Saint James, Elle - Unbridled and Untangled [The Double Rider Men's Club 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (22 page)

Wade nodded. It had been a very brief, “I fucked her in a closet” statement, but by then his overall attitude about the evening had been colored by her running out.

“If I’d gone back into that dining room with him for cake, there would have been no hiding how I felt about him. No hiding what we’d just been doing together. No hiding that I wanted him with every fiber of my being even though he’s considered lesser because he isn’t one of them.”

“And did you want him to be one of them?”

Her gaze sharpened. “No. I don’t. He’s better than all of them put together with the exception of his grandmother and possibly my grandfather. The rest of them can all go straight to hell as far as I’m concerned.”

“So why did you care what they thought?”

“They didn’t deserve the knowledge. I didn’t want them to take something special and taint it with their disdainful attitude. Gossip and scandal is what they feed on, and I didn’t want to provide anything fresh for them to devour.”

“I see.”

“No you don’t. Not everything. I’m vile. I also ran out because of the part where I have to live in this world. I didn’t want to face them alone after Dalton left. I was a coward.”

Behind him, someone pounded on the door. “Miss Stanton, are you all right?”

She opened the door and said, “I’m fine. I don’t want to be disturbed for any reason.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Olivia closed the door again and locked it. She turned to him and crossed her arms as if to protect herself from him. “Tell me what you came to say. I know I deserve it.”

“I had to see for myself that you were through with us. I wanted to hear it to my face that you no longer wanted to have anything to do with us or our unusual lifestyle.”

She glanced over one shoulder at the side of her office. There were several vases of flowers strewn about the room. She’d kept the flowers they’d sent. His heart softened just a little bit more. “Dalton told me that you were waiting for me to respond or tell Clay to have the deliveries stop. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.”

“What were you going to tell us?”

“I hadn’t figured it out yet. It was also the biggest reason I didn’t call. I didn’t know what to say. Every day a new bouquet came and I swore I’d call you to tell you to stop.”

“But?”

“But I knew that if I heard either of your voices, I’d cave and try to arrange another meeting.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

She threw her hands in the air and gestured to the office. “This is my new job. I’m the new CEO of my family’s business enterprises. If I started sneaking off to Colorado to be with you, someone would find out.”

“So you’re embarrassed by us.”

“No. But it doesn’t matter. Everything I do will reflect on the company I run. I’m already faltering as it is. I don’t want to jeopardize my position further with a clandestine affair with two men, regardless of my feelings.”

“What are your feelings?” he asked, wondering if he really wanted to know the reply to the primary question he was here to get answered. “Because I love you.” He hadn’t meant to say it. He was probably about to get his heart handed to him, but he hoped not.

A watery smile shaped her mouth. “I love you, too, Wade. The truth is, I’m in love with both of you. I’ve missed you desperately every single day since I left the state of Colorado.” Fresh tears coated her cheeks again. “But I can’t be in two places at once, even if I did have the courage to move forward with our relationship. Let’s face it, New York and Ryder are too far apart even for a reasonable long-distance relationship.”

Elated that she was in love with them and obviously torn up about the way things stood, Wade pressed on. “You know I’m just a seasoned cattle rancher with no discernable high-tech computer, skills, but even I know that you could move yourself to Colorado and run your business from there if you really wanted to. If you really loved us, I think you’d find a way.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Her eyes shifted to one side as if she now contemplated the complications of moving her corporate headquarters out West. “I guess it’s possible.” Her expression softened a bit.

“So the only concern is whether your love for us is important enough to make the effort.”

“Dirty pool, Wade,” she said and looked up into his eyes.

“No. Not dirty. Practical. I don’t want to live without you.”

A timid smile emerged. She moved forward into his arms again. “Am I too hideous to kiss?”

“Not even close.” Wade hugged her tight and gently placed his mouth over hers. She tasted like salty tears and sexy woman. He was spellbound by their intimacy. Before he knew what he was doing, he’d moved her backward until her backside hit the edge of her massive desk. He bent her back over the desktop and pinned her to the paper-strewn surface.

“I have a sudden rather intense fantasy of fucking you on your desk. What are my chances of
that
happening in the next few minutes?”

There was a knock at the door. She laughed. “Nil if you expect us to be alone.”

He shrugged. “I really don’t care about anyone watching us. You know that, right?” He laughed and kissed her as she tried to rise.

“Are you going to let me up?”

Another more urgent-sounding knock came to the door. “I wasn’t planning on it. Do you want me to let you up?”

She pushed out a sigh. “You understand this is my office and there are people that want to discuss business with me.”

He pushed his hips with his hard cock between her legs. “Of course. I also have some rather urgent business I’d like to discuss with you.”

The third knock came accompanied by a muffled raised voice shouting her name.

“They
will
break the door down.”

He laughed and stood up, releasing her from her desk. “Fine. Answer your door. Then come with me to the hotel. You can make up with Dalton, and we can finish our discussion.”

She glanced at her watch. “I’ll meet you later on. Where are you staying?” she asked and crossed the room straightening her clothing.

Wade hated to be so forceful—well, not really—but he wasn’t leaving this building without her in tow. He crossed his arms. “I’ll wait. We can go together.” He grinned.

Olivia sighed. “Fine. Hold on.”

She dealt with several people at the door without letting them enter and informed the final woman waiting that she was leaving for the day and to reschedule the two afternoon meetings on her calendar.

The woman glanced over Olivia’s shoulder at him and smiled lightly. Wade took it as a good sign that her secretary seemed to approve of him even if the majority of others in her social circle likely wouldn’t.

Wade and Olivia left together a few minutes later managing not to see anyone else in her office.

The trip to the hotel didn’t take too long, and before he knew it, they were strolling into their hotel suite.

Wade just hoped Dalton would give her a chance to explain what had happened. His friend wasn’t known for his forgiving nature.

As soon as the door closed, Wade heard Dalton’s voice from within. “Wade? Is that you?”

“Yeah,” he called out.

“I thought you’d be back sooner. Where have you been?”

They entered the main living room of the hotel. Dalton was in his robe looking like he was fresh from a shower. The beautiful young woman standing close to him was someone Wade didn’t recognize.

* * * *

Anxiety flooded Dalton’s whole being the moment he turned and saw Olivia with Wade. He should have known his best friend would go find her and have his say. Wade was like that. He was a little surprised to find Olivia with him. He didn’t know how his friend had talked her into joining them here. Next, he’d expect Dalton to forgive her and forget the betrayal from the night before.

Dalton didn’t know if he’d gotten to a particularly magnanimous mood quite yet. But seeing Olivia now, after thinking he’d never see her ever again, also made him realize he couldn’t help but love her.

When she got closer before stopping suddenly at the edge of the room, he could see Olivia’s eyes were red-rimmed and puffy. Had Wade made her cry? He wouldn’t have thought so. That likely meant
he’d
made her cry. He looked at her again closer and realized that her gaze was…not on him at all. She stared past him.
What the hell?
A glance at Wade and he could see his equally puzzled expression, too.

Dalton looked down at his very casual attire and realized that he wasn’t exactly dressed for company, but he was covered.

And then he remembered Allison.
Shit
. He’d totally forgotten she was in the room when he saw Olivia. He was a pathetic case of lovelorn sap and hopeful romantic.

“Mr. Rourke, I can come back later if it’s more convenient,” Allison said quietly.

Dalton turned to her. “No. You don’t have to leave.”

He turned to Wade and Olivia. “This isn’t what it might look like.”

Wade’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“This is Allison,” he said by way of introduction. “She’s my grandmother’s personal assistant. She just brought the coat I left behind last night.” As if he suddenly needed to prove his honorable intentions over a girl being in his room, Dalton pointed to the dressy men’s overcoat heaped on the back of the sofa.

“Mrs. Rourke also wanted to extend an invitation to you and your friend, Wade, for tea tomorrow afternoon at four o’clock in her downtown apartment, if you’ll still be here in town, that is.”

“Yes. We’d love to. Thank you, Allison.”

“Excellent. We’ll see you then.” Allison made a quick notation in a small appointment book, nodded once to both Wade and Olivia, and quickly crossed the room. Wade turned and walked her to the door, leaving Dalton alone with Olivia.

“Dalton—” she started, but he held up his hand and she stopped. He didn’t know Allison very well and didn’t want any stray conversation overheard. Likely having Olivia simply show up in his hotel room would spread a fire blast of scandal across the city in seconds if Allison was a gossip. He hoped not.

Her miserable expression reflected his attitude perfectly. She bowed her head. Once he heard the outer door close, he started moving before he even realized what he was doing.

Olivia looked up as he stepped into her personal space. “You’re eyes are all red and swollen.”

“Yes. I haven’t stopped crying much since I left you last night.”

“I see. Maybe you shouldn’t leave me anymore, then.” He didn’t reach out to touch her, but he wanted to.

“I’m so sorry, Dalton.”

“I know. It’s my own fault. I was foolish to try and drag you back in to last night’s party with all the vultures in attendance. But we really should have left together.”

Her gaze narrowed in obvious confusion. “What?”

“I never should have expected you to go skipping back into the lion’s den of feverish gossip and scandal after what we’d just done in the closet.” Dalton slipped his hands into the pockets of his robe to keep them from touching her.

“So…you aren’t mad at me?”

He shrugged. “I’ll admit I was a little hurt last night, but Wade sent a text earlier before you arrived and explained why you left me there.”