Rush

by Deborah Bladon

  “My middle name is Rushton,” I explain. “It was my grandmother’s maiden name.”

  Her eyes widen. “That makes a lot more sense than what I thought.”

  It sure as hell does. I may have rushed in the sack when I was younger, but I’ve never been that fast. Nothing is more satisfying than knowing that you’ve given a woman a night to remember.

  I take as much pride in that as I do anything else in my life.

  I never want a woman to walk away from an encounter with me, wishing it hadn’t happened.

  “You said he’s the only one who calls you that?” She tugs on the end of a strand of her hair. “No one else is allowed?”

  “It’s not that.” I glance at the table. “My brother called me Rush for a time. That was years ago.”

  The server picks that moment to approach us to boast about the dessert menu. Emma scrunches her nose as she listens to him run on about the selection of gelato they offer as well as what sounds like cherry-topped cheesecake, although he gifts it with an Italian name.

  “I had my fill of sugar today.” She looks at me. “What about you?”

  I’m tempted to order one of everything to keep us in these chairs for the next two hours, but I need to check in on Maya.

  “I’m good, Freckles.”

  Her cheeks blush. “Okay, Rush.”

  I like it. I don’t know why the hell I like hearing her call me that, but I could get used to it.

  “Just the check, please.” She moves to grab her purse. “Let me get my credit card.”

  “No damn way,” I interject, reaching for my wallet when the server takes off. “Dinner is on me.”

  “That’s not happening.” She punctuates the words with a wave of her hand in the air. “This is partial payback for letting me crash at your apartment.”

  I doubt like hell I can change her mind about paying for the meal based on the look of determination in her deep brown eyes.

  “Partial payback?” I chuckle. “What does that mean?”

  She pushes her hair back over her shoulders, giving me an unobstructed view of her sheer blouse and the bra beneath is. “You know what it means.”

  I know I’m reading way too much into what’s happening in front of me. I also know that my cock needs to calm the hell down.

  “I owe you for letting me stay with you.” She looks to where the server disappeared as she taps her credit card on the table. “If there’s any way I can repay you, I want to.”

  Crawl into bed with me. Let me keep you there for days.

  I swallow the words in favor of a decent response. “You don’t have to repay me, Emma.”

  “I want to.” She leans back in her chair.

  My gaze falls to the front of her blouse and the peaks of her hardened nipples beneath the thin fabric of her bra.

  If I thought I was fucked before tonight, I was an oblivious fool. I haven’t had this much fun with a woman in a very long time. Now, I have to go back to my apartment and fall asleep knowing that she’s in the room next to me.

  ***

  “Maya is here?” Emma stops just short of the open doors of the elevator. “Maybe I should go across the street for a drink. I can hang out at Durie’s until you two are done.”

  “Done?” I question with a quirk of one brow. “Done doing what exactly?”

  “She’s your girlfriend, right?” she asks nervously. “It’s a long-distance thing, isn’t it?”

  I glance over to where Lester is standing. He’s got one ear turned in our direction. For an older guy, his hearing is next level. I’d bet money on the fact that the man could hear a pin drop a block away.

  I ignore that because I’m enjoying watching Emma try and piece together what’s happening between Maya and me.

  When I told her that Maya was waiting for me upstairs, the look on her face was one I won’t soon forget. It was confusion mixed with curiosity. Since she’s still sporting the same expression now, I gesture toward the elevator.

  “I can’t keep the elevator here forever, Emma.” I nod my chin toward where my finger is pressed on the call button. “Get in, and let’s get upstairs.”

  “I can go to my room,” she mutters under her breath as she boards.

  I follow right behind her. “Or you can hang out with Maya and me.”

  As the doors slide shut, she looks to me with a hint of panic in her eyes.

  Emma Owens has no idea about the surprise that awaits her once we get upstairs.

  Chapter 21

  Emma

  I’m two steps behind Case when he unlocks the apartment door, and we step into the foyer.

  For a half-second I hope that Maya took the other elevator down on our way up. Maybe I won’t have to bear witness to them exchanging knowing glances while I try to make small talk with the two of them.

  I’m still hopeful that I can duck into the guest room in a few minutes.

  “Case.” I hear Maya’s voice before I see her. “You’re back.”

  With me in tow, I want to add, but I stay quiet as he drops his keys on the table of the foyer.

  I spot her standing in the middle of the living room. She’s wearing a blue dress that perfectly matches the color of her eyes.

  Her black hair is sleekly styled.

  There’s nothing about her that doesn’t scream confidence and success. The three simple silver bracelets she’s wearing on her right wrist complement the silver watch on her left.

  My gaze follows a path up her wrist to her hand and the pear-shaped sapphire ring on her finger. It’s surrounded with small diamonds and nestled right next to it is a stunning band of larger diamonds.

  She’s married?

  “Tonight was a success.” She throws herself into Case’s arms while I stand back watching. “It couldn’t have gone better. Anton was floating on cloud nine when he left.”

  The pieces of this puzzle don’t fit together.

  Every time I turn around another person’s name is tossed into the mix.

  Maya takes a step back from Case. Her gaze floats past his shoulder to land squarely on my face. “Emma! I didn’t see you there.”

  “Hi,” I say with an awkward wave of my hand in the air. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “You too.” Her gaze darts from my face to Case’s. “You look happy. Did you two have a good dinner?”

  “Very good,” he replies with a glance over his shoulder at me. “I told Emma about the nickname your sister gave me when we were kids.”

  I just fit two pieces of the puzzle together. Frannie and Maya are sisters.

  “Rabbit?” Maya lets out a laugh. “Oh my god, Case. I remember that. Tilly was always telling her to knock it off.”

  “Tilly is Frannie’s twin,” Case offers with a curl of his finger luring me to approach them.

  I do. I take a few tentative steps until I’m standing next to him.

  “Case had this little issue with his teeth.” Maya pulls her top teeth over her bottom lip. “It was hardly noticeable.”

  “Bullshit,” Case fires back. “You don’t think I heard you calling me Rabbit behind my back, Maya?”

  Her hands drop to her hips. “Me? I would never have done that.”

  “You did do that.” He taps the tip of her nose with his index finger.

  I watch the movement. It’s intimate in a way that speaks of a bond, but it’s playful too. Maybe they aren’t lovers. Did I read this wrong from the start?

  Maya shrugs. “You’ve always been like a brother to us. Don’t sisters tease their brothers?”

  I definitely read this wrong.

  “Julian’s sister teases him all the time,” she goes on with a glance at her left hand. “My husband loves it. I know you love it when I tease you too.”

  “Speaking of your husband,” Case begins, stealing a glimpse at me. “How did you and Julian enjoy dinner at Nova the other night?”

  “It was heaven.” Her hand leaps to her chin. “The food was delicious. The wine was perfe
ct. It was the romantic escape we needed.”

  “Good.” He leans down to press a kiss to her forehead. “I knew Tyler would take the best care of you.”

  He’s talking about Tyler Monroe. He’s the owner and head chef of the restaurant. I know that because I saw him on a cooking segment on one of the late-night talk shows.

  “Where did you two have dinner?” Maya turns her attention to me.

  I don’t know the name of the restaurant, so I stick with their primary offering. “We had pizza.”

  “Decent pizza for New York,” Case interjects.

  “So a good time was had by all?” Maya searches his face for something.

  When Case sighs, I step in. “I had a good time.”

  “Case did too.” She smiles at him. “I can tell.”

  I take that as a good sign. It’s an even better sign that Maya appears happily married. I don’t feel nearly as bad for semi-flirting with Case at dinner.

  Maya looks to the watch on Case’s wrist even though she’s wearing one. “It’s getting late. We need to talk. I have some news.”

  They need privacy, and I’m more than happy to give it to them.

  “It was good to see you again, Maya.” I smile at her before I look to Case. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

  “Sure thing.”

  I turn and start toward the hallway, stopping when a small rectangular card on the floor catches my eye. I hear the sound of footsteps, and lowered voices as Case and Maya make their way to the foyer.

  With a quick bend of my knees, I scoop the card into my palm.

  Flipping it over, I read the first line etched in gold ink.

  Maya Bishop. Licensed Real Estate Broker.

  Chapter 22

  Case

  Glancing at my closed apartment door, I jab a finger into the elevator call button just as Maya pushes a finger into the middle of my chest. “You like her. You like Emma, don’t you?”

  “She’s Drake sister,” I remind her, and myself, if I’m honest.

  “So?” She cocks her hip. “What does he have to do with this?”

  I shake my head. “Everything.”

  Letting out a breath, she rolls her eyes. “In my opinion, this is none of his business.”

  “He’s my best friend, Maya.” I drag a hand through my hair. “She’s off-limits.”

  “She’s not,” she stresses the words with a raise of her voice. “He doesn’t get a say in what or who you want.”

  This is a conversation I don’t want to have with her, so I change the subject. “What’s the good news?”

  “Pam and Rod are this close to placing an offer on the apartment.” She holds her index finger and thumb an inch apart. “I can sense when an offer is imminent, and I think I’ll have something concrete to put in front of you tomorrow.”

  I crack a smile. “No shit?”

  “Anton was interested too.” She brushes a hand over her shoulder. “With any luck, we’ll have a bidding war on our hands.”

  That would be the brass ring. I’d settle for any decent offer at this point. I want the apartment out of my hands so Drake can start married life with his new bride in the place he belongs. I know what his dream future looks like, and I’m going to help him make it a reality.

  That means the apartment has to sell, so he’s free to pursue what he needs. He has lived here so I haven’t had to come back to face this city, but all of that is changing now. New York is a part of my past, and it’s time I left it there forever.

  ***

  Thirty minutes later, I walk back into my apartment.

  After I rode the elevator down to the lobby to see that Maya got safely to Drake’s car and driver, I made a few calls.

  Lester stood a few feet away, gathering details that he’ll likely sell to anyone who will drop a dollar in his palm.

  Thankfully, the calls didn’t involve anything remotely sensitive personally or professionally.

  I stop when I notice Emma sitting on the couch.

  She’s changed into black yoga shorts and a white tank top.

  I don’t know what the hell I did to deserve more time with her tonight, but I’ll take it.

  “Emma,” I call to her as I drop my keys and phone on the foyer table. “I thought you turned in for the night.”

  She flicks a fingernail over a card in her hand. “Can we talk?”

  Her tone gives nothing away. I don’t know her well enough to read anything into it. If the expression on her face is a clue, this conversation is going to be a hell of a lot more serious than the one we had over dinner.

  “Sure,” I toss back, stalking toward her.

  Whatever it is, I can handle it as long as she’s not about to tell me she’s as insanely attracted to me as I am to her.

  If that’s the case, I might have to bid farewell to my friendship with her brother.

  I settle onto the leather. I give myself at least two feet from her so I can semi-focus on what she’s about to say and not the fact that she’s braless beneath the tank.

  Whatever makeup was on her face earlier has been scrubbed clean.

  She’s so fucking beautiful.

  “I found something on the floor,” she confesses before I can say anything. “I don’t understand it.”

  I glance down at the card in her hands. All I see is a blank white canvas. “What did you find?”

  She flips it over and pushes it toward me. “Maya works in real estate. Is she selling this apartment? Does Drake know? I’m sure he would have told me if he’s planning on moving, but maybe not given the fact that I had no idea he was getting married.”

  Her knees are bouncing and her hand is shaking. Realization hits me that words rush out of her at breakneck speed when she’s anxious.

  I take Maya’s business card from her. This is the moment of truth.

  “Drake doesn’t have a clue.” I lock eyes with Emma. “By the time he gets back to New York, I want this place sold.”

  Chapter 23

  Emma

  I thought Case was a decent guy, but this is proving that I’m a horrible judge of character.

  How can he sell this apartment without telling Drake? Where is my brother supposed to live once he returns from his wedding?

  It’s not as though Drake will be homeless. He can afford to rent a nice apartment, but that’s not the point.

  It feels like Case is ripping the rug out from under Drake’s feet. Technically, it’s exquisite hardwood floors.

  What a great way to start married life.

  I inch back on the couch because I don’t want to be too close to a man who would betray his best friend this way.

  “That’s unfair.” I work to even my tone. “Drake would never do that to you.”

  I don’t think he would. I have no scope of his friendship with Case. Maybe they pull these ‘ fuck-you’ moves on each other all the time.

  It’s impossibly hard for me to imagine my brother doing this to anyone though. Drake is a good man. He’s always gone out of his way to help the people he cares about.

  “I’m doing it for him, Emma.” Case turns to face me directly. “I’m selling this place because it’s time. It’s time for Drake to move on.”

  Anger burns a path up my belly to my throat. I swallow hard, hoping to tame it so I don’t say anything I’ll regret. “Move on? What if he’s not ready to move on or move out? Why wouldn’t you talk to him about this before he left for Ireland?”

  There’s an undercurrent of something in his eyes. Maybe it’s regret, or perhaps it’s indignation that I’m questioning him on a decision that has nothing to do with me.

  I don’t care if it’s not my place to have this discussion with him. I love my brother. I want what’s best for him, and it’s hard to understand how being kicked out of the home he’s lived in for the past seven years without any warning benefits him.

  He blows out a breath. “This was meant to be a surprise for Drake. It’s part of my wedding gift for him.”

>   A laugh bubbles inside of me. It’s not based in joy. It’s bitter. I don’t let it escape. Instead, I slap my hand on the couch next to me, knowing that I’ll likely be packing my suitcase headed for a hotel within the hour. “This is the surprise you mentioned? Tossing Drake out on his ass is definitely a wedding gift he’ll never forget.”

  A ghost of a smile plays on Case’s lips. “You love him a lot, don’t you? You’d go to battle for him.”

  I have no idea why he finds that amusing, but I nod. “I’d do anything for him.”

  “Me too,” he affirms with a heavy exhale. “Your brother’s dream is to move to London with Jane, so I’m doing everything in my power to make that happen.”

  ***

  Drake is moving to London.

  My mom and dad are going to retire in Florida in three months, and Whitney is headed to Ohio for college at the end of summer.

  Everything’s changing so fast. It’s too fast.

  It’s been less than a week since my parents dropped their bombshell on me. I’ve known about Whitney’s acceptance into Ohio State for months, but watching her gleefully start packing last week was a stark reminder that soon she won’t call Seattle home.

  “How long has Drake been thinking about moving to London?” I ask, rubbing both hands over my eyes.

  “I’m not sure,” Case confesses. “He didn’t tell me he wanted to make the move.”

  My head darts up. “Who told you? Jane?”

  “We’ve never met.” He half-laughs. “Drake mentioned her a couple of months ago once things were serious between them.”

  Envy shoots through me knowing that Drake confided in Case.

  I’ve shared a lot with my brother since he moved to the east coast. He did the same, although he was always so focused on work that almost everything he told me revolved around that.