I came to an abrupt stop in front of the white stone structure.
Abbie stared at the house, turned toward me, and then back toward the house.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." She pushed the door open and stumbled out of the car. "It's huge."
I smiled as we walked up the circular driveway. A black SUV sat at the end of one side of the driveway. I knew that truck. "Harrison's here."
"That's his truck?"
I nodded. I pushed the door open. I followed the sound of hip hop beats up the stairs to the second floor.
“Oh my God!”
"What? What's wrong?” Abbie asked.
Harrison knelt at the top of the stairs. He adjusted a post on the newly installed banister. The wood slats matched the honey brown wood on the front door.
Why was he installing them? Harrison had people working for him to do it.
"Hey," Harrison said and turned down the music.
I ran up the stairs two at a time. I knelt next to him and ran my hand down the slat. It was smooth to the touch.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"It's beautiful." I smiled and stared into his eyes.
He nodded.
We were pulled out of our mutual . . . whatever, when Abbie spun around the foyer and squealed.
We both laughed.
"Abbie," I yelled.
She stopped in mid spin. "What?"
“You remember Harrison. Harrison, Abbie."
"Well, hello Harrison. It’s a pleasure to meet you again,” Abbie said in her seductive tone that always made me laugh.
I rolled my eyes and stood back up.
Harrison smiled and saluted her.
She winked back and continued into the house out of sight.
"I finished the stairs to your office this morning, too,” Harrison said.
"Really," I said with a silly grin on my face.
"Yeah, go check them out." Harrison smiled.
"I love this. It's like Christmas." I squeezed his shoulder.
"What can I say? I like to see you smile."
I squealed and skipped down the stairs. I stopped midway.
"We're okay, right?" I asked.
He winked and continued to work on the banister.
My insides warmed.
I went to find Abbie.
"B, this bathroom is as big as our first apartment." She stood in the area that will soon be the shower.
"You like it?"
"Well, I don't know. It doesn't look like you." She ran her hand down the cream stone tile wall.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Yet." She walked over and placed her hands on my shoulders. "I think it's great. I'm happy for you." She pulled me in for a hug and squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe.
"What was that for?" I asked.
"I miss you.” She pouted.
I pouted back.
"Come on. Let's go check out the guesthouse. So you'll have your own little place next time you come visit." I pulled her by the hand.
"Okay, but you owe me like five visits." Abbie squeezed my hand.
"Three visits," I said.
"Nope. I am up seven to two."
"Five."
"See, you always forget my trips to Jersey," she said in her best Jersey girl accent.
"That doesn't count."
"Different state. It counts." We laughed as I pulled her through the house and into the back.
Harrison made the door to the guesthouse dark wood with eight frosted glass windowpanes. A sign across the front said wet paint.
His guys had finished the floors throughout the house a few days ago. They were gorgeous and exactly how I envisioned it. It wasn't the first time Harrison Crawford had been inside my head.
"The woodwork in this place is amazing." Abbie tested the wet paint.
"Harrison did it. All of it." I pulled her hand away and pushed her through the door.
"Wow. Hot and talented. He's a carpenter. Like Jesus." Abbie held her hands out and hummed a hymn as she crossed the room.
I rolled my eyes and headed up the stairs.
I stopped at the top.
A drafting table sat in the middle room. It was the table I showed him, but so much more. It was made of the richest, most vibrant wood. The glass tabletop sat at an angle in the center.
I walked toward it, excited to feel the smooth finish on my fingertips. I pressed the glass, and the table moved in a circle. I squealed before I could contain myself.
I moved it around and checked out the shelves, drawers, and compartments. The whole unit hit me hip high. I took one lap around the workstation. When I made it all the way around, Harrison stood at the top of the stairs.
I smiled and continued to inspect it.
I pressed on the tabletop again, and it tilted.
"You can set it at the angle you want." Harrison pointed to the edge of the table.
I leaned into him as he explained how the table worked.
"You can lock it in one position, so it won't move on you. The whole thing is set on a swivel so you can work from all angles. It will help when the sun hits this room in the afternoon." Harrison spun the table.
I grinned like an idiot.
I forgot about Abbie; I forgot about my marriage. At that moment, I let Harrison be the center of my world.
"While I'm enjoying this little dance the two of you seem to be having, I'm hungry. Can we order some food?" Abbie asked.
She brought me back to reality.
We both looked over at Abbie as she stood by the stairs, resting her head on the railing. She stood and crossed her arms over her chest, a knowing grin on her face.
"What do you ladies feel like?" Harrison asked as he stepped away from me.
I missed him instantly.
"He's so polite," Abbie mocked. Harrison took it as natural ribbing and didn't seem to care. "I'd like to try some of this Tex-Mex I keep hearing so much about."
"You haven't had Tex-Mex.” Harrison feigned outrage.
"No, sexy, I'm from Brooklyn, remember?" Abbie wiggled her eyebrows.
"Well, little lady, I'll just hop on my horse and rustle you up some vittles on the double." Harrison tipped an imaginary hat.
"I knew that's how they really talked." Abbie clapped her hands together.
"I'll meet you guys back at the main house."
"Thanks, Harrison." I leaned against the table. "I love it."
I held his gaze a second too long.
He averted his eyes and left.
Harrison
I made a quick exit and ordered the food. I couldn't stand in the same room with her while she leaned over that table and not think about all the things I wanted to do to her.
I might be a sick fucker for building a workstation that could turn into a play station with a few adjustments. That was before I knew she was submissive.
It was a shame we couldn't use it for both.
I might have to build another one.
I went back to work on the banister.
She loved everything in the house that I had touched. I wasn't sure why it thrilled me to know that. Her husband might have her, and if he saved her, he wasn't a bad guy. He couldn't be giving her what she needed, though. Not like I could.
I didn't have to install this stuff, but I wanted to. If I caught a glimpse of her, smelled her scent, or heard her accent, I was happy the rest of the day. She made me happy.
The way she rubbed up against me a few minutes ago pushed the line we promised not to cross.
All the okay feelings I had about her husband didn't last when I stewed too long over the fact that if it weren't for him, Brooklyn and I would be together.
The food arrived, and I texted Brooklyn.
"It smells good," Abbie said as she stuck her nose in the nearest bag and inhaled.
The kitchen didn't have counters yet, so one of the worktables became the makeshift kitchen. Brooklyn had brought in a coffee maker and a small refrigerator with fresh water for the guys who
worked on putting her house together. We all loved working on Brooklyn's house.
We dug into the food.
A few minutes later, we turned toward the knock on the door.
"You guys decent," Seth yelled from the foyer.
"In here," Brooklyn said and winked at me.
"We were driving by and saw your car parked out front and wanted to check out the progress," Justin said as if he needed to explain their appearance. He patted my back.
Seth kissed Brooklyn on the cheek and abruptly stood up.
"I heard about you," he said to Abbie.
"I haven't heard about you." Abbie wiped her hands on a napkin and stood up. "Introduce us."
She and Seth locked eyes, and Brooklyn, Justin, and I exchanged a concerned head nod.
Abbie, this is Seth and Justin." Brooklyn pointed at both guys. "They designed and built the house."
"Wow, how did you hook up with so many hot talented creative types?" Abbie asked.
"Have some. There's plenty," Brooklyn said, ignoring Abbie.
"I stopped by because I booked a consult for you," Justin said.
"Consult?" Brooklyn stood up. "With who?"
"Leanne Crosby," Justin answered.
"Chris Crosby?" I asked.
"Yeah, she's pregnant with twins, and she needs someone to do her nursery. I showed her some of your work online, and she loved it. She likes the idea of being the first to discover you here in Texas." Justin reached into his pocket. "Here's her number. She's expecting your call today."
"That's awesome. Thank you," Brooklyn said as she stood and hugged Justin.
He hugged her back.
My face grew hot.
Justin smirked as he released her.
The room grew quiet as we ate. After a few bites, I looked up and found Brooklyn staring at us with an inquisitive look on her face.
I narrowed my eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. Life is crazy, that's all."
"What do you mean?" Abbie asked.
"It's just funny the way people enter your life."
"Oh, my God." Abbie cackled. "You're right. How else do you explain a formerly devoted sub surrounding herself with three Doms."
"Abbie," Brooklyn said.
At the same time, Justin yelled, "Harrison! What happened to keeping it professional?”
"No. I didn't do anything.” My voice squeaked.
"Our little Brooklyn showed up at Crush last night, and from what I heard, it wasn't her first time in a BDSM club," Seth said with a sexy wink and grin, gloating over the fact he knew something that Justin didn't know.
Justin's face turned red.
"What does that tell you?" Abbie asked Brooklyn.
She and Seth nodded and grinned at each other.
"You didn't tell them?" Brooklyn asked me.
"No," I said to her in a firm voice.
The corners of her lips turned up.
Last night was not one of my proudest moments.
"How did you get in?" Justin asked.
"Uh, I guess that would be my fault," Abbie chimed in.
Justin's mouth dropped further to the ground.
"Where the fuck was I when all this was going on?" Justin asked.
"In Palm Springs building a house for your client." Seth used air quotes around the word house.
"You built someone a playhouse?" Abbie asked.
"Wait." I turned to Abbie. "How did you know they were Doms?"
“It takes one to know one.” Abbie stood up straight and squared her shoulders at Seth.
"It's the way you guys interact." Brooklyn chimed in.
My eyes narrowed.
"Most guys when they talk to each other try to one-up each other."
“You guys are inclusive rather than exclusive,” she said and bit her lip as if she said too much.
I wanted her to say more.
"You have studied this, I see," Seth said.
"I have," Brooklyn said.
"Our Brooklyn was quite the submissive in her day," Abbie said.
Brooklyn stared daggers at her.
"What?" Abbie shrugged her shoulders. "I thought we were all sharing." She turned to Seth. "And I don't believe they're all Doms."
"Yea, sweetheart," he said as he stood up. "We are."
"Prove it."
"What you want me to do some dominant feat of strength or something?" Seth said.
I looked at Brooklyn. I smiled, recalling her description of her ex-boyfriend.
"You two stop, please. No Dom standoffs in my new house, please." Brooklyn stood between them.
The group laughed.
"Is Paul—" Justin asked, but Brooklyn cut him off before he could finish the sentence.
"No. I mean he knows about my past, but he's not into it."
"Do you miss it?" Seth asked.
"Seth," both Justin and I said at the same time.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I didn't think so," Brooklyn said, and the room went quiet.
Abbie broke the awkward silence.
"Have you built a playroom?" Abbie asked Justin.
"No, I imagine that would be more of an interior designer’s job," Justin said and winked at me.
"Oh wow, Brookie, that could be your thing." She clapped her hands. "You could build playrooms for the sexually adventurous."
"What? I wouldn’t even know where to begin," she said.
“You've never been in a playroom," Justin asked.
I remained quiet during the whole conversation, but my ears perked up.
"Not a private one, no. My ex and I, we improvised and scened in clubs, but an outfitted playroom Fifty Shades of Grey style? No."
"You have a playroom, don't you?" Abbie asked Justin.
He nodded.
"Well, let's go. I want to see it," Abbie said as she jumped off the table.
"Aw darlin’, I'm sorry. Only true subs are invited to our playroom," Seth said.
In the fifteen minutes they've known each other, the two never missed an opportunity to rib each other. Seth switched, and Brooklyn told me Abbie did, too. It was fascinating to watch them dominate each other.
"What room would you make a playroom in this house?" Justin asked.
"All of them," Brooklyn answered.
"Yeah, you guys could have a BDSM house right here." Abbie’s face lit up. "Have sex parties for every fetish. Each room could be a different theme from a dungeon to a doctor’s office and everything between."
We all stared. It wasn't any different from the sex house we wanted to buy in high school. We wanted a place where we could do whatever we wanted and not have to answer to our parents. All we wanted was a place to live out our fantasies. We didn't know then where our imagination would take us, and that was probably a good thing.
"We could have like a circus themed room. Something with chains hanging from the ceiling," Brooklyn said.
"Something you want to try?" I asked.
"Just an idea," she answered. "I always wanted to know what it felt like to fly." She bit her lip and looked away.
My cock loved that answer. It didn't like the change in her demeanor when she looked at her vibrating phone.
Brooklyn excused herself.
She returned a few minutes later, and her mood had changed. "Abbie. We have to go."
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. Thanks for lunch and again for the desk. I'll be back in a couple of days." She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek before I had a chance to react. She hugged both Justin and Seth and left the room.
We all turned to Abbie. She shook her head, shrugged her shoulders, and scurried off to catch up with Brooklyn.
We all sat back down and remained quiet, wondering what the hell happened.
Ten
Brooklyn
I told Paul I was in a meeting and couldn’t talk. He didn't appreciate it. Then, he started in on the guilt.
Abbie and I headed back to the apartment, and I called hi
m back.
The phone went through right away. He wasn't in Dubai any longer.
"Well, thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to your husband." His sarcasm hurt my heart.
"I'm sorry. I just needed to finish up with them." I flopped on the bed but got up and shut the door. "Where are you?"
I wanted him to lie to me.
"I'm in California. I stopped over here to check on some of my properties before heading back to Dallas.”
"When are you coming home?" I asked.
"Why? You afraid I'm going to pop in unannounced."
"No."
"I know Abbie's there."
My eyes grew wide. I looked around as if I could see him lurking in the shadows.
"Yeah, she came in town for a few days. How did you know?"
"You can't eat fifty-five dollars of food at Lucky's Cafe alone and you have no other friends.” He monitored all of our finances.
I didn't mind. The money was all his, and he never told me what I could and couldn't spend. He wanted it to bother me; it was his own sick way of keeping track of my life.
"What's your point?" I asked.
"No point, just"—he sighed—"I'll be home tomorrow, so please . . ."
"She'll be gone before you get here," I said.
"That's my girl," he said as if praising me for doing a good job.
Why was every word out of his mouth annoying me lately?
Because you don't want to be with him.
God, I hated the little voice in my head, but more times than not, it was right.
I hung up the phone and went looking for Abbie.
"You're sending me packing," Abbie asked, faking disappointment.
"Yes. I don't have it in me to deal with the two of you in the same room right now." I tapped the edge of her open suitcase.
"I know. I get it." She folded and stuffed her clothes in her bag. "When's he getting in?"
"Tomorrow morning. He even sent me his flight info and asked me to pick him up at the airport." I bit my lip.
"Weird."
"I know." I sat down on the bed.
Abbie sat next to me.
"You know you can always come home, right?" Abbie said.
"I'm fine, Abbie."
"I know."
"I like it down here."
"Sure, with the Dom dream team looking out for you"—Abbie took my hand—"what's not to like?"
I laughed.
Salvage Him (Highland Park Chronicles Book 1) Page 7
