by Jane Henry
I gaze over my loaded desk. I’m nowhere near done. Stacks of papers stare back at me. “I’ve got a few things to wrap up here, first. Can you send him to my office in an hour?”
“You got it.” I can hear the hope in his voice. “And is that car going to be for one or two passengers?”
“Sorry, Shane—I’m flying solo today. Lexi’s not coming in for a few more days.” I wanna say, Cool it, buddy. She’s suffering from a broken heart and in no way ready to date.
He unsuccessfully tries to mask the disappointment from his voice. “I thought she was coming back with you.”
“She decided to stay with Mom. She visits Mom at the care home during the day, and packs up Mom’s house at night.” I throw the poor guy a bone. “She told me to tell you she’ll be ready for help with the listing in a few days.”
He gives a muffled sigh. “Of course. Any way I can help you girls, let me know.”
Like helping my sister mend her broken heart? “Will do. Thank you. See you soon.” I hang up the phone and get back to work. I’m done with about half the stacks of emails and invoices and messages when a text from Lexi comes in.
Any word on a place for mom?
I shoot one back.
Going to look at a potential place in about an hour. Will call you tonight to fill you in. How’s the packing going?
A texting convo ensues.
I’m with Mom now, but I’m going to hit it again when I get back. I found my old dance costumes in Mom’s attic last night. I am so bringing them to Vegas with me. Showgirl, here I come! That’ll show him…
Forget that asshole. You’ve got a brand spanking new life awaiting you in Vegas. I say.
I grin at the peach, hand, eggplant string she sends. Somebody’s got a spanking life and it ain’t me! Unless you let me come work for you… pretty please….
We’ve been talking about this, but I don’t know. Lexi says she wants the distraction, the fun of going on lavish dates with rich men, the one-night stand with no connection. Five minutes later, she’s swearing off men forever. Then ten minutes after that her head is on my shoulder and she’s crying over Tom and saying the biggest fuck you to him would be to escort for hot daddies.
It’s not happening.
Fat chance this big sister is going to let her little sis be a Sugar Daddies escort.
I can practically see her pout as she responds. That’s discrimination. If I apply you have to give me an interview.
That’s nepotism. Can’t hire my family. Sorry, showgirl.
Hang on, Mom wants me to text you something, I’m starting a thread with all of us.
I look at the time. There’s only another half hour before the car arrives. I really need to work. The new thread pops up and there’s three dots. I wait, curious as to what my mom could be typing.
Mom: Tell your man that in Book 2 he needs to know that Monte Carlo is actually the bad guy. Keep an (eye emoji) out.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Not this Mafia romance stuff again.” I hold the phone up to my face as if my mom’s on the other line and can hear me. “He’s just the cover model, Mom.”
Mom: I’m also reading Song of Solomons. So hot they could start a fire.
Here’s a line for you. The curves of your thighs are like jewelry.
Mom. Stop.
My sister, the menace, replies. Mmm… tell us more, Mom.
Mom: Your breasts are clusters of fruit I will climb the palm tree and take hold of its fruit.
OMG I’ve got to get back to work. K bye girls!
I toss my phone in my purse. I can’t be distracted right now. My time can better serve my mother by going to look at the new care home Shane found than texting sexy quotes from a book back and forth.
After what feels like only minutes but must be thirty, Sam pops her head in my doorway. “Car’s here, Julia Roberts.”
I hold in a groan, grabbing my bag. “Please stop calling me that, Sam.”
She gives me the innocent face. “What? You’re living every escort's dream. Better you hear it from me than the girls.”
What are the girls saying behind my back? “Spill it.”
She gives a shrug. “Everyone is calling you Pretty Woman.”
I let the groan go this time. Loud and long. “Well, tell them to stop. How do the girls even know about that movie? It’s so old.”
She gives me a roll of her eyes. “Every girl knows that movie, babe. Now get out of here. Your Mercedes chariot awaits you. I’ll upload the rest of these and shoot them to your email for you to e-sign.” She sweeps the contracts from my desk, pointing at the door.
As I brush past her to leave my office, she gives my ass a swat with the papers. She cackles. “Don’t keep daddy waiting, babygirl.”
I rush through the doorway, calling over my shoulder. “I can fire you, you know.”
She follows me to the front door. “No, you can’t. You know you can’t work the scanner. Or the shared calendar. And you don’t know how to negotiate like I do.”
“Fair points.” I’d be lost without her and she knows it. I give her a tight squeeze. “Besides, you’re my favorite employee.”
“Really? Cause your sister’s been calling here asking me to sneaky-book her an interview with you. I think she’s trying to take my place as your fave employee.”
My hand freezes on the handle of the front door. “Tell me you told her no.”
“Of course I did. But she sure could bring in a pretty penny. That banging little dancer’s body—”
Steeling my gaze, I give her the look I’ve been given so many times by Gabe. I throw in her full name for good measure. “Samantha.”
She holds up her paper-filled hand in surrender. “Okay, okay.”
“Goodbye.” I walk through the door, and it swings shut behind me. I give her a wave as I climb in the open car door. As we pull away, I can just make out the gesture she’s performing from behind the glass door of Sugar Daddies, A crude dance move, shaking her hips and waving her hand in front of her body in a spanking motion. I roll my eyes.
The driver knows where we’re headed. I busy myself on the ride, e-signing documents as Sam emails them to me. She finishes her last email with, love your fave employee, Sam.
I have to laugh. Sam keeps me on my toes. But Lexi is not working for us. Even if she does have a banging dancer’s body that I’ve often envied.
Contracts done for the moment, I sit back in my seat and take in a deep breath. Gazing out the window, I find we’re no longer anywhere near downtown. The distance between houses grows with each mile we drive. The homes become larger; the lots more spacious. Then, the stone walls and wrought iron gates begin to appear. These aren’t houses.
These are estates.
How could a long term care facility be this far out here? And how long have we been driving? This is the opposite direction from my apartment, too far to take a quick trip to visit mom.
And now, there are no houses.
Funny, now I see green grass. Perfectly manicured lawn stretches over the land—a rarity in our arid climate—and a wall of brown stone comes into view. A massive gate stands at the end of a drive. Only this time, I can’t see the home past the thick greenery that grows behind the gate.
The driver takes a turn, pulling up to the gate.
This place is going to be magnificent. It must be some kind of care home for aging billionaires. I can’t imagine what a day would cost to stay at a place with an entrance this grand, much less years. And we’re a good forty-five minutes from my apartment.
It was kind of Shane to find a place like this, but it won’t work. Should I tell the driver just to take me back, now? Then I remember Gabriel is waiting here for me—I’ll tell him face-to-face.
The gates seem to sense the car’s arrival and open automatically without the driver hitting the call button on the black box beside the gate. As we pull through I scootch up further in the backseat to get a better look out of the front widow.
; My breath catches in my throat. We’ve arrived at some kind of Spanish-style private compound. The main house sprawls for ages, tan stucco with a red tile roof, wide balconies with wrought iron bars stretch across the upper floors of the front of the home.
I remember what Gabriel said about his house when we were sitting on the rocking chair at my mother’s. About how much room he had… this, this is not a compound. This… is his house.
As we travel around the semicircle driveway, I take it all in. There’s a guest house that’s a perfect miniature replica of the main house. And a pool. And a pool house. A five car detached garage. And is that a small… golf course?
The driver pulls up to the front door just as it opens. My heart stutters when I see Gabriel. Wearing a white button-down shirt and tan trousers, he looks like he is posing for a shoot as he stands before the massive, dark wood doors.
But he’s not. He’s just a guy, standing on his front porch. My guy. My heart warms, and I know for a fact that even if this man was standing in front of a trailer home right now, I would choose him all over again.
We must be here to pick him up and then we’ll go to the care home Shane found. The driver lets me out and I rush over to wrap my arms around his neck. “Hey, daddy. So this is where you live.” I lean up on tiptoe, kissing his lips.
He kisses me back in that way that makes my knees feel like they’re made of jelly. “Hey, pretty girl. So what do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. Do we have time for a quick tour before we go see the place for my mom?”
His brow knits. “Ah. I thought you knew. The place we found… is here. There’s room enough for all of you.”
“Here?” I gaze over the buildings. Guest house—Mom. Pool house—Lexi. Main house—me.
Me and Gabriel… living together? I’ve lived on my own since I moved to Nevada. “I’m not sure.”
He takes my hand. “Let me show you around.”
“Um… okay. Where’s Shane?”
He gives an exasperated groan. “When he heard Lexi wasn’t coming, he took off.”
The door opens as if by magic, but it’s a butler. I give him a brief smile, but my attention is taken by the beauty of the home. It’s clean and bright, the colors reminding me of the tones of the sky as the sun sets over the desert.
Instead of moving further into the home, he tugs me into a small office off the foyer. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. “Look, baby, I know this seems sudden. I can tell you’re overwhelmed.”
My teeth sink into my lip and I answer honestly. “A bit. It’s all, so much.”
His gaze is soft, full of love. “So much. That’s what you always say to me when you try to pull away. But this time, I know this is the right decision. And yes, it is too much, I’m too much, my lifestyle is too much. But guess what, babygirl?”
“What?”
“You fit in perfectly with too much.”
“I do?”
“Yes, you do. You lost your father in a shark attack. Started a business at the age of nineteen. Broke all the glass ceilings, employed dozens of women, and you held your family together in the hard times. You’re fucking unbelievably gorgeous. And smart as hell.” My belly warms, and I draw closer to him. He gets a smirk on his face. “Not to mention, you gave your virginity to a guy you thought was stalking you, who you call daddy. You tell me, who’s too much?”
I think over what he’s said. He’s right. “You have a fair point.”
“I know. And I also have a great plan.”
As always, Gabriel takes care of my every need. The tension in my shoulders eases. I run my hands through the curls on the back of his neck. “Tell me, daddy. What’s your plan?”
He wraps his arms around my waist. “You know that nurse from the care home in California? The one your mother was so taken with?”
“The one she likes to play cards with? Robert?”
“Shane did a little digging—”
“Of course he did.”
A playful grin covers his face as he gives my ass a smack. “Are you interrupting daddy?” He leaves his big hands resting on my ass.
Warmth rises from my ass, meeting my core. I swallow hard. God, when he does that to me… “Sorry, daddy.” He kisses my cheek.
“Turns out Robert has family in Nevada. He’s young, unattached, and willing to relocate.”
“Here?” Could it work?
“Yes. We’d outfit the guesthouse for your mother’s comfort. She and Robert would live there, and he would offer full-time care. On his nights off and every other weekend, we would take over the responsibility.”
“And Lexi?” I wince as I say her name. I know my sister can be a bit much, too.
“She’ll take the pool house.” His hands cup my ass and he squeezes. “I told you even though I’m generous, I’m also selfish. I want as much uninterrupted time with you as I can get.”
I don’t know what to say. His plan is solid. This place is gorgeous. We could be happy here. But… it’s a huge change from our lives now, from the life that I’m used to.
He cuts through my doubts, gazing into my eyes with those sea green beauties and my thoughts disappear as his lips meet mine. His hands caress my curves, sending tingles of desire over my body. He moves his hips forward, the bulge of his erection pressing against me.
He wants me. Right here. Right now.
And I give myself to him.
I choose him. I choose too much. Because sometimes, too much, is just enough.
He hitches up my skirt. Grabs my hips and lifts me onto the massive mahogany desk. Lucky for us, there’s not a thing on it. He parts my legs, inviting himself between my thighs. His hand slips up my dress, caressing the slick folds of my aching pussy. “No panties. Good girl. Now I can get where I want to be with no hold ups.”
He frees his cock from his trousers, big and ready, the head glistening with anticipation. He buries himself into me and I shift my weight, lifting my ass and welcoming him inside. I hold onto his shoulders, holding onto him like an anchor as he enters me.
He is my anchor, the one who holds me together in the toughest of times. Challenges me, believes in me. Makes me feel like I can reach heaven from Earth when I’m in his arms like this.
Our fucking is hard and fast and gripping, the waves of pleasure crashing into the shores of my heart, until I can no longer separate the ecstasy my body feels from the love that swells within my chest.
When I climax, I come with a shuddering cry of victory, and concession. Because no matter my doubts, my hang ups, I am going to live here, with him, change my life, doing whatever I have to do to chase this feeling.
To be in his arms.
Epilogue
Gabriel
I’m pacing in front of a trellis bedecked with greenery and flowers, when I turn and catch Shane’s eye. He grins at me, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s happy I’ve finally made it to our wedding day intact, or because he’s got Lexi on his arm. He crooks a finger at me, and I walk over to him, grateful for something to do with this excess energy that floods through me.
“What’s taking so long?” I mutter.
Lexi giggles. She’s wearing a knee-length hot pink gown, her wrist adorned with a white rose corsage. Her platform heels bring her several inches below Shane’s tall stature.
Our best man and the maid of honor.
“Girls have things to talk to their moms about when they get married, Mr. Impatient,” Lexi says. She gives me a smile. It took a while, but she’s finally forgiven me and even warmed up to me. The fact that she’s hot for my best friend might have something to do with it, but I’m not complaining. Her eyes warm, and she touches my arm soothingly. “Just give them a minute, Gabriel. Enjoy yourself.” She gestures around us. “We’re literally standing in paradise.”
Shane grins. “She’s right, man. Do it.”
I roll my eyes and head back to where the minister stands, prepared to hear our vows, and take a look around.
As soon as she said yes and I slid a diamond on her finger, I was ready to take our vows. Patience isn’t exactly one of my virtues. We waited, though. She had things to prepare, and needed some time to get ready, and I respected that. But I’m so ready to take the next step with her.
Miranda wanted to see my family’s vineyard in France, and I thought it perfect for us to say our vows here together, right at Paloma Beach. Nestled on the Côte d’Azur, just half an hour drive from my family’s vineyard in Nice, we can have privacy and luxury all in one. The wedding planner operates a service here to collect our guests from our yachts and bring them to the wedding location right here on the beach.
Miranda had some residual hang-ups about the ocean, and I don’t blame her.
“Let’s get married on the beach,” Miranda said. “With you there with me, it will be healing for me.”
So that’s exactly what I planned.
It’s not out of the ordinary for people to marry on this beach, so it was easy enough to make things happen. Our wedding planner saw to it that we have our privacy, so no paparazzi in tow. Lexi, Shane, and Miranda’s mom came to visit, and we’ve all enjoyed a week at Paloma Beach leading up to the wedding.
I take in a deep, cleansing breath, the warm, salty air filling my lungs. In front of me lies white sand and crystal clear water reflecting the depths of the deep blue sky.
Behind the trellis stands a violinist, dressed in formal attire. He meets my eyes and nods, then begins to play. The haunting melody makes my heartbeat quicken.
It’s time.
I turn to see her coming our way, holding onto her mother’s arm, and time seems to stand still for a minute. She looks like an angel.
She’s wearing a simple white gown, filmy and elegant with a beaded neckline accentuating her voluptuous curves. Her hair’s all pinned to her head in swirls, little white roses peeking out beneath the loops of blonde. She holds a bouquet of matching white roses in her hand. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles.
