Kenzie,
Thought this might help you with the wedding planning. Your phone number has been transferred to this phone. A few important numbers have already been programed in it for you. Both are connected to the Wi-Fi in the apartment for your convenience as well.
Take care,
Nicholas
I can’t believe he gave me a laptop and a phone! I admit looking at the pictures yesterday on my phone was challenging, but it worked perfectly fine. I certainly did not need a brand new phone or a laptop! Part of me is touched that Nicholas would think I might find these items helpful, but the other part of me doesn’t like that he continues to buy me things. When I moved in here the other day, I found the walk in closet of my bedroom filled with more clothes than I could possibly ever need. Not just dresses and gowns for when we go out together, but jeans, sweaters, pajamas and even undergarments. I don’t think I want to know how the personal shopper was able to determine the perfect bra size based on a picture of me that the press had taken.
Thank you for the phone and laptop, but I cannot accept them –K
Is something wrong with them? Do you prefer a different brand or model? –N
There’s nothing wrong with them. The brand is fine –K
I’m not sure I understand what the issue is. –N
I don’t need them –K
The laptop will help you with the wedding planning, right? It will make it easier for you to plan all the details of the wedding. –N
Yes, but –K
The phone, is more about your safety than anything. This phone is the latest model which means that it has all the top security features already installed. Additionally, it is linked to PFS’s account which means the phone cannot be easily hacked. My IT department installed several firewalls on both the computer and the phone to prevent anyone from gaining access to your emails, pictures or any documents you have saved on there. Your old phone was not capable of sustaining these firewalls. –N
I suppose that makes sense. –K
The laptop was just to make things easier for you. I saw you trying to look at things on your phone last night and thought it would be easier to see all the information and details if the screen was bigger. –N
You’re right. –K
You okay now? –N
I’m good. –K
I have to get back to my meeting. Alex is giving me mean looks because I’m not paying attention. –N
I’m sorry! You shouldn’t have responded if you were busy. –K
The meeting is boring anyway. I’d rather be talking to you than listening to this presentation. –N
I’ll see you tonight. Stop texting me. –K
Have fun dress shopping. –N
I smile at our text exchange and while I still don’t feel comfortable accepting the laptop and the phone, at least now I understand the reason behind it. When this arrangement has ended, I vow to leave the laptop, phone and all the clothes behind. The prenup arrangement was clear, in exchange for marrying him, I will walk away with the condo downstairs and hopefully a college degree. I don’t feel right accepting other things from him; it makes me feel like I’m using him for his money or something.
“Kenzie?” Hunter knocks on my door, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Hi, Hunter,” I open the door to greet him.
“Mrs. Parker and Ms. Parker are on their way up,” he announces.
“Thank you.”
I quickly head down to the great room; by the time I reach the bottom of the steps, Cara and Vivienne are exiting the elevator with a long rack of dresses with them and another woman I don’t recognize. I’m introduced to the woman, who I learn owns a very exclusive bridal shop in the city. She has brought at least a dozen or so dresses for me to try on. After going through several, I only decide to try on a couple. All of the dresses are beautiful, but some of them just don’t look like they would work well for a small private wedding. Maybe if it were a larger wedding but for something this small, I wanted something simple.
“Good afternoon,” Julie joins us as we are looking through the dresses. “I have some refreshments that I will set up over here. If you would like something else, please let me know.”
“Thank you, Julie.”
“So, are you ready to try on a dress, Kenzie?” Cara asks. I’m convinced she is more excited than I am.
“I think I’ll try on this one first,” I pull the first dress that initially caught my eye when we were looking at them. “I’ll take it upstairs—”
“Why don’t you change in bedroom down here, Kenzie? I’m sure it will be easier than going back and forth upstairs,” Vivienne suggests.
“Um, sure, I’ll be right back,” I quickly grab the dress and head towards Nicholas’s bedroom which thankfully is unlocked.
I close the door behind me and lay the dress on Nicholas’s bed. I feel odd being in here without him being home or even knowing that I’m in his room. It sort of feels like I’m invading his privacy by being in here, but Vivienne had a good point that it would be easier to change in here than go back and forth to my bedroom.
How’s it going? –N
Trying on the first dress now. –K
Found a couple you like? –N
I think so. Hope you don’t mind, your mom suggested I try the dresses on in your room rather than going up and down the stairs to change. I’ll be in and out quickly. –K
It’s fine. Take your time. –N
Thanks. –K
See you tonight. –N
I have to admit, I’m enjoying texting with Nicholas, which is something we weren’t able to do with our previous arrangement. He did eventually text me while we were still under contract with Bridget, but it took him a while to do that since he didn’t have my number.
I quickly take off my clothes and slip into the dress that I had chosen. As soon as I put it on, I realize there is no need to try on the other dresses; this dress is absolutely perfect. The dress has thick spaghetti straps holding it up, the front drops just enough to show a very small amount of cleavage while the back is open to about the center of my back. There are small stones sewn into the shoulder straps and on the bottom of the dress which adds just enough sparkle in the light. The dress is fitted to my waist and then loosens up slightly but not to the amount of your typical wedding dress. There’s no need for a big slip or anything under this dress. Glancing at Nicholas’s mirror in the bathroom, my decision is finalized that this is the dress I will wear.
“Oh, Kenzie,” Vivienne gasps when I walk back into the great room.
“You look so pretty!” Cara exclaims.
“Thank you!” I’m so glad they think so highly of this dress.
“We have a few others to try on yet—” The shop owner begins to pull another dress from the rack.
“I don’t think that will be necessary. This is the dress that I would like for the wedding,” I interrupt.
“Perfect! I wish all brides decided as quickly as you did! Now we need to talk about your shoes so I know how much to hem from the dress.”
“Actually, I won’t be wearing any for the ceremony itself.”
“None?”
“No, the wedding is on the beach, so I’m going to walk down the aisle bare-foot.”
“How romantic!” Vivienne gushes in the background.
“And for the reception?”
“Flats… probably ballet type flats. Definitely no heels,” I answer.
“Perfect, other than hemming it a little, I don’t see the need for any other alterations.”
Cara, Vivienne and I chat long after the shop owner leaves with the dresses. Using the new laptop, I show them the pictures of the flowers that the wedding planner sent me yesterday. They both seem to like the flowers which are simple yet colorful. It was nice to have someone to share the ideas with and to get someone else’s opinion on things for the wedding. I haven’t wanted to bother Nicholas with the small details, considering how busy he has been with PFS.
By some stroke of luck, I haven’t had a nightmare since I moved in. My nightmares aren’t regular; sometimes I go weeks without one, and then there will be weeks when I have several. There never seems to be a reason to the pattern, but right now I’m thankful that I’m not having them. I wish I could say the same about Nicholas—he seems to have them almost every single night. Each night, I sneak downstairs and sit outside his bedroom door until the nightmare ends. Of course, I knock on the door and try to call his name, but it never works.
Chapter 8
Nicholas
The last two weeks living with Kenzie have flown by: adjusting to living with her was much easier than I expected. The first couple of days, I couldn’t help but feel nervous leaving her at the condo when I went to work. It had nothing to do with her and everything to do with what happened when I had left Harper in my apartment. Each day, though I came home and nothing was disturbed in my office or in my bedroom; even when she tried on wedding dresses in there.
Last weekend we went out for dinner and of course, we were photographed as soon as we left the restaurant. The press continues to publish articles about me although they seem to range from the standard “when are they going to break up?” to the “why is she staying with him?” None of the articles seem to hint at our upcoming marriage which leads me to believe that the NDAs that I had all the vendors sign were effective.
“Mr. Parker?” Melody’s voice grabs my attention.
“Yes, Melody?”
“Alex is here to see you, sir.”
“Send him in please.”
“Mr. Parker?”
“Yes, Melody?”
“The other Mr. Parker is also here requesting to see you.”
“Let him know that I will meet with him after I am finished with Alex.”
“He is requesting to meet with you and Alex together, sir.”
“Very well, send them both in.”
My brother very rarely ever shows up to PFS unannounced so the fact that he is here right now has my interested peeked. Even more so, once Melody said that he wanted to meet with me and Alex. I can only assume he has a business proposition he wants to discuss, although rarely would he request Alex be in the meeting.
“Hey, bro!” Austin barrels into my office.
“Austin, this is a surprise,” I shake his hand and gesture for him to sit down.
“Parker,” Alex nods and sits next to Austin. One shared look between them has me wondering what the true reason is that they are both sitting in my office. Alex and Austin get along very well, almost too well, since they are so much alike. One look at them confirms that they have conspired together for something… I just don’t know what it is.
“What did you two do?” I ask when neither of them start the conversation first.
“Nothing,” Austin answers quickly.
“We’re breaking you out, Parker,” Alex states simply as if those few words explain everything.
“Excuse me?”
“We’re taking you out to celebrate your last taste of freedom,” Austin explains. “Since you refused to let me throw you a bachelor party, we’re going to a bar to have some fun.”
“Austin, I can’t just leave—”
“Melody has cleared your schedule, so actually you can just leave,” Alex interrupts. “Never did I think I would see the day when Nicholas Parker gets married. You have two days left of freedom, and Austin and I plan to help you at least enjoy today.”
“No strip clubs,” I warn.
“I know, I know,” Austin rolls his eyes at the reminder.
“We will be going to The Summit for the night,” Alex explains. “We figured it was the only way you would agree to come with us. Austin wanted to kidnap you and drag you to a strip club downtown, but I quickly squashed that idea. Although I have to tell you, the idea of watching a bunch of half-naked women dance around on stage for a few hours was a hard one to refuse.”
“I still think we could have gotten him there,” Austin winks at Alex knowingly.
“No, you couldn’t have,” I say firmly. The last thing I need is for the press to get pictures of me at a fucking strip club!
“Whatever, bro, listen, Cara is on her way to your apartment to get Kenzie ready—”
“Kenzie?”
“When Cara heard that we were planning on taking you out, she insisted that she had to take Kenzie out as well. Unfortunately, Carter didn’t like the idea of you both going to different places—something about it being a security nightmare.”
“It would be.”
“We settled on reserving the VIP section of The Summit for tonight, with Kenzie and Cara meeting us there. Carter arranged security for the evening and for getting the girls there,” Austin explains.
“Probably the only bachelor party in history where the bride-to-be and the groom’s sister is present,” Alex grumbles.
“Can it, Alex, you’re just mad that you won’t get to see a bunch of naked women tonight,” I chuckle.
“True.”
“Tomorrow night, Alex,” Austin winks.
“What’s tomorrow night?” I ask.
“Since you are flying out a day early, Alex and I are having a bachelor party without you.”
“Is that really a bachelor party without a groom-to-be?”
“Probably not, but there will be a bunch of hot women there!”
“When are we leaving?”
“Um, now of course. Here’s some clothes to change into; we don’t need you looking like a stiff all night,” Austin tosses me a bag with jeans and a shirt from my closet.
“We’ll be back in ten for you, Parker,” they leave my office, whispering back and forth about something.
Cara just arrived. She says we’re meeting you? –K
Alex and Austin just informed me of our plans for tonight. Are you okay with this? –N
I don’t mind. Do you need me to bring you anything from here? –K
No, apparently they had Julie grab me a change of clothes. –N
Cara showed up with a bunch of clothes for me to wear tonight too. –K
Guess they really planned this out. –N
Sounds like it. –K
I’m told that Carter has arranged security. –N
Yes, Hunter and Ben will be with us tonight. –K
Good, stay close to them. The club shouldn’t be too busy when you arrive. –N
I will. See you soon. –K
After quickly changing into the clothes that Austin tossed at me, I send a few emails and check my calendar to ensure that Melody had rescheduled the call I had later today. It’s already after five, so I’m not technically leaving work early, but I rarely ever end the day before six-thirty unless I have a meeting scheduled off site. I am off the next ten days, so I had planned to work later than normal tonight to ensure everything was wrapped up before leaving tomorrow morning. Other than Alex, Brian and Asher, most of the staff at PFS believe that I’m leaving tomorrow for a vacation; something that I haven’t done in years. Whatever I didn’t get to finish this evening, will fall on Alex when I’m away, which I suppose will be punishment enough for him for dragging me out of the office today.
“Are you ready?” Austin walks in, with Melody quick on his feet, telling him he shouldn’t be walking into my office.
“Its fine, Melody,” I assure her.
“Let’s go! I’m starving!”
“Alright, alright, Austin. Shouldn’t you be working today?”
“You’ll be happy to know I finished my job early this week, and the next project doesn’t start until Monday.”
“Sir?” Carter appears at my doorway a few minutes later.
“Let’s go, Carter,” I confirm and I see a hint of surprise in his eyes before he quickly hides it.
Alex is ready and waiting for us at the elevators. I quickly let Melody know where everything stands on the projects I was working on, promising to email her tomorrow morning with anything I forgot. The ride to The Summit is short; it’s only a few blocks from PFS which makes it convenient for business meetings and happy hours for the local businesses in the area. During the day, it offers fine dining and catering for meetings, but by night it turns into a very popular nightclub.
Thankfully, Carter has planned ahead and reserved a large table in the VIP section of the restaurant. The area is set further back from the dance floor but has a dedicated wait staff, so you are never waiting long for food or drink refills. It’s roped off from the rest of the club, with security members ensuring that anyone not on the proscribed list doesn’t enter the area. This area has been useful for celebrating business deals and even on a rare occasion for a celebrity who is in town and wants a night out. When we arrive, the tables are already filled, with the exception of the largest table which has been reserved for us. Austin takes it upon himself to order a few bottles of wine, beer and a buffet of appetizers.
“Told you I was starving,” he shrugs when I shake my head at him.
“Damn, Parker!” Alex whistles embarrassingly loudly a few minutes later.
“Alex!” I glare at him, but he doesn’t respond.
His eyes are glued to the entrance to the VIP area. It only takes me a second to realize why he reacted the way he did. Slowly walking towards our table is Kenzie… looking hotter than ever before. My jaw nearly hits the floor as I take her in: she is wearing a tight, short black dress that accentuates every curve of her body. Thin straps appear to be the only thing holding the dress up. A narrow strip of lace lines the bottom of the dress, which falls just to the middle of her thighs.
“Close your mouth, bro,” Austin chuckles at me.
The Arrangement Duet Box Set Page 40
