“Well, um, no, I mean, yes, it’s very generous, of course, but, um…”
“Will it keep the branch open?”
“I’m sure it will, yes, but I feel that I should tell you, Mr. Phoenix, that even this is only going to be a-a temporary stay of execution, if you will.”
“That’s the reason for the newspaper. We’ll set an example, see if we can’t really stir up some publicity for this campaign.”
Lorraine repeated, “Campaign?”
“Of course,” Griffin said. “That’s the only way to get anything accomplished in this country. You need media, you need publicity. If you can win in the court of public opinion, everything else falls into place.”
Lorraine couldn’t disagree, and she didn’t want to contradict this man on that point or any point. She just didn’t know what to say.
Griffin turned to Carmen and Albert. “You should both be very proud of your Miss Devonshire here.” He asked Lorraine, “It is Miss?” She nodded with a coy smile she couldn’t disguise. “I imagine she wrote that letter at some professional risk.”
But Albert was quick to say, “Oh no, not at all! We stick by our staff around here, without question. Loyal to a fault, that’s our motto.”
Lorraine’s eyes found Albert’s lying face, but she didn’t call him out on it. Instead, Lorraine asked Griffin, “You said you were here on a skiing holiday with your son?”
“Ashe—he’s in periodicals with his nanny. Kid loves the Hollywood Reporter—gonna be an agent someday.”
Carmen seemed to know what Lorraine was getting at. “Spring break was two weeks ago,” Carmen said.
Griffin nodded. “We like to avoid the crowds.” Griffin read their expressions, then broke out in an amused little huff at their confusion. “Ashe is homeschooled. Sometimes his tutor travels with us, though in this case it’s just us and Mrs. B.”
“Homeschooled,” Albert repeated.
“Tutor,” Carmen repeated.
“Mrs. B?” Lorraine repeated.
“Marion Beemish looks after Ashe when I can’t. She’s like his second grandmother.”
Grandmother, Lorraine thought. Thank God! Wow…wait…what does it even matter? This guy could have and probably does have the most drop-dead gorgeous women throwing themselves at him all the time. I just work at the library—sweet, virginal librarian Lorraine, always doing the right thing. There’s no way he could be interested in me. Our lives are worlds apart. He’s got a son; I’m an only child; I’ve never even babysat before. Calm down, Lorraine; he’s just here to save the library. She felt her face flush.
Griffin led Lorraine and the others out of the little office to introduce his boy, but they were met by a sweaty, balding man in a red flannel. A second man carrying a camera took pictures of everything, avoiding the children sitting at the tables.
The sweaty man extended a business card. “Dorian Gale, the Denver Post, my photographer, Stu Jeffers. You called about a story?”
“Gave you the scoop, Dorian,” Griffin said. “You know that open letter you published, by librarian Lorraine Devonshire here?”
“Sure do, phone’s been ringing off the hook.”
“Get ready to tear it outta the wall. I’m donating one million dollars to this library to pay for its continued operation, due entirely to Miss Devonshire’s letter.”
“Really?”
Photographer Stu started clicking pictures of Lorraine, and of Albert and Carmen.
Griffin said, “I was so moved by her clarity and the grace of her sentiments, I couldn’t help but do whatever I could. And I call upon others like me—the one-percenters—to do the same. We’ve taken enough from the system; it’s time to give back. I know we all give to various charities and organizations that we believe in. And I want to remind the other Fortune Four Hundred and Ninety-nine to put the public library at the top of your give list. If our government won’t spare this sacred institution, it’s up to us to do it.”
“You live and work in New York?” Dorian asked Griffin. “What brought you here?”
“I came here on vacation, which I think I’ll be extending…indefinitely.” He glanced at Lorraine, a look of infinite possibility in his eyes. It was like he looked right through her soul. She blushed as she noticed the temperature increasing between her legs. A little shiver ran up her spine as she realized she’d never felt that aroused by any guy she’d ever met before. Let alone with one look. “I want to make sure the library gets back on its feet. And I like Denver, always have. It’s a city unparalleled in its natural beauty.”
After a few more questions, Griffin shooed the reporter and photographer away and led Lorraine, Albert, and Carmen to the periodicals section.
Ashe Griffin and Marion Beemish sat at one of the many long tables, racks of magazines nearby. “Ashe,” Griffin said and the boy obediently lowered his copy of the Hollywood Reporter. “Son, this is the woman who wrote that letter we liked so much—Lorraine Devonshire, and this is Carmen Mendez and Albert Jenkins—they also work for the library.”
“Hello,” Lorraine said.
“Nice to meet you,” Carmen offered.
Albert extended his hand and the young man shook his, a serious expression on his nine-year-old face.
Griffin went on, “Mister Jenkins, Ms. Mendez, this is my son’s nanny, Marion Beemish, who we fondly refer to as Mrs. B.”
Lorraine took in the old woman’s short, slight frame and cheerful smile, among other details—one of them a broach on her pressed, gray four-button jacket. “What a lovely broach,” Lorraine said. “Is that a ruby?”
“My birthstone,” she said, boasting.
Griffin said to Mrs. B., “I’m going to finish up with these people and we’ll be on our way. Excuse us?”
Ashe nodded, his own blond hair shorter than his father’s, a few strands hanging over his forehead.
“Of course sir,” Mrs. B. said, glancing at Lorraine and the others. “So nice to have met you.”
“The pleasure was ours,” Albert said, Lorraine and Carmen nodding.
Walking away, Griffin quietly explained, “My son doesn’t mean to be rude. Poor kid hasn’t said a word since his mother died.”
“How awful,” Lorraine couldn’t help but say.
“Yeah, he’s really taking it hard. Great kid though—really smart, big, big heart.” Griffin turned to gaze at the boy. He forced a smile. “Had a thought. We’re gonna stick around a little while, and we could use somebody to show us around town. Can you take a few days off?”
“Me? I…um…” Lorraine turned to Albert and Carmen. “Gee, it’s not for me to say, really…”
Albert and Carmen looked at each other, Albert once again stammering, his mouth flapping but producing no actual words.
Griffin said, “I think since Miss Devonshire here has saved the library, she’s deserved a little vacation.”
Albert said, “No, it’s…it’s fine, really. I’m sure we can muddle through a few days. Go ahead, take the week.”
“The whole week? Mister Jenkins, I can’t afford to take a whole week off!”
Griffin said to Albert, “Miss Devonshire and I may need to work out the details of our campaign, so it’s really library business…”
“Right, business,” Albert said, “of course, I… anything you say, Mr. Phoenix.”
“Excellent.” Griffin turned to Lorraine. “You don’t mind?”
“Why…no, not at all, Mr. Phoenix.”
“Griffin.”
Lorraine’s head dipped, demure. “Griffin.”
“Great.” After a moment of Lorraine’s silent amazement, Griffin said, “Get your coat.”
Chapter 4
The ziplines cut through the thickly forested Rocky Mountains; the smell of pine was rich in the air and a falcon soared overhead. The breeze pushed Lorraine’s short red hair back, refreshing and a bit frightening. A chasm opened up beneath Lorraine as she clung to that harness, the metal cable thunking a reassuring base drone above her.
For as long as that cable stayed tight, Lorraine knew she’d be okay. But there were the various buckles and straps to worry about too. Luckily, the trip down the line was so thrilling and fast that Lorraine didn’t have too much time to worry about it.
Wow. I can’t believe I’m here doing this. I can’t believe I’m here with HIM! That he wants me to be his tour guide. This is all so outside my comfort zone. I read, I stay inside, I play it safe, I don’t mingle with insanely hot Bajillionaires. Fuck, he is so hot. Focus on the line, Lorraine; don’t crash into anything! I know I have to stay in line, keep my emotions in check. I can’t screw this up.
But her blood was still rushing in her veins. She arrived at the end of the line, falling into Griffin’s strong arms. Lorraine couldn’t deny the rush of excitement pulsing in her tissues, swirling around her and within her. Laughter erupted out of her mouth as she leaned against Griffin’s strong chest, sheer exhilaration overwhelming her.
Ashe was silent and somber, but even he couldn’t fight the smile that was wriggling its way onto his young face—a miniature of his father’s. The zipline adventure included several more stretches of death-defying thrills before it was over and they unstrapped and unfastened the buckles.
“What do you both say we check out the restaurant, grab some dinner, and catch this magnificent sunset?” Griffin suggested. Lorraine smiled in agreement and Ashe nodded his head. The sun was beginning a slow and glorious descent, the blue sky burning orange and yellow, with purple bleeding in over the horizon.
At the restaurant, they nestled in, enjoying the beauty of the nature that surrounded them. The truffle fries were drizzled with a black aioli and herbed Parmesan; the Bangs Island mussels were served with chorizo sausage, white-wine garlic butter sauce, tomato brunoise, chives, and focaccia. The combination of favors collected on Lorraine’s tongue, exciting her taste buds and all her senses. Every bite was sensual. A crisp chardonnay was the perfect compliment, and also helped soothe Lorraine’s nerves from the rush of the ziplines.
Ashe was silent as always, but Lorraine kept talking to him anyway, treating him the way she’d treat any child at the library or anywhere else. “I can’t believe you weren’t afraid,” Lorraine said, the chewy mussels savory and buttery on her tongue. “I was half-convinced that line was just gonna snap and down I’d go.”
Ashe just shrugged; Griffin’s eyes fixed on his son. “These things are generally well-maintained,” Griffin said. “There are worse things out there.”
“I know that’s true,” Lorraine said. She wasn’t sure how far she should go, or how the boy would receive any outreach. But she already had a fondness for Ashe, and she couldn’t resist the temptation to try to help him. “What a delicious meal. Thank you again, Griffin.”
“It’s more than my pleasure.”
Lorraine turned to Ashe. “When I was a kid, it was Kraft mac ’n’ cheese and weekends at the ice rink if we were lucky. I wonder what it’s like to have so many fun adventures and such fine dining all the time.”
Ashe didn’t answer.
Lorraine and Griffin glanced at each other, and she could tell that he appreciated her efforts, that he supported her attempts to reach that sad, fractured soul.
“I suppose I know it now,” Lorraine said, inspiring a little chuckle from Griffin. “I wonder what it’s like to be homeschooled. I just went to public school with the rest of the kids on the block; nobody thought anything about it.”
Griffin nodded. “Me too. It was never my favorite part of growing up. And public schools today are more like prisons. Private schools are fine; we’ve had a few of those. But the past few years, well, the Phoenix men are sticking together. The homeschooling fits our lifestyle too, which is always nice.”
“It certainly is,” Lorraine said. “You’re in the stock market?”
Griffin nodded. “You?”
“Nope. I’ve never bought a single stock. I’ve never done a lot of things, actually. I guess you could say that, where some of those things are concerned…I’m a virgin.”
Griffin turned his head, eyes squinting with a keen interest. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Well, that’s…that’s very interesting. You’ve never…bought a single share, not one?”
Lorraine shook her head. “I came close once or twice, but…I had a bad investment, and I didn’t wanna play the market anymore.” The truth was Lorraine pined for the right man; every guy she thought might be a good match proved otherwise or just didn’t feel right.
“I see.” Griffin took a sip from his water glass. “Are you interested in playing? The market, I mean.”
Lorraine cleared her throat. “I don’t know very much about it.”
“I could teach you everything you’ll need to know.” He smirked as he gently touched her forearm. Grazing it ever so slightly, the touch of his large, manly hand on her soft skin sent a shock of sexual desire coursing through her body. Lorraine felt that familiar feeling between her thighs return once again—one of hot, unbridled lust and sexual craving. The sexual tension collected between them, becoming even more intense when Griffin locked eyes with Lorraine and went on, “I’ve got a number of interests. It brings us a certain amount of independence. That’s why Ashe and I believe in giving back, the way we did with your library. That’s a cause we’re very excited about.”
“Lucky for us,” Lorraine said, trying to keep her sexual urges contained.
“It wasn’t luck, Lorraine, not at all. You earned it. You took a risk in the service of a worthy cause. You were willing to throw it all away, sacrifice yourself, your job—”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Lorraine felt inclined to say.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t catch hell for that letter? I’d guess that big supervisor of yours was about to drop the axe, am I right?” Griffin insinuated. She glanced down at her plate. “Of course you won’t admit it. That’s just another sign of the quality of your character, Lorraine. I can tell, in the brief time that we’ve spent together, that the world needs more people like you. If libraries are where we’ll find you, then we need as many libraries as we can get.”
Lorraine smiled, glancing at Ashe. Ashe almost seemed to smile, but she didn’t dare presume. It was enough that she was there with the two Phoenix men. Lorraine felt exceptional in their presence, honored that both men enjoyed her company, and for very different reasons.
Griffin and Ashe drove Lorraine back to her apartment in their rented black Mercedes Benz sedan. Griffin left Ashe in the car and walked Lorraine to the foot of the stairs leading up to her place. In a very quiet, sexy voice, Griffin said, “I want to thank you, Lorraine.”
“Me? Um, I should be thanking you, Griffin, for such a lovely day,” Lorraine said, trying to keep it together the best she could. Am I crazy? Am I getting a vibe again from him? That was way more than a casual thank you. There was definitely something behind that thank you!
“It was, and tomorrow we’ll have another. We will be here at ten o’clock to pick you up.”
Lorraine couldn’t control her smile. “Okay,” was all she could say, feeling like a giggly schoolgirl.
Aware of the magnetic attraction swirling in the air, Lorraine paused, savoring the moment. His musky cologne had her under a spell.
“We’re not going to make love tonight, Lorraine,” he said in a low voice, his words coming fast and certain. “Because I know you’re above that, better than that, more than just some one-night stand. You’ve protected yourself, preserved yourself, and I want you to enjoy that for one more night. I want you to think of me tonight, Lorraine—your last night as a virgin.”
Lorraine stood there with a lump in her throat, wanting to respond, but she just couldn’t. She was frozen in a state of disbelief. Her palms started to sweat.
Oh my god! Where the hell did that come from? I was right. He wants me! He wants me so fucking much. This is so insane—I’ve never had sex before, I’ve barely had any sexual encounters, ever! I can�
��t do this… Sure, I’ve kissed guys before, but… I don’t. Her thoughts were interrupted when her keys slipped out of her sweaty hands and hit the ground. Griffen went on in a steady and seductive tone. “Because this is your last night as a virgin, Lorraine Devonshire. Because tomorrow night, I’m going to have you; I’m going to take you, possess you—every inch of you. And I want you to know that, to think about it—imagine my cock inside you.”
Griffin put his hand on her wrist and introduced her to his cock—semi-hard, massive. “This is what you’re getting, Lorraine, and it’s all for you, just for you.” Lorraine was stunned into silence, breathless, hands trembling. “I don’t want you to worry, pretty Lorraine; you’ll have nothing to worry about. I’m going to transform you into the woman you’ve been waiting to become. Do you hear me?”
Lorraine nodded, clearing her throat, eyes down. Griffin’s fingers found her chin, raising her unwilling line of sight to lock on his. “Do you hear me?”
“I do,” Lorraine hesitated, “but Griffin, this is all so…so sudden… We’re just getting to know each other; I’m not like all the other women—” She stopped herself.
“Lorraine, you’re an amazing woman. Stunningly beautiful, intelligent; I can feel all the tension and stress bubbling under the surface ready to explode. You need a release. Maybe you’ve had shitty past experiences with guys in this town. You’ve repressed your true desires. I want you to let them out. I want to show you what it’s like to be with a real man. Give me the chance to open up your world to one of pleasure and excitement, Lorraine.”
Lorraine considered his words. They were really genuine. She wanted to be the girl Griffin saw, the girl she wanted to be, the girl he was allowing her to be. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him opening up a whole new world for her and stepping in with both feet.
“Something else,” Griffin said. “I want you to go up there and pleasure yourself. I want you to probe yourself deeply, lovingly, without shame. Be glad to have such a beautiful body, such a graceful spirit. Make love to yourself tonight, Lorraine, the way I’m going to make love to you tomorrow. I know you’re brimming with sensuality.”
Steal Me (Longshadows Book 1) Page 19
