She clicked her phone off. Darn, I wanted this over tonight. I guess one more day can’t hurt. I hope Fred doesn’t get angry and make an embarrassing scene.
* * * *
Gab paced his condo for the hundredth time. He’d been restless all day. His attempts to contact Grace had failed. When he’d called the designer’s place of business, they said she no longer worked for them. He had no idea what had happened. There’d been no indication she planned to quit last night.
Had Grace and her fiancé gone away for the weekend to plan their wedding? From the anguish on her face last night, he doubted she wanted a hurried wedding.
His fists clenched at the thought of another man being Grace’s husband. It was his fault. He’d cut off communication between them, but had never been able to put her out of his mind. No other woman had ever measured up to her, or maybe his memories were better than reality. But he didn’t think so.
He tried her phone again. The sky was darkening. Surely she’d be home by now. There was no answer. He’d bet she’d unplugged the phone. This called for action.
He took his elevator down to his parking area. Then he drove his black Camaro to her condominium building. He’d researched and found where she lived when he’d returned to the States.
Gab parked his car a few spaces from the entrance. The doorman greeted him.
“May I help you, sir?”
“I’m here to visit Miss Brodie.”
“Is she expecting you?”
“I believe she is.”
The doorman went to a box by the front door and pulled out a receiver. He punched in several numbers. “Hello, Miss Brodie. Your guest is here. He requests to come up.” He glanced at Gab. “What’s your name?”
“Gab Forrester.”
He gave Grace the information. “Yes, he’s tall with black hair.”
“She said you weren’t expected, and she doesn’t want company.” The doorman ended the call.
“May I talk to her through your phone?”
The man frowned. “She said no to your visiting.”
“She has her phone off. I need to at least speak with her.”
Reluctantly, he punched in the numbers and handed the receiver to Gab.
“Hello.”
“Grace, don’t hang up. Hear me out.”
“I’m tired. I don’t want to entertain a guest.”
“When did I become a guest? I’m almost like family.”
“To my brothers, not to me.”
“Please let me come up. I promise to be on my best behavior. I’m worried about you.”
“Why? I got engaged, and it’s hurt your ego. Did you think I’d wait forever?”
“In my arrogance, I guess I did.” The line went silent and Gab held his breath.
“Give the phone to my doorman. You can come up for thirty minutes, no more, understand?”
“Yes.” He handed the phone over.
“Yes, madam. I’ll let him into your elevator and set it for your floor.” He placed the phone back in the holder and closed the lid. “Follow me.” At the elevator, the doorman slipped in a card and hit several numbers, holding his hand so Gab couldn’t see them.
“Thanks,” Gab said as the doors closed. They opened on the twentieth floor. The foyer was welcoming. The walls were a soft green and two matching tables at either end held cream-colored vases with white flowers and greenery inside. Grace’s talent was not only for designing clothes but for finding just the right colors and furniture to make a house a home. The door opened while he stood admiring her handiwork.
“You didn’t knock.”
“I like how you decorated your foyer.”
“Thanks. It’s especially fun to do when it’s for yourself. Come on in, and tell me what’s so urgent.”
Gab followed her into a large living room and again admired her eye for color and spatial design. “I’m having a home built on land near the old farmhouse. When it’s finished, I’d like you to do the decorating for me.”
Grace looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Is this the reason you had to see me tonight?”
“No. But after observing your place, it reminded me of what good work you do.”
“What do you want, Gab? I’m tired and not ready for any foolishness.”
He leaned down closer and studied her face. “You are exhausted and sad.”
“The man wins the grand prize,” she said, annoyance clear in her tone. “Have a seat. I made a pot of tea for me and coffee for you. I’ll be right back.”
Gab tried to not stare at her backside, but it was a losing battle. Her small waist curved into a delectably sweet ass covered in tight jeans.
His furnace had been lit when she opened the door and her breezy fragrance, which reminded him of the seashore, hovered in the air around them. His cock pushed at the front of his jeans, wanting to be released and buried in her pussy. Calm down, boy. Slow and easy is the only way to entice my lady to see me as a possible husband. We weren’t lovers before, but I’m sure ready now.
He walked out on the balcony. The sound of traffic could be heard in the distance. She had a good view of the river, and a cool breeze helped to settle him down.
“Do you want to sit out here?” Grace asked. She carried a tray with two cups and a plate of brownies.
“Let me help you.” Gab took the tray and set it on the round table. “The balcony is pleasant.”
“I enjoy the peace and aloneness,” she said, stressing the word aloneness.
Gab picked up his cup. “I can take a hint. Sit, and we’ll talk.
She sat opposite him, as far away as possible. “You have twenty minutes.” Grace pointed to her watch.
“Are these your homemade brownies?”
“I baked them this afternoon. It’s good therapy when I’m thinking.”
“May I ask what you were thinking about?”
“No.”
“Fair enough. I want to call a truce between us.” Gab jumped right in. “I know I was a jerk at twenty-one. You made me think of plans I wasn’t ready for at the time. I hope at almost thirty I’ve matured. Can’t we start over as friends and see where that goes?”
“Why?”
Gab stared into his coffee cup. Then he looked up and met her sherry-brown eyes. “I’ve missed you. I know we only saw each other that one short summer, but you’ve haunted me more times than I want to admit.”
“Hah. It must have been very infrequent. You didn’t write, drop a card, or call.”
“I admit I’ve been remiss. Can’t you give a guy another chance?
“I don’t want male friends. There are decisions I have to make with a clear head. Men tend to muddle a woman’s thoughts.”
“Only if you care for the man. You’ve given me hope.”
“Believe whatever you want. I’m through with men after I break off the engagement with Fred. I’m hoping he won’t file against me for breach of promise when I call off the engagement tomorrow night. I don’t plan on him getting a cent of my money or my family’s.”
Gab’s body tensed and his vision clouded. “Did that wimp ask you to marry him for your money?” he gritted out between clenched teeth.
“I suspect he did. But I never discussed money with him. When he came to the ranch recently, he must have realized which Brodie family I was a member of and saw his pot of gold.”
“Clay can take care of that problem. He has all types of connections. He’ll threaten him with never getting another good job in this city.”
“I’m an adult. I have no intention of my brothers knowing about this problem. I’ll tell Mom, and Graham knows a little.”
“Whatever, be sure to choose a very public place to give him his ring back. He’s not going to take this well. Then go straight home.”
“I’m smart. I know what to do. We’re meeting at a fancy restaurant. He’ll be too embarrassed to give me any problems in public.”
“I don’t like it. I want to be there.”
“No.”
“I’d like to beat the crap out of him.”
“Men. Forget the violence. This was my fault, and my poor judgment. I’ll handle it. Do you understand?”
“You’ve made yourself very clear.”
They finished their drinks and went back into the living room. Gab walked across the room to pick up her sketches.
“Did you draw these for you or the company?”
“It’s my own work.”
“You drew a wedding dress. You must think about marriage.”
“I like to draw them. And there’s good money to be made on designing the gowns.”
Gab nodded. “When we marry, I expect you’ll wear a gown of your own design.”
“Slow down. We aren’t marrying. I haven’t agreed to even be friends with you.”
He stepped into her space, and she surprised him by not moving back. Her chin rose in defiance and fire flashed in her eyes.
Leaning down, he was almost touching her lips when he whispered, “Our spark hasn’t gone out. I want you more today than I did years ago. Then I wouldn’t let it go too far between us. This is our time and I know what I want, to marry you.
“You can deny me all you want, but soon I’m going to make love to you, and later I’ll propose.” He straightened and walked hurriedly out the door, got in the elevator, and went down. If he’d stayed another minute, he would have kissed her and carried her to bed.
She’d have responded but regretted it later. The timing still wasn’t right. But he was filled with hope that it would be soon.
* * * *
Grace didn’t move for several seconds after he left except to sink into the nearest chair. Her heart pounded, and her body hummed with desire. If he’d kissed her or touched her in any way, she might not have been able to resist his enticement. He’d surprised her by rushing off. That was good, because technically until tomorrow night she and Fred were engaged.
Maybe Gab had changed. She still didn’t want to consider him right now. She had too many other problems to take care of and getting involved with him would be one more.
After her legs quit shaking, she locked the elevator and her door. She’d go to bed and forget all her problems, especially tomorrow night’s. She dreaded the meeting with Fred. Tiredness swept over her.
She pulled back her covers before going into the bathroom to shower. As the warm water rolled across her body, she thought about Gab. She closed her eyes and with each touch of her hand, she envisioned his warm hands caressing her neck and rubbing her shoulders. In her mind’s eyes she felt his hard muscled body behind her. His breath tantalized her ear, and his fingers teasingly brushed across her nipples. Heat and desire flashed through her veins, and her pussy was wet and hungry for him.
Her heartbeat sped up and her breathing quickened as she touched herself and imagined his fingers parting her folds, rubbing her clit, and appeasing the ache deep inside her. She gasped and leaned against the tile wall as her orgasm shook her body. But it was a temporary relief. The desire still lingered, ready to explode at Gab’s caress.
Grace finished her shower and dried. She pulled on an old, oversized T-shirt and headed to bed. The episode in the shower had her more worried than ever that she couldn’t resist Gab, and she didn’t fully trust him about being friends. She’d waited for them to become lovers, for years. Her resistance was low. They’d jump right past friendship.
Chapter Four
“Grace is ending her engagement?” Stella asked.
“Yes, and she wants to do it all on her own. But I’m concerned about her fiancé’s reaction. Mac, check the better restaurants. See if Fred Vine has a seven o’clock reservation for dinner. Think of a good reason why you need to know.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be casual and not raise any red flags.”
“She doesn’t want me involved, but I want you there in case he gets ugly with her.”
“Are you footing my dinner bill?”
“Of course but don’t order the most expensive item on the menu.”
“Just for that I think I will.” Mac waved good-bye to Gab and winked at Stella. She frowned back at him.
“You two are fun to watch. I can’t wait to see the fur fly when he finally jumps on you.”
“He is not going to jump on me. I’d tear his throat out.”
“As I said, you are entertaining to watch. Can’t you see he’s crazy about you and fighting the attraction?”
“He’s crazy all right,” she muttered as she started working on her computer.
Gab walked into his office. He was on the twenty-fourth floor and his windows gave him a view of the city. It was a clear day and the river sparkled in the sunlight. He was restless about tonight and didn’t like having to ask someone else to watch over Grace. She’d be furious if she saw him. Neither she nor Fred knew Mac. He’d send Stella along with Mac, but Grace might remember her from the party.
I’m going to call and ask Grace out for tomorrow night. I want to see her once more before she goes home to Montana.
He punched in her number. “Hi, Grace.”
“Hello.”
“Are you ready for tonight?”
“As much as I’ll ever be. I’ve almost finished the packing for my move.”
“I’d like to take you to dinner Sunday night, before you leave the city. You can tell me how tonight goes. When do you plan to fly home?”
“I’d like to go tomorrow, but I want to talk to the manager of the condo and take care of some other business that can only be done Monday morning. I’ve got my airline tickets for Monday afternoon. Still, I don’t know about dinner.”
“You have to eat. This can be the start of us being friends again.”
“If I agree, it will be a dinner, nothing more.”
“You are a hard woman, Grace Brodie.” Gab smiled, knowing he was winning her over.
“And you are a wily man.”
“See you at seven.” He clicked off before she changed her mind.
Friends, hell, I want to jump right to lovers. I don’t think she’s as unaware of me as she tries to act. Tomorrow night, I’ll suggest we be friends with benefits.
Just the thought of touching her soft skin and kissing her delectable mouth had his cock hard as a rock. He’d better stay busy or the hours would drag.
* * * *
Grace arrived fifteen minutes early for her meeting with Fred. She asked for a table set in the middle of the crowded restaurant rather than the more secluded one Fred had reserved. There was no problem with that as other diners often preferred the tables to the back or to the side. Then she ordered a glass of Zinfandel wine to sip on while she waited. She pulled the ring out of her purse and put it in the small pocket on her blue suit coat. She was ready. The waiter returned with her wine, and she’d just taken a sip when Fred arrived.
“I thought I’d reserved a table toward the back,” Fred complained. “I hate being in the middle of the dining room. Everyone walks by and stares at you and your plate.”
“I preferred this table and asked the maître d’ to make the change.”
“I don’t. Waiter.” He waved his hand, and the waiter came right over. “Please move us to the back.”
“No.”
Fred’s head jerked around. “What do you mean no?”
“We’re fine. Would you bring the gentleman a glass of merlot?” The waiter nodded and scurried off.
“What the hell is going on, Grace?”
Grace opened her mouth to respond when two people came rushing toward them. She blinked and realized it was Fred’s parents. His father carried a long, white, dry cleaner’s bag.
His mother beamed. “Fred called and told us the good news. We had to come and celebrate with you. And give you this.” She pointed to the bag and Fred’s father laid it across Grace’s lap.
Fred jumped up and pulled a chair out for his mother. His dad sat across from his wife.
“Mom and Dad called this morning and told me they
were on their way. I was sure you wouldn’t mind having them joining us for a drink.”
Grace forced a smile. “I’m surprised.”
“I knew you would be. Wait until you get home and open the bag. It’s my wedding dress. I had it cleaned. My daughter chose to elope. My dress has been waiting all these years for my son’s fiancée to wear it at his wedding.”
“Oh, but I couldn’t.”
“Nonsense, I want you to have it.”
Darn, now how do I get out of this? He keeps roping me in tighter.
“I can’t accept the dress. My mother has kept her wedding gown for me. I’m her only daughter. Thank you for the thought.”
“Oh, I ought to have realized you wouldn’t want my used dress.” His mother looked affronted. She stood. “Come on, Frederick,” she said to her husband. She left the dress on Grace’s lap and started to walk off. Then she noticed Grace’s hand. “You aren’t wearing your ring.” She looked at her son.
“Are you sure she agreed to the engagement?” she snarled and stomped off across the dining room. Other patrons stared after her and her husband following behind.
Fred’s forehead wrinkled, and he lifted his eyebrows in annoyance. “Why didn’t you just accept the damn dress graciously? Later, we could have managed the problem. Perhaps it wouldn’t have fit. If this is the way you’re going to act, I may have to take my ring back.”
“I intend to act exactly this way, so here is your ring.” She handed it to him.
He pushed back away from her hand. “No.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t serious.”
A tall man seated behind them got up and walked to their table. “You sounded serious to me. I’d take the lady’s ring.”
“Who the hell are you, and what business is it of yours?”
Grace was surprised, too, that a perfect stranger would join their conversation. She’d never seen the tall, lanky man. He reached into his pocket and showed Fred his ID.
“I’m Raimondo Macartan, but most folks call me Mac.”
Fred looked stunned. “You are having me investigated?” he asked Grace.
“No, I am not. But if you give me any problems, I’ll have Clay talk to you. I’m sure since you work in the financial district, you’ve heard of him. My guess is when you met him at my home, you realized I was wealthy and a good catch.”
Enticed by the Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 9] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 3
