January (Calendar Girl #1) Anthology Anthology (81 page)

“I...I…huh, I believe you have me at a disadvantage, dear one. I’m not even sure how to respond to that.” He ran a hand through his salt and pepper locks.

“It’s just I see the way you look at her. You’re in love with her, right?”

Without even hesitating, he responded. “Of course, I love her. I have for years; I would never be unfaithful to her.”

“Then why are you parading me around like your little tart when you have a beautiful woman who would love to play dress-up and stand by your side if only to give you support. And furthermore, take her out on a date. Buy her a present. Get her some flowers, even if you pick them from the gardens.” I pointed out the window to the green landscape beyond. “Tell your son about her. Stop hiding her in the dark. She wants nothing more than to be with you,
really
be with you in all the ways that matter most.”

Warren nodded and glanced out the window, his mind obviously now on something else. I could only hope he’d consider what I’d said and make some moves. Faith was all it took, and I had faith that he’d make the right decision.

I stood up and moved to leave. “Mia?” The hairs on my neck tingled and I hoped he wasn’t about to filet me for being incredibly intrusive about his love life.

Turning around, I faced him. A soft smile slid across his handsome face. “Thank you for being bold enough to put an old man in his place.”

That earned him a huge grin. “Of course.”

“When you see Kathleen, ask her to come to me.”

“I’m pretty sure she’d have no problem with that.” I winked and then skipped out of his office to find his girl. Things were about to change in the Shipley household, definitely for the better.

Chapter 9

New York City was everything I’d ever dreamed of and more. The city was teeming with people, lights, towering buildings, and the best part…diversity. Every nationality, color, creed, ethnicity were all represented in one giant melting pot of mankind. I loved it. Every blessed second of the noise, the grit, the bodies pressing and pushing, weaving like mice in a maze trying to get to the other side of wherever they were going felt like an experience. A part of my life I’d not be able to forget if I tried. There was too much life to be had and seen in a place this vibrant.

“Mia honey, are you coming?” Kathleen asked, holding open the door to one seriously fancy hotel. The Four Seasons was known for its ostentatious price tag that only celebrities and one-percenters could afford. Looking out over this incredible city, seeing it through newborn eyes, I was in love. I didn’t care that I was riding my clients coat tails, serving as an escort, looked at by this group as a gold-digging whore. Not a care in the world. In that moment, I felt nothing but blessed that I’d gotten the opportunity to experience something I might not ever have had otherwise.

“Yeah,” I whispered, eyes still glued to the spectacle of square shapes piercing the sky with their flat and pointy tops. Unique, carved out architecture gave every building an intricate feel, making them each one of a kind in a long line of smashed together structures.

A hand closed around my bicep and tugged. “Come on city girl, the view from our suite on the fiftieth floor will blow you away.”

My eyes widened. “Were staying on the fiftieth floor?”

She chuckled. “Yep.”

“How many floors are there?” I asked, craning my neck to view the top of the building. It wasn’t the widest only showing four windows across but it had a charm to it. The architect definitely spent some time on the design, making it seem more special. It’s lines weren’t hard, they had a curved bull nosed edge feel with a step-up approach from the bottom level to the top.

“Fifty-two. Warren wasn’t happy that we didn’t secure the penthouse, so don’t mention it.” Like the thought would have popped into my head. “A few of the other men going to the event secured the two top floors for their parties,” she continued to explain while pulling me into the opulent lobby.

My heels clacked loudly against the marble floor. The dark marble was cut into a spider web-like design with wide grout lines that were surprisingly white. You’d think something like that would get dirty, especially in a town where people were coming and going and the weather could be unpredictable. White stone columns dotted the space as a bellman led us through to the elevator. Warren had already taken care of check-in and was waiting for us at the luggage cart when Kathleen dragged me along.

Once inside the suite, I about swallowed my tongue. I’d never seen a room so beautiful.

“I take it the accommodations are to your liking, Ms. Saunders?” Warren asked, amusement evident in his tone.

There weren’t words. Shock overtook my ability to speak. Instead of responding, I just nodded and took in our surroundings. White, cream, and gold were the prevailing colors, giving the space an ethereal yet comforting feel. As if a person could sit down and stay awhile…maybe forever. Windows surrounded most of the room, allowing an open view of the city in all its grandeur.

The room was nothing but utter brilliance. A shiny black piano sat in a corner as if waiting for a willing body to tickle its ivories. It made me wish I had a musical bone. I didn’t. Technically, I could carry a tune. Most actors could, and I was no exception, but it wasn’t as though I had a gift or anything. That pretty much summed me up in a nutshell. Jill of all trades, mediocre at best, gifted at nothing.

Kathleen flitted around the room, oohing and aahing adoringly, clinging to Warren’s arm. Whatever relationship they’d had over the last several years was finally being brought out into the open. Kathleen literally beamed with joy. It seemed to burst out of every single pore.

Where that left me, I didn’t know and really didn’t care. As long as the two of them were happy and moving forward, and I still received my fee, things were golden as far as I was concerned. Though it definitely put a damper on what my position at tomorrow’s charity event and future dinners meant. Did I still pretend to be his arm-candy, friend, and date? Would he take Kathleen along?

All these questions were instantly forgotten when I entered the bathroom. Talk about lush. Promptly, I walked into the room, traced a finger along the white marble vanity and sat on the edge of the square tub. Yes, square tub and it was as large as a full-sized bed. Two people could easily fit in there and get into some serious hanky panky water action. In the mirror across from me, I noticed the frowning girl staring back. There would be no water sports for this gal in the magnificent, once-in-a-lifetime tub. Sighing, I stared out the floor-to-ceiling window…
in the bathroom
. I imagined the windows were glazed in a way one could only see out and not in. Someone with a telephoto lens would have a field day with naked celebrities otherwise.

Standing, I realized how tired I was. Not only bone weary from the travel, either. Tired of not knowing what I was doing. Tired of staying with strangers, even though they were kind and extremely generous, and for the most part, hot as fudge dripping along a cool scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Then like concrete hardening into sidewalk, reality hit me hard. My life wasn’t my own. My kid sister was off living with a man I’d only met once. Once! Even Pops wouldn’t allow that. And Pops. I’d up and left my comatose father in a convalescent home. What the fuck was wrong with me? Granted, this entire year was his fault, and I should be pissed at him, I knew my father. He would never have wanted this for me. Uprooting my life, Maddy’s, and for what? To pay off a goon I’d once fucked and thought I loved? No, he’d allow Blaine to kill him to protect me from living this life. The life of an escort.

I shook my head and trudged into the room that Warren pointed out was mine. Face planting into the clouds of white reminded me of another time I’d done this very thing in a room three thousand miles away, That room was owned by a man I wasn’t convinced could ever truly love me and would leave me. He would hurt me like the others, destroy the last speck of faith I had in the opposite sex for all of eternity. If I was honest, I think I was more afraid that he couldn’t possibly ever compare to the man I’d made him in my deepest, darkest, fantasies, a man that could be everything in one. The devoted, worshipping, loving man I’d always dreamed of and spent my late teens and early twenties looking for only to fail miserably. Now, I didn’t know what we were to each other outside of friends with benefits. I also knew I’d go to great lengths to avoid finding out. At least until I got past this year.

The goal was set and in sight. Blaine was being paid monthly, his blood money finding its way into his bank account, keeping my father, Maddy, and me safe. For now.

***

If a terrorist group wanted to destroy the United States economy, all they had to do was take out Bryant Park that evening. Every major charity, not just one, was in attendance. They all had booths set up on the gravel perimeter surrounding the main grassy area in the middle. Rows and rows of lights had been extended and strung horizontally, high above the grass. Highboy tables with silver cloths and decorative lanterns sat every ten to fifteen feet covering the massive ground. There were men from every major corporation you could think of. I was pretty sure I spotted Trump and Gates roaming around along with celebrities, and a horde of governmental officials. Famous movie stars glittered here and there and I had to hold my tongue not to fan girl all over the place. It was a veritable feast of the richest of the rich.

As I took in the lights, people, and music wafting through hidden speakers, my body was jolted up into the air. I was spun around mid-air, slammed against a hard body, and squeezed in a vice-like grip. The scent of cologne mixed with a hint of familiar male sweat entered my senses and I smiled.

“Let me go, you big lug!” I kicked and hollered as my body slid along a very firm, muscled chest I knew well but not intimately. His hands cupped my cheeks and the emerald green eyes I adored sparkled.

Coppery hair glinted off the overhead lights, and I ran my hands from his neck to his shoulder. “Miss me, sweetness?” He kissed my forehead the way a brother does a sister he hadn’t seen in a while.

“Mace,” I smiled and pulled him into my arms, holding on tight. He was something familiar in a sea of strangers. I held onto his lengthy, hard form like a leech with no plan to ever let him go.

Mason firmly grabbed each hand and tugged me away. His eyes took in my face then narrowed. “You look tired.” I huffed, blowing out a breath. Leave it to a man I’d spent a month with, one who became one of my best friends in the world, to notice when no one else had.

They don’t know you.
A little voice inside my head taunted.

“Is that another way of telling me I look like shit?” I pouted.

Mason’s eyes did a scan of my body, taking in the tight little gold dress that hugged every curve, and I mean every curve. It hugged so much so that I couldn’t wear anything underneath it. A very non-brotherly look crossed his features. “Wasn’t referring to your dress, sweetness. The body is still a hundred percent bangable.”

I shoved at his chest and made a gagging noise. “Where’s Rachel?” I asked and then was greeted with her model-esque body as she walked up. Mason watched her walk from the bar holding two glasses of champagne. She was wearing a drop-dead gorgeous, white scrap of a dress. She looked downright chic.

“Never far from me, I’ll tell you that right fuckin’ now.” His Boston accent took over as he licked his lips, that sexy smirk of his turning into a cat-like grin.

“You’re a lucky man,” I joked.

He winked and knocked my shoulder. “Don’t I know it?”

When Rachel got a little closer, her entire face brightened. Her blonde hair positively glowed in the lights, and her cheeks pinked prettily. She handed Mace the glasses then pulled me into a hug. “Mia, my God. Whatever are you doing here?”

I leaned back and held her at arm’s length. “Me? What are you two doing here?” I pointed to Rachel then Mason.

He shrugged. “All part of the image. Biggest charity event of the year.” He looped an arm over Rachel’s shoulder. “My publicist thinks attending these things will only solidify what I’ve been building on with my investors.”

Rachel handed me one of the glasses she probably had gotten for Mason but he didn’t seem to mind. He was all smiles looking from me to Rachel. “She’s right.” I took the glass and sipped. “Thank you.”

We caught up for a while. I had no clue where Warren and Kathleen were. He was probably introducing his
real
girlfriend to everyone. Me, I was just here, mostly because we didn’t want Warren to get any flack. If I was here, it wouldn’t look as though I was mad or he was carrying on with several women and piss off the Benoits. I guess it made me look expendable, but in reality, all the gold-diggers were and that was not new to the men I’d previously met, with the exception of sixty-six-year-old Mr. Benoit and his twenty-five-year-old pregnant wife.

Thinking of her must have conjured her up. Christine Benoit was waving at me from across the lawn. “Guys, can we catch up in say an hour? I need to network for my client.”

Rachel hugged me again. “Mia, I didn’t get a chance to thank you. To tell you how much what you did meant for me, for Mace. We…well, we just love you like family, okay?”

We love you like family.

Mason pulled me into his own hug as Rachel used her pinky fingers to dot at the corner of her eyes. “She’s right you know,” he whispered in my ear. “We do love you like family. Any time you want to get away, come visit, there’s always a ticket with your name on it. Okay?” He moved back and bent down low so that it was green eyes to green eyes. I nodded, choked up. “I mean it. You text saying you want to come to Boston, I’ll ensure a ticket is waiting. Got it?”

I smiled wide then kissed his cheek. “Got it, brother.” I winked and stepped back. He put an arm around Rachel’s waist holding her close. That was a beautiful picture. So beautiful I pulled my phone out of my clutch and captured it for all time. One day, when I had a place of my own, I’d print that picture and put it on my own wall or mantle. An image to capture the moment that these people told me I was their family and that I was loved.