The Barter System (38 page)

He wore an expensive
tailored suit and held a card with her first name printed professionally. 
Lifting her bag off the carousel, he led her to a black Lincoln Towncar and
asked her about her experience with Manhattan.  When he realized she was
familiar with the city he laughed and said he’d keep his tourist chatter to
himself then. 

As she stepped in, he
blatantly checked her out and she smiled.  She was wearing black skinny jeans,
a soft gray sweater, and black heels.  Her hair was pulled into a sleek chignon
at the base of her neck. 

She liked to work a more
cosmopolitan look when in Manhattan.  Sleek, stylish, simple.  She wore almost
no makeup, sticking with eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss. 

She spent the drive chatting
with the young driver, Rodney, who was from Jamaica with the most gorgeous
latte skin and a happy smile.  He asked her questions about Florida and she
answered them, asking him about Jamaica in return.  He told her was originally
from England.  He’d met Max and Micah when they were in Jamaica on vacation and
they’d offered him a job.

“I didn’t realize you were
their permanent driver.”

“Yes, miss.  I’m on-call
with the Towncar or the limo and also maintain their personal vehicles though
they rarely have time to drive them in the city.”

“So you’ve been with them a
while.  What are they like, Rodney?” she asked him quietly.

“Oh, you mean the ménage
thing?”  Laughing when she stared at him in the rearview mirror in shock, he explained,
“No worries, Miss O’Connell.  They take very good care of any women in their
care and as much as I drive them, I was bound to figure it all out.”  She
glanced out a side window, deep in thought.  He added cheerfully, “They aren’t
gay, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

She turned back to him in
surprise, “You read people very well, Rodney.  Just so you know, I adore gay
men.  But I was…wondering, you know…how that was going to work.” 

“Oh sure, two alpha males
who live together?  People have wondered but they’re secure.  You’ll have to
meet them to understand.  I’ve driven some of their friends from the circle
they run in and I like them all.  I don’t know that I have the personality for
the lifestyle but they all seem happy.”  His words seemed meant to calm her.

“Rodney, I get the distinct
impression you were instructed to put me at ease.”  At his innocent smile Riya
laughed, feeling much calmer.  “That speaks well of them.”

They drove in silence for a
while when Rodney said, “I’m generally not so forward, but you are so much
prettier than your website leads one to believe.”  Now she was truly shocked. 

“They told me about your
research so I would know you weren’t just another pretty Betty making them look
good.  I’m discreet, Miss O’Connell, in my job you have to be and you can trust
me.  Your research is interesting.  I think it’s amazing what you’ve done.  And
you’re beautiful.”

He stopped at an
intersection and she held his eyes for a long moment, “Thank you…I find I’m
feeling a little overwhelmed.  It’s been a lot to handle actually.”  Glancing
out the window again, she added, “I’ve learned more about myself than I thought
I would.  I’m not entirely certain I even know who I am anymore.”

“I can only imagine, Miss
O’Connell.  Keep the faith because it’s all coming to fruition now and
sometimes the best things happen when you least expect it.”  A moment later, he
pulled to the curb and said cheerfully, “Here we are.  Micah isn’t home yet, but
Max is upstairs waiting for you.” 

He stepped out and came
around to open her door, offering his hand as she stood beside him on the
pavement, looking up at a gorgeous building that had obviously been fully
renovated. 

Rodney grabbed her bags and
guided her to the doorway.  “Hey, Henry.  This is Miss O’Connell; she’ll be
staying in the penthouse for a while.  Make sure you take real good care of
her.”  The doorman smiled and nodded. 

Inside the stunning lobby,
the concierge looked up and Rodney introduced her to Carlo with the same
instructions.  They rode the elevator to the penthouse apartment.  As the doors
opened, he set her bags in the foyer of an apartment that could grace the pages
of any architecture or design magazine. 

The entire wall facing the
elevator was made of glass, with a perfect view of the Manhattan skyline.  The
floors were highly polished hard wood, likely teak, and reflected the late
afternoon light.  The furniture was classic but comfortable.  Stickley pieces
were scattered about the room and original artwork hung on the muted green
walls. 

The bottom floor was
completely open, with a staircase to one side leading to the second floor, the
stainless steel kitchen sat on the other end of the room.

Rodney told her, “It has
been a real pleasure meeting you, Miss O’Connell.  I’m sure I’ll see you often
over the next couple of weeks.  If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me
know.”  Looking past her, he said, “Max, let me know if you’ll need the car. 
I’m picking Micah up in two hours.”

Riya turned and found
herself staring at the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.  Thankfully, her
mouth wasn’t hanging open…but it really,
really
wanted to be. 

The gorgeous person said in
an equally gorgeous British-accented voice, “Thanks, Rodney.  See you
tonight.”  With a nod, Rodney disappeared behind the already closing elevator
doors.  “Riya.  At last.  What a great pleasure to finally meet you in person. 
I’m Max.”  He stepped forward and kissed her cheeks, bending to do so.  “You
are positively stunning in person.”

“I…thank you.  It’s a
pleasure to meet you, too.”  Riya caught a whiff of a subtle and delicious
aftershave.  The picture he’d submitted had simply not done him justice.  At
all. 

He was about six-three with
pitch black shaggy hair and electric blue eyes surrounded by long black
lashes.  His skin was tan, but she thought it might be his natural tone.  He
had dimples, sensual lips, and a body – oh sweet lord, he looked like a fallen
angel.  He was wearing black slacks and a blue dress shirt that matched his
eyes. 

“You are stunning in
person.  I’m not sure why you sent the photo you did, but, well, frankly it
doesn’t even begin to…to represent you.  Not even close.” 

Max laughed, “I’m very glad
to see you are as affected by me as I am by you.”  He took her elbow and led
her to the kitchen bar.  “Are you hungry?”  She shook her head. 

When he had her seated, he
stepped around the center island and pulled wine from the fridge.  Pouring two glasses,
he handed her one and made a toast, “To interesting possibilities and happy
surprises.”

She rarely drank but the
wine seemed to calm her.  “This is the first time anyone has struck me
speechless.”  She felt herself staring and couldn’t seem to help it.

He inclined his head, “You
flatter me and I thank you.  Micah must have sent the picture of us skiing? 
Maybe one other while we were hiking?”  At her nod, he smiled, “Taken from a
distance wearing gear of one sort or the other.  He may have done that
purposely.”  He was watching her carefully.

She sipped her wine, her
expression bewildered, “Why would you deliberately downplay your looks?” 

Max leaned toward her on the
opposite side of the counter, his palms flat against the granite.  “How do you
see yourself, Riya?  Truthfully.  When you look in the mirror, what is your
opinion of yourself?”  His voice was gentle and hypnotic.

She gave a delicate shrug
and an honest answer, “Average.  I can be pretty or I can be dull, depending on
what I’m wearing, I suppose.  Kind of girl next door.”  She finished her wine
and he refilled it without hesitation.  “I was a cute child, adorable almost. 
Some days I probably still look like that.”

“So you believe what you’re
wearing determines your own personal beauty?”  She nodded and he smiled.  She
had to blink, suddenly enthralled by the dimples and perfect teeth.  “What
would you say if I told you that you are so incredibly beautiful, neither Megan
Fox nor Angelina Jolie could hope to compete with you?  If they were on the red
carpet, they could not hold a candle to the beauty you possess sitting here in
jeans and almost no makeup.” 

He smiled again at the tiny
frown that formed between her brows.  “I see from your expression you think the
thought ridiculous.  If I were to walk with you down the streets of Manhattan,
dressed exactly as you are now, you would gain the attention and appreciation
of some of the most discriminating people on the planet.  That is why we
downplayed our looks.  It was clear from your website and the communications
we’ve had since submitting our application you are quite unaware of your
spectacular beauty.” 

There was a hint of hunger
as he regarded her now, “We were concerned that if we somehow intimidated you,
there was too great a possibility you would think yourself no match for us even
superficially.  We didn’t want to run that risk.”

She gave herself a moment to
recover from the delicious sound of his voice stroking her skin.  “You are the
most charming man I’ve ever met in my life.”  Riya said sincerely.  He topped
off her glass without taking his eyes from hers.  “Utterly ridiculous and
obviously visually impaired, but devilishly charming.”  She leaned on her
elbows and added, “That is quite enough about my looks, it distracts me from
yours.  Now, tell me all about your life.”

He laughed and shook his
head.  “You’ll see, Riya.  If that is the only thing we manage to convince you
of during our time together…you are staying at least two weeks aren’t you?” 
She nodded.  “Excellent.  Then we have two weeks to prove your beauty to you.” 

With that, he topped off his
wine and then hers.  He talked to her for fifteen minutes before he noticed her
eyes were shut like she was gathering her thoughts.  “Riya, are you tired,
love?”

She opened her eyes and gave
a small hysterical giggle, clapping her fingers over lips.  “I
never
giggle…that was so silly.  I apologize, I forgot how pretty you were and it
startled me.” 

“Darling, I do believe I’ve
managed to get you drunk on less than three glasses of wine.  Micah will have
my head on a platter.  When did you eat last?” he asked her, concerned.

She placed one finger
against her lip and tapped it, thinking.  “Yesterday.  Perhaps…lunch?  I was
writ…I mean, working, I lose track.  A salad maybe.  Or was it breakfast?”  She
laid her chin in her palm and considered him with interest.  “I’ve been a
hermit for so long, I had no idea people as pretty as you existed.  If it
weren’t for Tawny I would never leave the house.” 

Leaning closer, he asked her
softly, “Don’t you date, Riya?”  He was very interested in this more relaxed
Riya, willing to talk openly.

“Dating would imply leaving
the house.  I have rarely left my house without an all-out intervention in
about three years.”  She laughed happily and he grinned.  “I’m what you’d call
a
nerd
.”

“Wow, you are the most
beautiful nerd I’ve ever seen,” he replied honestly.

“No need for flattery.  God,
you’re magnetic.  As for being a hermit, I just don’t feel the need to be
over-exposed, I guess.  I don’t mind being alone and I’m picky.  I hate feeling
like I’ve just lost two hours of my life on some groping Neanderthal I’ll never
get back.  I’ve been very isolated for a long time, so this…situation may seem
easy but it isn’t.  Not for me.”

Max was completely focused
on her face, her words.  “I can’t imagine this situation would be easy for you
at all.  The repeated risk to your heart, for instance, is something I’m sure
you’ve felt keenly.”

Riya nodded her head, the
movement slightly exaggerated, “Oh yes, the other subjects were
very
good men.  Kind men, truly.  None as beautiful as you, but then, who is,
right?”  She put her finger over her lip as if telling him a secret, “But I’ve
left them all properly matched up so they won’t fall back into their sad states
of isolation and loneliness.”

Raising his eyebrows, he
digested this tidbit of information, “Riya, love, you made sure all the
subjects to date had
significant others
…before you left them?  How did
you ever manage that, darling?”