Better than Sexy

by Carly Phillips

  She refused to take help from her mother, who ran a small legal practice but specialized in pro-bono work, so she didn’t make much on her own.

  Owen frowned and tapped on his watch. “Ticktock. These offers aren’t going to be open forever. I’ll email you a summary of each.”

  She merely smiled at him. He ought to know she couldn’t make a spur-of-the-moment decision. He rose and headed for the foyer. She ushered him out and closed the door behind him, leaning back against it with a sigh.

  “He’s such a killjoy,” Ellie muttered.

  “Yes. But he’s my killjoy. The only one who’d take me on when no one else would. Now, for the love of God, can we please go get some coffee?”

  * * *

  The next day, Vivi and Ellie went to the gym, where Vivi did her daily run on the treadmill. Headphones on, she was lost in the beat of the music, when an alert from Owen came up on her phone. Since she’d done her requisite miles, she slowed down and came to a stop, checking her screen as soon as she’d caught her breath.

  Call me now.

  She pulled up his contact name and placed the call. He answered immediately. “Where’ve you been? Never mind. I need you in my office as soon as possible. I have a man sitting here with an offer that’s going to blow your mind. It’s everything you wanted.”

  She glanced down at her gym outfit, knew she was a sweaty mess, and groaned. “But–”

  “No buts. I’m keeping him busy talking. Get down here,” he barked.

  “Owen! I’m in the gym. I need to go home and change!”

  “No time. Hurry.” He disconnected the call.

  “Jesus. High-strung much?” she asked the empty air.

  “What’s wrong?” Ellie had climbed off her treadmill and was wiping down her face.

  Vivi grabbed her own towel and began to wipe down, too. “Owen summoned me. He said he’s got someone in his office I need to meet. Now. On the one hand, I can’t go dressed like this. On the other hand, if I go home to shower and change, it’s going to take me at least an hour.”

  She lived in a tiny apartment in Jersey City. Her gym wasn’t close to her apartment. She chose both for their cheap cost and sucked up the hassle. But Owen’s office was close to the gym, and she could be there within ten minutes once she got on the subway.

  “Well, you’ve got deodorant in your bag and a little makeup. You’re in leggings and a cropped top. If he’s going to insist, it is what it is.” Ellie walked alongside her as they headed for the locker room.

  “I can’t shower here and put these clothes back on. Gag. So you’re right. A little powder and freshening up and it’s as good as it’s going to get.” She pushed open the door and they walked into the women’s locker area.

  “Want me to join you?” Ellie asked.

  Vivi nodded. “A second set of ears is always good. I might miss something.”

  They pulled themselves together as best they could. Thanks to the items the gym set out on the counters, Vivi used dry shampoo in her hair and piled it up into a messy bun and spritzed vanilla body spray on her when she finished washing, touched up her makeup, and called it a day.

  A little while later, she and Ellie walked into Owen’s office. Anya, his secretary, greeted them with a smile. “Hello, ladies. He’s expecting you. Go on in.”

  Vivi knocked once and opened the door, letting them inside.

  Her agent remained seated but another man rose from his chair, and Vivi couldn’t take her eyes off him. Tall, broad shouldered, with sexy scruff covering his face and incredibly blue eyes, he was, in a word, gorgeous. His hair was a dark brown, the front dipping lower on his forehead. And that full mouth was made for sin.

  “Vivienne, did you hear me? This is Landon Bennett,” Owen said.

  She’d been caught staring, and a knowing grin lifted the other man’s sensual lips. Because his eyes had raked over her spandex-clad body and said body had reacted in a very obvious way, she didn’t feel bad. It would have been even more awkward if she wrapped her arms around herself and covered her now perky nipples, so she somehow kept them at her sides.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zane,” he said.

  “Hello, Mr. Bennett.” Her voice sounded huskier than normal.

  “Call me Landon.” He stepped forward, extending his hand.

  “I’m Vivi.” She clasped her hand in his larger one, and a jolt of awareness licked through her veins.

  Was it her imagination or did he hold on a second or two longer than was necessary? For sure when he released her, she felt the loss.

  Ellie nudged her in the side and Vivi coughed. This man seriously had her off-kilter. “This is Ellie Roberts, my personal assistant.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ellie.”

  Even his voice was smooth and perfect, Vivi thought, and when he smiled at Ellie, as ridiculous as it sounded, Vivi was jealous he’d turned that megawatt grin on someone else.

  “I’m sorry to have dragged you away from your workout.” His gaze once again slid over her body, this time in a much more blatant appraisal.

  Owen cleared his throat. “Now that the formalities are finished, we can move on to business,” Owen suggested in his not-so-subtle way.

  “Ladies?” Landon gestured toward the two open chairs, and they settled into their seats. Only then did he follow.

  The man had more manners than her agent, she thought.

  “So Vivienne, Landon owns Club TEN29 in Tribeca. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” Owen picked up his pen and tapped it against the desk.

  She nodded. “You just had the live reunion concert for Tangled Royal.” She’d read it in the trade blogs and sites online.

  “That’s right. We saw your viral video and we’d like to offer you a summer residency.”

  She blinked, certain she had to be hearing him wrong. “Residency?”

  “Yes. Your agent has the contract.” He tipped his head toward Owen, who had dollar signs in his eyes and was practically drooling on his desk.

  Her heart squeezed in excitement; however, she heard her lawyer mother’s voice inside her head. Never show your hand, Vivi. Always say you’ll think about it, then take the time to go over the contract. Show it to me. Don’t rush in your excitement to grab a deal. Her mother, Anne Marie Zane, who’d always believed in her.

  “I appreciate the offer, Mr. … I mean Landon,” she said, doing her best to remain calm when all she wanted to do was scream, I’ll take it!

  “As I told you before Vivienne arrived, we have certain requirements,” Owen said.

  They did?

  “Vivienne requires an upscale place to stay, food and beverage comped, and a rider with her list of particular items she will need on hand.”

  Ellie gasped, then covered it with a cough.

  “Owen, these are all things we need to discuss first.” She had an apartment in Manhattan. True, it was a month-to-month shithole, and she lived on tap water and whatever was on sale at the local grocery or bodega. She couldn’t believe Owen was discussing her contract as if she were somebody.

  Of course, that was what she paid him for, but she didn’t want Landon to think she was a spoiled celebrity out to milk him for all he was worth. The things she wanted from this contract weren’t frivolous or meant to make her look like a diva. They would help establish her future and pay off any debt she had now. But she’d get into her needs when it came to dealing with her agent. Negotiating with the man was Owen’s job. She just didn’t want him to make her look like a diva.

  Landon’s approving gaze flickered to her before he said, “Mark up the contract and forward it to my lawyer. Everything is up for negotiation and discussion. We want Ms. Zane to be happy.” He turned his attention to her, definite interest in his gaze.

  Her stomach warmed at the obvious attraction between them, which was definitely reciprocated. She didn’t think it was a good idea to want the man who would be in charge of her employment, but she couldn’t deny the desire she felt just looking at this pow
erful man with the handsome face and bedroom eyes.

  “I wanted to present the offer in person because the summer residency idea is that important to me and my partners.” He rose to his feet. “But please go over everything in detail and get back to me as soon as possible.”

  He walked over to her and extended his hand. She slid her palm against his roughened one, and he pulled her to her feet. “It was nice to meet you and I look forward to you answer, Vivi. We could have an incredible summer together.”

  She swallowed hard, lost in the husky sound of his voice and the inherent promise in his words. “I’ll go over the contract in detail and get back to you.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He glanced at Owen. “Thank you for your time.” With another long glance at Vivi that had her heart pounding inside her chest, he strode out of the office. And she had to say, his backside was as spectacular as the front.

  “Vivienne! You could have shown a little more excitement! This offer is exactly what you wanted.”

  Her heart pounded inside her chest and she turned to Ellie. “Oh my God! A residency! Can you believe this?” She flung herself at her friend and they hugged in excitement. Then she spun to face Owen. “I don’t care about a place to live or specific food. I want them to pay me enough money for a recording studio during the day. I want to be able to move out of my shitty apartment, yes, but I’m more concerned about looking forward with my career.”

  “What if I could get you both?” He raised his eyebrows, certain in his abilities.

  “Send me the contract, Owen. I’ll go over it and send to my lawyer.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “I assure you I’m capable of handling the legal end as well. I’m an attorney, as you know.”

  She smiled, doing her best not to patronize him when all she was doing was looking out for herself. “It’s good business to have a second look.”

  She tipped her head toward the door, and together, she and Ellie headed out.

  “Oh my God. Did that really happen?” she asked her best friend.

  Ellie grinned. “It did. If the contract is good, you’ve hit the jackpot. And what was that chemistry I noticed between you and Landon Bennett?” She waved her hand in front of her face.

  “He’s so sexy. I thought I was hit by a freight train when I looked into his eyes.” She squeezed her thighs together and felt the rush of desire flood through her. The man had had a potent effect on her.

  Ellie grinned. “Looks like it is going to be a long, hot summer.”

  Vivi certainly hoped so.

  Chapter Two

  Back in her apartment, Vivi propped her feet on the chipped wooden table in front of her couch and opened her secondhand laptop. Although it’d been a couple of hours since she’d met with Landon Bennett, her heart was still racing.

  Now, showered and fed so she wasn’t hangry, she had time to look into Club TEN29. The name sounded familiar, and she’d originally assumed it was because of their concert with Tangled Royal, but something else was niggling at the back of her brain.

  She plugged in the club’s website and read through the information, impressed with everything she saw, from the classy look of the club to the detail and money put into the site itself. She moved on to the About page. There were three owners, Jason Dare, Tanner Grayson, and the man she’d met, Landon Bennett. Her stomach flipped at the thought of him.

  She scanned the words, scrolling past the full-color pictures of each man, though she’d be lying if she said she didn’t stop and stare at Landon, until she and came to a dedication at the end.

  Club TEN29 is named in memory of Levi Bennett, who died in a tragic accident on October 29, 2009. And beneath that was the photograph of a guy who appeared almost identical to a younger Landon.

  And suddenly she knew why Club TEN29 sounded familiar, and it had nothing to do with their hosting of Tangled Royal. Her pulse pounded hard and nausea threatened, but before she panicked completely, she Googled her brother’s name—Victor Clark, Club TEN29, and bomb threat – and prayed she was wrong with the connection she’d made. Unfortunately, the articles came up, backing her hunch.

  She picked up her cell and called Ellie, who lived in an apartment upstairs. “Come down,” she said when her friend answered.

  She knew Ellie would hear the urgency in her voice, and sure enough, Ellie was banging on her door soon after. “What’s wrong?” she asked the second after Vivi let her inside.

  Like Vivi, Ellie had showered and was now wearing a sundress but her hair was still damp.

  “Remember on the way home from Owen’s, I said the club name sounded familiar?” Vivi asked.

  Ellie nodded. “Come sit. You look green. Why is the name familiar?”

  Vivi swallowed back the bile that threatened and followed her friend to her sofa. They sat down and Ellie waited for Vivi to talk.

  “My brother, Victor, killed Landon’s twin in a horrible hazing gone wrong back in college.”

  Ellie’s eyes opened wide. “Your brother who got out and then was thrown back in prison for terrorizing some guys?”

  Vivi nodded. “He went after Landon’s partner, Tanner Grayson.” Thanks to the articles she’d pulled up, Vivi was now too familiar with the details. “He vandalized their club. He tried to attack Tanner’s girlfriend. He called in a bomb threat, which is a federal offense, by the way, and told the cops the bar was serving underage kids, causing a raid.” She blinked back tears. “He killed Landon’s twin.” She repeated the worst of the crimes because that was the one that mattered the most.

  She’d spent so much time trying to disassociate herself from her brother. When Victor had been arrested for hazing and manslaughter, Vivi, sadly, hadn’t been shocked that her brother had been capable of hurting someone so badly. He’d been in and out of trouble for years, each time subjecting him to a beating from her father.

  Unable to take it anymore, her mother divorced him during that horrific time, and the press had been so relentless, Vivi and her mother had legally changed their last names back to her mom’s maiden name, Zane, and moved out of state. At that point she hadn’t had a good relationship with her brother in years. He’d resented her so-called status with her father and treated her like shit anyway, so she hadn’t contacted him in prison and vice versa.

  When he’d been released, he’d claimed to want a relationship, and they’d met for lunch. The next day he called her because he’d been arrested again. Obviously he’d been setting her up to bail him out if he got caught. He’d rambled about being accused of phoning in a bomb threat to a club and assault, among other things.

  She’d hung up on him, and though she’d heard information on the news, including the club’s name, she hadn’t followed the case. She’d wanted nothing to do with her sibling. But she didn’t think Landon Bennett would care about her lack of a relationship with Vic. Because of her mere association, he and his partners would want nothing to do with her.

  “Once Landon finds out I’m Vic’s sister, I can kiss any chance at the residency goodbye. I can’t take the job.” Her stomach hurt at the loss of such huge potential but not as much as it twisted in pain for Landon, whose brother was dead.

  Ellie pulled at a nonexistent thread on her dress. “Or … you don’t ever have to tell him.”

  Whipping her head up, Vivi stared at her friend. “What? No. I’m not going to lie about something that huge. I couldn’t live with myself.”

  “I didn’t think you could,” her friend said softly. “I just had to offer it as a solution because you know that’s what Owen would tell you to do.”

  “Fuck Owen. He only cares about money. Not about what I want or about people’s lives.”

  “Amen.”

  Vivi met Ellie’s gaze. “Fucking Victor. He’s a terror even when he isn’t part of my life,” she said, as she watched her dreams shatter before she’d ever grasped them in her hand.

  “You know I support you, right? Whatever you decide, I’m in your corner.”

 
; Ellie squeezed her hand and Vivi smiled. “You’re such a good friend. I can’t believe we met at the gym only one year ago. I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  Ellie gave her a smile. “Fate works in weird ways. I needed a job and you needed an assistant.” Vivi had been working in a coffee shop during the day and singing when she could find work at night. She’d managed to pay Ellie very little to handle her website and help with social media, but she’d kept her job at a clothing store until Vivi started to get more steady singing work.

  Eventually Owen had been in one of the venues where she’d been singing, heard her, and offered to sign her on the spot. Even then, she’d said she’d think about it and sent his contract over to her mom.

  “Do it,” Ellie said, gesturing to Vivi’s cell. “It’s not going to get any easier.

  With a sigh, Vivi picked up her phone, called Owen, and left a message, turning down the residency offer.

  Then, knowing he’d call back screaming, she shut her phone off, pulled a pint of ice cream from the freezer, and shared the treat with her best friend.

  * * *

  Landon and Jason sat at the gym, where Tanner was fighting in the ring. Ever since Tanner had hooked up with Scarlett Davis, an assistant district attorney, and since Victor Clark had gone back to jail, Tanner’s anger issues seemed well under control. Where he used to fight at the gym to channel his aggression, lately it seemed he took more enjoyment in the sport.

  They still showed up to support Tanner, and in truth, old habits died hard. They wanted to be here if something triggered their friend’s anger, although Landon didn’t see that as an issue any longer. Which meant they could focus on something other than watching Tanner kick someone’s ass in the ring.

  “So how’d the visit with the viral girl go?” Jason asked, one eye on Tanner.

  Landon felt the beginnings of a stupid grin on his face, and clearly Jason caught it, too, because he burst out laughing.

  “I knew it would happen sooner or later. Tanner did, too.” Jason grinned.