When Beauty Met The Beast

by Khardine Gray

  "Thanks. Is there anything I can do now?"

  "Yes." Jared beckoned him to come around the reception desk. "Look at this." Jared led him to his computer where he opened up a file and then a table showing what looked like bookings. Wade had to move closer to look properly because he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He saw that for June alone they'd secured five hundred bookings in twenty locations for bungee jumping and another six hundred for paragliding. A similar pattern followed down the table for other activities like windsurfing, scuba diving, snowboarding, rock climbing, and a few others.

  "Jesus, is this real?"

  "You bet." Jared laughed deep and heartily, running his hand over his stubbly chin. "We have my man Zeek here to thank."

  Wade looked over at Zeek quickly. "This is you?"

  "Mad skills." Zeek smiled, opening his palms.

  "This is serious shit." He threw his hands up. At this rate, they'd make a fortune.

  "I have other plans too. That's just the warm-up."

  Jared nodded. "We've managed to secure contracts with a few more locations."

  "I've also started contacting more instructors. Trust me, we're gonna need it. It would also help to have a few administrators here, too, so we can focus on the key tasks." Zeek raised his chin with pride.

  "Yeah, sure. Whatever we need I'm in." Wade would be an idiot if he didn't. "This is amazing. When Jared said you were good, I didn't expect this." And he never expected to be looking at making a small fortune so soon. Wade knew he hadn't done as much work as Jared or Zeek, but this felt like a great accomplishment. He'd never done anything where he'd made his own money before. It was nice to see some part of the goals he desired for himself actually happening.

  Zeek smiled at that. "That means a lot."

  "Excuse me?" said a smooth female voice from behind him.

  Wade turned to see a tall, dark-haired beauty with striking green eyes standing by the reception counter. She looked him over with approval as she twisted the ends of her long hair around her thumb.

  "Hey," Wade said. She'd come from the group in the corner looking at the brochures.

  "I saw you come in and wondered if you'd like to get a drink with me sometime, like maybe now?" Her smile widened, revealing a dazzling display of perfect white teeth.

  Wade inclined his head to the side. Now here was a woman who seemed to share his forward ethos. And she was definitely his type. Beautiful with the perfect shape, stylish and confident. But he had a certain blonde on his brain, and the image of Chloe flashed through his mind as he looked at the woman before him.

  Chloe was right, he wouldn't have been alone today, and he didn't even have to take his shirt off.

  "I'd love to, but I can't," he replied. He could see Jared's surprised face out the corner of his eyes.

  "Oh, that's a shame." She looked him up and down and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Let me know if you change your mind." She winked at him and walked away.

  Wade watched her join her friends who were now outside the store. He looked away when she glanced over her shoulder at him. He didn't want to make it seem as if he was staring at her.

  "You." Jared pointed at him and raised his thick dark brows. "Start talking."

  "Talking about what?"

  "You wouldn't turn down a woman like that unless you had someone else."

  "I'm busy." Wade smiled.

  "Yes, with someone else, and the fact that you're not saying confirms it."

  Zeek chuckled and folded his thin long arms as he listened. "Well Wade, you always were a ladies’ man. High School Wade would wither away right now if he saw you do that."

  Wade was still kicking himself for not being able to remember Zeek.

  "Man, I'm different now." Wade smiled.

  "Sure. Each to their own."

  "No, no you won't get off that easy. Who is this mystery woman?"

  Jared grinned. The problem with Jared was he knew Wade too well, and he wouldn't stop pestering him until he told him.

  "She's—" The minute Wade said that Jared threw his hands up.

  "See, I knew it," Jared gasped.

  "She's special to me." That was the best way that he could describe Chloe.

  Jared's mouth dropped. "Is she now?"

  Wade nodded.

  "Well, that says it all," Zeek chimed in. "The renowned Wade Vanderville has someone special."

  It was strange. When Zeek said that Wade thought he had some recollection of him. It was just a flicker maybe of a memory, and the strange thing was it felt like he'd seen him some place besides school. Then he got an odd, unsettling feeling. He pushed the feeling aside and straightened up.

  "I do. So anyway…" Time to change the subject before they asked for more details. "I'm eager to work. Why don't you show me the other things you've done."

  "Sure," Zeek offered with a nod.

  "And we'll talk later." Jared pointed at him again and smiled.

  Wade probably needed to talk. There was a lot on his mind besides Chloe. There was a lot going on, and Jared had always been a great listener.

  "Alright, let's do this."

  Chapter 9

  Chloe

  Chloe rolled over and forced her eyes open one at a time. She was greeted by the subtle beauty of twilight and the tranquility that filled the space in between night and day. She took a moment to watch the scenery through the sliding glass doors in Wade's bedroom. The silent stillness, the inky sky, the slight movement of the trees as the wind washed over them.

  Wade shuffled next to her, and she turned back to him. He was still asleep and looked like he would be for a while. They made love all night, how many times she couldn't say. It was an endless round of primal passion. He'd made her body come alive in ways she'd never known possible, and did things with him she'd never done with anybody else.

  Now she had to face reality. She had to step away from the fantasy of Wade Vanderville and become Chloe again, which meant that the first thing she had to do was leave.

  And the next was to forget last night.

  She had to separate her mind from any attachment she'd made to him.

  To her, they'd made love, but she knew that to him it was just sex. That was how she had to think too. She didn't want to, but that was the truth of it.

  Before she got up, she looked at him and admired him. He was just as handsome to look at asleep as he was when awake. Sleep, however, robbed him of his commanding, confident personality, and softened his features, making him seem angelic.

  She shouldn't look too much because that would make her feel.

  Having feelings for him would be the worst mistake she could ever make.

  On that thought, she got up, got dressed as quickly and quietly as she could, and made her way downstairs. She then got a taxi that took her home.

  She was counting on slipping into her room unnoticed because Kelly and Taylor wouldn't dare wake up at this hour for fear of not getting enough beauty sleep. However, the minute she stepped into the house the lights flicked on in the living room revealing a very amused-looking Taylor sitting in the arm chair with Pisces curled up in her lap.

  Chloe stiffened in her tracks and widened her eyes at her friend.

  "Busted." Taylor pointed at her, trying not to laugh.

  "I…" Chloe didn't know what to say, and the more she remembered her actions, the more she blushed.

  "I just have to say this." Taylor straightened up. "Miss Chloe where have you been all night?"

  How the hell was she supposed to answer that? And say what?

  She didn't think she could exactly say I was having wild sex with your brother.

  "I was away," Chloe attempted. "Out, out there…um doing stuff."

  Taylor laughed. "With Wade?"

  Oh God, she knew. "I saw him…out there, away outside."

  "Chloe." She couldn't stop laughing. "You are so silly, although I have to say that I didn't figure you to be the type to go jumping on the back of a motorcycl
e and riding off into the night like some kind of Hells Angel."

  Chloe brought her hands together. It was clear Taylor saw everything.

  "I'm so sorry. I know I crossed the line." She had. She crossed way over the line.

  Taylor placed Pisces down on the sofa and came over to Chloe. "What line is this?"

  "The one where you're my best friend and I've been seeing your brother behind your back. The thing was, I didn't know that I was seeing him, and I'm not now. So…" Her voice trailed off as she thought about it. She thought about it all, everything. Not just from tonight, but from always. From as far back as she could remember she'd always had feelings for Wade.

  "What do you mean you're not now?" Taylor looked concerned.

  "Well, um. You know what Wade is like." Chloe knew Taylor knew so she didn't feel bad making any insinuations. "He won't take me seriously."

  "Chloe, did he make you feel like that?"

  "Oh, no." She shook her head and forced a nervous off-key laugh. "I just know, and it's fine. It is. I thought I'd leave before he had the awkward task of throwing me out." Her mind conjured up an image of Dean throwing her out of his room way back when. Last night with Wade wasn't the same thing, not even close, but she wanted to protect her heart.

  "It's fine," she repeated. Chloe might have sounded more believable if that stupid tear hadn't run down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, but it was followed by another one. "Must be my allergies, hay fever." Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  Taylor put her arms around her and pulled her in for a comforting hug. "Don't cry, Chloe."

  "I'm sorry, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

  Taylor pulled away so she could look at her. "Don't apologize. I was just messing around. Chloe, Wade would be the luckiest man alive if he had you, and I would be the happiest sister."

  Chloe was in awe to hear that. "Thank you. Thank you for saying that."

  "Maybe give him a chance to prove you wrong. Wade has this crazy personality that I've never come across before, so I can't begin to decipher him. But, you may just find that he surprises you."

  She shouldn't do this to herself. She knew it was a bad idea to even try. But, she wished that could happen. She really wished Wade could surprise her.

  Wade

  She was long gone by the time that Wade woke up. He'd unintentionally slept well into the afternoon.

  There was no trace of Chloe anywhere. Nothing, as if the night before had never happened. When he woke up and saw she wasn't next to him, he searched for her, looking around the house, hoping she hadn't left.

  Wade had the misfortune of feeling his heart sink when he realized she had.

  It never occurred to him that she would leave. He'd woken with that excitement of seeing her and making love to her again, but she'd left.

  Wade didn't know if it was healthy for him to think like that. And miss her. He deeply hurt the last woman he was with. She'd placed all her faith and trust in him, and he'd hurt her.

  No one had made him feel the way he did about Chloe, and he wished she didn't feel that she had to leave. Wade knew there was a lot to think about, but he couldn't deny his need for her.

  Guided by his desires, he got dressed and jumped on his bike.

  It was after two when he got to her house, and he wasn't surprised when Taylor told him Chloe had gone out. He knew from way back that Saturdays for Chloe meant shopping.

  He thought he'd use the time to speak to Taylor about other things. Maybe Chloe would return while he was still here and he could talk to her then.

  Taylor sat before Wade holding Pisces on her lap. They were on the balcony outside her room. He suspected she must have had some idea about him and Chloe, but his news of Penelope and their father prevailed over any questions she might have had.

  Taylor looked just as infuriated and betrayed as he felt.

  "What should I do?" he asked, gazing out to the sea. He allowed the momentary distraction of the gentle push and pull of the waves.

  "Mom should know," Taylor sighed. "When she told me about Dad wanting joint ownership of Runway I nearly passed out. This has to be related to that."

  Pisces purred as Taylor stroked her. That old cat had been through many Vanderville sagas and scandals. She was probably sensing that another was brewing on the horizon.

  "I don't know what to tell her."

  "You have to tell her what you saw. I work at Runway too. I may not throw myself into it the way Mom does, but I care. Runway is her life and all she has. If Dad is planning something, then we need to be ready."

  "Jesus, I haven't even been home for a month yet and I've already landed myself in hell."

  He slouched against the wicker chair, resting his head back as the afternoon breeze brushed against his skin.

  "I'm so sorry, Wade. I am. But, you know what things are like in this family. There's never a dull moment. There isn't even a breath."

  Taylor couldn't have been more right. He guessed he was just holding out for some kind of change that was never going to happen.

  "What do you think Dad's up to, Taylor? What could he possibly want with Runway? And Penelope."

  "I wonder if it's because of Fashion Week. But that still doesn't make any sense."

  "It doesn't. Do you think he's planning to ditch Mom and take half the magazine profits and share them with Penelope?" That was one possibility. It was one glaringly obvious possibility, but somehow, he didn't think that was the answer either.

  "I think we need to explore everything that comes to mind. But we need to speak to her."

  "We?" He offered a smile.

  "Yeah. Maybe we." She steepled her fingers and gave him a tentative look.

  "So, we're teaming up against Dad?"

  "We aren't teaming up against anyone. We're just doing what's right. I'm sick of Dad and his deceit, and I don't know why the hell Mom stays with him." Taylor sighed with frustration. Pisces leaped off her lap and scampered away. "Why does she stay, Wade? Do you think it's for us? We're adults now, and Lord knows she has enough money and wealth. She doesn't need him."

  It was a mystery to him too.

  "She doesn't. So, how about we go see her first thing Monday?"

  Taylor nodded.

  He heard the front door open and close, and his mind went right back to Chloe.

  "Is that Kelly?" He was trying to act casual.

  "Or Chloe." Taylor gave him a sweet little smile.

  "Oh."

  She giggled. "You are so transparent, Wade Vanderville."

  "I don't know what you mean."

  "You took my friend from me last night." She raised her brows.

  "I didn't take her." Wade smiled. "She came willingly."

  "You are such a joker."

  "Taylor, are you home?" Chloe called out.

  "I'm on the balcony," Taylor called back.

  "I'm going to make princess cupcakes, do you want some?" Chloe asked. "I'll put glitter on yours."

  "Absolutely." Taylor smiled. He heard Chloe move away, probably into the kitchen.

  "What are princess cupcakes?" He smiled.

  "Chloe's mom used to make them. She decorated them to look like the dress each princess wore. Mine was Cinderella and Chloe's Belle."

  He could see Chloe definitely being Belle. Even he could guess that.

  And, he supposed…he was the beast. Him with his dark past and shadows that lurked within his heart.

  "Maybe you should go and help her." Taylor beamed.

  "Yes, I'd just love to make a princess cake." He shook his head at her and smirked.

  "Well, you never know, you may just like doing something different. It may surprise you in ways you couldn't imagine."

  "I could see how baking would do that." He smiled. "Eggs, flour, oil, and icing."

  "Yes, and when you put them together, all kinds of marvelous things could happen."

  "We aren't talking about baking, are we?" He raised a brow. He already knew they weren't but just wanted to cut
to the chase.

  "No Wade. But you can do the math yourself, just please don't hurt my friend. If you plan to, then maybe you should leave her alone."

  He inclined his head and gave her a pointed look.

  She widened her eyes at him. "I'm serious. You're my brother, and I love you to death, but Chloe is my best friend, and when it comes to her, if you hurt her it won't matter who you are."

  Damn, he didn't expect that, and he had to admit that it scared him a little.

  "Okay Taylor, I consider myself warned."

  "Good, now go. I have to do my nails." She put her cheek out for him to kiss her. He did and got up to go.

  He rolled his eyes at her as she flicked her wrist at him, hurrying him to leave. Wade smiled to himself as he made his way downstairs, but the smile faded as he wondered if he should indeed leave Chloe alone.

  Maybe this was one of those times when he should quit while he was ahead. They had fun last night, and maybe that was all it should be. A night of fun.

  He made a move to go, still not settled in his mind, but he stopped when he saw her walk across the living room and into the kitchen. Her beautiful hair was wrapped up in a loose bun on top of her head. It allowed him to see the delicacy of her neck.

  Her tanned skin glistened against the pink camisole top she wore, and the white mini-skirt gave him a good look at her long, elegant legs. Legs he had wrapped around him just last night.

  Last night was more than fun and…this thing between them was more than fun. It was different. The same difference he craved.

  Instead of heading to the door he went straight into the kitchen. Her beautiful face looked surprised to see him. She opened her mouth to say something, but he didn't give her a chance. He cupped her face and met her lips with his. He kissed her and absorbed the sweetness of her, indulged in the softness and the hold she had on him.

  He'd been stupid to even contemplate leaving her alone. He'd never been able to, so why did he think he could now?

  "Wade." She whispered his name against his lips.

  "Why did you leave me, baby?"