Lavish Loving

by A. C. Arthur

  “Don’t brush me off.”

  “Calm down, girl, before you bring on contractions.”

  “I’m serious, London. You bribed an employee into breaking a company rule. We could have been sued! Any other instance and she would have been fired. But Ellen is a hard worker with a stellar record whose family has experienced a year of financial setbacks. Five thousand dollars cash was understandably hard to pass up. Plus, I know how tenacious you can be.”

  “I’m sorry, Diamond. I guess I didn’t look at it from a corporate angle.”

  “Obviously.”

  “Please tell me she’s not fired.”

  “No, but she was written up and put on a ninety-day probation. If there are no more incidents, after a year we’ll remove it from her file.”

  “I really am sorry, cousin. Forgive me?”

  “I’ll think about it.” The frown lines disappeared as Diamond relaxed. “So tell me the who, what, when, where and why of it all. I want to hear everything.”

  London obliged, relating everything from overhearing the girls in the bathroom to Ace’s take-charge ways. “I let him get away with it this time. I bribed my way into his room and all. But next time he tries to boss me around, no matter the situation, I’m going to put him in check.”

  “Careful with that. I’m married to an alpha male. Trying to put them in check is a pretty tall order that usually ends with them on top. In fact, I think it was just such a conversation that led to my stomach now looking like this.”

  “Well, I’m not going to let a man boss me around.” London looked at her watch and abruptly stood. “Time is flying! I’ve got to run. Ace and I are having dinner at eight. He said if I were late there’d be consequences.” She rushed over to Diamond for a quick hug and kiss and hurried out the room. “Bye!”

  As London reached the end of the hall and headed toward the door, she heard Diamond burst out laughing.

  Chapter 5

  “You’re late.”

  London took a step back from the bungalow’s front door. “That is not a proper greeting.”

  Six feet of I-don’t-give-a-damn filled the large frame and looked amazing in the process.

  Had she read minds, Ace thought, she would have known his brusque behavior covered up how much her beauty threw him off guard. “I apologize. Good evening, London. You’re late.”

  London rewarded him with a smile. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, leaning in to give him a feathery kiss on the cheek. Her eyes were wide and pleading. “Forgive me?” She nibbled her lip, awaiting his response.

  He placed his hand on her shoulder, slid it to the nape of her neck and placed soft, plump lips on her forehead. “I forgive you.”

  He stepped back so she could enter. “I just won’t be able to give you the gift I purchased earlier today.”

  A lover of presents no matter the reason, London unleashed her inner child. She whirled around, eyes shining. “What’d you get me?”

  “Nothing now. We talked about your tardiness already. You obviously didn’t feel my time was important.” He reached into an inside jacket pocket and pulled out a small gift-wrapped box. “Please, have a seat and excuse me for a sec while I put this away.”

  “Ace!” London, fast on his heels, tried to reach around him and grab the box.

  He turned and blocked her. “What are you doing?” His eyes shined with humor.

  “Trying to get what belongs to me!”

  London was five foot eight so it wasn’t easy, but Ace being four inches taller helped him keep the box out of her reach.

  “When one doesn’t follow the rules, there are consequences. I told you that.” He took his eyes on a slow journey down her body. “But you’re irresistible. So here.”

  London beamed. “Thank you, Ace! What is it?”

  “Open it and find out.”

  She dropped her purse on the coffee table and sat on the couch where they’d conversed earlier. After another sexy look at him, she lifted the lid on the bow-wrapped gift and opened the leather box inside.

  “Wow, this is beautiful!” London lifted from the case a platinum wine stopper topped with Swarovski crystals in the shape of a large grape. “You got this in the gift shop?”

  “It’s not available there. This is something that was created for the Drake companies’ largest buyers and A-list clients, a very limited-edition piece.”

  “Wait! They’re my family. How’d you get on the inside for a limited edition?”

  “I have skills.”

  London’s eyes glided from the wine stopper to Ace’s face. “That you do.”

  Three words, but they cut through the easy banter and casual chitchat to what was on both of their minds. That weekend in London. Literally and figuratively.

  “I have something else for you.”

  London eyed him up and down. “I’m ready.”

  Ace chuckled, flattered and flummoxed at the same time. “Dinner will be here in ten minutes. Would you like an aperitif?”

  “Sure.”

  Ace walked through the dining room into the kitchen. London followed him, taking in the sophisticated charm of the two-bedroom bungalow with its formal dining room and a stunning galley kitchen that featured brick backsplashes, copper counters and black stainless steel appliances.

  “I still can’t believe you’re here, at my cousin’s resort.”

  “And I can’t believe you’re here, in my bungalow. I chose this place specifically because of the privacy it afforded.”

  “Guess our meeting was meant to be.”

  She watched as Ace pulled a beautiful bottle from a shiny square box. The frosted glass sparkled in the dim lighting, and while it wasn’t as beautiful as the wine stopper Ace had given her, the top on the bottle was a luxurious design.

  “What’s that?”

  “Another limited edition. This is Drake Wines’s newest creation. It hasn’t even been released.”

  “Okay, which of my cousins do you know? It has to be family giving you this type of access.”

  “Dexter. When you got called back to your family, I went on a tour of the winery. He was my guide. I told him we were meeting for dinner. He thought we’d enjoy his latest creation.”

  “Dexter is good people. I can see you two getting along.”

  “Absolutely. He likes my clothes.”

  “I can see that.” Ace reached for two goblets from a glass-front cabinet. “This is wild, man. I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “Ditto. It’s been, what, three or four years since we’ve seen each other?”

  “More like five. That’s how long I’ve been away from modeling full-time.”

  “What happened? One minute you were on top of the modeling world and the next minute you’d quit and gone to college? And what made you decide to become a designer? Had that always been your plan? How’d you even know what to do? I have so many questions.”

  The brass door knocker sounded. “That’s our dinner.” He moved to walk by her. “I have questions, too. Before the night is over, we both might get answers to them all.”

  Normally the waitstaff stayed and served the meals brought to the bungalows. But Ace and London wanted privacy. After the young man had set the table, placed the entrées in a warming oven and served the appetizer, Ace tipped the grateful waiter and sent him on his way. The lights had been dimmed. Tapered candles in glass bowls at the table’s center sent shadows dancing against the silk walls. The flowers in tall corner vases were gorgeous and real. The aroma from the warming food wafted into the room. Ace reentered, too. He stopped in the doorway, watching London study the painting that had caught his attention earlier.

  “Pretty cool, huh?”

  “Yes. I think I’ve met this painter. Funny that his work would be on displa
y here.”

  He picked up their goblets and handed one to her when he reached her side. “I say we toast to coincidence.”

  London laughed as they clinked glasses. “Cheers.”

  “Let me get your chair.”

  “Thank you.”

  They sat, Ace at the head, London beside him. “You look beautiful tonight. Did I tell you that?”

  “No. You were too busy berating me for being late.”

  “Ha! I was messing with you mostly—got to keep a woman like you on your toes. I like your perfume, too. It’s actually the first thing I recognized when you came over this afternoon. I knew Ellen hadn’t been wearing that scent but explained it away in my head. I still can’t believe you did that when a phone call would have sufficed.”

  “As I said earlier, I didn’t want to give you the chance to turn me down. The thought came into my head when I overheard the workers, and I just went with it.” London bit into the toasted focaccia bread placed atop a spicy tomato bisque. “I think surprising you in person was more exciting than a phone call, don’t you?”

  Ace dug in to the appetizer, as well. “Exciting wouldn’t be my first word choice.”

  “What would?”

  “Shocking. Scary.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Yes, I do. That was pretty bold, what you did today. And a little rude.”

  This comment surprised her. “Rude? How?”

  “Do I really have to explain how that was an invasion of privacy?”

  “I assumed you’d want your privacy invaded,” she mumbled. “Diamond was mad at me, too.” She sat back, dejected. “It’s stuff like this that got me sent away in the first place.”

  “I don’t mean to make you feel bad.”

  “I can leave if you want.”

  “If I’d wanted that, I wouldn’t have invited you to dinner.” He studied London’s troubled expression. The pain he saw there troubled him, too.

  “Where were you sent away from?”

  He watched as she shook off the melancholy and donned a nonchalant air. “Let’s just say going to school in Europe wasn’t my idea.” She looked at him then offered a sincere smile. “It’s a long story. Maybe some other time.”

  “Is that your subtle way of trying to ensure another date?”

  “I’m the bold, rude ingrate who crashed your massage, remember? There are many words that could be used to describe me. Subtle isn’t one of them.”

  The honest answer touched Ace’s heart and awakened an unexplainable desire to protect her. He quickly squashed the notion. A woman like her didn’t need a man like him. Her company was refreshing, though. He soon realized what made being with her different. He was enjoying himself, feeling relaxed and complete, and he tried to remember the last time he’d felt this way. It had been a while.

  “There isn’t a woman here. Surprising for the Ace I remember. What’s up with that?”

  While he’d come here to get away from work, Ace welcomed the change of subject. “Right now my woman is a new line being unveiled at fashion week.”

  “Next month? In New York?” Ace nodded. “What’s the line?”

  “It’s a secret.” London fixed her mouth in a pout. Sexy, luscious, but Ace didn’t budge. “You know how the industry works. It’s all about the big reveal.” He paused for a drink of water, gazed at her over the rim as he drank. “I really want to tell you, though. Maybe I will soon.”

  “If not, I’ll just make sure to attend your show.”

  “How many shows are you doing?”

  “I don’t know yet. I hadn’t planned to do any, but...those plans have changed.”

  “Because of your breakup with Max?”

  “Partly. We were supposed to be filming his movie right now. But it’s also to take a break. I’ve lived overseas for years and promised my parents I’d spend time with them.”

  “Coming on to me the way you have makes it seem you’ve gotten over him. But that could be an act, like your being hurt when I didn’t call you back. Are you okay?”

  “Max didn’t want to let go, but I’m okay.” London finished her soup and reached for the chilled Chardonnay the waiter had poured them. She took a thoughtful sip. “And just for the record, I was hurt that you didn’t call me back. A little bit.”

  “You had plenty of guys lined up behind me. Wasn’t there even a stalker for a while?”

  Now it was London’s turn to be surprised. “How’d you know about that?”

  “Insider information. You know we run in the same circles, or used to.”

  “My people signed confidentiality agreements regarding this. We didn’t want it leaked to the public and give some other troubled soul ideas. So who told you?”

  “It was Trent Corrigan. He told me in confidence and I haven’t shared it further.”

  “Quinn’s best friend. She’s one of my sisters-in-law.”

  “So it was true.”

  “Unfortunately, yes. A guy I’d met casually while living in Paris. He interviewed me for his website. That’s how he got my number. After a series of interviews, he asked me out. When I declined he got crazy. I got a restraining order. He violated it several times before they finally put him in jail.”

  “That had to be scary.”

  “At first it was just annoying. But when he followed me back here to the States...”

  “He came over here?”

  “Right up to my hotel room door in New York City.”

  “That’s insane. It’s a wonder you don’t walk around with bodyguards.”

  “For a while I did. Guards named Terrell, Niko, Warren and Ike, otherwise known as my older brothers.”

  Ace laughed. “How’d that go?”

  “It didn’t last long. They wanted me to hide out in Paradise Cove, my hometown, but I refused to live in fear. With him in jail, I went back to Paris, where I lived at the time. Thankfully they have lives, wives and careers, and couldn’t follow me. Until then, I was shielded by a wall of Drakes.

  “Has that ever happened to you? The whole stalker thing?”

  “Yes, but not to the same extent as it did to you. My stalkers got the message before law enforcement had to be involved.”

  “Stalkers plural, huh? I’m not surprised.”

  Ace was. Not at her comments, but at the feelings bubbling in his heart for the woman he now drank in with his eyes.

  “Why do you keep staring at me?”

  “You should be used to people staring at you. Ready for the entrée?”

  “I’m starving for it.” Though the pecan-crusted lemon swordfish smelled heavenly, the look she gave suggested her comment was not about that at all. Ace understood. He felt the same way. But he couldn’t give in to the desire for physical pleasure. Not now that he’d decided she was the one, the perfect model to anchor the OTB Her line. He’d conduct himself professionally. This was about business. Or so he told himself. Time would tell.

  Chapter 6

  He wasn’t expected back until Tuesday, but Ace strolled into his office on Monday morning at eight o’clock sharp, motivated, excited and ready to work. Seeing London had brought all his thoughts about the runway show together around a cohesive concept and had inspired an idea for a showstopping final piece. He now knew exactly the type of woman the new line represented. He’d spent the day with her. London was his muse.

  After a trip to the break room to fortify himself with a cup of java, Ace returned to the office, rolled up his designer shirtsleeves and pulled out a sketch pad. The pencil fairly flew across the paper as lines, swirls and varied strokes brought Ace’s vision to life. The sketch was detailed and specific. Lucien, the TV design show winner who’d sent in his portfolio just last week, would have no problem bringing his vision to life. Ace wa
s sure of it.

  “What the heck are you doing here?”

  Immersed in sketching the intricate design he envisioned on the stand-up collar of the London-Clarisse trench coat–inspired finale design, Ace hadn’t heard Tyler come down the hall or enter his office.

  “Dent! My man!” Ace rubbed his palms together like an excited young boy. “Have a seat.”

  Tyler eyed Ace with skepticism as he sat down. The toned, tan blond with mystical gray eyes and a dimpled smile was the company’s CFO and Ace’s good friend for the past five years.

  “You aren’t due back until tomorrow.”

  “I know, but I couldn’t wait. I found the star model for our runway shows. Or rather, she found me. And you’re not going to believe who it is.”

  “The way your eyes are shining I’d say either Mariah, Rihanna or Michelle Obama.”

  “Close. London.”

  Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “Frida said you were at a vineyard near San Diego.”

  Frida was Ace’s executive assistant, named after the talented, outspoken Mexican artist, and she was equally unreserved.

  “I was.”

  “But working, obviously, instead of taking our advice to do anything but that. Thanks for the email on Lucien, though. He’s definitely our guy.”

  “You’re welcome. But I actually met her while doing exactly what you guys suggested.”

  “London was at the vineyard?”

  “Her family owns it.”

  “Get the hell out of here. Are we talking about the same London, the gorgeous international supermodel and the darling of Europe?” Ace nodded. “Her family lives in... What’s the name of the town?”

  “Temecula.”

  “Her family lives there?”

  “Her first cousins do.”

  “And London just happened to be there visiting them. Why don’t I believe this?”

  “If the tables were turned, I wouldn’t, either. But she was there. Our meeting was coincidental.”

  Ace told Tyler about London’s relative Papa Dee and why the family had been there last weekend. “The moment I saw her,” he finished, “I knew she was the one to bring this line to life, to make it the hit we want it to be and so much more. Get her on our runway and we’ll be all everyone is talking about from New York to Paris and from London to Milan.”