Sharing Nicely (2 page)

I was supposed to go back to the kitchens to monitor how things were going on behind the scenes, but I was seriously tempted by his offer. Not just because he had enough money to buy himself an island or because he was smoking hot. Oh, who was I trying to kid? He might have been a bit funny but mostly I said yes because I wanted to snog him then get him to part with his cash. Put like that it made me sound like a prostitute, but you know what I mean. I hope. I’d really like him to bring some business my way, or buy me a jet plane or maybe a pony. Frivolous or practical, his cash would make my life easier.

The table he led me to was near the front, just at the edge of the dance floor where a stage had been erected. I made a mental note to praise the staff who had come in early to set up the tables. The white cloth was immaculate and the flowers looked stunning and crisply fresh. Everything was perfect.

“So, what got you into the whole entertainment business, Kerry?” Darren asked when we took our seats.

“My dad owned a pub when I was little. I loved it. I used to long for the day when I could serve behind the bar but he left the trade before I was old enough to. I was a barmaid for years while I put myself through college and university and once I’d got the degree I decided to get myself a pub of my own. Then I saw this place quite by accident, fell in love, took out a stonking great loan and the rest is history.”

“Sounds like you’ve got a very sound business head on your shoulders, Kerry.”

“I like to think so.” I blushed at his compliment. “I’ve made my fair share of mistakes but they’ve all worked out in the end.”

“That’s business.” Darren replied. Then the tone of conversation changed dramatically. “I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I think you’re stunning.”

I felt more stunned than stunning. Where had that comment come from? “Well, thank you.”

“I know it’s a little unprofessional, but I didn’t get this far without speaking my mind, you know?”

“Sure,” I squeaked. My head felt light and completely devoid of ideas. All the blood in my body seemed equally split between my cheeks and my nether regions. I was embarrassed and turned on—it was a strange combination to say the least.

“When I see something I like, I go for it.” His gaze dipped down to my breasts and waist then back up to my face.

“Well…” Finally, my brain rebooted and the words leapt forth. “You’ll have to work a bit harder to get me. I’m not easily satisfied.”

“Really?” His right eyebrow rose impressively. “I do enjoy a challenge.”

Just then the arrival of another entrepreneur changed the focus of the conversation. I was very surprised to find Greg Stamford standing beside me. Especially because the seating plan I’d done had put the two guys far away from each other.

“Hello.” I smiled. “Are you at the right table? I thought Akshay Mistry was meant to sit here.”

“No, I’m definitely at the right table. Apparently they made a last-minute change.” He stopped paying me any attention and looked over to Darren. “Hi, they’re playing this game again.”

“How unusual, eh?” Darren’s Scouse roots came through as he spoke to his biggest business rival. “We shouldn’t be talking, it will spoil their illusion.”

The gentlemen must have glanced at me long enough to realise I looked confused. Greg pulled up a chair and wafted his sharp, light aftershave in my direction. He continued the conversation and pulled me into it.

“Every time we attend something like this, parties, award ceremonies…”

“Prize givings, charity dos.” Darren continued Greg’s sentence.

“Any time Darren and I are in the same room, the organisers orchestrate it so we have to share space and so the press can get some photos of us staring daggers at each other.”

“It’s old hat,” Darren agreed, “but it guarantees them space in the tabloids and celeb mags.”

“Oh, well. Do you two mind?”

I found myself at the centre of two intense stares. I was quite deliciously uncomfortable—it wasn’t every day I got scrutinised by two eligible bachelors. I batted my gaze from side to side, almost making myself dizzy while I waited for one of them to speak.

“It’s part of the game.” Greg responded first with a noncommittal shrug.

“One of these days we’ll embrace and kiss just to freak them out.” Darren’s eyes sparkled with mischief and Greg’s dark gaze narrowed reproachfully. I didn’t think he appreciated that plan.

“Well, don’t let me get in your way.” I leant back in my chair as if to give them room to embrace. The look on their faces was priceless and I laughed as I rocked back to my position. “Only kidding.”

A drum roll and a blast of music announced the arrival of the compère and our attention was transferred to the stage. While people clapped for the first nominee I felt a gentle touch on my right arm. I looked around and found Greg’s handsome face far closer to me than I had expected it to be. The rest of his delicious body was curved in towards me too.

He leaned in farther and I directed my ear near to his lips. I tried not to think of how it would feel to have his lips and teeth nibble on my earlobe. I failed miserably.

“You’re the owner here, aren’t you?” he asked.

I nodded. The crowd were quiet, so were obviously expecting an announcement. I didn’t want to disturb the moment.

“Yes, Kerry Matthews, nice to meet you.” I glanced his way and saw him smile, the hard lines of his face softening a little, making him seem more approachable. He leaned in to talk again so I tipped my head once more so I could hear him.

“Great place you’ve got here.”

I turned to thank him and he was still really close to my face. Our lips were centimetres away from meeting. I pulled back a little. He didn’t move at all.

“Thanks.” I smiled, uncomfortable at his close proximity. Not because I didn’t want him near—I suspected we’d have a lot of fun getting up close and naked. No, I felt on edge because I barely knew the guy yet he was arrogantly invading my personal space. It unsettled me.

“I’m hosting a launch party and I’m looking for somewhere special to hold it.”

I shifted position. If I couldn’t see how close he was I couldn’t be disturbed. That was what I thought, but it wasn’t true. I could sense him there, feel his breath on my cheek and all kinds of flirty and filthy images crowded my mind. I fought through them to concentrate on his words.

“I’d love to use Diamonds. It would be perfect.”

“Brilliant.” I nodded and faced him again. He was still uncomfortably close. “We’ll talk afterwards. I can give you prices and dates.”

“Thank you.” His face really was changed by a smile. I wondered how many people he had charmed into agreeing with him just by beaming at them. I was sure it would be a considerable number. A strong hand on my thigh broke my concentration. I still looked at Greg. He still grinned but he also squeezed my leg quite forcefully.

I wasn’t sure how long my jaw hung limply open but when I realised I clamped it back shut. I wondered if he was just a touchy kind of person, then dismissed that idea completely. Greg looked far too stern. Yet his hand was lying on my upper thigh. I gulped as he squeezed again. I didn’t know what to do. I should have pulled away—his touch was rather inappropriate considering we’d only just been introduced. I didn’t want to remove his hand from my body, though, it felt good. I also didn’t want to offend a man who was clearly interested in hiring out the club.

He didn’t move his hand. He didn’t squeeze or stroke, he just left it there imprinted on my thigh. I could feel it burning through my skirt to my skin. His fingertips rested just below the hem, they were on my naked flesh and I imagined Greg insinuating them underneath my dress and up past my drenched knickers to my pussy.

I sat still, like a statue. I looked up at the stage but I didn’t take in any of what was happening. I wondered if Greg’s hand on my body was the blatant signal indicating he wanted to fuck me that I thought it was. A few moments later, my mind still reeling with what might happen next, I was surprised to feel Darren’s hand slide onto my left thigh.

I looked over towards his unruly red hair and gazed at his pretty blue eyes. I was sure shock was written all over my face. He just winked. I smiled weakly. I wasn’t sure what else to do.

Two hot guys who coincidentally possessed enough money between them to buy my bar and all the other shops and houses in the immediate area were feeling me up at the same time. I found myself in a quandary. How the hell was I going to keep them both satisfied? There was only one of me but there were two of them. I supposed they could share me, but would they want to? It was a kinky idea, one that really, really appealed to me, but they were bitter rivals. I was positive they wouldn’t want to crawl into bed with each other and definitely not just to be with me.

Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but I certainly didn’t want to do anything to offend either billionaire. It was mind-boggling that both of them were showing me interest. I sat still and tried not to breathe. I was afraid it was all going to go terribly wrong.

“…Greg Stamford!” The compère—Dave something I think his name was—looked at our table. The spotlight was fixed on us and Greg stood up, removed his hand from my thigh and strode towards the stage.

“After this, would you like to join me for a nightcap?” Darren didn’t waste any time, immediately turning to proposition me.

“Well, I have to stay here until the end,” I replied, “I still have work to do.”

Darren nodded and waited, pinning me under his ice-blue gaze.

“If you wait, I might be free then.”

“Okay, I’ll wait. You’ll be worth it.”

I was flattered. I know, awfully non-PC of me, but a hot billionaire wanting to spend time with me turned my head. I wasn’t used to it. I didn’t get many propositions at work, at least not from people who weren’t drunk or married or unattractive. I was on cloud nine. Then Greg came back with an award in hand.

“So, after we’ve finished here do you want to come to my room and talk business and maybe more?”

Billionaires are so to the point. Well, at least these ones were.

“Actually,
mate
”—Darren spat the word, making it sound less than friendly—“I’ve just arranged to have a nightcap with the lady.”

“Oh, you did, did you? Well, I got there first.”

“Fast isn’t always good, Greg,” Darren snapped back.

“You only say that because Stamford’s get the apps out there first.” Greg looked cocky. Darren looked like he was about to explode. I felt like piggy in the middle.

“Full of bugs and glitches.”

“Nothing that can’t be fixed.” Greg seemed mostly unruffled.

“Well, this can’t be fixed. Kerry has agreed to come with me after the show.”

“We have to talk business, I’m going to host a launch party here. Kerry already told me we’d talk after the ceremony.” Greg’s voice was raising with each comment. Soon everyone would hear and the ceremony would be ruined by two hard-headed big shots. I’d be a laughingstock.

“Well, you two talk. I’ll wait until you’re finished and then wake her up for a nightcap.”

“You little—”

“Would you two stop it?” I whispered. “Have you never learnt how to share nicely? There is plenty of me to go round.”

Both boys stopped and appraised my curves. My blood turned to fire inside me. I felt like I was trapped in an inferno between their gazes.

“Would you like that?” Darren whispered, looking to Greg.

“I would like you both to stop shouting and acting like kids,” I snapped.

“But would you like to spend the night with Greg and me, together? The three of us?”

I looked left. Greg was looking stoic. I didn’t think he let his emotions show very often. I looked right and Darren was staring intently at me.

“Yes, yes, I would.” What else could I say? I couldn’t run the risk of upsetting either of these men, and I did want to spend more time with them both, and who was I to turn down a threesome with the most handsome men in the room?

“What do you say, Greg?” Darren asked, “Share nicely, just for tonight?”

I melted into the background as the two enemies faced off. I could almost hear the wheels in Greg’s mind turning, evaluating the pros and cons while Darren’s icy stare spurred him on.

“Okay, just this once,” Greg conceded, “but no funny business.”

“No funny business.” Darren nodded and held out his hand. Greg clasped it briefly. I felt like I’d just been bought at a slave market and it felt surprisingly good. I had brought peace to two warring factions, temporarily at least. I wondered if I could keep up with both of them?

Chapter Two

“Are you finished?” Darren appeared at my elbow the moment the crowds of people thinned.

“I believe so,” I replied. “I’ve taken loads of bookings.”

“Good, you’ve got my birthday booked in, right?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “It’s all in the book.”

Just then Greg arrived. Both boys still appeared immaculate in their suits. I felt a little frazzled around the edges. My head throbbed in time with my feet and my skin prickled with moisture. It had been a long and busy night—profitable, though, financially and, if I played my cards right, sexually too.

“So, are you two ready?” he asked. “I’ll get Chester to bring the limo round.”

“We can go in mine,” Darren snapped.

“Oh, don’t start this again.” I shook my head. “Decide nicely or I’ll be getting the damn Tube home.”

If the billionaires could be so abrupt with me, I’d be snappy with them.

“Fine,” Darren shrugged, “but we’re going back to my hotel.”

“Where are you staying?”

While the boys argued amongst themselves I took the date book and locked it away in my desk. I’d filled up a lot of the year and some dates had drifted into the next one. With the business I’d secured I was guaranteed to finish the fiscal year pleasantly in profit. I might even be able to afford a holiday. If I could persuade myself to stay away from Diamonds long enough.

When I walked back over to them the boys were silent.

“So, are we actually ready now?”

Greg reacted first, slipping his arm into mine and smiling.

“Yes, it seems me and Darren are staying at the same hotel.”