Authors: Chloe Cole
His brain still floundered like a fish on dry land as he
thought about how to answer. A second later, her shoulders slumped as her
bravado faltered some.
He cleared his throat. “Well, I can sure enough manage it.
But is that what you’re willing to settle for? Is that what you waited for all
this time, someone who can ‘manage it’?”
She shook her head. “That’s where you’ve got things mixed
up. I told you before, I’m not some starry-eyed romantic holding out for some
knight on a horse.”
“I get it,” he replied slowly. “But you’ve gotten where you
wanted to be, you have your college degree and you’re a chef. You’ve waited
this long, why not lighten up a little, have a normal relationship and let
nature takes its course?”
“Unless I make a success of this business, every sacrifice
I’ve made up to this point was for nothing. I don’t
want
a relationship,
I don’t
have the energy
to expend on a relationship. I just want to feel
what it’s like to—” Her gaze grew shuttered, and she turned away, yanking her
hand from his grasp. “You know what, it’s no big deal. Forget I asked. I just
thought we…never mind.”
He wanted to grab her, pull her back, but he restrained
himself. As much as he wanted to take her up on her offer, doing so would make
him a top-notch douche bag. After years of spending time with girls who were
just looking for the next meal ticket, it was easy to forget that there were
good women out there. Even more of a reason not to take advantage. Especially
of one as good as Gigi.
She deserved better. She deserved roses and champagne.
Romance and adoration. He had no idea if he was capable of that and even if he
was, she didn’t want it. The right thing to do was to let her walk away.
Someday soon she’d find someone she was crazy about, a guy she felt was worth
the risk. His jaw tensed at the thought.
Gigi approached the door, then turned to face him. Her voice
wavered. “No matter what, I’m not going home a virgin. I can’t live like this
anymore.”
His stomach did a flip. What that fuck did that mean? “Oh
really. And how do you plan to rectify that? Am I going to wake up with you on
top of me or something?”
Her face paled and he wished he could take the words back.
He was frustrated at her stubbornness and taking it out on her. She recovered
quickly and leveled him with a stare full of the steely determination she
seemed to apply to everything in life. “I think you might be overestimating
your allure, Mr. Trudeau. Or underestimating mine. I’m not desperate, you just
seemed like the logical choice. Since that’s not an option, I’ll move down the
list.”
“The
list
? Okay, so humor me. Who’s next on ‘the
list’?”
“I’m going to ask Tai.”
His gut clenched, hard. “What?” His voice had risen to a
pitch he usually reserved for singing harmonies with Rex and he struggled to
normalize it. “No. No way. That’s not an option.”
She stuck a hand on her round hip and glared at him. “He’s
sweet. And he thinks I look pretty. So why not?”
Because the thought of his hands on you makes me want to
gut him like a catfish. Because I want to bury myself between those curvy
thighs until you scream. Because I want you all to myself.
A dozen more
reasons flashed in his mind and died on his tongue, unspoken. He could promise
her nothing and she wanted even less.
Would she go through with it? Maybe it was a bluff and maybe
it wasn’t. Either way, she was grown and it was her life. He pursed his lips
and stood.
“Fine. If that’s what you want, then go for it. Ask Tai. But
don’t come crying to me when you realize it’s more than just smashing bodies
together. There are repercussions. Feelings.”
“Yeah.” She snorted. “Because I’m sure you love all the
groupies you sleep with.”
“I’m not you. And to be honest, that’s getting a little old,
even for me. Not to mention this is going to be your first time.” He let his
voice go soft and tried one last time. “It’s not going to fill the hole, Gigi.”
“You’re wrong there, Beau,” she fired back. “By definition,
that’s precisely what it will do. Sweet dreams.”
Then she turned on her heel and walked inside.
* * * * *
It was after midnight as Gigi made her way through the
opulent lobby of the Belvedere Hotel. The concierge had given her a key and she
gripped it tightly as she stood in front of the elevator. The ornately carved
door slid open with a whoosh, and she stepped in, pressing P for penthouse.
The elevator soared upward. Like the rest of the hotel, the
view was stunning but she had to look away as her stomach lurched. She’d told
Tai not to go to any trouble, but he’d insisted that if they were going to do
this, they should do it right. He’d been so sweet to her when she’d asked. At
first, he’d looked at her, through her really, with those serious,
almond-shaped eyes, but didn’t speak. When he finally did, he’d said very
little.
“I’m honored, Gigi. But are you certain you want to do
this?”
She’d assured him she was, but the embarrassment and anger
at Beau’s rejection that had given her the balls to ask Tai had long since
faded. Now she was just a jellylike mass of doubt and nausea.
The elevator stopped and she stepped out, directly in front
of the only door in the hallway. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding
her breath, and let it go in a rush. Something that felt remarkably like terror
coursed down her spine. Tai was sweet, handsome and not looking for a long-term
relationship. Plus, while he was certainly attractive, she didn’t feel as if
she was falling off a cliff when he touched her. She only liked him as a
friend, which made him an even better choice than Beau. Easier to walk away
from.
So why did it feel so wrong? This was about sowing some oats
before she got so old they fell off. She just needed a guy willing to help with
the sowing. But if that was true, why did the thought of sleeping with Beau
make her weak in the knees and the thought of sleeping with Tai made her weak
in the stomach?
She pushed away the face that kept weaseling its way to the
forefront of her thoughts. The devastating dimples, the honey curls, the
smoldering eyes, so true blue they matched the color of a child’s crayon.
Damn it.
She might not know Beau well enough to be in love yet, but
deep down she had the unsettling feeling that she could fall in love with
him…so very easily.
Her hands were slick with sweat as she stared at the hotel
room door. She lowered the hand she’d raised to knock and leaned in to rest her
forehead on the cool wood frame. In less than two weeks, she’d be back home,
knee deep in work.
Again, she raised her fist to knock but before she could,
the locks tumbled and the door swung open.
Chapter Six
Gigi’s brain went on the fritz as she tried to process this
turn of events. Beau stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders taking up the
entire space. His face was inscrutable as he stared down at her.
She took a step back and grabbed hold of the doorjamb to
steady herself. “Where’s Tai?”
“Not here.”
Her heart pounded and she tried to keep her voice steady.
“Where is he?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know. I told him you and I had some
unfinished business to settle, and he agreed with me.”
Anger burned away the shock. “So now you’re not just my
conscience, you’re my keeper too? I’m a grown woman and I want to know what the
fuss is about. Tonight, I’m going to find out. Wrap up the lecture so I can go
find my date.”
“No.”
“No?”
He gave his head a slow shake and his voice dropped to a
level that made her insides quiver. “No.”
She looked away in an effort to break the spell he was
weaving before she embarrassed herself more than she already had. “Enjoy the
rest of your night. I’m done here.”
“The fuck you are,” he growled, then stepped forward,
pinning her against the door. His warm, sweet breath fanned her cheek. “When
you asked me to be with you, I said no. I told you why it was a bad idea, but I
didn’t tell you the rest. I didn’t tell you how flattered I was. Or how much it
killed me to say no. I also didn’t tell you how turned-on I was.”
As he gazed down at her, he traced her bottom lip with his
thumb and she trembled.
“Since the second we kissed, I haven’t stopped imagining it.
The thought of sliding my cock deep inside you, hearing you gasp, watching you
come. I can’t think of anything I’ve ever wanted more. I was just trying to do
the right thing.”
Her nipples peaked at his provocative words. God, how she
wanted all that and more. “So what changed?” she whispered.
“I’ve managed to convince myself that this
is
the
right thing. If you’re set on doing this—having a one-night stand—I want it to
be with me.”
“Are you sure you’re not just trying to be nice? I don’t
want to be some kind of pity fuck, Beau.”
He took her hand and pressed it over the thick ridge in his
jeans. “Does this feel like pity?”
Relief swamped her with such force she was almost
lightheaded. She believed him,
needed
to believe him. She wet her lips.
“I was coming in to tell Tai I changed my mind. Because I wanted it to be with
you too.” She couldn’t help it, and squeezed him gently. Yum.
He sucked in a breath and pulled her hand away. “Don’t try
to spoil my good intentions. We’re going to take it nice and slow.” He grinned
and stepped backward, into the room, pulling her along with him. Music played
softly in the background and she smiled when she recognized the tune.
I Only
Have Eyes For You
by The Flamingos. One of her favorite oldies.
“I love this song.”
“I thought you might. Me too.”
He took the key from her hand and laid it on the table.
“Would you like a glass of champagne?”
“You got champagne?”
“Yep. It’s a big night.”
A nervous laugh bubbled past her lips, but his expression
was so genuine, it gave her pause.
“I want to make this good for you. Special. So let me,
okay?”
His words sent a sizzle down her spine and she nodded. “I’ll
have a glass.”
“Why don’t you head on into the bathroom and I’ll bring it
in to you. I ran you a bubble bath. Thought the warm water and glass of wine
might relax you a little. What do you think?”
“Are you coming in with me?” Now that she knew he wanted
her, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on him. She ached to feel the rush
she’d felt when he’d kissed her.
His gaze burned into her and her pulse skittered. “I’ll do
anything you want me to.”
Her mind whirled with possibilities. This was really going
to happen. And with Beau.
She brushed a hand over his chest. “Meet me in the bathroom
in five minutes, okay?”
“Try to stop me.”
She slipped off her high heels and padded into the bathroom,
almost vibrating with excitement. If she wasn’t so nervous, she might have done
a jig.
Beau snagged two glasses from the bar then popped the cork.
He was…happy. Not in the regular “I’m gonna get laid” kind of way, but
genuinely happy. Happy to see Gigi so excited. Happy to buy her champagne and
take a bath with her, spend the night with her.
Don’t overthink it, man.
He picked up the glasses and headed for the bathroom. The
door was ajar so he toed it open then stepped in.
The candles he’d lit a little while earlier bathed the room
in soft light. Steam coated the mirror, and the light scent of vanilla
permeated the air. The giant tub took up the far wall and he held his breath as
he approached.
Gigi had put her hair up in a loose pile. Her head was
tipped back, her eyes were closed and she had a soft smile on her face. Bubbles
covered her up to the creamy swell of her breasts and he found himself praying
she would sit up just an inch more so he could see her nipples.
“Hey,” he called softly.
Her eyes popped opened and the tub squeaked as she shifted.
“This place is unreal, Beau! Do you hear the music? The speakers are built into
the dang walls. And this tub? How am I ever going to go back to my shower stall
at home? This is so awesome.”
He grinned at her excitement. “I’m glad you like it.” He
held out the flute of champagne and she took it with sudsy fingertips.
“A night to remember,” he said and held his glass out.
She echoed him and they drank. The crisp, icy liquid
exploded on his tongue and he sent a mental fist bump to the concierge who’d
recommended that particular bottle. When Gigi groaned her approval he vowed to
stop on the way out and give the guy another twenty.
She set the champagne on the side of the tub and met his
gaze. “You getting in or what? Plenty of room, that’s for sure.”
He nodded and as their eyes locked, for the first time,
nerves assailed him. He’d been with a lot of women, but if he’d ever been
someone’s first, he sure didn’t know about it.
So don’t fuck it up.
He set his glass down then gripped the hem of his t-shirt.
He yanked it over his head in one motion and tossed it to the floor. Gigi’s
gaze burned a path from his chest, over his abs, down to his fly. He’d been
living with an almost perpetual hard-on since their kiss and her unabashed
appreciation was killing him.
His cock pulsed as he lifted a hand to his button-fly. Even
over the music, he could hear Gigi’s breath falter and that amped him even
more. He unbuttoned his pants and jerked them over his hips. Balancing on one
leg, he stepped out of them and kicked them across the marble floor.
“N-no underwear?”
He shook his head. “Not onstage. Too binding. I like to move
around, feel free.”
She wet her lips, her gazed pinned on his throbbing cock.
“It’s…bigger than I thought, in real life. Imposing.”