Or, maybe I would call Stella because I could use all the help I could get.
Chapter 8
Wren
* * *
Stella was literally a fairy godmother incarnate.
I hardly recognized myself when she was done with me.
I didn’t have time to go to the salon, but, with Stella’s skills, I was seriously considering getting her to permanently take over my haircare. My hair looked amazing. Stella had cut it a little shorter to get rid of the dead and split ends. Now, instead of being waist length, it stopped just short of my elbows. So, it was still long, but now it was healthier looking and sparkling.
My long blonde locks hadn’t sparkled like this since I had it professionally styled for Cora’s wedding. Before that, it was probably at my college graduation. That went to show how busy I was—I hadn’t had the chance to do much to treat myself.
Well, today I was well and truly making up for it because I looked like a million dollars. Selene, Denise, and Albert didn’t even recognize me when I came in. I had to confess with as nervous as I felt, there was a comfort that came with knowing I looked good.
My hair hung in loose, sultry waves down the back of my black v-line dress which hugged my tiny frame and accentuated all the features I wanted to show off. The silk of the dress flirted with my legs as I walked. The hem stopping just above my knees with a slightly longer dip in the back to give it a classy edge. Stella was really pleased with the look, and so was I.
Here I was, waiting outside the coffeehouse for AJ. It was five minutes to twelve. I thought I’d wait outside so as not to cause a scene. I hated being the center of attention, no matter how small the group was. I’d told Selene and Denise I was going on a date, but I didn’t tell them with who.
Denise was only too happy to help since she was aware of the situation with Billy. I didn’t tell Denise everything that had happened, but I told her enough, just leaving out the part about me being broke.
The last thing I needed was for my best worker to seek employment elsewhere and spread the word. I didn’t think Denise would do that with any malicious intent, but money was money, and people worked for money. Nice as I was to them, I doubted it would go down well if I told them paying them was going to be a problem, which it wouldn’t because I would sooner go bankrupt than owe any of those guys their salary. I’d told them things were going to be tight until I found suitable replacements. I made it sound like I’d be recruiting reliable people, which wasn’t far from the truth.
I just wouldn’t be doing that for a few weeks yet.
I pulled in a breath as the clock over the station chimed, announcing midday.
A sleek, black limo approached me and pulled up to the curb. I hadn’t seen many limos in this area, maybe further in the city where all the Michelin starred restaurants were based, but not here, where it was mostly hangouts and boutiques.
I looked away from it and wondered where AJ would be taking me. I couldn’t believe I was going out with him. Just his appearance alone was in stark contrast to Billy’s. When you looked at AJ, you could tell the man took care of himself. He dressed well, had an incredible physique, and had the kind of hair you wanted to run your fingers through.
He definitely deserved the name Mr. Delicious.
Billy, on the other hand, had the kind of body that may have looked good once—not when he was with me—but he’d let himself go.
He didn’t look terrible when we first got together, but he certainly did now. Thank God I wasn’t the one who was sleeping with him and hadn’t been for a long enough time for me to forget what he looked like without clothes on. He was someone else’s problem now.
I was seriously looking forward to this lunch date. Aside from his gorgeousness AJ just seemed like a nice guy. Great personality and sense of humor.
I liked the warmth I felt from him.
“Miss Chase?” A voice came from behind me. I turned to see the limo driver. He’d gotten out and was smiling at me kindly, his salt-and-pepper handlebar mustache lifting as he smiled.
“Hi there,” I replied.
“Oh good. I’m here to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?” I looked at the older man not knowing what he meant.
“Yes. AJ sent me to retrieve you.”
All I could do was stare, stare at him and at the limo behind him.
“Really?” My voice broke. “He. Oh, um, okay.”
I had thought when AJ said he was going to pick me up, he was going to pick me up. But, hey, that wasn’t even an issue and was so minor on the scale of things, considering I was being picked up for a lunch date by a driver in a limo. Wait until I told Stella this.
“Thank you,” I told him as he held the door open for me.
Inside the limo was just like I’d seen in the movies. White, shiny leather covered the padded seats which adjusted for my comfort as I sat. There was a mini bar and a small flat-screen TV, and the back smelled like roses. As we set off I got completely carried away with the whole thing and didn’t specifically pay attention to where we were going. Again, I made the assumption I’d be going somewhere in the city but could have just about fainted when we pulled up at the drop off point at O’Hare International.
“We’re at the airport,” I gasped, startled.
The driver just looked back at me with that same warm, welcoming smile.
“Yes, Miss Chase. This was where I was instructed to take you.”
“Why would AJ want me to meet him here?” Now I was confused. “Are you sure I’m the right person, or even that this is what he said?” I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
The driver laughed. “I’m certain of both things, but I have no idea what he has planned. I’m supposed to take you to him from here.”
I remained silent. I didn’t know what was going on, and now I was getting antsy because I’d told the guys back at the coffeehouse I’d be back by two at the latest. It was already nearly twelve-thirty.
I got out of the car when the driver opened the door, and followed him through the airport. Surprise gripped me when he led me through a VIP section and I didn’t even have to check in to get through security or anything. Then we were walking down the path toward a sleek looking private jet.
AJ was standing by the stairs that led into the jet. When I had thought I looked like a million dollars, I was wrong because he was the one that looked it through and through.
He was dressed in complete sophistication, and I let my gaze wander over him. A button-down white shirt, undone at the top, allowed me to see the slight hint of his tanned skin on his muscular chest. Beige trousers hung loosely from his powerful, long legs, and his spiky, shiny hair completed the look wonderfully. Just looking at him took my breath away, and I could barely focus.
He smiled when he saw me, and I smiled back nervously, anxiety overtaking me. “You made it.” He beamed, looking me over with complete satisfaction, “And you look better than in the dream I had of you last night.”
I opened my mouth to answer him, but no words came out. Instead, I took a gentle breath to calm my racing heart. This was the kind of man who could get you into trouble, and I was starting to see I had a tendency to forget everything when I was around him. His charm was overpowering and spellbinding.
He was the kind of man who could sweet talk me into anything, and I wondered what on earth whatever this was we were doing.
“You dreamt about me?”
“I did, but the real-life version of you is a million times better. You look beautiful.” His eyes took me in with that interest I craved from the loneliness I’d felt for far too long.
“Thank you.” I breathed trying to keep myself together. “You look amazing, too.”
“Thank you.” He smiled now, revealing super-gorgeous dimples.
I stared, fascinated because I didn’t realize he could look any hotter than he already did. But, gorgeous or not, there was a question I was dying to ask, and it was eating away at my insides.
“Well, I got the impression Paris was your idea of a perfect getaway, and there’s only one way we’re going to get to our dinner reservation on top of the Eiffel tower.”
There were very few times in my life where anything could silence me, but in the space of one week, this man had had me stunned into silence several times. This being the longest and the most stunned I’d ever been in my life.
“What!” I gasped, shaking my head and blinking several times. “I don’t know what you just said.”
He laughed. “In short, I’m taking you to Paris for dinner.”
I sighed heavily. This was a dream and a joke rolled into one. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, but I hoped you’d look a little bit more into this.”
“AJ, people don’t just go to Paris for dinner and –”
“Yes, they do, Wren. We’ll just go, like you said. We’ll get on my plane and go.”
“Your plane?” My eyes widened. Jesus, this was too much for my blood pressure. The man had a plane. I’d guessed he was well off because of the way he dressed, but I’d never thought he was this rich. It hadn’t even registered with the limo, but now it did.
His shoulders slumped a little. “Yeah, it’s my plane.”
“Who are you?” I had to ask that too, because this whole thing was bizarre.
“I’m just a guy who wants to take you to Paris on a date. Is that really so strange?” he grinned.
“Yes,” I replied, even though I was completely besotted with his response and couldn’t help but smile back myself.
“I like you,” he gave me that overtly sexual look again that totally made me blush uncontrollably.
My cheeks warmed, and I knew he could see I was blushing.
“I like you, too.” I was trying to be as forward as he was, even though it felt a little unnatural to me.
“Then let’s just go.” He rocked back on his heels in a laid-back manner and pushed his hands in his pockets.
How I would love to say ‘yes.’ But how?
I was already going to be late back to work and poor Selene and Denise would be rushed off their feet. I couldn’t have more time off. Paris wasn’t exactly down the road.
“I want to. I would love to, but, um, I can’t. I have to get back to work.” I felt like crying, and the backs of my eyes stung at the thought of what I was turning down.
“Work?” He actually looked relieved at that excuse.
“Yeah, um…” I felt that I owed it to him to give him some context. “I know it looks like I’m doing well at the coffeehouse, but I’m not. I made some really bad business decisions and my ex left me with a mountain of bills to pay. I would really love to accept this amazing offer to go to Paris with you, but I can’t take the time off.”
He looked concerned for me but then the twinkle in his eyes returned. “I’m really sorry to hear that, but let’s just say I may have taken the liberty of taking care of the coffeehouse for a week or so, just so we could have this getaway of ours.”
I blinked at him, again not quite understanding what he meant.
“You… I don’t get it.”
He laughed again. “I figured you may be concerned with the coffeehouse, so I spoke to your staff and I got a few extra hands from my restaurant in town.”
A smile tugged at my heart and made its way to my lips. This guy was unbelievable.
“I can’t believe you would do that. And you have a restaurant?”
“A few.”
“Really? God.”
“So, what do you say? Do you want to go to Paris?”
“For a week?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Or however long you want,” he replied, his voice heavy with seduction.
“Oh my God.” This was real, but God… “I don’t even have any clothes.”
“I sorted that out. There’s a week’s worth of clothes already in Paris waiting for you. And we can go shopping when we get there.”
All I could do was stare, open mouthed. “ This is for real?” The excitement was bubbling within me.
“It’s real. But … all I ask is one thing.”
“What’s that?” I couldn’t imagine what it could be.
“No business and no worrying. Screw the bills and responsibilities.”
Those were my very words.
I tilted my head to the side and regarded him. “Screw the bills and responsibilities?”
“I’m serious. No phones, checking emails, or anything business related.”
The loan. “I have a –”
He silenced me by placing his finger lightly over my lips, which he stared at. There was that spark again. This time stronger. He came closer, so close I thought he was going to kiss me.
Now I was wondering what that would feel like.
“No. You leave everything here. Worries and all, and come with me. We’ll just go.”
What he was offering was that thing I’d desired for so long it felt like a fantasy to me.
It was a break.
An actual break.
“Okay.” I wanted that, all of it. The escape and to be with him.
The smile on his face was classic. “Is that a ‘yes’?” His eyes searched mine.
“Yes.” I wasn’t crazy or senile. Of course, it was a ‘yes.’
Chapter 9
Adam
* * *
En route to Paris was the last place I should be with all the craziness that had been going on at the office with my father and brother.
Neither of them took too kindly to the fact I wasn’t signing the agreement to sell Jordin Estates.
Marc came after me again yesterday, trying to bend me to his will with this fancy shit about how I’d be doing the community a service if I sold, and then Dad told me he wanted to see me.
He only phrased it that way when he wasn’t happy with me.
We’ll they would both probably kill me or each other because I was going to be in Paris.
Truth be told I was a Jordin, and in true Jordin style I was simply avoiding stress by going off on my own pursuit. Which for me, was getting to know Wren.
I did like her, more than I thought I would. Over the years, she’d interested me, but in the last week, she’d intrigued me. I always thought of her as being the type of woman you’d want to get to know, so I couldn’t claim to be surprised at the truth in that. Not only that, but I was right about her body too.
I liked how dressed up she was for me, and I had to keep control of myself when I saw how that dress both clung and caressed her body. Then there were the killer heels she wore that made a great show of her shapely legs and thighs.
I knew she would agree to come even before asking. Paris was, after all, where she had chosen when Stella asked for her perfect idea for a getaway.
Last night I thanked the angels for the idea. I went to the coffee house just hoping to see her and hang out. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop but I heard her and Stella talking about me and the whole getaway idea. Neither saw me because they were so occupied in their conversation.
She’d called Stella before we boarded the plane. I could hear Stella screaming with delight from the other end of the phone while Wren tried to mask her excitement.
When I ran the idea of Paris past Chad last night, Chad asked what in the hell I was waiting on. He also repeated his mantra of advice.
Take the woman if you want her.
I didn’t exactly think it was that simple, but I didn’t need any further encouragement.
And here we were.
No business and no worrying. That applied to both of us.
I decided I’d only answer my father’s calls.
For Wren, I’d checked out what loans she had and made them disappear. I didn’t want her checking her emails and seeing the confirmation of payments made to wrap them up. I also sorted
out the refund on the business loan, and unknown to her whether she wanted it or not, she now outright owned The Spot.
She’d have a ton of questions and I was ninety nine percent sure she’d try to give me back the money.
I was also certain my family would be quick to commit me to an asylum when they found out all that I’d done for this woman I’d only known by sight.
Until such a time I would enjoy her. I would enjoy her and explain everything when she warmed up to me.
I watched her starting to do just that.
Wren sat opposite me. She was blushing because I was staring. I couldn’t help it. She was beautiful, and I couldn’t get enough of her.
“So, are you going to tell me what you do for a living, or is it rude to ask?” She smiled sweetly. “I was kind of picked up for this getaway by a limo and I am kind of on a private jet going to Paris. So that kind of makes me want to ask questions.”
It was that sweetness I liked about her that was coming out now. She was sweet like candy, and I bet she tasted just like that, too.
“Property development. It’s a family business,” I told her.
“Oh, wow.” She looked as intrigued as she did when she first boarded the plane.
Being born into wealth had robbed me of the appreciation the general person would feel for doing certain things, like being picked up by a limo, being on a private jet, and going to Paris on a whim.
I’d been traveling on private jets since birth. Everyone in the family had one because that was, obviously, how they’d get around the world. It was as essential to each person as a car was. They all had limos pick up our guests, too and had the very latest models of whatever car took our interests.
And, as for Paris, my mother was there practically every week shopping. It was as simple to her as going into town. My father spent time in France, too, visiting family.
Mr. Delicious Page 6
