Hot Summer Nights

by Lisa Marie Perry

  “All you’d have to do is give me a chance. I want to have my own fame and my own money and…and control of myself. Give me a chance to have that. Come to LA and listen to me sing. Or I’d sing for you right now. If I sang for you now, would you let me record a demo and put my name out there?”

  “No, Charlene.”

  “See, you’re only saying no because you haven’t heard me. I can do it right now, a cappella.” Charlene stood up and took authority, muscling his chair away from the table with him still sitting in it. No band and no backup, she leaped into a pop interpretation of Phenom’s debut single, a gritty song about a man twisted up in a string of lovers’ deception. Her voice was light but husky, and she brought the crowded dining room to a halt when she belted out the chorus.

  Geoffrey had to give her credit for the ballsy move and he’d feel partly responsible for the hell she’d catch for disrupting her place of employment for her own personal gain.

  When she finished, she asked through the echoing roar of applause, “What do you think?”

  “You’re talented,” he acknowledged.

  “Geoffrey’s right. You are talented.” Gabrielle stood beside Charlene. Her purse strap was slung over her shoulder. “We’re going to talk about this, tomorrow. Right now there are some guests who’d appreciate being seated. And next time, if you could not use the Pearl as your personal stage, that’d be awesome.”

  “Now will you call me?” Charlene asked Geoffrey.

  “I said you’re talented. I didn’t say I could get you a deal.”

  Charlene huffed and marched away from his table.

  “What in the name of… Okay, what was that all about? You’re charming the jeans off me and the next thing I know you have the hostess standing in front of you singing in my restaurant.”

  “I didn’t ask her to. I told her no, if you want the truth. You know what she did? She turned my chair around and sang anyway.”

  “That’s Charlene, all right. She takes initiative. She’s determined. And she goes about many things the absolute wrong way.” Gabrielle watched him for a quiet moment. “Maybe someone like her is a better match for you.”

  “No, Gabrielle. Now you’re wrong. She’s like many women that I’ve been with, but I’m done with that cycle. I’m done being hunted by women who want me to be their route to fame and money.” He got up and took her hand. “Come with me.”

  “Where?”

  “The Ruby Retreat. I don’t want to be here when Charlene gets the bright idea to come back for an encore.”

  *

  Gabrielle wanted to feel more threatened by Charlene than she was. The hostess fit the profile of the women of Geoffrey’s past, and clearly she was drawn to the man. She did have a fantastic singing voice, which had been a surprise to Gabrielle. She’d known the woman was trying to make a go of acting, but it seemed Geoffrey had inspired her to showcase a few other talents.

  A throaty, attention-grabbing singing voice.

  Hardcore flirting skill.

  What she’d done, bursting into song for the dinner crowd, wasn’t acceptable. But she’d taken the risk to get through to Geoffrey Girard.

  Gabrielle was more familiar with that than she wanted to admit. She was courting all sorts of risks, but willing to do it because of him. He drove her to take chances and push boundaries further than she did on a daily basis. She’d always considered herself a free spirit, but now she seemed to be looking at herself and seeing someone caged and desperate for freedom.

  She wanted to be free to pursue him and enjoy him.

  She wanted what she just couldn’t have. So she needed to resist whatever this was between them.

  Entering the lounge, they were draped in red light and sultry music, and as she saw couples dancing and people crowding the bar, Gabrielle once again couldn’t believe how beautifully the Ruby Retreat had recovered from last month’s fire. That had been another crisis that was still oddly unexplained.

  “Someone said this place was set on fire not too long ago,” Geoffrey commented when they arrived at the bar and she ordered a cosmopolitan.

  “I was just thinking about that,” she said. “If you listen to local gossip, then you might be wondering if the Belleza’s haunted after all. I don’t think so, but I’m not getting much help controlling the rumors, what with our best bartender fanning the flames and filling people’s heads with talk of treasure and spooky incidents.”

  “Would that be the old man on shift tonight?”

  “He’s the one. Jonah. A pain in the butt sometimes, but I love him.”

  “Naw, he didn’t get into any of the treasure and haunted resort talk, but I’ve heard the rumors.”

  “And yet you chose the Belleza to host your gala. I appreciate your vote of confidence, Geoffrey.” She smiled and held up her drink. “Are you going to order something?”

  “Ginger ale.”

  “Oh, did Jonah fix you something stronger? The resort’s kind of known for its incredible selection of liquor.”

  “No.”

  Gabrielle didn’t press for an explanation but he offered one.

  “I don’t drink alcohol anymore. Not often.”

  “You don’t?” She’d given him a bottle of blanc the other day, but had had no idea that he might be battling an addiction. “Are you an alcoholic?”

  “Nah, but alcohol killed my family. My father was addicted. He could never seem to get a handle on it. My mama kicked him out of the house only to let him back in, over and over. It came to a point where he was drunk and had her and my brother in the car and he crashed it. I was in school when it happened. Got called to the principal’s office to find out I had no family to go home to.”

  Gabrielle lost her taste for the cosmo. Putting down the glass, she said, “How awful. I had no clue.”

  “You didn’t come across that on Google?”

  She’d been too preoccupied with figuring out his dating status to realize he’d been so tragically orphaned. “Guess I wasn’t looking for the right information. Who raised you?”

  “Grandmother. Anyway, I don’t want to get to the point where I start depending on a drink to get me through the night. I don’t want to lose myself like that.”

  “You’re already conscious of it and I think that gives you more control than maybe your father had.”

  “Why’d you put down your drink?”

  “I don’t want it anymore.”

  “Don’t think you can’t drink around me. I drink sometimes. Just not often and that’s what I prefer. You don’t have to change yourself to accommodate me.”

  “God, how is it that you know exactly what I need to hear before I’ve even realized that I need to hear it?”

  “I’m just awesome like that.”

  Playfully, she cuffed his shoulder. “You’re cocky.”

  Smoothly he clasped her hand and drew her closer. “If you’re not going to finish that, then let’s dance.”

  “I’m going to be the odd woman out on the dance floor. I’m still in my work clothes, remember?”

  “You don’t care about that. You like being different from everybody else. You wear cut-up shirts and Converse high-tops.”

  So he called her on her crap. Okay, she respected that. It’d do her body some good to loosen up on a dance floor, so why not?

  Adjusting her cross-body purse, she let him guide her to the crush of gyrating bodies. The song was heavy on the bass and blended a man’s rich, liquidy voice with piano and guitar.

  Linking her hands around Geoffrey’s neck felt as natural as swaying close until she was flush against him.

  I shouldn’t be doing this…

  She gazed up at his lips and licked her own.

  I shouldn’t be letting him hold me like this…

  He glided a hand down to her hip, curved it over her ass.

  I shouldn’t be wanting this…

  Pressing tighter, following his lead, she moved with him. He had to be hypnotizing her—but then, she didn’
t believe in hypnosis or that anyone but she was responsible for her actions.

  “I want you closer,” he murmured onto her lips.

  “I can tell.” She raised her eyebrows and felt herself melt into a naughty smile. “How’s this, then?”

  Geoffrey’s groan came from deep in his throat and she wanted to hear it again, so she circled her hips deliberately and got her reward.

  “Would it be a problem if I paid to clear this room and get you alone?” he asked.

  Alone? She couldn’t give him that. Despite how suggestively they were dancing now, she was nervous about not being able to stop herself if they were alone and had no one around to remind her why going too far and wanting far too much would be terrible mistakes.

  “What would you say to meeting me at the Pearl after closing?” she proposed. “I’ll bring everything for the presentation I’d planned to show. It’s mutual territory but will be private, too. You’re still staying at the Belleza, right?”

  He nodded. “I check out tomorrow.”

  “All right, well, how about meeting me tonight at eleven-thirty?”

  “What about security?”

  “Not to worry. I’ll take care of it.”

  After that, they danced through another few songs and Gabrielle reluctantly had to break away. The sooner she got back to her condo, the sooner she could get primped and polished to meet up with him again.

  To discuss business. Business. She couldn’t forget the core point in all of this. They were working together to make his record company’s gala a sparkling success. Her horniness and his obvious arousal had zip to do with business.

  Geoffrey insisted on driving her to the condo, where they agreed he’d swing by and pick her up at eleven thirty. That way, they could drive their respective rides at the end of their late-night meeting.

  Gabrielle, who’d never ridden in a Bugatti before, was even more reluctant to leave behind the luxurious leather that seemed to contour her every curve. She especially didn’t want to leave behind the cool, woodsy scent of the car’s interior. It smelled like Geoffrey, and she wasn’t going to lie to herself—she really liked his scent. Slipping out of the car, she was a bit guilty that she’d thought of him as an asshole that first day in the Pearl. He was more than a demanding guest or an intensely powerful male with a reputation as a Hollywood player. He’d been gutted before, was jaded and genuinely appreciated things that most men overlooked.

  It didn’t make her stupid or reckless to want to be around someone like him.

  Did it?

  Geoffrey walked her to the door, teasing, “I think I want a rib eye steak now.”

  “Ha. Ha. Ha. So funny. If you ever quit the music biz you should become a comedian,” she retorted in her own sarcastic tease. Gabrielle had a fragrance in a crystal bottle on her vanity that’d make him forget all about steak.

  Dipping forward, he gently held her waist. “Remember when I said there’s a chance I’ll kiss you again? This is that chance. What do you want to do with it?”

  In the Ruby Retreat, she’d been locked, loaded and ready to rear up and kiss him hard and deep. She’d been so ready for his mouth, and she still was.

  Her phone rang inside her handbag and she pulled it out to find Robyn’s name on the caller ID. She sent a “can’t talk now” message through and told him, “I’m going to take the ringing cell as a sign that I shouldn’t go for that kiss. It’s what I said earlier. I want you, but I can’t want you. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry.”

  “Are you all right, though, Geoffrey?”

  “Yeah. I’m not trying to make you feel threatened or forced. I’m just letting you know that when you’re ready, I’ll be ready.”

  “Or if. If I’m ready. It might not happen for us, even after the gala.” She eased his hands from her waist. “See you at eleven-thirty.”

  “Eleven-thirty.”

  She waited until he was out of view before she unlocked her door and slipped inside the condo. She’d been close to putting her mouth on his, and then what kind of trouble would she be swimming in?

  Two nights ago she’d decided to get herself to a club ASAP and hook up with a stranger, and now she was ransacking her closet for something sexy to wear for an after-hours rendezvous with Geoffrey Girard.

  “I’ve lost my mind. Might as well have some fun before I find it,” she declared when she opened her lingerie chest and plucked out the blue lace bra and panties set. She’d wear it underneath a sensible button-down shirt and the gray jeggings that had zippers up the sides. To accessorize, she’d pile on some necklaces and would go easy on the makeup.

  Except she had plans for her lips. A lustred shade would be the perfect pop of color.

  She took her time showering and shampooing, then diffusing her hair. As eleven thirty approached, she had the strangest suspicion that something was about to happen. Whatever it was, it would change her. Only thing was, she didn’t know whether the change would be one for the better or for worse.

  On the border between sensible caution and inexplicable fear, she debated what she should do.

  It wasn’t too late to cancel. Or she could go forward and maybe keep her paws to herself. Men got a bad rap for their sexual appetite, she realized. She had sex on the brain and it was completely possible that she was insatiable.

  A single bout of slap-and-tickle might not be enough. She might need more. She might need him more than she could’ve guessed.

  “In that case, I’m screwed. I’m just not getting screwed.” Rolling her eyes at the irony in that, she confronted a mirror.

  Her cell rang and when she found Robyn’s name on the display, she answered. “I totally meant to call you back earlier.”

  “Are you home?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Good. I’ll be over in five.”

  “But—” The phone beeped and she saw a call ended message on the screen. Whoa, crap. With her long legs, Robyn would be striding over in two minutes tops, and then Gabrielle would have to come up with a reason to shoo her away at the door. She couldn’t run the risk of her friend being here when Geoffrey arrived to take her to the Pearl.

  Robyn would demand to know why they were meeting at the empty restaurant so late at night, just the two of them. She’d want to know why Gabrielle’s assistant wasn’t involved or she’d barge in on things, using her lead event planner trump card.

  Rather than get tangled up in any of that, Gabrielle grabbed her tablet, the tiny pocketbook that fit her phone, ID and a credit card, and scooted out of the condo just as Robyn was approaching.

  “Hey, where’s the fire?” Robyn said, practically skidding to a halt.

  “Oh, don’t say that! After what happened at the Ruby, I’m more concerned than ever about not living in a single-family home.”

  “Sorry. But really, why are you running out of your place? I just told you I was coming over. I thought we’d eat sweets and look at some bridesmaid dress designs online.”

  “Yeah, I was going to tell you that I actually am on my way out.” Gabrielle felt like an ass when she saw Robyn’s expression dim. “Sorry,” she parroted.

  “It’s cool. Um, you look really good, girl. Are these date clothes?”

  “These? No, not these. I’m not going on a date.” Liar. I’m a liar. I am going on a date. A pseudo-date. “I’m taking some time, going off on my own for a while.”

  “Yeah, you do that every so often,” Robyn said. That was true. Gabrielle, Kim and Robyn worked together, practically lived together and hung out together. Though these days Kim was sharing more of herself with Jaxon, they were all still close-knit and Gabrielle had always found comfort in getting away occasionally. She took long drives to nowhere, found walking trails and, her favorite, searched for old California buildings to tour. “Please be safe. I could never go off alone like that. You worry me when you take off on those dangerous adventures of yours.”

  “Stop worrying,” she said, taking Robyn’s elbow a
nd steering her back to her condo. “I always play it safe.”

  Too safe.

  In case Robyn got wise to things and decided to pop out of her condo again to see what Gabrielle was really up to, she opted to wait for Geoffrey in the lobby.

  “I feel like I’m sneaking around,” she said when she got into his car. “If one of my friends catches us…”

  “Gabrielle, why wouldn’t your friends support you spending some time with a man who wants to be with you? Is your job really going to be on the line if you and I got more personal?”

  “It’s not about following the rules of some company handbook. It’s an unwritten rule, really, about staff getting cozy with guests. I am in agreement of that unwritten rule. I have to stand by that.”

  Geoffrey didn’t say anything until they were outside of the Pearl. “So that’s it? You can’t change your opinion?”

  “I don’t want to turn myself into a hypocrite.”

  “A hypocrite? What—”

  “Never mind. Let’s go in and talk about the gala.”

  Passing the night security, Gabrielle led him into the restaurant. The quiet and darkness didn’t scare her—she’d spent many nights holed up here experimenting with recipes or finishing paperwork. Not much frightened her, but the idea that she could lose control of herself with Geoffrey had her shaking.

  “You find your way easy in the dark,” he said behind her.

  “I know this place much too well. It’s home.”

  Turning on a few lights throughout the dining room, she went into the kitchen and ended up inviting him in. Sitting on stools at one of the stainless steel counters, they viewed a presentation on her tablet and discussed themes for the gala. Agreeing to an outdoor space around one of the Belleza’s luxurious pools that would afford the guests priceless views of mountains, they discussed menu options and were leaning toward a coastal feel when Gabrielle said, “I’m hungry now.”

  “It’s one. We’ve been talking for over an hour.”

  “And we’ve accomplished so much.” She held up her hand for a high-five. “Win!”

  “I can’t think of a better place to be sitting when I realize I need food.” Geoffrey got off his stool and turned around. “This is the largest kitchen I’ve ever seen.”