“I would have never thought stargazing could be so interesting, so believe me Lacey, it was my pleasure.”
I smiled, happy he couldn’t see it because I didn’t want Walker to think I was getting the wrong idea about us. Maybe I liked him more now than I ever had before, but that didn’t mean I was delusional enough to think this was headed anywhere.
“Do you do this a lot? Big fancy dates?” Again he went still beneath my back and I scrambled to clarify. “I’m not fishing for information about your dating habits, or women, I’m just…curious because I’ve had a few boyfriends and more than a few dates and none of them have ever done all this.”
Which, I realized as I said it aloud, was pretty sad for me. I didn’t know if I should feel special to Walker, or just shortchanged by the men in my past. Probably the latter.
He sighed, like he was frustrated or put out by my questions. “I don’t usually have to go through so much effort for women, Lacey, because they want a dinner they won’t eat at some fancy restaurant where they can be seen by the rich and famous and maybe run into someone richer than me-,”
I gasped and looked over my shoulder at him. “There’s someone richer than you?” I asked, feigning shock.
“Very funny,” he said and rolled his eyes as I settled back on his chest. “After dinner they want to go to the hottest new club before going back to my place, but you’re rich and connected.” Walker sighed, struggling to make me understand.
“So, I don’t want those things?”
“You could have those things any night of the week, so I had to be creative and find something that would impress you.”
A silly grin spread across my face at his words. Walker Titus wanted to impress me! “You succeeded,” I replied truthfully.
“Plus,” he said as his arms tightened around my waist and he buried his face in the crook of my neck, “I couldn’t wait to get you out here, all alone.”
That was all I needed to hear to turn and straddle his hips so we were face to face. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pressed our foreheads together and asked, “Now that you have me here, what are you going to do with me?”
Walker stole a kiss and it was fiery and intense, but when he pulled back and flashed a sultry smile, I was lost. “The question sweetheart, is what won’t I do with you.” Then he spent the rest of the night showing me exactly what he meant.
* * *
Waking up on a yacht in Walker’s arms felt a hell of a lot better than it should have for a purely sexual relationship. But it was the lobster and shrimp and fresh fruit served for a lazy brunch that made this feel like a couple thing. Like the kinds of things I imagined Poppy and Blake were doing right now. A wistful sigh escaped me as we moved closer and closer to shore.
By the time we were back in the limo I felt trouble simmering deep in my gut. Every time I looked over at him with his hair mussed from my fingers, I felt energized and oddly affectionate, which spelled trouble with a capital T. I could not be falling for Walker. Absolutely not. I won’t allow it. I would cut out my own heart before I let that happen.
“Your place or mine?”
I wanted to tell him wherever he chose would be all right with me, but that was foolish, and I couldn’t be where Walker was concerned. “Since I don’t think you could fit into any of my clothes, your place?”
He frowned. “Does that mean we won’t be naked the entire time?”
I laughed and reached out to run my fingers through the hair at the base of his neck in an intimate act that caught me off guard. “We might be, but if you want to put something on it’ll have to be those pants. Again.”
“So?”
“So you might give the pizza guy a show?”
Walker leaned back and chuckled. “It’ll give him something to aspire to,” he said full of arrogance and then he winked at me!
“You’re impossible, you know that, right?”
He shrugged and pulled me close until I was tucked under his arm. “Impossible to resist, you mean.”
As hard as it was to admit, he was so right. One smile, or one touch and I melted into a sticky puddle of desire. It was pathetic but true, and even as the thought gave me pause, his warm hand sliding up and down my back had my body tingling and ready for another round of pleasure.
“Is that why you use a limo, enough room for your ego?”
The car came to a stop in front of his building and a few moments later the door opened. Walker turned to me just before sliding out. “I think we both know my ego isn’t the only reason I need all this room.”
Cocky bastard. Why did it turn me on so much? Because clearly, I was a glutton for punishment. That was the only reasonable answer here, and I used the elevator ride to the penthouse to shake it off. I wanted Walker and I liked him. Big deal. It didn’t have to be anything more than that. He was my brother’s best friend, it made sense to like him. He was gorgeous and a fantastic lover, so sleeping with him made sense. I just had to remind myself that it was okay to like someone without wanting more.
That was harder to remember when we were in his room, changing into comfortable clothes, a t-shirt for me, and flannel pants for him. It was so reminiscent of how couples behaved that I had to break the spell. “Tell me about your year or years traveling?”
“It was nearly a year and a half actually. I was going through some shit and had to get away from my life for a while.”
“Sounds nice,” I told him even though curiosity ate me alive in my desire to know what ‘some shit’ entailed. “Getting away I mean, not going through shit.”
He smiled and my eyes were glued to his chest like it was the first time seeing it. Maybe it was the casual green and blue pants that hung low on his lean hips, that mouthwatering ‘v’ that disappeared into his waistband, the miles of tanned skin on display and just the entirety of his well muscled chest and abs.
“I did what I had to do, and after I got my head on straight, I got down to business.” He waited expectantly and I didn’t know what he was waiting for but I knew it was something.
“And the story?”
He smiled and grabbed my hand, pulling me through the door and into the living room where he set me on the sofa and disappeared into the kitchen. “I was in Hungary trying to buy up a cable news station and the previous owner had this weird Hungarian-British accent that was impossible to fucking understand.” He tinkered in the kitchen and I heard the sound of ice as I listened to his story. “He kept it up for three damn days, meanwhile I’m paying the translator for nothing.”
I could hear the smile in his voice and it tugged at my own mouth. “But the deal was done?”
He reentered the living room with two glasses of amber liquid and handed me one. “I’m the proud owner of the number one news station in Hungary.”
I laughed at his proud expression more than at the story even though both were equally hilarious. “Cheers to the number one cable network in Hungary.” With an affectionate smile he clinked his glass against mine.
“Damn right.”
Walker dropped down beside me and wrapped his free arm around my shoulder. I cuddled into him and let his warm masculine scent relax me, the soft thud of his heart lulled me into a dreamlike state while we watched TV. It was so domestic that it was hard not to feel slightly scared as well.
Luckily the doorbell pulled me from that particular dream. “Expecting company?”
“The only person I’m expecting is already here,” he said and dropped a soft kiss on my mouth before he went to the elevator. “And since the doorman didn’t call first, I’m really curious.”
That piqued my curiosity and I turned to watch the copper doors slide open to reveal a stunning brunette wrapped in a coat much too heavy for early autumn in Portland. “Walker, darling. I heard you were back in town.”
Holy. Shit. Nola Paloma, lingerie and runway uber model strolled in and pressed her full body against Walker and kissed him. On the fucking mouth. He seemed as shocked as me but he re
covered first. “Nola, what the hell are you doing here?”
She laughed and removed her jacket to reveal a slinky gold dress. “That’s no way to greet an old friend, is it?”
Old friend? He was old friends with Nola Paloma? That was news to me. “We haven’t been friends for a long time, Nola. What are you doing here and how did you get up?”
Her laughter was like a melody. Perfect just like her. “I told him I was an old friend.”
“I’ll be sure to fire him as soon as you’re gone.” She laughed again but Walker’s expression was fierce. Serious. He said something, but I didn’t know what it was because I couldn’t stop staring.
Her attention turned to me and another melodious laugh emerged. The bitch. “I didn’t know you had a kid sister.”
I stood to make sure she could see me in his shirt. “He doesn’t. Some of us just age better than others.” I turned and went back to the bedroom to change, smiling because holy shit I just told off Nola Paloma. But that was for me, not Walker. I don’t care how beautiful she is, no one talks to me that way. When I came down they were still arguing, but in the kitchen. She wanted to know why she couldn’t stay and he wanted to know why she thought she could.
“I am Nola Paloma for fuck’s sake, of course you want to see me!”
I shook my head as I made my way to the elevator, suddenly grateful Nola’s screech covered the sound of the elevator doors opening and stepped inside with a smile. It ended far less dramatically than I thought it would, but my ego could handle being tossed over for a super model.
Mostly.
I would figure it out when I got home. Over a bottle of wine.
Walker
Greg Shepherd leaned forward in his brown leather chair at the Executive Club, his choice, because he thought it gave him the position of strength.
“I’m curious, do you have any idea what kind of deal Peak Adventures is interested in?”
“I haven’t a clue Greg, but you probably should have asked Ms. Sayers, if you return her calls that is.” Luckily Jada had gotten me a few names of other stations that weren’t up for sale, but would be for the right price. “I only came today to find out if you and your sister are actually interested in selling KBBM, because right now I can’t tell if you’re playing games or trying to get a higher selling price, but I’m starting not to give a damn.”
“Just out of curiosity, could we get more?”
Fuck my life. “Not from me you can’t.” I’d had my suspicions for a while now that the Shepherd kids had no ulterior motives. They were just incompetent.
Greg glared at his sister and leaned back in his chair, crossed his ankle at the knee like a real asshole. “We are open to selling. For the right offer, of course.”
He was so fucking smug I was tempted to walk away, but it was cheaper to buy out an existing structure than start from scratch. I could wait them out for now, because with the way they were running the place, the doors would close within sixteen months.
“Do you even know what the right offer looks like?”
“That’s easy. Katie and I would like to retain a majority stake in KBBM.” The laugh burst out of me before I could even think to stop it, but seriously, what the fuck was he thinking?
“You’re not serious, are you? I’ve seen the books and you two are running the place in to the ground. There’s no way I’d invest one dime while you two have decision making authority.” I stood and straightened my jacket. “Thanks for letting me know.” I walked out of the club and ran into Lukas just as my phone rang again.
“Yeah?”
It was Jada. “Eve called again and she didn’t leave a name or message. Again.”
“I have no desire to talk to her, so do me a favor and just ignore her.” I ended the call and turned to a smirking Lukas. “Want to get some lunch?”
“Let’s go to the deli up the street, my meeting ran late.” He was being chilly, and I wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that Lacey was clearly avoiding me. She hadn’t returned my calls since she left my apartment. Four fucking days ago.
“Everything all right?”
He shrugged and glared at me. “I don’t know Walker, is it? Lacey’s been avoiding me. She says she’s not, but I know her.”
Fuck, and she probably hadn’t shared much of our thing with him. No wonder he was so pissed. I’d always envied how close they were.
“I took her out stargazing on my yacht and we had a great time. Woke up the next day had brunch and went to my place and guess who fucking shows up?”
His brown eyes went wide. “Not Eve?”
“Thank fuck not. Nola Paloma.”
He groaned. “Damn, she’s a hot one.” Then he seemed to remember himself. “Shit, did you throw my sister over for Nola?!”
“Fuck no! And fuck you for even asking. She just walked on in, acting like she owned the place. You know I don’t bring chicks to my place, so what the fuck was she even doing there?”
“Causing trouble is my guess. Word is she’s getting too old to continue to be Nola Paloma.”
I hadn’t even thought of that. “Anyway, by the time we finished arguing and I got her to leave, by threatening to call the police by the way, Lacey was long gone. And she hasn’t bothered to return my calls or texts, so don’t look at me like I’m the bad guy here.” That’s what pissed me off so much, Lacey left without giving me a chance to explain.
“Look Walker, Lacey is beautiful, we both know that. But no woman will feel like she stacks up against Nola, never mind one as insecure as my sister.”
What the fuck? “Lacey’s not insecure, she’s one of the most confident people I know besides your cocky ass. And she is beautiful.”
It just wasn’t the kind of beauty that hit you right in the face. But, when she laughed, or even when she just smiled, she was stunning. Everything about her was alluring.
“Interesting. But that’s not what I mean. She’s got that whole fresh faced youthful thing going on, and she feels cute, not beautiful.”
“That’s fucking stupid.” He smirked but I ignored him as we entered the deli and got in line.
“Women are strange Walker, and Lacey is stranger than most. But…never mind.” He had a smile I didn’t particularly like, but it was our turn to place our orders so I let it go. I ordered a Rueben since I doubted I had to worry about kissing Lacey later.
“She’s not strange, she’s unique.”
He snickered and I elbowed him in the gut. “Asshole.”
“Let’s get these to go, I got some new craft beers in the fridge in my office that goes great with subs. Add dill and vinegar chips too, please,” he called to the bearded kid behind the counter. “Don’t look now, but Nola hasn’t given up.” I turned in the direction Lukas was pointing and groaned.
“What the fuck is up with women from my past?” I dropped a fifty on the counter and headed for the door. It was time Nola understood exactly where she stood in my life.
Lacey
“Is it triplets?!”
Poppy had invited me to lunch, via my assistant, just to make sure I showed up, and I’d assumed it was to announce that the baby she was having with Blake was babies.
She blinked big blue-green eyes and frowned. “What? No! Bite your tongue Lacey.” She stole an olive from my salad and rolled a slice of bacon around it, moaning like food was going out of style. “No, I’m ready to start planning the wedding. This little bugger will be born in four months and the wedding will be in eight.” She looked at me and then Talia expectantly before she pulled two folders from the chair beside her and handed them to us. “While you look those over, Lacey can tell us all about getting it on with that hunk Walker.”
I held in a groan, because Walker was the last person I wanted to talk about, especially with two knockouts like them. But we were friends, so I let out a long breath and rolled my eyes.
“It’s good. The sex is insanely good, but things are casual.” We both kept saying we were casual, but thi
ngs felt less and less casual by the day. Except lately and that’s only because I haven’t answered his calls or texts all week. Because I was a coward, and more hurt than I wanted to let on. I told them about the yacht and the stargazing. “It was amazing.”
“Shit, a yacht for real?” Talia’s tone was a mix of disbelief and maybe a hint of disgust.
“Yep. It was nice and he got this amazing telescope so we could look at the constellations. The whole weekend was great. Until Nola Paloma walked into his apartment in a gold dress. Yes, a gold dress.”
“Holy shit,” Talia said in an awed whisper.
“What happened?” Poppy cradled her chin in one hand, eyes filled with shock.
“I got dressed and got the hell out of there. Do you think I wanted to stand around and wait for him to make up some obvious excuse to get rid of me for the super model!”
“Good point,” Poppy ceded. “But you don’t know what happened because you left. Right?”
I nodded, knowing I was a coward for ignoring his attempts to talk. But it just brought home what we both knew. He’d get bored eventually, and something shiny and perfect like her would steal his attention. Better to get it over with now.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“And you’re avoiding his calls,” Talia added with a smirk. “It’s buzzed at least three times, and we haven’t even gotten our appetizers yet.”
Damn, I hated this whole insightful friends business. “I am. It’s called self-preservation. I don’t have a right to be jealous, and the fact that I am means I’m more invested than I should be.”
Poppy groaned, and when the pot stickers came to the table she reached for one immediately. “Hot! Goo too,” she murmured around the steamy piece.
“Ask him flat out if he’s still fucking her,” Talia said, apparently tired of waiting for Poppy to finish making love to the pot sticker.
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