Club Prive Book 2 (Volume 2) (3 page)

I glanced over my shoulder to see how my friend was taking the apology.

“Well,” she said. “Maybe you should keep a tighter leash on your employees.”

I knew that tone. She was trying to be tough, but she was softening.

“He’s no longer my employee.”

Krissy’s jaw dropped and I knew my shock mirrored hers. “You fired him?” she asked the question.

He nodded, his expression firm. “I can’t employ someone who would stoop so low.” He held her eyes for a moment, then glanced down at his watch. “I have to go.” He turned to me, and the depth of emotion in his eyes made me catch my breath.

I knew he was waiting for me to say something, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know what to say. A wave of sadness washed over his face, but he didn’t press it. Instead, he nodded at me, then at Krissy, and walked past us.

Krissy and I were both silent until we got back on the elevator. I was pretty sure she was processing as much as I was. I’d forgotten to factor in her libido.

“You know, since you no longer want to date Mr. Totally-Uber-Hunk, do you mind if I...”

I glared at her and she didn’t finish the sentence. She was not going to go there.

“Just kidding,” she laughed as we arrived at our floor.

I didn’t think it was very funny.

Chapter 4

Two days. Over forty-fucking-eight hours and I hadn’t gotten a single phone call or text message from Gavin. After all of that obsessive stalker behavior, he’d stopped cold turkey. I tried telling myself that was a good thing; that I’d wanted him to stop. I’d told him as much. And he’d finally listened. He’d apologized to both Krissy and me for what he’d done and now he was leaving me alone to live my life. That was what I’d wanted.

The argument would’ve been valid if it wasn’t for the way he kept popping up in my mind at the most random, inopportune times. Like how I’d been in the archives researching precedents for the Weiss case and my brain had decided that was the perfect time to concoct a fantasy in which Gavin swept into the room and fucked me against the stacks. Or yesterday afternoon when the whole office had been eating cake for Merle’s retirement party and I’d started wondering what it would be like to spread icing all over Gavin’s abs and lick them clean.

Yeah, that’s pretty much how the past two days had gone. Every time I’d think I could finally start focusing and get some real work done, another inappropriate thought would come up. Worse were the ones that didn’t have to do with sex. They were the ones that were flashes of things deeper and more meaningful.

The way the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

The heat in those blue eyes when he’d looked at my naked body.

What I imagined it would be like to stroll down the street with him, his arm around my waist.

Taking him home to Alabama to meet my family.

That last one had come just as I’d started drifting off to sleep the night before. My eyes had shot open, my pulse pounding. It had taken me over an hour to calm down enough to actually sleep, and even then, it hadn’t been very restful.

It wasn’t until I was getting my things together to go home that I finally admitted to myself the truth behind why Gavin’s silence was bothering me.

I didn’t want him to give up on me.

That wasn’t an easy thing for me to be honest about. I hated those women who strung men along, who wanted them to pursue her no matter what she did, and now I was one of them. No, I told myself. I was different. I wasn’t playing with his emotions. I didn’t want him to stop asking for forgiveness, because I wanted to give it to him.

“You’ve been awfully quiet all day,” Krissy said as the two of us walked home. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, that ideal temperature that made an early evening stroll the perfect way to unwind. “In fact,” she said slowly. “You’ve been quiet ever since we saw Gavin after lunch the other day.”

I loved Krissy, but sometimes I wished she wasn’t so observant. Because I knew it wouldn’t do any good to try to deny it – she did know me, after all – I told her all of it. The fantasies, the dreams, and my personal revelation.

“You need to take control of the situation,” she said.

“What?” I gave her a sharp look. I really hoped she wasn’t suggesting what I thought she was suggesting.

Krissy linked her arm through mine. Her expression was stern. “You need to take some initiative and call him. You can’t let things end this way. He’s too good to not fight for.”

She was right. I knew she was right. Gavin was an amazing man, everything I’d ever wanted. Even if I didn’t think the timing was right, or if I was still mad at him, I couldn’t let those things keep me from finding out where this could go. After all, how often in a single lifetime can a person find someone they connect with like Gavin and I did with each other? For most people, maybe once...if they’re lucky.

I was in the process of figuring out what to say when my phone rang. Thinking I’d answer it and give myself some extra time to decide what I wanted to do, I pulled it out of my purse. The moment I saw the screen, however, my heart almost stopped.

It was Gavin.

Wordlessly, I turned my phone towards Krissy.

She let out a low whistle. “True karma.” She squeezed my arm. “Talk to him.”

I didn’t allow myself time to actually think about the action.

I just answered it. “Hello.”

“Please don’t hang up.” The pleading note in his voice tugged at my heart.

“I’m listening,” I said softly.

Krissy released my arm and moved so that she was walking a couple of feet ahead of me, giving me some privacy.

“I know you don’t want me calling you, and this is probably a really bad idea, but these past two days have been hell. I can’t sleep or concentrate. I think about you all the time.”

The words came pouring out of him in a rush, and they could’ve been my words, my feelings.

“It’s killing me not seeing you, Carrie.” He fell silent for a moment, as if waiting for me to tell him to leave me alone, to hang up, to do something.

“Is that why you called?” I asked. My heart hammered against my ribcage as I waited for his answer.

“Yes.” He kept it simple, and that one word thrilled me. “You have no idea what being away from you is doing to me.”

I thought about how little I’d accomplished, and almost said that I had a pretty good idea.

“Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is you. Your eyes. Your smile. Your body.” His voice held a pleading note. “I need you.”

I swallowed hard. How could I say no to that? All he was asking was for us to meet. “What did you have in mind?”

“What about Saturday night? I have to attend a charity event and I would be honored if you would come with me. It’s an auction with a big gala dinner afterwards. Nice and public, and you can keep me at a distance. You could even think of it like a favor.”

“I already returned your favor.” My tone was half-teasing.

“Then I guess I’d owe you one.” After a moment, he added, “I just want a chance.”

“I don’t know,” I said, ignoring my body’s protests. Of course I wanted to go with him. I wanted to be with him. Feel his touch. His body... I shook my head. I couldn’t give in too easily. I needed to maintain the upper hand, especially since I still wasn’t sure I could trust him. “I’ve been really tied up with work.”

I immediately cringed at my word choice as the memory of the straps on the bed at the club popped into my head. Things low in my body tightened and throbbed at the image that followed without conscious thought.

My wrists and ankles were tightly bound, pulling my arms and legs as far apart as they would comfortably go. Devoid of any clothing, I was exposed to my lover’s gaze.

I swallowed hard and pushed the thought away. Gavin was talking.

“If it makes you feel better, Howard will be there. You could consider this a work thing.”

Work, I thought. That was a possibility. I could get the chance to see first-hand how Howard interacted with people, specifically women. If I saw him flirting, I’d know that Mimi would need to coach him on his behavior prior to negotiations. If he kept it friendly but not sexual, I’d know that we’d be able to move forward without any issues.

“Maybe,” I said. Something occurred to me even as I said it. “But I don’t even know what to wear to something like that.”

“Don’t worry,” he said.

I could hear him smiling.

“I’ve already taken care of it.” Before I could question what that meant, he continued. “So, will you come?”

I hesitated for several seconds, making him wait, before I answered. “All right.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty Saturday evening. I can’t wait.”

He ended the call without waiting for a response, and I wondered if he’d been worried that I’d change my mind.

“What was that all about?” Krissy asked, her question interrupting my thoughts.

I gave her the summary, leaving out how just hearing Gavin’s voice had made me hot, and my brief flash of fantasy. I was pretty sure she guessed it, because she gave me a wicked grin.

“One thing I don’t understand,” I said, as much to avoid having our conversation head in
that
direction as anything else. “What did he mean when he said he’d taken care of it?”

“I’ll bet he bought you an expensive dress to wear,” Krissy predicted.

I shook my head. That couldn’t be it. “That would mean that he knew I’d say yes.” It had to be something else.

The moment we walked into the lobby of our apartment building, however, I was proven wrong. The doorman pointed at a package he’d set off to the side where it wouldn’t be disturbed. I didn’t even need to open it to know that Krissy was right. My palms were sweating as I carried the package up to the apartment. Krissy wanted to open it right away, but I told her I had to go to the bathroom first. In actuality, I needed a moment to gather myself.

What had I gotten myself into?

I splashed some cold water on my face and then went back to the living room, where an impatient Krissy was practically dancing next to the table. My fingers were shaking as I opened the box and lifted out the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. No, that wasn’t right. This wasn’t just a dress. It was a gown. A Prada gown.

“Fuck me,” Krissy breathed. “It’s gorgeous.”

I couldn’t speak. All I could do was gape. It was long, with a slit up the side that stopped at what I could see would be mid-thigh. Just high enough to be sexy while not so high that it was slutty. The same could be said for the neckline. The straps were thin, holding up either side of the plunging neckline. This was the kind of dress that a woman didn’t wear a bra with because it would be impossible to keep it from showing. Then there was the color. My coloring tended towards the fair; I was the kind of blond who burned rather than tanned in the sun. Unlike most of my friends, however, I didn’t use fake tan products. I wasn’t sickly white or even that milky shade of pale. No, my skin was more the translucent kind of fair, the kind that looked good in warm colors. And the dress was definitely a warm color: a rich, deep crimson.

“Try it on.” Krissy urged.

I shook my head, finding my voice at last. “I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”

“Are you kidding me?” Krissy was incredulous. “Let the man buy you a dress to wear to a party he wants to take you to. You deserve this, Carrie. Enjoy yourself for once.”

A part of me still said it was too much, said that if I accepted it after having slept with him, it made me no better than a prostitute. I told that part to shut up and went into my bedroom to try on my dress.

When I emerged just a few minutes later, I didn’t need to look in the mirror to know I looked good. Krissy was speechless. I’d never known her to be at a loss for words, and her not being able to speak was the highest compliment I’d ever received.

“Wow,” she finally said. “You’re like fucking Cinderella.”

I looked down at myself. The dress hugged my curves in all the right ways, and my skin gleamed against the color. I was impressed at how he knew my size.

“Gavin’s not going to know what hit him.” Krissy circled me. “I don’t think he could’ve had any clue how amazing you would look, and even if he had, you’re still going to blow his mind.” A mischievous smile curved her lips. “Among other things.”

Heat crept up my cheeks, but before Krissy could continue to embarrass me, the lobby buzzed, announcing we had a delivery. I went over to look at myself in the mirror while Krissy told the doorman to send the delivery guy up. I tried to picture how I’d look in heels, with my hair twisted up in one of those elaborate updos that Krissy always told me I needed to wear, and my make-up done to perfection. I went back into the living room when I heard the knock, curious about what was being delivered. Could it be more flowers from Gavin?

“Sign here, please.” The delivery guy sounded bored as he handed Krissy the electronic pen. As she scribbled her signature, he looked up, his eyes widening when he saw me.

“Package?” Krissy prompted when the young man didn’t make a move to hand over the small box in his hand.

“Right. Sorry,” he mumbled, his face flooding with color.

Krissy waited until she shut the door before she started laughing.

“That’s not funny.” I tried to be stern, but it was difficult with Krissy holding her stomach as she walked over to our couch.

“Are you kidding?” she gasped. “Did you see the look on his face? I was surprised he wasn’t drooling.”

“Stop.” I shook my head. “He just probably wasn’t expecting to see someone in a fancy dress and bare feet.”

“Really?” She grinned at me as she caught her breath. “Bare feet? You think that’s what got him all hot and bothered?”

“Hot and bothered? Seriously, Krissy?” I carefully perched on the arm of the couch. The dress wasn’t too tight, but I felt as if I needed to be extra careful with it. I knew how much something like this cost.

Krissy didn’t bother to respond. Instead, she looked down at the package and I followed her gaze. A card sat on top of the brown wrapping. My name was written across the creamy stationary in a masculine but elegant script. Without a word, Krissy handed the box and card over.