Tart

by Lauren Dane

  “Works for me.”

  Cal got up and she hummed at the sight of all that bare skin. He looked back over his shoulder, caught her stare and smiled all sexy-like. “Call the pizza in; you know the number. I’ll get the champagne.”

  Gideon held her to him once Cal left. “Are you all right?” He kissed her softly.

  “Yes, I am. I’m still processing, but you . . . this was . . . yes, I’m good. Are you? Was it . . . okay to see me with Cal?”

  He took a deep breath. “I admit I wasn’t sure how it would feel, but”—his mouth curved up at the corner—“I like to be watched and I like to watch. You’re gorgeous and sexy and having sex with someone else who is gorgeous and sexy and I’m here, enjoying it too. It was more than okay. It was mind-numbingly hot. I want more. But not at the expense of your feelings or of Cal’s.”

  She touched her forehead to his.

  He continued. “This isn’t just sex. It’s feelings. We have to take it step by step because I know we’ve made things way more complicated and if it fucks up, I could lose you and I don’t want that.”

  She sighed, hugging him tight. “That was exactly what I needed to hear.”

  “Good. Now, order that pizza. I need to call in and check with Granddad to let him know I’ll be out late but up early.”

  She got up, Gideon noted, pretty comfortable with the space. It had been sort of odd at first to see how close she and Cal were. They had memories Gideon wasn’t part of.

  But he had her first. He’d had the luxury of those quiet first days when they’d gotten together and he’d slowly but surely fallen for her.

  She’d put on a shirt and some socks—Cal’s, he supposed—by the time he’d finished the call with his granddad. Patrick had urged him to stay out as long as he wanted and enjoy his little missy. He’d gruffly added that he was eighty years old and totally capable of managing his life.

  She smiled from where she’d propped herself up against the headboard. “Pizza is ordered.”

  He got in bed with her and Cal showed up with champagne. “Let’s toast to beginnings.”

  He filled their glasses and they did just that.

  • • •

  Cal looked up at the knock to find Jules in his office doorway with a cup of coffee and a box containing what he knew would be delicious. It had only been a few days since that first, amazing time they’d all been together and he loved the sight of her, loved knowing she was his at last.

  “Hey.” He got up and went to her, kissing her quickly and motioning her inside. “Sit. What brings you here?”

  “You do. I had a break. My new staff are so awesome I actually have breaks. I wanted to go for a walk and so I decided to bring you a treat. I know you’re working. I just wanted to pop in. Your secretary said it was all right.”

  He put a staying hand on her thigh and realized it meant more than it had before. He slid it up just a smidge and her mouth quivered before a slow smile marked her lips.

  “I like that you came by.” He sipped the coffee and poked open the box. “You’re awesome.”

  She grinned. “I was up early and made extra. I set aside two just for you. The blueberries are fresh. Patrick brought them over himself this morning. I think it makes Gideon crazy that he drives. I can’t blame him.” She raised a brow and he tried not to inhale the little lemon blueberry tarts he loved almost as much as her apple cranberry tarts.

  “Go on, you can eat them both. I took some home too.”

  He laughed and kissed her quickly.

  “I’m still not used to that.”

  He sat back and watched her, content that she was his to do so. “To what?”

  “To being kissed by you.”

  “I kissed you all the time before.”

  “Not the same as you do now.”

  He made himself save the other tart for later, putting the box on the corner of his desk.

  “I’m getting used to it too, I guess. It just seems natural to touch you. It always has been.”

  She blushed, so fucking pretty.

  “Are we on tonight?”

  “I’m going over to Seattle for a fitting in an hour or so. Then dinner with Erin. We’re planning an engagement party for Adrian and Gillian.”

  “You’re taking the ferry? Oh, the things you do for your friends.”

  “I’m going to take a Xanax first.” She blushed. “A small enough dose that I can drive afterward. Don’t worry.”

  He tipped her chin up. “Baby, why are you so embarrassed about it? Everyone’s got a few phobias.” And hers came from a very real place. She’d nearly drowned when she was seven years old. Her father had subscribed to the old and incorrect adage that all you needed to do to teach a child to swim was throw them in the water. Only he threw her into Puget Sound in twenty-five feet of water.

  Worse, he’d missed the deepest part and she’d hit her head on a submerged log, knocking her unconscious.

  She’d been in the hospital for four days. Cal could still remember his mother going on about what an ass her father had been to do it.

  And she’d been terrified of the water ever since.

  “Why don’t I drive you? Then you don’t have to worry about driving at all. I have work to do in town anyway. You can call me when you’re finished and I’ll pick you up.”

  She smiled at him. “That’s very sweet. But I’m thirty-three years old and I live on an island. Having to take a ferry comes with the territory. I can handle it.” She jutted her chin out and a wave of tenderness hit him square in the chest at the sight.

  “You’re being stubborn for no reason.”

  One of her brows rose slowly and it got him hot, though he didn’t share that part.

  “Do you think that because we’re together now you get to boss me around?”

  He laughed. “I wish.”

  She rolled her eyes. “No, you don’t. You’d get bored with me if I let you boss me around. Remember Candace?”

  He cringed.

  Jules straightened and stood with a smile. “Careful what you wish for, Calvin Whaley. You wanted me and now you get me. Me and my memory of every woman and man you had when you should have been with me.”

  He stood and hugged her. “It’s worth it. Please let me go with you tonight.” He hated the thought of her sitting in her car, gripping her steering wheel until the ferry docked in Seattle. “I can call Gideon; he and I can go to a movie or something while you’re with Erin. Does Erin know how much you hate the ferry?” He looked at her suspiciously and her eyes widened and then narrowed.

  “No and if she finds out I’ll know from who. Let me handle this myself. I’m not incapable of doing things like taking the damned ferry. Don’t make me sorry I shared.”

  She was wily, this one. He was damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. So he sighed and nodded. “Will you call me when you get back? Or while you’re on the ferry if you want to talk?”

  Jules smiled, fixing his tie and then tiptoeing up for a kiss. “Yes. I’ll see you later. I need to get back.”

  He watched her go, smiling and still wanting to fix things for her. Knowing she’d kill him if he even tried.

  • • •

  She preferred not to think about the ferry. She often put her sunglasses on and closed her eyes on the trip over. It helped. Today she listened to an audiobook, Lara Adrian, one of her very favorite authors. It helped take her mind off the deep water beneath the boat. By the time she was able to drive off, never a moment too soon really, she’d swallowed back her fear enough to be proud that she’d overcome her stupid damned fears once again.

  As promised, Erin had arranged for her to park in the building’s garage and she was buzzed up immediately. The building they lived in was amazing. Breathtaking views from pretty much all sides. The hallways were quiet, but once she got off on Erin’s floor, it was easy to tell which door was theirs.

  Erin Brown loved color. It was apparent in everything she did. It was something Jules found totally wond
erful as she also loved color. But Erin took it to another level. She was bold and vibrant and just being around her was exhilarating.

  Todd, one of Erin’s men, answered the bell, grinning down at her, Alexander, their son, on his hip wearing a matching grin.

  “Well, hello there, you two.” She grinned right back, charmed.

  “Come on in.” Todd stood back and motioned her inside.

  She walked past them and Alexander reached out to pat her shoulder. “Hi!”

  “Hello there, young man!” Some babies were all joy. This one had been and as a toddler he was just as happy. He made her want to smile.

  He began to tell her about the big yellow truck he saw earlier, a mass of dark hair in curls about his face swaying as he excitedly explained the entire setup from the moment they decided to go out for a walk to Pike Place right up to the truck sighting. He spoke quickly, and in toddler speak, so she had to go with the energy and feel of the story rather than the narrative. The boy was ever so much like his mother it touched that need she’d begun to feel.

  Jules had been an active part of Miles’s life. She knew she could deal with croup and diapers. Though the part about raising a good person seemed a great deal harder and she admired Gillian more than her friend would ever know.

  And Alexander was a pretty freaking delightful kid too. Made sense as Erin was a delightful woman and her men were the type anyone would want their sons to be. Big and strong. Protective of their loved ones. Thoughtful. Alexander came from some pretty awesome genes.

  Ben had paused in the kitchen to listen to the story about the truck, looking at his son with so much love something tightened in her chest.

  Todd swung the boy down and he took off quickly, heading toward his mother as she entered the room.

  Erin’s face lit when she saw Jules. “Jules! You’re here. The invitations went out today. I’ve got some in my office if you want to check them out. Then we can talk about the rest.” She bent to kiss Ben, who’d knelt to speak to his son.

  “Are you sure I’m not interrupting?”

  Erin laughed. “We don’t have a quiet, peaceful life. It’s always sort of loud and busy. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Ben smiled up at Jules. “Hey, Jules, good to see you.”

  Goddamn, Erin was fortunate. Then again . . .

  Alexander plopped down and Ben did the same. Todd, laughing, joined them. “What should we do, monkey?”

  Beautiful, this family. Unique and vivid and solid. It gave her some hope that maybe she could make it work too. They were such a great example and suddenly she felt better because she wasn’t alone and it wasn’t impossible so maybe they could really do it.

  The look on Erin’s face as she took in her men made Jules want to sigh. “Let me know when the oven dings. We’ll be in my office.”

  Alexander looked up at his mother. “Okay.”

  Todd laughed and assured her they’d keep an eye on dinner.

  Erin turned with one last look at her boys and led the way through the apartment and then down the hall to her office.

  “Dang, you even have snacks in here already? That’s pretty host-tastic.”

  Erin’s smile lit her entire face. “I love that word! Truth is, I cheated and picked these up at Pike Place earlier today. Alexander and I went on a walk. He loves to see the pig.”

  “I love that pig too,” Jules said of the brass pig at the mouth of Pike Place Market. “I heard about the yellow truck.” Jules paused. “You have a really fabulous kid.”

  Erin reached out and squeezed Jules’s hands briefly. “Thank you. I’m obviously biased but I think so too. Adele was like that too. Totally fearless. Never stopped talking. Was everyone’s friend right away.”

  Erin’s daughter Adele had been killed during a standoff between the police and Erin’s stalker. Jules couldn’t begin to imagine the pain of that.

  “Anyway.” Erin sat up straight and her smile was genuine. “Thank you.” She pointed. “Those are the invitations that went out today. There are some extras in case we think of someone else to invite. I even sent you one.”

  “Cool! Thanks.” She sat, looking at the invitation as she nibbled on the cheese Erin had laid out. “These turned out so well. I love them.”

  “They really did. It’s the same people who did Brody and Elise’s wedding invitations. Gillian and Adrian used them for that too so they had all the info already.”

  Erin liked Jules. She was the kind of friend Gillian could count on. She knew Jules had helped Gillian past some trust issues with Adrian as well. That made her even more likeable in Erin’s book as she loved her brother very much and he’d found something so special with Gillian.

  “Mary has the food planned out already. She also has the chairs we’ll need. Smart to know a caterer.” Jules pulled out a folder.

  “Color-coded charts. Wow.”

  Jules blushed. “I know. I’m pretty . . . um, organized.”

  “Don’t be embarrassed at all! I love color-coded charts. I’m not even lying. Plus, it’s a great habit. You don’t seem to have been hindered by it and your business is successful so you clearly find it useful there.”

  Blushing, Jules slid the charts out on the table between them. “All right. So the front lawn of Carter Farm is really perfect for this. It’s level and the tenting—also something Mary has access too—is easy to install. Gideon has already volunteered to get that taken care of. I don’t think we need to worry about assigned seating. We’ve planned for enough tables so people can mix and match if they like. Everyone knows everyone else, after all. Oh and there’ll be security. Gillian was not happy about it, but Adrian talked her past it.”

  “I bet you did too. And thanks. I know she has a hard time with all the attention and fame stuff.”

  “It’s a shitty thing that my best friend can’t have an engagement party without security and strategically placed curtain panels and floral arrangements to block paparazzi pictures. But that’s what it is and she has to deal with it.” Jules shrugged. “She wants a normal life. But Adrian’s job isn’t normal. She knows that.”

  Erin smiled. “Well yes, we know lots of things. But you help her past stuff.” She wasn’t a fan of having to deal with security either, but Jules had the right of it. Erin knew just exactly what worst-case scenario meant.

  “That’s what friends do.” Gracious and humble, two very good qualities as far as Erin was concerned, and Jules had them in spades.

  “Not always. But you do and I like that. Oh music! We’ve got that part handled. Now that Gillian and Adrian know about the party, I ran some music choices past him. I think instead of live music, we’ll do a DJ for dinner. We’ll handle some live stuff for later in the night. It’s a secret, but Adrian has some new material on this record he’s making and he wants to give a song to Gillian as a present. He’ll do it live for her that night.”

  Jules’s eyes widened. “That’s so cool. She’ll love it. He’s perfect for her.”

  Erin nodded. “They’re pretty perfect for each other. And for my nephew. Great kid, our Blue.” Blue was Erin’s nickname for Miles and only she and Alexander used it. Erin loved that boy to distraction. Gillian had done a fine job with him and her brother had stepped up and been a great dad as well.

  Jules made a note. “I’ll tell him to coordinate with Gideon then so they get the right kind of flooring and staging up.”

  “I’m giving them a present at the party. In public so they can’t refuse it.” Erin giggled.

  “You’re such a schemer! What are you giving them?”

  “A honeymoon trip. Ben just gave me a trip to Fiji. We leave next week, as it happens! Anyway, I’m going to check it out for sure, but if it’s as fabulous as the paperwork and website make it look, I’m sending them there for two weeks. I’m laying claim to Blue though.”

  Jules frowned. “You’re a Miles hog.”

  Erin laughed. “I am! You had him all to yourself for thirteen years. And you’re his godm
other. He talks about you all the time. I suppose I should add that you’re always free to come see him here. Stay over if you like. We’ve got the room.”

  “When he’s with me, he talks about you. He has good taste, I’ll give him that much. And exciting on the trip to Fiji. I’ve never been but it looks so beautiful.”

  “It was a very pleasant surprise. We don’t get much time, just the three of us. We do date nights. We’re fortunate to have so many capable babysitters so close by and all. But ten days with no toddler up at the crack of dawn? I really can’t wait for that. Though I’m going to miss that little monkey.”

  “You need that though. The time with Todd and Ben. Alexander will do just fine. As you pointed out he’s surrounded by people who love him. I’m sure there’ll be a tussle over who gets to keep him while you’re gone.”

  Erin nodded. “Ha! That’s true. Brody and Adrian will probably get into it. Todd’s mom has surgery on her ankle the week before we leave so at least that’s one less person they’ll have to fight with.” They were lucky indeed to have so many people in their lives to love.

  “Having a baby with them has been incredible, but the alone time is necessary for sanity and to keep our relationship nurtured too. I love our family. It’s a challenge of course, but it’s been wonderful.”

  “Watching all these children makes my ovaries hurt.” Jules winked.

  “We’ll get to that in a moment. Did you go to the fitting?”

  “I did. I was a little worried the dress would be a wee bit tight. I’ve been sort of busy of late and I haven’t exercised as much.”

  Erin looked her over and laughed. “Please. You’re ridiculously pretty.”

  Jules laughed. “Well, thank you, but I still love to eat a lot of pizza.”

  “And beer.” Erin snorted a laugh. “So before we go out there you need to give me the scoop on what’s happening with Gideon.”

  Jules took a deep breath.

  Erin continued. “I know you’re close with Gillian, but we’re friends too. I hope you’ll feel comfortable talking with me about stuff. If not, that’s okay too.”