” She looked down. “I just—”
I wrapped my arm around her. “I appreciate your concern. Really, I do. But I’m fine.”
She looked into my eyes. “All right. If you say so.”
We kept walking until she stopped at a little boutique shop.
“Ooh! This is it!” She grabbed my hand. “Let’s go!”
So I followed her into the clothing store. It was bursting with color and fashion. There were several customers circulating inside, drifting from table to table. It was all dresses and shoes and jewelry. A bunch of trendy stuff that I could care less about. But Beth loved it, so I put on a happy face.
“Ooo.” Beth grabbed a purple hat and put it on me. “Wouldn’t you look dashing in this?”
I took the hat off as she looked around. “So how did you hear about this place anyway?”
“Amber.” Beth picked a dress off the rack. “She comes here all the time when she’s visiting her aunt.”
I nodded, looking for a place to sit down. I’d been working six days a week and this was my only day off. While I loved spending time with Beth, I’d been on a pretty serious level of burn out for months.
“Excuse me?” Beth said to an employee. She was a pretty brunette with brown eyes. “I called last week about a dress. It was custom made.” Beth pulled out her phone. “Online, it said there was only one left in stock.”
“Umm... let me talk to the manager.”
“Okay.” Beth looked at some skirts while I sat down by the window. I hated shopping, so it’s no exaggeration to say I was bored out of my mind. I stared at the floor until I heard a sweet voice.
“Beth?”
I looked up in shock. And there she was. The girl from last night shaking hands with my sister.
“We spoke on the phone last week,” Beth said.
“Yes, I remember.” Bailey smiled.
Bailey was wearing a yellow sundress. She looked different from the night before. More calm and professional, like she was in her element. Somehow, she was even more beautiful than she’d been yesterday.
“I was really hoping to get the dress while I’m in town.”
“Well, we sold out online,” Bailey said. “But I’ve held one for you.”
“Really?” Beth looked so excited.
“Yeah. I do all the custom designs myself. I have it in the back. Would you like to take a look?”
“Yeah sure.” Beth looked back at me like she was on top of
the world.
“Okay, right this way. I was just finishing up the hemline, but I thought you could...”
They disappeared behind a door while I stood out front waiting.
I couldn’t believe that she ran her own clothing store. And my sister already adored her.
I felt like a jerk for the way I’d treated her last night. She deserved more than an apology.
“Can I try it on first?” Beth asked as they came back out.
“Sure.” Bailey led her around the store. “Let me get you set up in a dressing room.”
“Great! Thanks.” Beth took the dress and went inside.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Bailey said.
“All right.”
Bailey went behind the counter and grabbed a clipboard. Then she sorted through a stack of shirts and lined them up on a shelf with meticulous detail. Ever since I saw her, I’d been itching to get closer. I cleared my throat but she didn’t hear me. So I came closer and cleared it again.
“Bailey.”
She turned her head and saw me. “Carter. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just—”
“What do you think?” Beth walked out in a bright blue dress.
“I love it,” I said. “It looks great on you.”
“Thanks. Bailey designed it.”
“I’m impressed,” I nodded.
Bailey forced a smile, but didn’t say much. “I’m glad you like it.”
Beth twirled around and went back to the dressing room. And Bailey just looked at me.
“So you’re a designer?” I asked.
“Not really.” She seemed shy all of a sudden. “I buy most of the pieces we sell here. But there are a few I make custom. Like the one Beth is wearing.”
I nodded.
“Bailey.” It was one of the girls who worked there. “You have a client on the phone.”
“Oh.” She turned to me. “I better take this.”
“Go ahead,” I nodded.
She took a few steps and looked back. “It was really good to see you.”
I watched her walk away and it tugged at my insides.
I couldn’t believe she was this independent business woman. It didn’t seem like the normal path an heiress would take. She was talented and hard-working. I liked her more already.
“What do you think?” Beth came out with the dress in tow. She must have met someone in Louisiana. That’s the only time she ever acted like this.
“It looks great on you.”
“Well, I’m ready to check out. Then we can grab lunch. I’m starving.”
“Yeah.” My stomach growled. “Me too.”
We waited in line, but Bailey had already gone to the back. I wanted to know more about her. Why had she decided to pursue fashion? Her father may have been a billionaire, but that was all mergers and acquisitions. I wonder what he’d thought when she’d shown an interest in the arts.
When it was our turn at the register, Bailey popped back out. “Thanks, Michelle,” she said to the pretty brunette. “I’ve got this one.”
“Okay,” Michelle said, leaving to sort clothes on a display case.
“Did you find everything all right today?” she asked.
“Yes,” my sister said. “Thanks so much for holding the dress.”
“Oh, no problem.” She grabbed a box and some tissue paper. “I’m glad you like it.”
I wanted to interject, but I didn’t know how. At the restaurant, we’d been on my turf. Now, we were on hers.
“Your total is seventy-five dollars. Will that be cash or credit?”
I got my wallet out. “It’s credit.”
Bailey met my eye. “Okay. Go ahead.”
I slid my card in to the processor as the payment went through.
“He’s getting me this as a belated birthday present,” Beth said.
“Oh.” Bailey grabbed the receipt once it finished printing. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, it is.” Beth leaned on my arm. “He’s the best big brother.”
Bailey looked at us. “He’s your brother?”
“Yeah,” Beth smiled. “That’s why I’m in town visiting.”
“Oh.” Bailey folded the dress with extra care. Then she wrapped it in tissue paper and placed it inside a gift box. I watched her tie a little ribbon on top. It was a rainbow of colors. Yellow. Purple. Blue.
I was about to say something but she spoke up first.
“Thanks for coming in today.” Bailey handed the box to my sister. “Enjoy the dress.”
“It was good to see you again.” I took Bailey’s hand. And she didn’t know what to say.
“Wait. You two know each other?” Beth asked.
“Yeah.” I held Bailey’s gaze. “I believe so.”
“Well why didn’t you say something?” Beth thumped my head. “You should come to lunch with us.”
Bailey watched my expression to see what I would say. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your brother sister time.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t be,” Beth said. “I’ve been here three days, and he’s been a total bore.”
“Beth,” I hissed, glaring down at her.
“Thanks, but I have work to do here. Maybe some other time.”
“Don’t you have a lunch break?” I asked.
“Well yeah.”
“Then come with us,” I said. “We won’t be gone long. And if you don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it from this one.” I pointed a thumb at Beth and she jabbed me in the stomach. “Please,” I wheezed.
Bailey chuckled, looking out the window and then back at my sister. “Okay.” Her eyes landed on me.
“Great!” Beth said.
“Just give me five minutes.”
I nodded. “We’ll meet you outside.”
Bailey smiled as we left. I held the door open for my sister and we waited on the sidewalk.
“So who’s the lucky guy?” I asked Beth outside.
“How did you know?”
“I recognize the sparkle in your eye.”
“We have a lab together every Tuesday night.”
“And?” I said.
“He asked me out. We have a date next weekend.”
I put my arm around her shoulders. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” She looked up at me. “If only I could find someone for you.”
“We’ve been over this,” I grumbled.
“I know. But you’ve got to stop hiding out. I’m worried about you.”
I sat down on a bench while we waited for Bailey.
“Is that what Mom and Dad told you to say?” I asked.
“You know we just want the best for you. It’s been five years.”
Bailey came out of the shop. “Where are we having lunch?”
“Why don’t you pick?” Beth stood between us. “I’m not from here.”
“Okay.” Bailey put her sunglasses on. “I know a place.”
We walked the couple blocks to her restaurant of choice. And to my surprise, she actually knew the host. I thought it must have been her favorite. Or maybe being the daughter of Benjamin Lewis, she just came here a lot.
She got us a table outside, and we all took a seat under the umbrella. It was nice to be in the shade since it was so hot. As she told us about herself, I liked the view even more.
“Do you come here a lot?” I asked.
“About once a month,” she said. “My uncle is friends with the owner.”
“What is it your uncle does again?” I sat across from her, resisting the urge to take her hand.
“You’ve heard of Geraldo’s?”
“Oh yeah, that place is awesome. It’s packed all the time.”
“Well, he’s the owner. He bought the first location years ago. And now there are three.”
“Wow.” Beth sipped her lemonade. “You know, Carter has been wanting to—”
“So what made you want to open your own clothing store?” I asked.
“I don�
��t know.” She looked down with a smile. “I started sketching designs when I was a teenager. And then I’d play around with different fabrics. But when I made it my major in college, that’s when things started to get serious.”
The waiter brought two salads out while I watched Bailey put her napkin in her lap.
“So when are you going to tell me?” Beth asked.
“What?” I looked at Bailey.
“How the two of you met,” she said. “How do you know each other?”
“Well, your brother managed to insult me and compliment me in the span of five minutes.”
I deserved that.
“What?” Beth chewed her salad. “Tell me everything!”
“Well, I mistakenly thought your brother was my blind date. And he told me I was beautiful. But he also said I was a desperate loser.”
“That’s taken out of context.” I looked at Beth. “I never said she was one.”
“You said that online dating was for desperate losers,” Bailey reminded me.
“You’re right.” I scratched my head. “I’m sorry. Again.”
“It’s okay. I got over it.” She smiled. And it was the sweetest thing.
“Online dating,” Beth said. “So how is that going?”
“Not too well, actually.” Bailey stabbed a few spinach leaves. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever find a decent guy in this town.”
“Well, Carter is single.” Beth looked at me. “And he’s a great guy.”
Bailey bit her lip. “I’ll bet he is.”
“Why don’t the two of you go out?” she asked.
“Umm...” Bailey looked at me.
“Beth, stop. I’m sure she already has someone else in mind.”
“Not really,” Bailey said. “I’m kind of new to this.”
“Really?” I asked. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-five.”
“You’ve never dated anyone before?” Beth asked.
“No, I have.” Bailey picked at her food and then set her fork down. “It’s just been a long time.”
Beth shot me a look when Bailey had her head down. I was going to strangle her.
“Well, Carter’s available.”
“Beth,” I hissed. “Let her date who she wants to.”
“Sorry, I was just trying to—”
“It’s okay.” Bailey gave us a sad smile. “I’ll figure it out. I mean, there are millions of people in this city.” She looked at her food. “I’m bound to find at least one good man. Eventually.”
An Agreement (Summer in New York Book 3) Page 2
