“What do I do, Stacy? I can’t be a mom,” I moaned, tears pooling in my eyes. Fuck, how many more times would I cry like a weak little bitch before all this was over? I’d cried more in the last two months than I had in five years.
“Why not? You’d make a great mom,” she said encouragingly.
“Are you high?” I asked, my watery eyes agog. “I write erotic romance for God’s sake. What happens when little Kent or Alexis is in kindergarten, and the teacher asks what his parents do for work? ‘Daddy is a successful hotel owner, and Mommy writes dirty books!’”
“God, Alexis. Like that’s ever going to happen. Teachers don’t ask those kinds of questions anymore, and it’s not like your kid is going to know at the age of six what you write.”
“Stacy, face it. I’m the most inappropriate person you know. How can I possibly be a good role model for a tiny human being? And what about this poor kid’s asshole father? He or she is doomed.”
“C’mon. You’re not looking at all the positives,” she crooned to me softly. “You have the biggest heart of anyone I know even if you hide it under layers of emotional armor. You’re thoughtful, responsible, financially solvent and then some. And… whether you believe it or not, the father is not that bad a guy.”
“Whose side are you on?” I grumbled. “He’s a schmuck.” Like it or not, I was now tied to that insufferable bastard for the rest of my life. There wasn’t even a doubt in my mind whether I’d have this child, I was more concerned over how to conceal it from Kent.
“So, now you two need to finally sit down and talk things out,” she said excitedly. “You’ll get your shit together, and you and I get to be pregnant at the same time! I’m so excited for us!”
“Easy, sister. I’m not telling Kent anything. I’ll do this mom thing, but I’m going to do it on my own. Kent never has to know.”
“Alexis,” she tried to push the issue, but I cut her off.
“End of story, Stacy. It’s my decision, and whether you think it’s right or wrong, that’s how it’s going to be. If it’s all right with you, I’m going to lay down in the guest room for a little bit. My flight is at seven o’clock, and I intend to be on it.”
“Fine,” Stacy said, sighing unhappily. “I’m here for you, either way. I may not approve of your decision, but I support you.”
“That means everything to me,” I said as she reached out and gave me a tight hug. I squeezed her back, holding on just a little longer than usual. She didn’t realize it, but I needed her even more than I had before.
Another week went by with no word from Kent. I spent my days staring off into space, trying to wrap my mind around the idea of being someone’s mother. If someone had tied me up and tortured me, I might have to admit I was a tiny bit excited about it all. Kent and I may not work as a couple, but if I’d had to pick a father for my child, I’d have wanted him to be it. He was an asshat, but he was also smart, witty, and impossibly handsome. I quietly wished we could be a family, but I just couldn’t bring myself to believe in that happily ever after. No, my life would be me and my baby, and his father would be my secret. One day, when our child was older, I’d tell him or her all about Kent—all the wonderful things, anyway. I kind of hoped I had a boy who looked just like him, but no one needed to know that but me.
I spun around in my desk chair, getting up to visit the fridge for the third time this morning. My overwhelming nausea had given way to a ravenous appetite. I’d eaten nearly everything in my refrigerator in the last two days I observed as I scanned its meager contents. I’d have to go grocery shopping. Just the idea of the market brought all sorts of delicious ideas to mind. What I was really craving most, of course, was that fantastic filet mignon of Stefan’s. I wondered if I could somehow sneak into the Kingsley, get a to-go box, then go chow down at Stacy and Gage’s.
Just as I was slathering a stalk of celery with peanut butter and cheese spread, my phone rang. I picked it up without looking to see who was calling.
“Hurlo?” I answered as I crunched on a mouthful of the disgusting, yet surprisingly delicious combination.
“Ms. Dare, it’s Kent Kingsley from the Kingsley Hotel,” I heard on the other end of the line. What sort of moron was he that he felt he had to put on such a charade? We may have to be professional with each other, but we didn’t have to act like we didn’t know each other.
“Yesh, Kent. How can I help you?” I asked, swallowing my mouthful and going along with his stupid game.
“I’m afraid you have to make another visit to the property. Stefan refuses to cater your affair until he meets you. He wants to make sure you fully appreciate his talent since we’re giving you such bargain rates,” he explained, sounding perfectly rational.
“Since when is someone’s chef privy to the financial details of his employer’s business? Doesn’t he get paid the same, no matter who he’s cooking for?”
“Normally, he doesn’t know, of course. But this is a special event which will take him out of the restaurant’s kitchen where he has the freedom to create the menu. Working on this project will limit him. I’ve had to offer an extra few thousand to him, not to mention countless favors to Dustin.
“Stefan, being the artist he is, has ideas he wants to share with you as well. Be a good sport and humor him, okay? Come out here, let him impress you with some fancy dishes, and have a good meal or two while you’re at it. I’d consider it a personal favor.”
“Don’t get carried away,” I muttered, already dreaming of perfect culinary combinations from Stefan’s talented mind and hands. My stomach growled in anticipation.
“Please, Alexis?” I wondered what happened to Ms. Dare all of a sudden.
“When would he like me to come?” I asked, sounding a little more enthusiastic than I otherwise would have. Kent wouldn’t even have to be a part of it. It’d just be me, Stefan, and hopefully, some of his excellent meat.
“He wants you to come over the weekend. Normally, that time is busier than usual, but he also wants to test his staff in the process. You know, to make sure the kitchen doesn’t explode without him. That is if you’re feeling better than the last time I saw you.”
“I’m much better, thank you. Finally kicked that flu bug’s ass!” I said, totally trying to not to sound pregnant. “Let me give Gage and Stacy a call to see if they can put me up this weekend. I’ll text you to let you know.”
“If they can’t, you’re more than welcome to a room here, as ever.”
“I’m sure it won’t be necessary. Stacy loves company, especially now that she’s expecting. She can’t stop talking about it.”
“Yeah, it’s really kind of cute,” Kent commented, dropping the formal act for a split-second. As soon as it happened, it was over. “I’ll be waiting to hear back from you. Let me know when you’ll be arriving.”
My heart throbbed a little as the phone went dead in my hand. For that short second, I could almost pretend nothing had ever gone wrong.
Twenty
Kent
It seemed Saturday would never come. I’d done a decent job of keeping Alexis riled up so far, so I decided it was time to test the waters a bit. I didn’t have much hope she’d do a turnaround so soon, but she still needed to know I wanted her. I’d have to be subtle about it, but I was hoping visiting Barnaby’s together would remind her of our good times. I had a back-up plan in place, just in case it didn’t. I admit, though I wanted to win her back in the worst way, I was really enjoying ratcheting up her ire. I thought she was crazy when she said we don’t work. I may not have caught on she needed to be chased when she was pissed off, but now that I knew, I was more than happy to do so. I wasn’t afraid of her when she was mad. Instead, it excited the fuck out of me.
God, when there’s a fire in her eyes and her body language is ready to throw down, all I want to do is throw her down and devour her. She better leave Waldo at home this time.
She finally arrived late Saturday afternoon, punctual as ever. I’d told her I
wanted to prepare her for Stefan since he was a little temperamental. He truly was, but he was in on the plan, so he was going to dial up his famous attitude to ten if my gentle efforts to talk to her were unsuccessful.
Alexis strolled into my office wearing a seductive dress—not that she owned any other kind, in my opinion—but this one was suited for an evening at an upscale restaurant. It was a strapless pale gold, tight thing that sparkled whenever she moved and hit just above the knee of her dynamite legs. It made her impossibly gorgeous body look even curvier than it normally was.
Her shoes—oh my God, her shoes. They were thin and strappy, but the highlight was the ribbons that crisscrossed up her smooth skin just below her calves. I really needed to find out where she shopped for her shoes and buy her every single pair they sold.
I recovered quickly from my shoe-induced paralysis and rounded my desk, my hand extended in greeting.
“Welcome back, Alexis,” I said, using her real name to try to soften her up. I knew she hated I’d kept things ultra-businesslike, but again, tonight I was priming her so I could test the waters. Fortunately, she smiled and followed my lead.
“Thanks, Kent. It’s actually good to be back,” she replied, and my heart leapt for a second.
“Do you really think so?” I asked, suddenly hoping we could abandon the whole farce. I could find a way to piss her off another time.
“Of course! I’ve been anticipating more of Stefan’s culinary masterpieces ever since you called. I wonder what he has in store for me tonight? I brought my appetite,” she said just before her stomach growled quietly. “See?”
I chuckled at her enthusiasm, eager now to enjoy a pleasant meal, one that ended with her back in my arms.
“Far be it from me to ever keep you waiting, Alexis. We can enjoy a few cocktails and appetizers while we wait for Stefan’s first course to be served.”
Her smile faded just a tad, and I wondered what I said wrong.
“You’re coming, too? I thought it’d just be me and Stefan,” she said, her reluctance showing.
“I wouldn’t miss out on the chance to try something new from him. Dustin may join us later as well.”
“Oh, okay then. Well, we should hurry down. This ba—er, belly—isn’t very patient when dinnertime comes around,” she said good-naturedly.
As we made our way to Barnaby’s, my eyes were continually drawn to her. She looked nothing short of radiant. Her hair shone like long strands of silk as they tumbled over her shoulders, and her normally golden skin was luminous. It made me want to pin her down and lick her all over to see if she tasted like candy.
My eyes traveled downward, and I was surprised at just how much curvier she looked. I didn’t know what sort of bra she was wearing, but it made her chest look at least a whole cup size larger. Her ass was as round and plump as ever, but it too looked like she’d put on weight. Whatever the case, it hit me where it hurt in the most delightful way.
Bob was working tonight and being in on the plan, played the part of charming and enthusiastic host as he led us to the table. Alexis had never seemed like the type to be swayed by flattery before, but Bob dropped little compliments to her as we wound our way through the restaurant, and she seemed to bloom right in front of me. A pang of jealousy twisted my face as I looked at him. He just gave me a tiny smirk, then raved over her shoes.
Bastard! Eyes off the shoes!
Finally, we were seated, and Bob took our drink requests himself. Wanting to impress Alexis with my Rock Hudson charm, I asked for our usual drinks. She surprised me when she spoke up.
“If you don’t mind, would you bring me a glass of Pellegrino with two slices of lime, please?” Alexis turned to me, smiling. “I’m still just a little dehydrated these days.”
I nodded, recalling her long bout with the flu. I was glad to see she was still concerned with taking care of her health. I’d wanted to pamper her so badly when I learned she was ill. One day… one day I’d show her what it was like to be truly cherished, in a way her asshole ex-husband never dreamed of.
Stefan came out to introduce himself, his eyes on me for the signal. I was to blink once if things were going well, twice if he should turn on his famous petulance. I blinked once.
“Good evening, Mr. Kingsley, Ms. Dare. Tonight, I’ve prepared some truly fabulous dishes for you to sample. I think you’ll be quite impressed. To prime your palate for the first course, I’ve prepared a warm brie with caramelized onion jam, paired with the crustiest of French bread.”
I thought it sounded marvelous, but Alexis just smiled tightly and nodded her head. Stefan looked confused for a moment, no doubt expecting a much more rousing reaction. If we weren’t careful, she’d end up inciting his ire unintentionally, and there really would be trouble. Danger bells started ringing in my head. If she wasn’t enthusiastic about at least trying to taste his dishes, we’d see temperamental Stefan whether I wanted to or not.
“It sounds delicious, Stefan,” I said, my eyes cautioning him to keep a tight lid on his emotions. He gave me a mildly disgruntled look but slightly inclined his head in understanding.
“Your server will be here shortly with your drinks. You’ll love it,” he said confidently, then strode away.
A young man approached with our glasses, silently placing them before us, then disappearing with just a friendly smile. Alexis immediately reached for her water and took a long healthy sip.
“So, how have you been?” I asked for lack of more interesting conversation.
“I’m, ah… doing much better lately. I had a little personal shake-up, but all is well now. How about you? I heard you and Missy got back together,” she said sourly.
“Missy and I were never a couple, Alexis. We still aren’t.”
“Then why did you take her to Gage and Stacy’s house? If you’re introducing her to your friends, that sounds like a little more than a dirty fuck as you’d have me believe.” She picked up her water glass again and took an even longer sip than before.
Maybe Missy had been the wrong person to dangle out in front of her. It had been a mistake from the beginning, I knew it now, but the idea of trying to make Alexis jealous had struck me when I’d run into Missy in the lobby as I was leaving the hotel to go to see Gage and Stacy. I wasn’t sure how to maneuver my way out of this one.
“She was simply a convenient placeholder for you. I needed a date, she was available, nothing more. However, it seems you and Waldo get along pretty well,” I said, grasping at the only defense I could think of.
“You mean Enzo. Since when do you need a date to see your friends?” she shot back, her fire beginning to ignite. I had to admit, this time I was a little scared, but I told myself to remain calm and dismissive of the whole mistake.
“Since when do you need a babysitter to do your business?” I fired back, then sighed as she looked at me like she was going to swallow her tongue. “Gage and Stacy had made plans to go see a show after they made their big announcement. I don’t know about you, but it’s a little awkward for me going out on the town as the third wheel.” I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice.
“Well, bully for you for having a convenient girl at your beck and call,” she said, thankfully ending the argument that was brewing. Or so I thought… “I would have thought you’d at least have the decency not to traipse one of your many conquests around in front of our mutual friends, but I guess I was wrong. Good to know I made the right decision after all.”
“Wait a minute, Alexis,” I said. “You’re just as guilty bringing one of your boy-toys to a professional meeting! I would think—”
Before I could get a word out, Stefan returned to our table with an elaborate spread of cheese wedges, surrounded by thick, fragrant bread. Maybe if her mouth was occupied chewing, she’d abandon this line of conversation because frankly, nothing good was going to come out of it.
He set the plate down in front of us with a flourish, then hightailed it back to the kitchen when Alexis didn’t ooh
and ahh over his creation.
I motioned for her to serve herself from the plate first. She delicately picked up a slice of bread and began to pick at it.
“Wouldn’t you like to try the brie?” I asked curiously.
“I’m sure it’s wonderful, but I’m, ah… I’m lactose intolerant. Yes. Cheese does terrible things to me. It’s disgusting.”
I swallowed hard, not wanting the image of her suffering an attack after eating dairy. I loved the woman, but some things are better left unseen or in this case, unimagined.
“Do you think Stefan would be upset if I asked for some butter?” she asked.
“But you just said you’re lactose intolerant. Last time I checked, butter was made with milk.”
“Um, it’s really only cheese I can’t tolerate. Soft cheeses, mostly,” she said, picking up her water glass and draining it. She looked around for our server to ask for another. What the hell was wrong with her? I knew she wasn’t lactose intolerant from the way she’d had her pancakes smothered in whipped cream when I first met her. I shrugged. Maybe it really was a cheese thing.
“I think Stefan would be very put out if you didn’t at least take a tiny taste of the brie,” I said, wanting to force the issue a little. “Just put a small smear on a chunk of the bread and try it. We can simply tell him you have a very sensitive palate.”
She looked at me, the irritation plain as day on her face, but she did as I suggested. She took a tiny nibble, almost nothing at all, then set the bread back on her plate.
“Happy now?” she sneered.
“Thrilled,” I said dryly.
Stefan came back out with our salads. He set them down in front of us, his expression still slightly wary.
“I have a simple plate of mixed greens for you with my very own Caesar dressing. I’m sure you’ll find it the creamiest you’ve ever tasted,” he said smugly. Alexis swallowed hard.
“Um, Stefan? I don’t mean to be rude, but is this prepared with raw eggs?”
Quick Dirty Luck: A Love Between the Pages Novel Page 13
