Just like Grey (Series ONE Complete Set): Billionaire Romance

by Jessie Cooke

  Christo chided her. “Now, Bella. You know that towards the end, you were finally letting yourself out for the occasional walk on the wild side. Need I remind you of your days as a painted lady and the scandalous sex-capades you had with a masked man?”

  “No,” Bella said categorically. “In fact, I’d say it’s best we don’t do or speak of those things. I’m trying to get my life back in order after all of that.”

  Christo let out a long sigh. “You know what you need to do, Bella, and you’d be happy.”

  “We’re not going to talk about that right now,” Bella warned him. “Right now, I’m calling to tell you my plans and ask if I could possibly stay with you during that week. Rita said she’d reimburse me the cost of a hotel, but, I think this way would be lots more fun. Plus, hotels aren’t my favorite thing, you know.”

  “Oh, I wish, honey,” Christo began, “but Simon’s brother is going to be with us that same week.” He proceeded to tell her about Simon’s youngest brother’s plan to come stay with them while touring universities in the Dallas area. “It’s been planned for weeks, now, and I feel the need to keep a bit of an eye on him anyway. Simon says he’s quite the partier. Don’t want him feeling too independent out here on his own yet.”

  “I understand,” Bella said, a little let down. “It would have been fun, though.”

  “Well, Simon may be ‘babysitting’, but you and I can still have some fun!” Christo declared. “Hey, what about staying at Luke’s? Or are things still on the downward spiral for you guys?”

  Taking a few seconds to inhale deeply and slowly exhale, Bella searched her mind—and her heart—for the best answer. She wasn’t completely sure, but ever since her last visit to Dallas, things between them had seemed stiff and awkward—like they’d lost their momentum and passion. And Bella couldn’t shake the feeling that Luke was hiding something.

  “I think I’d rather not,” she finally answered Christo. “It’s just been weird between us, and his place is quite small anyway. A hotel isn’t so bad. I know the firm will allow me a nice place to stay. It’ll be fine.”

  “You know what you should do,” Christo drawled.

  Bella hesitated. “I’m almost afraid to ask. Your crazy ideas seem to get me into trouble sometimes.”

  Christo harrumphed. “Don’t pretend it’s all my fault you get yourself into trouble. And besides, I think you’ve liked being in trouble for the most part.”

  “Whatever,” Bella replied. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Call Reece.”

  The sound of Bella’s sudden laugh shot through the earpiece like a cannon, the force of it surprising both herself and Christo. “No way!” she followed.

  “Why not? He’s always said that apartment was for you. Hell, he’s practically made it a shrine to you as it is.”

  “Don’t remind me, and I still hold you partially responsible for allowing that to happen.”

  She knew Christo was shaking his head on his side of the conversation as surely as he was waving his hand, shooing her comment away.

  “I think he’d be more than willing to loan you the apartment. He has other options, and it’d be a way for him to get back into your good graces, too. Why not ask?”

  “It sounds like you’re telling me to use him,” Bella said.

  “If that’s what you want to call it . . .”

  “I don’t want to do that!” Bella said. “Won’t that be, like, giving him false hope or something?”

  “Not if you make it clear that you just need a place to stay for work. Bella, I would bet he’d love to do it. He says he loves you; if he does, he wants to help you out in situations just like this. Why not simply ask?”

  She could feel herself giving in to Christo’s reasoning, as she had so many times before. How was it that Christo could make everything—including waitressing in nothing but paint—sound so rational and easy to do?

  “I’ll think about it and let you know what happens,” she said finally.

  “Good,” Christo said. “And in the meantime, I’ll plan out our weekends. You will come the weekend before and stay the weekend after, right?”

  “Most likely,” she said. “If Rita can have a mini-holiday, why can’t I make this work for me, too?”

  “That’s my girl! You’re learning,” Christo complimented and then said goodbye before disconnecting.

  Bella stared at the phone. The thought of staying in Reece’s state-of-the-art, spare-no-expense apartment was appealing in many ways. She had to admit: being that close to him and where he resided gave her a little tingle, but she felt a sense of caution and fear that it could all come back to haunt her in the end.

  She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts to find his number. Before she lost her nerve or forgot the rationale that Christo had used to convince her, she dialed Reece’s number.

  He was more than happy that she had called, and he seemed downright ecstatic that she was asking him for a favor.

  “It’s just for a few days. Two weekends included, and it really is okay if you say no. I can easily stay in a hotel, but . . . well, I would prefer not to. Not to mention, I’m in this new position at work and thought if I could demonstrate how I’m actually helping to save some money, it might get me some brownie points with the boss, ya know?”

  “You don’t have to explain it to me, Bella,” Reece replied. “I’d love for you to stay. I’d actually love to stay with you, but I couldn’t even if you wanted me to; I’ll be gone part of that week on business. Convention and trade show in Vegas, so it will work out perfectly for you.”

  Bella felt her stomach drop in disappointment at the mention of Vegas. No matter how hard she would have fought him off, there was a part of her that was halfway hoping he’d be around, just in case her resolve weakened. “Great, then,” she said.

  “I do have one condition,” he stated.

  “What’s that?” she asked hesitantly feeling a sense of thrill and dread at the same time.

  “You accompany me on a date.”

  Her mind flew back to their last “date”—a day of mountain biking complete with catered picnic and horseback riding after renting her an electric mountain bike. At the end of the day was when he’d confessed his true feelings. She hadn’t thought he’d be able to top the day—or confuse her any more—so what was the risk in accepting his terms and conditions now?

  “That sounds like a fair trade,” she agreed. “I’ll have to alert Christo, though. He’s already planning a week’s worth of events.”

  “Of course he is,” Reece said. “Well, if that works for you, I’ll just get ahold of Christo and see when your schedule is open.”

  The two laughed amicably, established a few more details, and hung up the phone. Bella caught herself smiling as she looked at the date on her desk calendar. She’d been doodling, like she often did when she was on the phone, and she noted that subconsciously, she’d drawn a heart around the date she was scheduled to arrive in Dallas.

  Oh, what this man does to me, she thought, but allowed herself to feel the flutter from her heart to her toes.

  56

  Bella punched in the code on the keypad outside Reece’s apartment. At the voice prompt, she entered the key he’d sent her via courier. Already she was feeling spoiled: staying in such a great place.

  “Definitely better than a hotel,” she spoke as she walked into the marbled foyer. The coat rack in the corner received her blazer willingly, and she dropped her purse and briefcase on the floor beside it as she wheeled her suitcase into the great room behind her. There she stood face-to-face with herself—the nude portrait of her Reece had stealthily commissioned. She tilted her head as she observed it, feeling weird at first, but then trying a new perspective. What if this painting wasn’t of her? What if this was just some portrait of some woman a guy had thought beautiful enough to want to capture? What if it were hanging in a museum somewhere?

  She had to admit, looking at the painting f
rom that vantage point made it intriguing. It was beautiful. The lighting was soft; the entire work lifelike. She had to step closer to actually see the brushstrokes. And even though she was the person in the portrait, she found herself able to appreciate the delicate beauty of herself for the first time in a long time.

  “Not bad,” she said to the Bella of the portrait. “Quite lovely if I do say so myself.”

  She had insisted to Reece that she would stay in the guest room even though he had protested that she should have the master, though now that she smelled his scent, she wasn’t sure she could stay away from enveloping herself in it.

  She shook her head and turned her back on the lavish master suite, headed down the hallway, peeked in the calming spa blue of the nursery, and then wheeled her suitcase to the cozy guest room. It was bathed in sunlight from the windows, and the warm browns and greens of the décor instantly comforted and soothed her. She parked her rolling suitcase, kicked off her high heels, and strolled through the apartment. On the kitchen counter, she found an envelope with her name. She turned it over, slid her well-manicured finger under the seal, and tore it open to find a letter. It was from Reece.

  Hi, Bella, and welcome!

  I hope you find everything to your liking. I’m so pleased that you’ll be staying in a place I have always pictured you in. Help yourself to anything and everything. I took the liberty of providing you a robe for your stay. It is hanging on the back of the guest bedroom door and should meet with your approval. The fridge has been stocked with fresh fruits and veggies that I recall you like, and the freezer has a few of your favorite “friends”. There is also, as always, a great wine selection with a few extra bottles of Shiraz just for you. I hope that you will feel comfortable enough to actually use the master suite. If for no other reason than to luxuriate in the bath with the jasmine and ylang ylang bath salts I purchased with you in mind.

  I am looking forward to our date tomorrow, and then I promise to let you concentrate on work. I am pleased you would call me for a favor. Makes me believe that perhaps—just maybe—this is a small step in the right direction for us both.

  You will receive a delivery tomorrow around four, so please make efforts to be home. I will call you tonight to see how you have settled in—hopefully, you’ll be in my bed with my pajamas on. Just the image of that drives me crazy.

  Enjoy yourself, Bella. You deserve all of this and more.

  Yours,

  Reece

  Bella proceeded to the freezer where she opened it, already smiling in anticipation. Just as she’d suspected, there sat several pints of her favorite ice cream by her favorite guys: Ben and Jerry. She picked up a pint of Chubby Hubby, opened several drawers to find the spoons, popped off the lid, and promptly indulged in a large spoonful of heaven. She toyed with the idea of opening the Cherry Garcia and Phish Food as well just to enjoy the experience as fully as possible, but she got a better idea and padded down the hallway to the master suite.

  True to form, Reece’s master suite was elegant and sleek yet rustic—all the words she would use to describe him. Above the bed hung stainless steel reading lights mounted to a wooden inset wall. His platform bed was clothed in a down comforter of ivory while a tawny-colored suede headboard allowed oversized pillows to recline against it. A woolen rug of white and browns extended beyond the bed but allowed the hardwood floors to still take a leading role in the drama of the room. The bedside tables were sleek dark oak finish with lamps of brushed stainless steel and white frosted glass on each.

  Bella ran her toes through the carpet before walking into the master bath. The ivory and brown marble mirrored the scheme in the bedroom, and the large walk-in shower boasted two shower heads, one at each end. The round Jacuzzi tub was rimmed with marble shelving, and candles and fresh flowers surrounded the tub itself. A customized tray for holding a book spanned the width of the tub, and Bella smiled at the thought of reading a book in the tub, like she used to do. On the large vanity was a basket filled with bath salts, lotions, a velvet sleep mask, and a bottle of Dolce perfume, it’s white flower atop the bottle an indication of what feminine scents lay beneath.

  “Spared no expense again,” Bella said to herself as she opened up the perfume bottle and took a sniff of the soft flowery fragrance.

  Her phone rang in the other room, and she knew it was Christo ready to check out the place. He’d been dying for her to get into Reece’s apartment ever since he’d learned she would be staying there.

  “Come on over,” she said as she answered. “I know you’re chomping at the bit to see this place.”

  “Be there in fifteen,” was all Christo mumbled before hanging up.

  She went back into the guest room, peeked behind the door, and found a full-length light pink fleece robe hanging on the door. She reached out to feel the plush softness and noticed black embroidery on the side. Slipping into it and checking herself in the mirror, she allowed her finger to trace her own monogrammed initials. Reece had thought of everything and more. He was showing her that she was the only woman he wanted in that space. He was making her feel like she belonged in that apartment just as much as he did.

  When she answered Christo’s knock still wearing the robe, Christo’s tilted his head and clamped his lips.

  “That is so sweet,” he said. “Bella, he got you a monogrammed bathrobe. He’s obviously telling you something.”

  “Well, there’s this, and the fresh flowers, and the bath basket. He even remembered my favorite shampoo. But perhaps the most wonderful part is this.”

  She led him into the kitchen where she flung open the door to the freezer side of the stainless steel refrigerator. She waved her hand in front of the pints of ice cream like a model on a game show showing off her prize. Christo’s mouth dropped open, and Bella thought she saw a little saliva forming in the corners.

  “Later,” she said, as she closed the door to the freezer.

  “This is amazing,” Christo said. “It speaks volumes, don’t you think?”

  Bella’s mouth twisted to the side as she thought. “I know what you’re getting at, and yes—it’s extremely thoughtful, but . . . well, people can be really thoughtful when they want something. Then, after they get what they want, the thoughtfulness tends to go away.”

  “If you’re saying that he’s doing all of this to get into your pants, I think you’re wrong,” Christo asserted. “You’ve already given him that with less work.”

  “I’m not saying it’s just the sex,” she said. “I’m saying he’s enjoying the chase. I’m the forbidden fruit, so to speak, and right now, he’ll do anything to get me—to show me I should be all his. But once he has me, all this will stop, and it’ll be me and him and a baby he’s had with another woman who professed to be my best friend. That’s what I’m talking about.”

  Christo put both hands on Bella’s shoulders. “We aren’t going to do this.”

  “What?”

  “I’m tired of hearing the same old excuses, Bella. I love you, but sometimes I want to punch you in the mouth when you use that tired old excuse again. You aren’t allowed to say it anymore. Maybe if you stop saying it, you’ll stop believing it.”

  “What exactly am I not allowed to say?”

  “Anything that casts you in the light of being ‘the other woman’ in a relationship with a man who has a baby with a woman who professed—but sure as hell doesn’t act like—she’s your best friend. No more. I don’t want to hear it, and I think deep down inside, you really don’t want to say it. It’s the only reason you keep using to rationalize why you can’t be with Reece, and—if you get right down to it— I think you’re simply clinging to this one little flimsy excuse because you can’t think of any other reason.”

  “How about he’s a liar and a manipulator?” she shot back.

  “How about he did all of those things for you?” Christo retorted as quickly. “You aren’t looking at the bigger picture, Bella. Sure, he manipulated a few jobs, but it was to get closer
to you, and ultimately, look at where it got you. Can’t you see it as Reece helping you to fulfill your dreams?”

  “I can see it as interfering with my ability to do it on my own,” Bella replied.

  “Life doesn’t work that way, and your career most certainly doesn’t. There is no designer who never got a hand from someone else helping them along. It’s what happens in our lines of work. It’s networking, and it gets you places. You may have been some design genius that could get there on her own, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be today, and, let’s be honest: you most likely would have never gotten to the place you are without others helping you because you would get frustrated and down on yourself and either bow out or remain stuck. It’s the same with me, Bella. But you’ve got to stop seeing all of this as some ploy against you instead of Reece’s endeavors to bring you happiness.”

  Bella turned away from Christo and walked over to the black leather sofa where she flopped herself down onto it. “I hear what you’re saying,” she said. “I comprehend it, but for some reason, I just can’t fully embrace it.”

  Christo sat down beside her and took her hand, kissed it, and squeezed it tightly. “Sometimes we have to get out of our own way,” he said. “You’re making strides. Look at you: here. In his apartment, not even hating the portrait of your nude self that hangs in it.” Christo grinned at her and winked. “You know how to let things happen, how to be happy with him. Just let yourself.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “You’re always right.”

  “Can I get that in writing?” Christo asked. “That will come in handy with both you and Simon, you know, on down the line.”

  Bella laughed. “I’ll never put that in writing, and if you ever say I said it, I’ll deny it to the death.”

  “Figures,” Christo said. “You ball-busters are all the same. But one last thing for you to think about, Miss Bella.”

  “What?”

  “I know it’s wrong to compare, and I know Reece and Luke are apples and oranges in many ways, but answer yourself this: would Luke have gone to so much trouble just to have you in his space for a week? And don’t forget: this is a space Reece isn’t even sharing with you, but ultimately wants to.”