David’s eyes shift between us. “Okay. No need to overreact.”
Avery laughs softly. “It’s not that. We just don’t want the media getting the idea that there’s anything romantic between us. I very specifically want him seen with a male friend.”
“Ah. I get it. So, Ellis, boy’s night?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, excuse me,” Avery says. “I’ll get back to work.”
“See you at home later,” David says.
“Yep. Bye.”
Once she’s gone, David turns back towards me. “She’s very bright, yes?”
“Very. Also, very strategic. She’s always thinking.”
“A very attractive trait. One that drew me to her sister. Intelligence is always a turn on.”
“Yes. She’s really a complete package. Stunning beauty on the outside, and depth and intelligence on the inside.”
“A lethal combination, mate. Tread lightly or before you know it, you’ll be on one knee with a diamond burning a hole in your pocket.”
I roll my eyes. “There you go again.”
He stands, chuckling. “Either way, it’s immensely entertaining to watch you be uncomfortable because of a woman. I’m certain I’ve never seen it before.”
“I’m glad I could provide you with some entertainment.”
“Oh you have. It will only be better when you both finally give in.”
“If.”
“When.” He puts his hand on the desk. “I saw the way she looked at you, and you’re a wreck. It’s just a matter of time now.”
I pray he’s right. “We’ll see.”
“We will. See you later.”
“Thanks for stopping. I needed a chat.”
“Clearly.”
After David leaves, I read over the article again, hoping the tide is indeed changing. The sooner this nonsense is behind me, the sooner I can renegotiate my relationship with Avery, and god willing, coax her to my bed. It’s the only thing I want.
◆◆◆
On Saturday night, I sit nervously in my car waiting for David to arrive before I exit. I don’t want to be caught alone. A moment later, my phone rings, and Avery’s name appears on the small screen.
“Hello, Avery.”
“Hi. How are you doing?”
“Fine. Just waiting in the car for David.”
“See any paps?”
“Paps?”
“Sorry. Paparazzi. Media.”
“Ah.” My eyes dart around my surroundings. “Not yet.”
“I hope someone shows up.”
“I don’t.”
She laughs. “Well, I do. I want your name in the paper tomorrow.”
“I’d rather live anonymously.”
“Maybe someday you can. When my work is done, hopefully, no one will care about anything except Equis.”
“I do hope for that.”
“In the meantime, you’ve got this. Just be your normal cocky, no one can touch me self and you’ll be fine.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Is that how you see me?”
“Not anymore.”
“How do you see me now?”
“An answer for another day. Have fun tonight, Ellis. Just put everything out of your mind except enjoying David’s company.”
“I will. What are you doing tonight?”
“Going to a bar with Annabelle for a few drinks. She thinks I need to get out more and see London.”
“She’s right.”
“Yeah.”
I shouldn’t say what I’m about to say, but I don’t always do what I should. “I’m sure you’ll be approached tonight.”
“Approached?”
“By a man.”
“And you’ll be jealous thinking about it.”
“I will.”
She laughs. “Silly. You have no right to be jealous.”
“A fact I’m aware of, but somehow knowing that doesn’t stop it from happening.”
“It’s good for you.”
“How so?”
“I suspect you always get what you want. In work, in life, in love. It must be refreshing to finally be faced with someone you can’t have.”
Yet. “Refreshing isn’t a word I would use.”
“I think that’s why you want me so much. Because you can’t have me. It’s the thrill of the chase and all that bullshit.”
I look up to see David walking in my direction. “I have a long list of reasons why I want you.”
“Tell me some of them.”
“An answer for another day. David’s arrived.”
“Okay. Have a fun night.”
“You too.”
“Bye.”
“Avery?”
“Yes.”
I have no idea what to say as a thousand words crowd my mind.
“Ellis?”
David taps on my window, and I motion with my finger to wait. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure? You can tell me anything.”
“Can I?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll tell you one reason why I want you.”
She’s silent for a brief moment. “Okay.”
“I literally dream about your lips. Have you ever desired a person so much their face danced in your dreams?”
“Just once.”
“What a lucky man.”
“Yes, you are. Good night, Ellis.”
She hangs up before I can say another word, leaving me with a grin as I exit the car.
“What’s the shit eating grin for, mate? Avery?”
I nod as I lock the car. “Yes. Just a quick chat. She told me to be myself and enjoy your company.”
“Uh huh. What else did she say?”
We start to walk towards the entrance of the restaurant. “I asked her if she’s ever desired someone so much she dreamt about them. She said just once, so I replied that he’s a lucky man, and she said that I was.”
David stops walking. “She said you’re a lucky man?”
“Exactly.”
“She admitted she dreams about you?”
“That’s how I took it, especially because she ended the call just after she said it.”
He shakes his head as he opens the doors and we walk through. “I’m a bit gobsmacked, to be honest. Annabelle said she was planning to put her guard up around you, yet she admits something like that? Interesting.”
“Perhaps I’m good at tearing down walls.”
“Perhaps, but what will you do when you get through it?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“You should probably do that.”
I laugh, looking up at the hostess who greets us. “Table for Worthington, please.”
She looks at her chart. “Yes, Mr. Worthington. Right this way.”
She leads us to a nice table overlooking the bustling street in front of the restaurant. We specifically chose this locale as it’s known for attracting celebrities, and consequently, the media in pursuit of them. Unlike Avery, I hope it’s a quiet night where I can truly enjoy my friend.
“So,” I start after the waitress takes our drink order, “Annabelle tells you the things Avery says about me?”
“I’m sure a great deal is edited out, but she tells me a few things. We’re both very interested in it all.”
I nod. “Avery thinks I want her because I can’t easily have her.”
David laughs. “Little does she know if you wanted to cross the line, you would.”
“Well now that makes me sound like a proper arse.”
“Out of context, I suppose it would, but you know what I mean. If you were an arse, you wouldn’t even acknowledge there was a line.” He pats my hand. “I know you better than anyone, I believe. I always thought you were a true gentleman, but watching you with Avery, I’m positive of it now.”
“I’ve admitted to you I want to shag your sister-in-law and you call me a gentleman?”
David laughs, pausing as our drinks are set down
. After sipping some foam off his beer, he sets his glass down. “Listen, mate, Avery’s an adult, and I don’t think you’ve disrespected her on any level. I wouldn’t tell Annabelle the things we talk about, but why would I over any subject. This is man talk. You’re safe with me.”
“I already know that. You’ve seen me at my lowest and remained my friend.”
“That’s what friends do, Ellis. A person who leaves when you need them the most is an arse and undeserving of your highest moments.”
“Thank you for that.” I sip my scotch and soda. “Did I tell you I bought her a bottle of 50-year-old scotch from the Mercy auction?”
“You did not. That must’ve cost you.”
“Five thousand quid.”
His eyes open wide. “Are you shitting me?”
“No.” I sip my drink. “I wanted her to have something as exquisite as she is. She likes scotch, it was there, so…”
“I hope it’s amazing.”
“I hope she shares it with me. She said she would save it for something special.”
David watches me for a moment before speaking. “Do you ever stop thinking about her?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“A few times a day when I have to take a meeting or handle business, but all my spare moments are hers.” I rub my forehead. “I have no idea what to do about it.”
“Well, mate, it’s simple.” He grins, lifting his glass. “You’re fucked.”
Chapter 14 Avery
After ordering a scotch and soda, I sit back looking around the crowded bar as Annabelle finishes her drink order.
“It’s crazy here,” she yells over the noisy music. “It was way more chill the last time I came.”
“It’s very lively. Reminds me of L.A. a lot.”
She scrunches her nose. “Is that good or bad?”
Shrugging, I lean in close. “It’s okay.”
Looking around, Annabelle points to a small table that just became available. “Let’s grab that.”
“Yeah.”
We take our seats and I click around on my phone checking any social media alerts about Ellis. So far, nothing. Dammit.
“Something wrong?”
“No.” I look up. “Just checking to see if Ellis gets any hits.”
“Anything?”
“Not yet.”
Putting my phone down, I smile at the server as he drops off our drinks, and then walks away.
“So, any new developments?”
I nod. “Well, I admitted I dream about him.”
Her eyes open wide. “To him?”
“Yep.”
Annabelle laughs. “How did that happen?”
“He asked me if I ever wanted someone so much I dreamt about them. I answered just once and he said lucky man, then I said, yes you are and hung up.”
Annabelle responds by throwing her head back in laughter. “That’s priceless! I would’ve loved to see his face when you said that.”
“Me too.” I grin, sipping my drink. “It was just too good to pass up.”
“I agree. Is it true?”
“Yeah. I rarely dream, but two nights ago, I had this steamy making out in his office dream. I woke up panting.”
“Ooh, so hot.”
“I know. I didn’t expect to tell him though.”
She grins. “So what about when you see him again? After what you told me happened in his office on Monday, how will you avoid all that tension?”
“I don’t know. The rest of the week was pretty chill. Granted, I worked from home for most of it.”
“Avoiding.”
“No.”
“Avery.” She gives me a stern look.
“Okay. A little bit of avoiding.”
“That isn’t going to work. Do I need to remind you Paris is coming soon?”
“Nope. I’m fully aware.” My phone buzzes and I pick it up to find an alert about Equis, but it’s just a comment about the renovation happening in the lobby.
“Anything?”
“Still no.” I put my phone down. “I hope he’s having fun and just being Ellis. He’s so preoccupied with what people think of him.”
“For good reason. It was nasty the first few weeks after the scandal broke. David said it felt like working in a pressure cooker. Ellis would come in, head straight to his office, and close the door, speaking to no one except David. It tore him up that public opinion was so quick to find him guilty. No one gave him the benefit of the doubt. No one except a few people loyal to him who know him well.”
“I think that’s his challenge. No one knows him well. He’s a powerful man, sitting in his ivory tower, high above all the little people. It’s so easy to make a villain of him.”
“Yes, but now you see that he’s not a villain at all.”
“Not at all. All that arrogance is protection.”
Annabelle smiles. “Some of it’s actually arrogance.”
I laugh. “True.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“If you weren’t professionally tied to him, would you go for it?”
“That’s a stupid question.”
She smiles, sipping her martini. “I guess it is.”
“He drives me insane. I want him so much, sometimes I just want to quit my job and climb on his lap.”
“Why can’t you do both? Your job and him.”
“Lots of reasons. It’s a conflict of interest. No one would believe what I’m selling if I was in a relationship with him. Would you?”
“No I guess not.”
“No. If I want this to be successful, and I do, then I just have to fight it back.”
“But maybe someday…”
“Maybe, but then it would just be awkward. We fuck a few times and then what?”
“Happily ever after?”
I burst into laughter. “Right. That’ll happen.”
“Why couldn’t it?”
“Why would it?”
She cocks her head at me. “Why wouldn’t it?”
“Because he’s…and I’m…” I shake my head. “It won’t.”
“It might.”
“Stop it.”
She grins. “I just want you to be happy. I want Ellis to be happy, and honestly, when I see the two of you together, I can imagine it. Besides, I want you to stay in London.”
“I don’t have to be with Ellis to make that happen.”
“But it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.”
I shake my head. “He offered me a furnished apartment to rent if I want to stay for a longer period of time. He said six months was a long time to be a house guest.”
“It is, but you’re welcome with us.”
“I know, but I’ve been thinking about it, because I thought if I did that, it would be a test to what it would be like if I lived here full time. I’d have to find the market, and you know, just adjust to life here.”
She nods. “I support you if that’s what you want to do.”
“What do you think? Can I handle London on my own?”
“Avery, you handled L.A. on your own.”
“This is a foreign country.”
“It’s not as different as you think. I’m sure any property Ellis owns is in a posh part of town and highly secure. You’ll do fine, plus you’ll still have me and David and Ellis to help.” She smiles, as she pats my hand. “The more I think about it, the more I think you should do it. I think you’ll fall in love with this city if you give it a chance. Besides, if you don’t stay, your hope of getting a British accent will never happen.”
I laugh and lift my glass. “Cheers, little sis.”
She rolls her eyes, as she clinks my glass. “Oh please. Little by four minutes.”
“Four minutes is four minutes.”
“I’ll remind you that you’ll be thirty before me.”
I grin, as I sip my drink. “Only for four minutes.”
◆◆◆
A
n hour later, we settle our bill, and start to leave when a really attractive man approaches our table. He’s wearing a black shirt and jeans, with a nice beard and piercing blue eyes. His arms are both sleeved, and he’s got that bad boy vibe that’s pretty hot.
“Pardon me,” he says, with a super sexy accent. “I couldn’t let you leave without knowing your name.” That’s when his eyes shift to Annabelle, and he tilts his head. “There’s two of you.”
Annabelle and I laugh. “We’re twins,” I say.
“Clearly.”
I extend my hand. “Avery. This is Annabelle.”
“Luke.” He shakes my sister’s hand, before shifting his attention back to me. “Pleasure to meet you, Avery. Are you American?”
“I am.”
“Staying in London long?”
“Long enough.”
“By chance, are you available for dinner or drinks some time?”
My eyes shift to Annabelle, who waits anxiously for my response. I study Luke for a moment, knowing how desperately I need to have sex. He certainly fits the bill, but dammit, I can’t. Not yet. There’s only one man I want right now.
“I’m sorry, I’m not.”
“Ah. Shame, but I should’ve known. You are gorgeous.”
“Thanks, Luke. I’ll take your number though. You never know.”
He smiles. “I’ll take you up on that.” He pulls his wallet from his back pocket, handing me a business card. He’s a tattoo artist. Makes sense. “I hope to hear from you.”
“Nice meeting you.”
“You as well. Are you parked out front?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.”
“I’d feel better. There’s been a few muggings in the area lately. I work close to here.”
“Oh.” I look at Annabelle who nods. “Thanks.”
“Happy to.”
We stand, grabbing our coats, and as we step outside, a group of paparazzi start snapping my picture and calling my name. I’m completely confused.
Luke grabs my arm pulling me into him. “What the hell is this about? Are you famous?”
“Not to my knowledge.” Annabelle grips my arm. “Stay close to me.” She nods as we push past them.
“Who’s the chap with you, Avery?” one calls out.
“Are you dating Avery?” another yells at Luke.
“They’re twins!” yet another observes.
“Don’t say anything to them,” I whisper to Luke who nods at me. He sees us safely to Annabelle’s car, ensuring we get in, and then leans in the window by me. “I’m sorry that happened. I have no idea why they’re interested in me.”
Mind the Line Page 12
