Exception to the Rules

by Stephanie Morris

  Bas placed his arms around her, pulled her closer to him. Her cheek went to his chest as she snuggled close. They stood stock still while she counted his heartbeats, and in an act of magic, her rhythm became his rhythm, her breath, his.

  To consummate the moment, to keep his word…music.

  The song was one of her favorites by Norah Jones, one that had yet to be played, “Come Away With Me,” so romantic that it carried her on a cloud. He led, she followed, and together, they were impeccable elegance.

  When she lifted her head to look at him, she realized he was singing, very softly. That he knew every word. It didn’t stop there, oh no. Gaea knew that every word was meant as vow from him to her. For this moment. For this hour. For this night. For this week. For…

  Chapter Fourteen

  Too exhausted to make love when they made it back to the hotel at two-thirty, Gaea did lead Bas into the bedroom with her.

  “Are you okay with this?”

  He nodded. “Definitely okay.” He kissed her, then brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “You can have the bathroom first,” he said. “I’ll wait.”

  It took a huge effort for her to smile, not because she wasn’t grateful for his cavalier-like behavior, but because she was just too tired.

  When she returned from the bathroom, Bas had stripped down to his underwear, a nice silk red. She thought about the last time she’d seen him in boxers. They definitely hadn’t fit him that loosely. How was it possible to feel so turned on when she was ready to pass out? Weird, weird.

  By the time he made it back to the bedroom, she was comfortable underneath the covers, wearing nothing at all. Usually, she slept in a T-shirt, but she wanted to feel Bas next to her. Oh my, how he’d made her feel tonight. Like a queen. Like the luckiest person on earth.

  She’d been very aware of how the women at the party had looked at him. Covetous. Avaricious. Even the most dazzling and famous of the party had envied her.

  In one way, it made her feel glamorous and celebrated. But the attention also made her a little uncomfortable. When people stared at them, she wasn’t the one they were watching.

  “Gaea,” he said as he slid in beside her. “Did I tell you how much fun I had with you tonight?”

  She nodded. “Yes, you did.”

  “Did I also mention that you were the most stunning woman there?”

  “A few times.”

  He rolled onto his side, placing his arm around her waist. “You know I will never forget dancing with you. You made me feel like a superstar tonight.”

  “Me? You’re the one who serenaded me, and you can dance, too. I’m just surprised I didn’t step all over your feet.”

  “Hogwash. You were light on your feet. As if you were walking on a cloud.”

  “And you’re full of it.”

  He got that astonished look on his face. “Ouch! That stings.”

  “You’ll live.”

  His eyes softened as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “I just want you to know that if I had a smidgen of energy left in my body, I’d be ravaging you right now.”

  “And you should know that if it wasn’t such a struggle for me to keep my eyes open, I’d allow you to.”

  “Good to know.”

  Bas kissed her again, but not on the forehead. This one lasted a lot longer, too. But finally, he drew back, she settled in, and they drifted off to sleep, their bodies cuddled close together.

  Kallie entered the hotel press room to find Gaea talking with the editor-in-chief of InStyle magazine. Trying not to look like a snoop, she listened, idolizing Gaea’s poise, her ingenuity, her confidence. Kallie still wanted to be just like her. But before she got started with the serious business side of stuff, she was almost beside herself to tell her boss all of the interesting things that had occurred the past few days. Nope. Not the work stuff, because Gaea knew all about that, but the Dax related stuff.

  Meanwhile, Kallie followed up with Olson Keppel, who, with his team, staffed the press booth. They were in charge of the small casual dinner tonight, a press party that would also include live music from a local band. She was going, of course, and so was Dax. Just thinking about him made her sigh.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Kallie turned around to find Gaea standing right behind her. Hey, I thought you were with the InStyle editor-in-chief.”

  “We’re finished. Why did you sigh like that? Is everything okay?”

  “Uh-huh. I couldn’t be better.”

  Gaea smiled. “I sort of came to that conclusion last night.”

  “You did? So you saw us? I mean, you saw that we were together? On a date? And he was by my side the entire night?”

  “Yes, I saw. Now, we need to go to the bar and have a little girl talk, yes?”

  Kallie nodded. “Oh, yes. Of course.”

  Bas finished checking his voicemails, then turned on his laptop to retrieve his email. He’d have a crap load of it, but most was probably junk mail. As his laptop booted up, he reached for his cell phone and called his mother.

  She answered with her usual jubilance.

  “Hey, Mom. How’s it going?”

  “Your dog chewed up a pair of my shoes.”

  “Really? I’ve been training him for months. Be sure and give him an extra treat.”

  “Very funny, young man. Now, how are you doing, and how is the big research project going?”

  “Excellent and fantastic.”

  “Really? I’m shocked. I would have bet money that she’d get tired of you and called off the deal after the first night.”

  “Wow. Your faith in me makes me proud to be your son.”

  “Only you would think that digging into some strange woman’s personal and intimate thoughts would be a fun thing to do. You have to realize that some concealed thoughts are private for a reason. What if you find out something appalling?”

  “For some reason, I don’t think I’ll find anything Gaea does horrifying. Shocking, yes, but not scary.”

  “Very interesting.”

  Bas realized he couldn’t check his email and talk at the same time, so he brought up his Free Cell game. That he could almost do with his eyes closed. “And what exactly does that mean?”

  “You’ve fallen for her. Only a few days into this research plan of yours and you’re in love.”

  “Don’t be silly. I haven’t fallen in love.”

  “Yes, you have. And she’s going to break your heart.”

  “No, she isn’t.”

  “See there!”

  “Don’t see there me. She’s a very witty, very knowledgeable woman, and she’s clarifying the subject in a way I never expected.”

  “So what you’re saying is,” his mother started, her tone lowering in pitch, “that you’ve stopped asking research questions and you are having sex as often as time allows.”

  Bas opened his mouth to deny it when he realized his mother was correct. He hadn’t asked Gaea a single question for, what, at least a day? “Damn it.”

  “Ah, sweetie. What can I say? Your purpose is always legitimate, but when it comes to women…”

  “What?”

  “Let’s just say your brilliant mind becomes muddled and you lose your focus.”

  The Free Cell game forgotten, Bas leaned forward in his seat. “Usually, I would agree with you. But trust me, Mom, it’s different this time.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “No, seriously. Gaea’s doing a hell of a job on this fashion campaign. She’s focused but not excessive, and she’d been completely honest with me. That’s why it seems like everything is moving at warp speed, because we are not dawdling on all of the usual get-to-know-each-other bull crap.”

  “I see.”

  “And that tone of voice irritates me to infinity,” he said, getting a little pissed off. “You only use it when you’re assuming, the wrong thing in this situation, of course.”

  There was a long silence on the other end of the line and he wondered if he’d gon
e too far. Just as he was getting ready to apologize, his mother spoke.

  “You’re right, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I have no business being judgmental of you over this, especially when I raised you to be the exact opposite. I hope that she’s everything you’ve ever imagined your perfect woman to be.”

  “I’m not saying she’s perfect,” he responded, not liking the uptight tone he head in his voice. “I’m just saying she’s a good person.”

  “Great. And when am I going to see you?”

  “Once this entire shindig is over and I have time to get settled. I’m guessing next weekend.”

  “So your dog will have ample time to destroy a few more pairs of my shoes?”

  “If I were you, I wouldn’t worry about that. I also trained Harley to eat women’s underwear.”

  “Sebastian!”

  “Love you, Mom. See you soon.”

  His disconnected the call to the sound of her stammering. His grin didn’t last long, however. Bas stood up, went to the window and looked down at the street below. Was he being too hasty about all of this? Was he making Gaea into something she wasn’t? Or was this enthusiasm that he’d felt since their first meeting actually real, something he could believe in?

  So what, he hadn’t asked any questions. That was just a matter of having the opportunity to do so, that’s it. He’d ask her what he needed to know. There was no way he was abandoning his project. Nope. The exact opposite, as a matter of fact. Getting to know her so intimately had been a surprising experience. He’d even guessed correctly about the fear she felt the first time after. By giving her the space she’d needed, Gaea had come back to him the next morning. That proved that he was starting to understand women.

  He also knew he didn’t have time to waste if he wanted to make it to Sambuca’s on time. It would give him time to ask Gaea a few questions before the event started. There were a few pressing ones he had for her.

  Kallie sipped her caramel latte iced coffee noisily as she reached the bottom of the cup. For the last thirty minutes, she’d been talking nonstop, telling Gaea every last detail about her and Dax. Gaea had never seen Kallie so excited, so vivacious. There simply wasn’t a way to stay acquiescent in the presence of so much cheerfulness.

  And still, Gaea couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen when the fashion campaign was over. Dax was a well-known celebrity, with a plethora of women at his disposal to choose from. While Gaea thought Kallie was one of the most wonderful, intelligent, and definitely angelic women, did Dax Kavanagh really want her for longer than a week? Watching Kallie talk, with her animated gestures and her one-of-a-kind vocabulary, all Gaea could think was if Dax hurt Kallie, she would chase him down and hurt him severely.

  “And he said that he wants me to come with him to Wyoming. He’s thinking about purchasing a ranch there. I mean, can you imagine? I bet Dax would be to die for in a pair of boots and a cowboy hat.”

  “Does Dax own a cowboy hat and a pair of boots?”

  “I have no idea, but I’m certain I’ll find out.”

  “I’m sure you will.” Gaea sipped her iced white chocolate mocha coffee. “Wyoming, huh?”

  “Yep. What’s not to like?” Kallie said. “I mean, cows, horses, trees, nature. Bunnies. Deer!”

  “Right. Woodland creatures.” Gaea put her cup down. “Does Dax hunt?”

  Kallie looked terrified, but only for a second. “I have no idea. Don’t think so, though. Dax is too kind to shoot an animal and he does study to work with them, to heal them. I know he fishes.”

  “Fishing is fine.”

  “Right. As long as it isn’t for sport.”

  “Good point.”

  “And you don’t have to look into their eyes as they come over the edge of the boat.”

  Gaea nodded, totally understanding. In fact, she understood a lot about what her assistant was feeling. More than she wanted to admit. What Gaea had that Kallie didn’t have was her plan. Even though she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Bas since this morning, that wasn’t because she was getting all “mushy” over him, as Kallie would say. She was just reacting to the unfamiliarity of such awesome sex.

  “Oh, my,” Kallie said, leaning forward to prop her chin on her hands and staring directly at Gaea.

  “What?”

  “I knew it. You’re also experiencing these sensations with your gorgeous Bas. It’s happening to both of us!”

  “Hold on a second,” Gaea said, feeling her cheeks heat and resisting the need to sprint from the table. “It’s not like that at all for us.”

  Kallie’s eyes widened and Gaea realized what she almost revealed.

  Kallie leaned forward. “He’s not really a boyfriend from college, is he?”

  Gaea kept her expression as cool, calm, and collected as possible, despite the flush she couldn’t hide. “Why, of course he is.”

  “Ah, okay. I thought he was someone you asked to tag along to get weird Arnold to leave you alone because, well, you don’t have a life.” Now it was Kallie’s turn to turn beet red. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”

  “Its fine,” Gaea responded. “I’m not insulted. I work hard to create that image.”

  “Why?”

  “Because people’s lives get so chaotic.”

  “Oh.”

  Gaea didn’t like when Kallie did that. Got all silent and wouldn’t look directly at her. “It’s okay. I know you have something to say.”

  “Keep in mind, it’s only my opinion.”

  “I know, but I value it.”

  “Thanks. I’m just wondering why you make your happiness dependent on your job. And weren’t you the one who told me that companies don’t have loyalty to anything but the bottom line?”

  “I’m not building my career on one job.”

  “Okay, but it is built around some job. And I’m sorry, but you have to admit that’s not very reassuring, is it?”

  “Kallie, go buy yourself another iced coffee, would you?”

  “Okay. But then we have to go get dressed. It’s press party time tonight.”

  “Yes, it is,” Gaea said, relieved that she hadn’t blown her cover. Well, at least not all the way.

  “Bas is going to be there, right?”

  She nodded.

  “That’s great. You won’t be all work and no play.”

  Gaea remained silent as Kallie got up and put her hand on her shoulder. It did occur to her that in all the time they’d worked together, it was the first time they’d actually touched like that. Gaea had to wonder if it was because Kallie had changed, or she had.

  The best thing about the press party was that Gaea could give up the reins of control. It still didn’t mean she could just laze around drinking cape cods the entire night. She just wasn’t responsible for the shindig.

  The bad thing about the press party was that Gaea wasn’t exactly the responsive, vibrant woman he’d kissed on her way out this morning. It was the same as the first night, when she’d gotten frightened. She wasn’t a hundred percent accessible.

  As far as he was concerned, he needed to get back on track. Not that he wasn’t going to continue to make love to her every chance he got, but he was going to adjust his focus back to his research plan.

  Once she came back from talking to some Glamour magazine mogul, he would resume his line of questioning. If he could determine where to start. What to ask.

  “May I refill your drink?”

  He looked up in the pretty eyes of the cocktail waitress. She was a complete contrast to Gaea in every way, from her red hair to her tall, waiflike body. But her smile was pleasant and welcoming. “Yes, thank you. And bring a cape cod, would you?”

  “No problem, sir.” She walked off, but he caught her looking back at him several times.

  Bas had noticed that ever since he’d signed on to be Gaea’s escort, women had been coming on to him. A lot. Entirely more than normal. In fact, he could go days, weeks, months, without receiving a single smile fr
om the opposite sex. But every time he was with Gaea, he became a chick magnet.

  He couldn’t figure it out for the life of him.

  “Hey.” Gaea sat down next to him. She exhaled heavily as she pushed a strand of hair out of her face.

  “That woman is a piranha,” she whispered. “It’s as though she wants Marcella Girardi to be unsuccessful. Maybe she isn’t into fashion. Or maybe she just doesn’t care much for me.”

  “That’s crazy. How could anyone not like you?”

  Gaea stared at him a long time. In fact, he was getting concerned when she finally murmured, “It doesn’t really matter.”

  “What?”

  “It doesn’t matter if people like me. I don’t care. I’m not even sure why I asked to begin with. I just need them to purchase the clothes that we’re pushing. Or to endorse it, or whatever else they need to do for me to succeed. Liking me has nothing to do with it.”

  He didn’t know what happened to make her say what she just had, but he knew it was best if he didn’t ask.

  “I don’t want people to despise me, either. What I’m trying to say is that it shouldn’t matter. This isn’t high school. What she thinks of me is no concern of mine.”

  “Okay.”

  She looked him in the eye. “Can you do me a favor, Bas?”

  “Of course.”

  “I would appreciate it if we could stop with the intimate act while we’re in public, unless Arnold is around, okay? I need to refocus on why I’m here and I can’t do that if I’m playing around with you all night.”

  It was difficult not to flinch at the harshness of her words. All he could do was smile, pretend that what she just said didn’t cut deep. As if this was just another day of dealing with an unpleasant Navy Seal mission. As though the way she felt about him didn’t matter at all.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gaea couldn’t believe it. Here she was in the midst of another extremely successful party, getting kudos from everyone from People magazine to Cosmo, compliments out the wazoo from the Marcella Girardi camp, the subtle wink and nudge from Russell Simmons, Beyonce Knowles and Tommy Hilfiger, yet all she could think about was Bas.