His Brat (Off Limits Book 1)

by Kali Argent

  After taking care of my most pressing needs, I brushed my teeth, then took a long, hot shower. Unfortunately, that gave me way too much time to focus on all of the things I had to be embarrassed about, including walking in on Gabe.

  Good god, did I really congratulate him for having a big dick? Of course, I had.

  Fuck my life.

  Trying to push my mortification aside, I finished my shower and dried my hair. I skillfully applied some makeup that made me look better than I felt, then put on a lacy white bra and panty set that was more my style than the red thong had been. Wagging my finger at the offending article, I decided that I was going to burn it the first chance I got. Lucky my ass. It was nothing but trouble.

  I dressed in a white cold shoulder top and cropped jeans, then put on platform sandals with pink and white straps that matched my pink toenails. Heading back downstairs, I wondered why anyone had thought a spiral staircase had been a good idea when they had built the suite. At least I hadn’t fallen down them last night.

  It was always good to think about the positives.

  Grabbing my purse and my phone, I headed toward the front door but paused before I reached it when my phone beeped in my hand. The text from Grace said she needed to talk, so I sent a quick reply to tell her I could meet her after I went to the gallery. She immediately responded, telling me she would join me at the gallery instead.

  With that done, I shot off a text to Gabe to let him know I was leaving.

  ME: Have a meeting @ the gallery. Leaving now.

  I was surprised when he instantly responded.

  GABE: What meeting?

  I had to roll my eyes at the suspicion I felt coming from those two words.

  ME: With director who is showing some of my work. Then I’m meeting Grace 4 a drink.

  There was a long pause before I got a reply.

  GABE: Text me where.

  Why did he have to boss me around on text, too? Since I didn’t know where I was going with her yet, I didn’t bother to text him back. I started to put my phone in my purse, then paused to pull it out again. He had taken good care of me last night, but he was probably worried I was planning on repeating my drinking binge.

  ME: Don’t know yet. Will text when I do. How is your meeting?

  GABE: Long.

  ME: Don’t fall asleep :P

  GABE: I won’t, brat.

  Smirking, I put my phone away and left the suite.

  When the elevator doors opened on the main floor, I was amazed to see dozens of people hanging out in the lobby. It took me a while to maneuver my way through the crowd to the front entrance. However, once I was outside, it was no better. As I walked the few short blocks to the gallery near Jackson Square, a very nice man stopped me to ask for directions, then he asked if I would have lunch with him. I was also propositioned by three men who seemed to be continuing their long night out. Since they had been so affable about it, I hadn’t been offended.

  Still, I couldn’t help but wish Gabe was with me. He would have plowed through the crowd with ease, and I wouldn’t have had to deal with any drunk men hitting on me. Especially if he held my hand again. There was something special about the way he had held onto me, his large hand engulfing mine. I’d felt protected and cared for. For a brief moment in time, I knew what it would have felt like to be his girlfriend instead of simply a burden he had to deal with.

  When I arrived at the gallery, I pushed open the door and was met with a blast of cool air. Several patrons walked around the space admiring the vibrant paintings hung on the white walls. It sent a thrill down my spine to see one of my sculptures on a pedestal in the center of the large room. The bronze phoenix had its wings outstretched and its head was lifted high in triumph as it flew out of the flames. Since it was one of the latest pieces I had finished for school, it couldn’t be sold in case my teachers still needed to review it.

  Still, just having it displayed at the gallery meant the world to me.

  I noticed one of my smaller pieces on a wider pedestal toward the back of the room next to another artist’s work. I remembered the hours of detail I had put into making the clay sculpture and the worry I had felt during the process of casting it in bronze. Choosing the silver nitrate for the patina had been expensive, but the silvery-gray finish of the knight in armor had been worth the extra cost.

  Now, he looked like the knight in shining armor he was supposed to be.

  Studying it, I smiled as I got an idea.

  “There you are!” Claudia Moreau clipped over to me on needle-thin heels, a smile of welcome curving her lips. As usual, the director of the gallery looked like she had just stepped off a runway. She was wearing a black pencil skirt with bold red poppies splashed across the material and a red shirt that highlighted her dark skin. Her curly black hair was swept up on one side, showing off a row of earrings that ran from the shell of her ear down to her lobe.

  “Hi, Claudia. I got your text saying you wanted to meet with me today.” Duh. Obviously. “Is there something I can do for you?”

  She laughed. “Actually, there is something I can do for you. Give me one moment.”

  I watched as she walked over to the front counter where the receptionist handed her something. Curious, I looked down at the envelope when she walked back and held it out. Taking it from her, I turned it over a few times, afraid to open it.

  Before I could ask her what it was, she said, “That is the commission for the sales of three of your sculptures. Congratulations! You are officially a selling artist!”

  My jaw dropped. “I—what? What?”

  “The interlaced hearts sold so quickly, it made me bump up the asking prices on the other pieces. The tree of life sold the next day, and I was able to sell the entwined lovers yesterday.”

  “Thank you! Thank you so much! Oh, god…I thought…I was worried you were calling to tell me you didn’t want to show my work anymore.”

  “Just the opposite. I want more!” She laughed and hugged me.

  Still too dazed to speak, I let her lead me across the room until we were standing in front of the phoenix statue.

  “I know we can’t sell it yet, but I have two potential buyers interested in the phoenix sculpture. Same with the knight.”

  I realized I was clutching the envelope in my fist and immediately loosened my grip. “Actually, I need to take the knight back.”

  She frowned for a moment, then nodded and smiled again. “I’ll have it boxed up for you. I want you to bring in some new pieces as soon as you can. And I must insist on keeping the phoenix. I really think we can sell it to someone who can get your name out there.”

  “I want it,” Grace announced as she suddenly walked over to join us. “I want it, and I’m willing to pay double your asking price.”

  I blinked at my friend. “Grace, you don’t have to—”

  She waved a hand in the air. “I know I don’t have to. I want to. I always knew you were talented, but wow, that’s amazing. I want it for my very own.”

  Claudia’s gaze shifted from me to Grace, then back again. By the look on her face, she wasn’t sure what to make of Grace’s offer. Considering she was dressed in jeans and an off-the-shoulder black T-shirt with a large purple skull on it, no one looking at her could know she was the daughter of a prominent senator. His family came from old money, but her mother’s family wealth put his to shame.

  Sighing, I said, “Claudia, this is Grace Prescott. Grace, this is Claudia Moreau, the director of this gallery.”

  After shaking Claudia’s outstretched hand, Grace reached into her pocket, then held out a black credit card to the stunned woman. “Please add on whatever shipping costs are needed to have it delivered to New York.”

  “We were holding onto the piece in case Layla’s instructor—”

  Grace waved that away. She really did have a bad habit of talking over people. “Hold it as long as you need, then ship it to me.”

  “Yes, of course. Would you like to come back to the offic
e to—”

  “We’ll just stay here and talk while you go get the paperwork started.”

  “I will do that, then I’ll be back to confirm your information.” Claudia turned her wide eyes back on me. “I’ll also have the knight packed up for you.”

  “Thank you.” I watched as she scurried away, then said, “You know, I would have given it to you if—”

  “Absolutely not. I want to buy one of your first pieces, then I can tell everyone that I saw your potential before you were famous.” Grace smiled, then stuck her hands in her pockets. “Sorry about yesterday.”

  “Oh…” Damn it, I could feel my cheeks flush as I thought back to last night when I saw my friend naked. “Did you—?”

  “Have sex with all of them?” Grace laughed. “No. I just got myself off while I watched Julie have all the fun. It was sort of like watching live porn.”

  “That’s…okay, then.”

  “It was until it wasn’t.” Grace shrugged. “We kicked them out shortly after you left. Julie does that stuff a lot, but I apologize for leaving the bar without letting you know. I knew you were with other friends, but…”

  “I understand. Where is Julie?”

  “Still sleeping. I actually wanted to meet you because I have to leave soon.”

  “Wait, I thought you were supposed to be here until Sunday,” I said with a frown.

  “I was, but some pictures from last night got out, which means my mother and father both called to yell at me this morning.” She rolled her eyes. “I got the usual lecture from both, then my father ordered me to go home. Since he’s in DC, it shouldn’t matter to him, but you know how he is. Normally, I’d just tell him to fuck off, but he’s even more on edge since re-election is coming up soon.”

  Our conversation was interrupted when Claudia came back. Grace filled in her information, then she signed the paperwork. As she was doing that, another employee hurried over and handed me a bag containing the boxed knight sculpture. While I waited for Claudia and Grace to finish their business, I glanced at the check inside the envelope and gulped.

  Holy shit, that was a lot of money.

  For the first time, I truly felt like I could make a living doing what I loved. And all because someone had taken a chance on me. I carefully folded the check, then shoved it into my purse. I would have to wait until later to do my happy dance.

  Before we left, I thanked Claudia again, then I walked out with my arm hooked through Grace’s. The sun had disappeared behind dark storm clouds, but it hadn’t started raining yet. Still, nothing could dampen my mood.

  “I can’t believe you bought my sculpture.”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me how incredible you are. I’ve got to go, but I really wish we could have spent more time together. Hey, you should come visit me in New York soon.”

  “Maybe after graduation.”

  “Lucky you. I’m still behind,” she said with a small sigh.

  “Yeah, but you took six months off to travel around Europe.”

  “Which was amazing, but now, I’m suffering for it. Speaking of amazing, how in the world did you end up with hottie Turner last night? You didn’t tell me you two hooked up!”

  “How do you know—?”

  “You had pictures of him in your dorm room our freshman year, and you talked about him all the time. Did you spend the night with him? I bet that’s some live porn worth watching.”

  “It’s not like that. He’s not interested in me.”

  Grace laughed. “Bullshit. He’s interested. I saw the way he looked at you. Trust me, I’ve seen that look before. If you want him, you should just seduce him.”

  I chuckled. “I wouldn’t know how. Don’t you have a plane to catch?”

  “I do.”

  “Text me when you get home.” I hugged her hard. I really was going to miss her.

  She took a few steps, then turned back and grinned as she walked backward. “You should just strip down and get naked in front of him.”

  I shook my head and laughed. “Been there, done that.”

  “Seriously? And that didn’t work? That usually leads to some action.”

  “Not with him.” Her eyes went wide, and I thought she was devising some other plan to help me get Gabe to see me as more than his friend’s little sister. Shaking my head, I said, “It won’t work. I even saw him naked, and nothing happened.”

  “I wouldn’t say nothing,” a low voice growled close to my ear. “I think that was pretty clear when you were staring at my hard cock.”

  Oh, my god…

  Chapter Four

  I had once read that there were over forty different shades of the color red. Some were common enough, like scarlet and crimson and ruby. Others, like vermillion and carmine, were lesser known but still lovely in their own way.

  Currently, my face was blistered with every, single shade of the spectrum, and I was certain it didn’t look lovely at all.

  I could feel Gabe at my back, his breath hot against the side of my neck. I was completely frozen, unable to face him or even utter a single sound. So, I looked at Grace, my eyes wide and beseeching, begging her without words to do something.

  “I’m going to be late for my flight, but it was good to see you.” With a bright smile and a cheery wave, she turned and walked away, leaving me gaping after her.

  Deserted by my traitorous friend, I did the only rational thing someone in my position could do. I squared my shoulders, took a deep, calming breath…and ran. Well, not ran, because that was a cruelty I didn’t wish on anyone. Unless they were being chased by zombies, of course. And if that was happening, well, they had much bigger problems than enduring a bout of self-induced torture.

  So, I didn’t run, but I did walk briskly down the sidewalk, heading in the complete opposite direction of the hotel. I still had clothes in the room, as well as my makeup and a few other personal items. That was fine. I’d just buy new ones with my first commission check. As for ever seeing Gabe again, I could probably fake my own death. I’d seen it work in movies.

  A deep, masculine chuckle came from my right, startling me so badly I almost dropped the box I was holding. My curse of surprise only made Gabe laugh harder as he fell into step beside me, matching my strides easily. Damn him and his stupid long legs.

  “Go away,” I grumbled.

  Naturally, he didn’t listen. Instead, he grabbed my elbow, swinging me around and walking me back in the direction I’d just come from. “I’m guessing you didn’t make it to lunch with your friend.”

  I shook my head.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Not particularly, no.” My stomach felt queasy, and his almost jovial attitude was confusing the hell out of me.

  “You need to eat something.”

  What I needed was to find a nice, quiet place to die of humiliation. “I’m good.”

  The words were barely out of my mouth when Gabe gripped the back of my neck, steering me through an open door and into the shabbiest excuse for a bar I’d ever seen. The good news was that I could definitely use a drink. The bad news was that alcohol was partly to blame for the bad decisions that had gotten me into this mess in the first place.

  “They have good burgers,” Gabe announced before I could question him. “Here. Sit.” Without preamble, he ushered me into a high-back booth with flat cushions covered in cracked, red vinyl. “You should probably drink some water.”

  Jesus, he was so damn high-handed. Worse, he was acting like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t growled the words hard cock into my ear. Just thinking about it made my face go up in flames again, earning me a knowing look and smug grin.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I want to throw up.” Fuck. The words were honest enough, but I hadn’t meant to say them out loud.

  Groaning, I dropped my head and stared down at the scarred table. Apparently, it was encouraged for people to write their names across it in permanent marker, or even carve it right into the w
ood. It wasn’t just names, either. There were also some colorful messages, including one about a girl named Sarah who, according to the anonymous words, was all the rage in the art of oral sex. If I wanted to find out more, I could call the number listed.

  Classy.

  “Are you going to talk to me or sit there and pout the whole time?”

  “I’m not pouting.” I was simply trying to hold onto any shred of dignity I had left. Unfortunately, he was right, and I couldn’t just run away from my embarrassment. “About what you said…” I paused and took a deep breath. I could do this. I could totally be a grown up and talk about sex with Gabriel Turner. “What did you mean?”

  “About you staring at my cock?”

  My eyes went wide, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from squeaking. I was wrong. I couldn’t do this.

  I nodded.

  Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on the tabletop and linked his fingers together under his chin. “Well, when a man is turned on, it usually leads to swelling in—”

  “Jesus, Gabe!” I held my hand up to stop him from saying anything else. “That’s not what I meant!” To be fair, I hadn’t clarified, but still, I wasn’t an idiot. Maybe I didn’t have any practical knowledge, but I had taken an anatomy class. “I know how a penis works.”

  He arched one, judgy eyebrow at me but didn’t say anything. Clearly, he wasn’t going to make this easy for me.

  I was given a moment to collect my thoughts when a harried-looking waitress dressed in a tank top and ripped jeans came to the table to take our drink order. When Gabe ordered water for both of us—mine with a squeeze of lime—without asking me, I frowned. I actually did want water, but that wasn’t the point.

  “Would you stop that?”

  He tilted his head. “Stop what?”

  “Being so—” I waved my hand around in a vague gesture. “—you. You’re always telling me what to do or making decisions for me. I’m not a child, Gabe. I’m perfectly capable of ordering a damn drink for myself.”

  “But I already knew you wanted water.” He looked genuinely confused by my outburst.