Love of Steel [The Callens 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (3 page)

“Have any good chats?”

Logan burst out laughing. “Why don’t you just ask me what you want to ask?”

Damned man could see through him like a hole in a backlit drop cloth. “How was Jade?”

“Beautiful as always.” Logan polished off the beer and asked Jackson for another one.

“Did you ask her about designing the staircase for your model home?” He was sure Logan came up with the request as a way to get a chance to work with her again.

“You are Mr. Curiosity tonight. Yes, I asked her about the staircase, and she said yes.” He got that damned smirk on his face.

“What?”

“I also asked if she’d do the set for your next play.”

Logan hadn’t even read the damned thing. “You did what?” He wasn’t angry, just surprised.

“I thought it might be nice if the three of us had something we could participate in together.”

Even for Logan that was a bit overboard. “How do you know I can use her talents?” While she was great with a hammer and nail, her specialty was ironwork.

He shrugged. “I told her the play was set in New Orleans. I figured with all the balconies there, you’d need her.” Jackson slid another beer across the bar for Parker.

He nodded to the bartender. “Thanks.” That would never work. “The play mostly takes place inside of an apartment. I’m not even sure if there are many outside scenes.”

Logan drank some beer, placed it back on the bar, and wrapped both hands around the bottle, as if he were composing his argument. “Then reset it in New Orleans. What’s the big deal? One city is as good as another.”

His jaw lowered. “I set it in Los Angeles for a reason.” Something was up. “What’s really going on?”

Logan looked along the wall across from the bar. “Want to get a booth?”

That was code for him wanting to talk about something more personal. “Sure.” They carried their drinks over to the vacant seats. “Spill.”

Logan told him about his visit to Jade’s place last week. “You should see how she’s renovated the old factory. I only saw the staircase, but from the living room, I could see into the kitchen since she’d designed an open floor plan. Not only is the wrought iron staircase a masterpiece, but she created a six-foot side-range hood that’s amazing. You’ve got to see it.”

“If she invites me, I’ll be sure to go. But why lie to her about the set?”

Logan tapped his fingers on the table. “When I was with her, something inside my head clicked. I want her. I think she’s the one. I needed an excuse to get the three of us together.”

“You’re serious?” He’d had the same thought but had dismissed it thinking that Logan wanted a more worldly woman.

“Totally. What do you think?”

“My cock got hard the first time you said her name. I wasn’t sure
you
were that taken with her.”

Logan leaned back. “I admit I had a bit of a problem with her at first. She’s bold and shy at the same time, and you know I go for a more aggressive woman. I never thought Jade would be the type to ever put the moves on us, but I swear she likes us.” He scraped at the label on the glass bottle. “She asked about you.”

Parker sat up straighter. “Oh, yeah? I didn’t think she even noticed me.”

“She noticed. Trust me. I just said you were working on a new play and she commented about how talented you were.”

That pleased him. “I did try to get close to her when she worked on another set for me, but she seemed too self-conscious for anything to work between us. I don’t think she’s bought into the idea of a ménage lifestyle. Her parents are monogamous.”

“I think all of Josh’s family are into ménages now, and Jade doesn’t seem put off by any of them.”

“You might be right. But her cousins marrying is a recent development.”

Logan finished shredding the label. “I also think she changed a bit once she opened her shop. Being a business owner gives you a new perspective on things.”

“I know. It takes dedication and a willingness to work with others.”

“That’s how I got on the topic of her helping with the next set.”

Logan was notorious for getting people to do what he wanted them to. “I’ll be the first to admit that she’s not only great with ironwork, but she’s awesome with a hammer.”

Logan polished off his second beer. “Can you tweak the play and set it in New Orleans?”

He quickly raced through the scenes, seeing if he could adjust them to fit. “Possibly.”

A grin spread across his face. “Got a good role for me?”

“Actually, I wrote the play with you in mind.”

“I’m flattered.” Logan leaned forward. “How about a role for Jade?”

“You been smokin’ crack? She doesn’t act.”

Logan waved the bottle. “Just a bit part where I have to kiss her.”

Now he saw the reason for the request. “You’re really hooked on her, aren’t you?”

Mr. Cool dragged a thumb down the bottle. “Yes.”

He wouldn’t have guessed. “You asking if I’m interested in sharing?” They’d had a few women together over the years, but none of them had been someone they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with.

“Yes. Maybe it’s the fact that the development is drawing to a close and I want someone to share it with, but when I saw Jade this time, something snapped. It was like I’d found the last piece to my happiness puzzle.”

Happiness puzzle?
He laughed. “Could it be because you’re getting up in age?” He enjoyed goading Logan.

The chest puff was expected. “I’m all of thirty-five. You’re pretty long in the tooth, too.”

“I’m two years younger than you. Here’s the problem. I think she’s terrific. Her artistic talent is unparalleled. I admire her entrepreneurial spirit, and she’s independent.”

Logan leaned back in his seat. “But?”

“Why isn’t she taken? She’s twenty-nine. Hell, her mom had a slew of kids by that time.”

“If I recall, Jade did date, but I don’t think she was really serious with any of the guys.”

He finished his beer. “My point exactly. Do you think she even wants a long-term relationship?”

“From the way she dresses and how she watches me, I’d say yes.”

Or maybe she wanted to get laid.
No
. That wasn’t Jade. She was too retiring, as if the wall she’d built around her was made of steel. He contemplated what Logan had said. Having a woman in his life would be a dream come true, but given his busy schedule, he might not be home as much as a wife would want. “I’m hesitating because I don’t want to make the first move and get shot down.”

Logan cocked a brow. “Like that would happen? The women flock to be in your plays.”

It was true they were always trying to hit on him. “Jade’s amazing, but she doesn’t seem to be able to close the deal.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think getting close to a man scares her.”

“Then we need to show her what she’s missing by not being with us. If we can get her to come to us, are you in?”

Parker leaned forward on his elbows. “You bet.”

* * * *

Parker had spent the last three days thinking how to restage the play in New Orleans, and he’d finally figured out how to do it. Once he rewrote a few scenes, he had to make a rough draft of the set design. Now he needed to see if Jade was still on board with helping him.

He had expected her to contact him about what he wanted in the way of ironwork, but she never called. If he’d been able to wait a few more days to see if her curiosity got the best of her, he would have, but since there were only six weeks between plays, he had to get moving on the set.

He walked into Jade’s shop and hoped she was in the back creating her designs. They needed to talk about when he needed the project completed.

Dakota bounced over to him. “Hello.” Her eyes glistened.

“I need to speak with Jade.”

She grinned. “I’ll see if she’s
presentable
.” Dakota rushed into the back. He wondered what that was about. Did she always act excited around customers? Or was she excited
for
Jade? He hoped it was the latter.

Dakota returned. “Jade said she’ll be right out.” She stepped closer. “I think she needs to change for you.”

For me?
“She doesn’t have to go to any trouble.”

“It’s really hot in the back room with the furnace and all, and I think she’s trying to save you from seeing her all sweaty.”

He laughed, pleased that Jade cared enough to want to look nice, but a little bit of sweat on a woman never bothered him. Hell, when he made love with a woman, their body heat always made the two of them slick.

About ten minutes later, Jade entered through the back door into the store. She had on big black boots, skinny jeans, and a fresh tank top. Sure her face was a bit smudged, but she looked beautiful to him.

“Hey. I didn’t expect you.”

“I guess I should have called.” He waved his rolled-up plans.

“Are those the set designs?”

“Yes, but I’m always open to suggestions.”

The bell above the door rang, and two people he’d never seen before came in. Jade’s gaze dropped to her feet as if she absolutely didn’t want a potential client to see her like this.

“Can you come into the back?”

Just my plan
. “Sure.”

She led him into a stifling-hot room. “Let’s go into my apartment where it’s cooler.”

She wouldn’t get any argument from him. He followed her upstairs. As soon as he stepped into her spacious second floor, a blast of cool air greeted him. “Quite the contrast.” Her home wasn’t what he expected. While it had the feel of a medieval castle because of all the iron, the purples and rose accents clearly had a woman’s touch.

“I know. I’m working on a way to get some of the heat from downstairs to the upstairs. I’m afraid in the winter this place will be brutally cold.”

“Logan is great with designing a space that has good airflow. Maybe he can help you brainstorm.” He hoped that hint wasn’t too obvious. While he wasn’t sure that Logan actually knew how to retrofit a heating system, he bet the developer could find someone who did.

“I’ll keep that in mind when I have some extra money to finish the renovation.” She walked over to a table and moved the salt and pepper shakers to the counter. “How about spreading out the designs here?”

He unrolled the paper and grabbed the two shakers back and used them to hold down the paper. Jade scooted into the kitchen and brought back two ceramic mugs and placed them on the vacant corners. He took that moment to check out her staircase and kitchen.

“I can see why Logan was so excited about you doing a staircase for him. Yours is beautiful.”

“Thanks. It took a long time, but I loved working on it. I wish I had thirty hours in a day so I could make more big pieces.”

“You and me both.”

She leaned over the table and studied the print. One thing about Jade was he didn’t have to explain much to her. She was a quick study.

“So we’re talking about two iron balconies?”

“Yes, but they don’t have to be very ornate. We could maybe fill in the spaces with some painted woodwork. From the audience, no one would know.”

She smiled. “That’s an idea.” After she studied the rest of the set, they discussed some alternatives that might work for both scenes. “If we place them on a rotating lazy Susan, these two could work in tandem.”

“Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. That’s brilliant.” Her plan would save money, too.

Her cheeks colored.
Cute
.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

She probably was thirsty from working next to the furnace. “Sure.”

She brought out two glasses of ice water and handed him one. She motioned he take a seat.

He wandered over to the leather sofa. “I have something else to ask you.”

“Sure.”

From this angle, he got a good view of her house. There were a few paintings on the wall that he liked. “Who painted those mountain scenes?”

“Dakota.”

“I’m impressed.”

She smiled. “I keep telling her she’s good, but she doesn’t believe me.”

A lot of people had told him the same thing, but since he hadn’t been trained, he chalked their compliments up to small talk. His large backdrops looked good from a distance but not close-up.

He studied the work. “I wouldn’t have taken her for a landscape artist.”

“What would you have expected?”

“Something a bit more modern perhaps.”

She smiled. “Dakota is an interesting person. On the outside, she appears confident, but on the inside she’s filled with self-doubt.”

“Aren’t we all…” He let his voice trail away. Jade sat on the edge of the seat. Either she didn’t want to get the seat dirty or she was anxious for him to go. He preferred to think it was the first choice. “I have a proposition for you.”