And face Kendra. I’d already let my work know I’d be in late. Which was why I was already prepared to work through lunch and stay after for a bit.
***
“You’re what?”
She stared at my face, not at the ring I’d been waggling at her.
“Engaged.” I smiled, but it fell flat. “You know, love, marriage…I dunno, maybe a baby carriage somewhere off in the future?”
I’d hoped to elicit a laugh, but she just stared at me as if I had gone crazy.
After a moment, she turned away, pacing over to the window seat where she sat down. “Gabs, you barely know this guy. Please, please, please…” She dropped her face into her hands and sucked in a breath.
I had the feeling she was bracing herself.
When she looked at me, there was a hard glint to her light green eyes. “If you haven’t at least found out his last name, I’m calling your mother and siccing her on you. She’ll talk some sense into you.”
“Oh, yeah.” I poked out my lower lip and huffed up some air, blowing a few strands of auburn hair out of my face. Moving over toward the chair near the window seat, I sat. “I learned his name alright. Ah, you remember how you kept thinking he looked familiar?” I hesitated.
Kendra arched a brow at me. “And?”
“Well.” I swallowed. “He…um…well, his family kinda owns Bouvier.”
She blinked. Then she started to laugh. “Very funny, Gabs. Very…” She stopped laughing after she caught sight of my face. “Shit, you’re not joking, are you?” She sank onto the window seat.
“No. His name’s Edward Bouvier.” I managed a weak smile. “Kind of crazy, huh?”
She lurched up out of the window seat and started to pace. “Crazy? What the hell, Gabs?”
Her chestnut brown curls flew around her shoulders as she spun to face me. “Are you telling me that you’re engaged to the guy who owns that great big building where I go for half my shoots? That Bouvier?”
Clearing my throat, I met her eyes then looked away. “Well, to be accurate, the family owns it. He’s got...” my voice cracked. “Brothers.”
“Brothers. Wonderful.” She dropped down on the couch and pulled a pillow to her chest. “Gabriella, if this is serious, if it’s real, I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Just be sure.”
“I am,” I said, smiling. It was my best smile. I knew it was.
Her eyes narrowed. “Then why do I get the feeling something is making you…nervous?”
Dammit.
“Well…” I got up and moved to the window, taking up the spot she’d vacated. “It’s…life is insane, Kendra. I’m not kidding. We had dinner at his country club so we could tell his parents. Well, his mom and his step-dad. His half-brother showed up.” I'd gotten that much out of Edward without sounding too curious. Flynn had been the accident child between Claire and her second husband, Albert McCreary. “And you…well. He introduces himself and I hear the name and I’m thinking, it’s coincidence, right? It’s gotta be and….”
Even I could hear the nerves, spilling out of me along with the words. As Kendra’s brows rose higher and higher, I tried to slow myself down, but I couldn’t Finally, I came to a halt and faced her, head on.
“Edward’s brother is Flynn.”
Kendra looked blank.
“Flynn McCreary.”
“Oh, no…” she whispered, lifting a hand to her mouth. Her eyes widened.
“Yes!” I dropped onto the seat again.
Her phone rang then, interrupting what I knew would have been a monumental cry fest. Instead of sobbing on my best friend’s shoulder, I was left sniffling on the window seat as she hurried out less than ten minutes later—the photo shoot had been rescheduled. For that day.
Change of plans?
Courtesy of Flynn McCreary.
Chapter 3
I’d been on the money when I'd said my boss wasn’t going to play nice about me coming in late. I worked through lunch, through rush hour, right up until it was nearly eight-thirty. She was calling me from her cellphone with things I needed to do. If, of course, I wanted to show I was serious about my position.
I was tempted to tell her to shove my position up her ass.
Except I needed the job, and I wanted the connections. The obviously expensive engagement ring didn't help matters since I knew a single call from me to Edward would take care of all of it. It also seemed to piss my boss off even more.
I didn’t see Edward at all, although he texted me off and of throughout the day. The messages should have made my day better.
They didn’t. They just reminded me that I was lying to him.
The apartment Kendra and I were struggling so desperately to keep was empty when I got home and when I finally checked my voicemail, I found out why. The photo shoot went well, they were all out having drinks and tapas, courtesy of Flynn.
The sound of his name made my heart hurt.
I wanted to text her back and tell her to dump a margarita on the bastard’s head, but that was the absolute worst thing I could do. The jerk would open his mouth to Edward, I just knew it.
You need to tell him.
That inner voice kept me awake half the night and I finally resorted to digging through the medicine cabinet until I found some generic knock-off of those nighttime over-the-counter pain relievers with that extra junk thrown in to help me sleep.
The last clear thought I had about Flynn was at the club, and the way his mouth had felt against mine, the way he'd tasted. And the way my heart had thumped so hard against my ribs when I’d heard his voice.
For a split second, just that one split second, I’d felt so painfully happy.
***
Morning came with a headache.
Sitting at the table, I watched as Kendra all but whimpered and crawled out of bed, clearly feeling about as lousy as I was, although for different reasons.
The signs of a hangover were pretty clear.
Out of pity, I went about brewing her some coffee while she stumbled into the bathroom. She collapsed onto the chair across from mine and took the cup with a pitiful moan a few minutes later. I put a bottle of water, already opened, and some ibuprofen down next to her.
“You’re an angel,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Have fun?”
She went to nod and then stopped, cradling her head. A few minutes passed in silence as she rubbed her temples and sipped water and coffee alternatively.
Bit by bit, she woke up and when she finally focused on my face, her bloodshot eyes widened slightly. “Wow, honey. You look like hell.”
“Gee, thanks.” I tipped my cup toward her in salute. “Every girl loves to hear that in the morning, you know.”
She shrugged. “You know me. I love to offer a pick me up.”
“Yeah, well, consider my confidence boosted.” Then I sighed and propped my chin on my fist, looking outside the window where a steady downpour had been falling since I’d climbed out of bed.
“You’re not coming down with anything, are you?” There was a mix of concern and apprehension on my best friend’s face as she squinted her eyes to study me.
The last time I’d ended up sick, so had she and she’d almost passed out on a shoot.
“No, I’m just tired.” Looking down at the ring that felt like a five pound weight on my hand, I twisted it. “I guess I’m just nervous about everything. I mean, how are you going to get by without me here to make you coffee when you’re hung over?”
“Funny.” She made a face at me and sighed, looking around the beautiful studio. “Well, the good news is that I’m starting to bring in good money now, and steadily.” Despite the obvious headache, a light of pure delight gleamed in her eyes. “My agent called me yesterday and said I’ve got offers coming in like mad now. Money won’t be a problem…and you were right. I finally had somebody call from that office that handles rent control stuff. The dickwad is jerking us aro
und and it looks like he’s in major shit for it too.”
“Well.” I smiled again and this time, it felt more real. “That is seriously good news. Not only are you raking in the cash, that asshole is going to get what’s coming to him.”
She reached over and patted my hand. “You worry too much, Gabs. Everything works out.”
“Yeah.” I wished I had her optimism.
***
A catastrophe at the office kept Edward late again.
“What kind of fashion catastrophe can keep you late?”
“Family dramas,” he said and I could hear the weariness in his voice even over the phone. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was thinking we could go out for dinner even if I got out of here later than planned, but I doubt you’re going to want to go anywhere at eleven o’clock.”
I eyed the time on the DVD player beneath the TV Kendra and I shared, not quite managing to hide my grimace from her. “No, I’m not quite up to dinner that late. I’ll be honest, I’m pretty worn out already.”
He was quiet a moment and then asked, “You sound upset.”
“I’m not. I’m just tired.”
He seemed to accept that and we talked a few more minutes, making a date for lunch the following day before he hung up. I heard voices in the background, and although they weren’t raised, there was that agitated, animated tone that spoke of dissent.
“Trouble in paradise?” Kendra studied me over her take-out dish of chow mein.
I looked down at my own order of bourbon chicken and shrugged. “Not between us. Apparently family drama.” A sick feeling twisted my stomach, but I forced myself to eat another bite. After swallowing, I flicked Kendra a look and gestured airily with my chopsticks. “Apparently there’s trouble in Bouvier land.”
“Just think. In a while, you’ll be part of that drama.” She winked at me.
That didn’t help my stomach at all. Nor did my vivid imagination, which was currently spinning up sordid tales about how Flynn had convened an emergency family meeting—did they have those?—about how he and I had met before, had a torrid affair and he’d spent a long, lusty afternoon snapping pictures of me naked. Then we’d parted angrily and I’d, out of a vengeful need to get back at him, gone after his brother, just to hurt him.
Which of course was bullshit, but it wouldn’t take much to convince Edward’s mother of that. I could already tell she was looking for a reason to dislike me. Flynn had one ready-made.
An active imagination was both the gift and the curse of being a creative person.
“Hey,” Kendra said, stirring me out of my misery. “Don’t look so glum.”
The couch shifted as she plopped down next to me and I found myself being pulled into a one-armed embrace, chicken and all. “You’re gonna see him tomorrow, Gabs. You’ve got a lunch date, right? You’ll see him and everything will feel all normal again.”
“Yeah.” I stabbed at a piece of chicken and forced myself to sound cheerful. “You’re right.”
***
Edward’s hands cupped my face, but the kiss I expected didn’t come. His driver, Paul, stood unobtrusively off to the side as my fiancé studied my face for a long, quiet moment. The concern in his eyes had me fighting the urge to squirm.
“You don’t look like you’re feeling well,” he said, concern in his voice.
“I'm fine.” The words came sharper than I’d planned, underscored by the twang of my Tennessee youth. Scowling at myself, I softened my voice as I murmured, “I’m sorry. I just…you and Kendra, both of you. I’m fine. I’m just not sleeping very well right now.”
I made a show of turning his watch to face me and then leaned in, giving him a quick kiss. “I’ve missed you and I’ve only got forty-five minutes, so let’s not waste it here.”
“Of course.” Edward glanced over at Paul. “Pick me up in an hour.”
We walked to one of the nearby cafes and found a table outside, crammed under a red and white striped awning. It was busy but not insanely so.
“This is one of my favorite places,” I said, sighing as I caught the smell of French fries and burgers. “It’s not quite as good as our favorite place, but sometimes a good burger just hits the spot.”
We talked for a few minutes and I could feel the tension draining away as we placed our orders and sipped icy soft drinks, the condensation forming on the cups almost the second the server placed them in front of us.
Edward looked like he was having some trouble sleeping himself, dark circles lying under his eyes.
I was about ready to say something when the server brought our food out. As she departed, Edward studied a burger that was nearly half the size of the plate. “I’m supposed to eat all of this?” he asked.
“I never do.”
“You probably should.” He picked up the burger and smiled at me. “If you’re not sleeping well, you might be coming down with something. You want to make sure you’re eating well to keep your strength up.”
Irritation started to build inside, but I told myself I was being stupid. He was just concerned. I was lucky to have a guy who cared that much.
“I’m not getting sick,” I said after I swallowed the bite I’d just taken. If my mouth was full, I wouldn’t snap at him. “I’ve just been worrying some.” I offered half of the truth. “About money, about Kendra and how she’s going to get by once I’m out of the apartment. That sort of thing.” I made a face and added, “If I could get a for-real writing job, things would get better, but…”
I trailed off and shrugged.
“You know, you could move in with me.”
I jerked my head up, staring at him.
“What?” He laughed and took another bite of his burger. “You were right, this is fantastic.”
As if noticing I was still staring at him, Edward smiled. “Gabriella, you’re going to be living with me after the wedding. Why not move in with me now? It would keep you from worrying so much about money, wouldn’t it?”
“I…” Swallowing, I busied myself with grabbing the ketchup for my fries, all but frowning at them. “It’s more complicated than that. I don’t want to leave Kendra in the lurch. I mean, she’s starting to get more money coming in and the rent control mess is going to get straightened out, but I can’t just up and leave her without letting her make plans, you know?”
“Of course.”
The understanding smile on his face made me feel like a heel.
“You know, with the magazine, I’m sure we’ve got writing positions opened.”
My hand jerked so hard, I almost knocked over my drink. Steadying it just in time, I blew out a slow, controlled breath and then laid my palms flat on the table. I could feel him staring at me as I struggled to get my emotions level before I answered. Okay, the moving-in thing, I could deal with, even if I wasn’t ready to do that yet. After all, he was right that we'd be living together after we got married. But this…?
No.
“Please don’t do that,” I said softly, still staring at the table and my plate of food that still close to overflowing. What I’d eaten now sat in my belly like a leaden weight and I didn’t think I’d be able to eat much more.
“What?” Edward asked.
When I looked up at him, I could see his confusion was genuine.
He didn’t get it.
But then again, maybe he couldn’t.
He didn’t know what it was like, perhaps, to work and struggle for something, to know he’d made it on his own.
“I’m going to do this on my own,” I said, taking the napkin out of my lap and folding it carefully. “Or I won’t do it at all.”
His head inclined, a shadow falling across his pale eyes.
Were we about to have our first fight?
“My writing is mine.”
Edward opened his mouth and I braced myself.
“Of course, Gabriella. I understand. I’m sorry.”
***
Late that night, I was in bed next to him again. His chest was
snug against my back and my body felt almost bruised from the intensity of his lovemaking. We’d come together almost desperately, Edward showing a passion that seemed almost out of place with his normally controlled character. Afterwards, I was so exhausted, I’d thought I'd fall asleep immediately.
But here I was, wide awake and it was almost one in the morning.
I eased my way out from under his arm and padded my way over to my purse I'd left on his dresser. Quietly, I made my way into the bathroom, digging around in my purse for the nighttime painkillers I’d been using the past few nights. They rattled around inside my purse, but I couldn’t find them, so I started pulling things out, one by one.
Gum. Condoms, not that we were using them anymore. Birth control pills. A couple of crumpled ones. A brilliant blue business card, crumpled around the edges...shit.
My breath caught.
Immediately, a pair of cadet blue eyes flashed through my mind.
Flynn.
I stood there, holding his business card in my hand, my heart racing as memories of that afternoon burned their way through my mind.
I needed to throw it away. I needed to find the medication so I could get some sleep. Tomorrow, I’d seriously hit the internet and try to find a job that would pay better and maybe wouldn’t suck so much. Maybe I wasn’t entirely stressing over my job, but a better one would help.
What I didn’t need to do was stand there staring at Flynn’s card.
I should have crumpled it up and thrown it in the toilet.
But I didn’t.
Slowly, I smoothed it out and then, I pulled out my wallet and shoved it inside, tucked behind a picture of me and my parents.
Chapter 4
“What am I doing?” I whispered.
My fingers shook as I wrapped them around the banister and I almost turned around halfway up the flight of stairs.
You’re doing whatever it takes to make sure you sleep at night.
I’d had another nightmare, one where Edward and I had been getting ready to say our vows and Flynn had come strolling in, passing out a little something for the guests. He’d made hundreds and hundreds of copies of the pictures. His palm prints, vivid red, on my breasts.
Pure Lust: The Complete Series Box Set Page 12
