Loving Gigi (15 page)

Kane turned away and put the distance of half the room between them. He felt the urge to hit something coming on and didn’t want to have to explain to Rena how her husband’s face met his fist. He looked out the window and said, “Never going to happen, because there is nothing to tell.”

Nick joined him by the window. “Yet. Women have a funny way of making men do things they normally never would do. Even take a morning out of work to check in on their condescending brother-in-law who doesn’t have the balls to admit he might be human like the rest of us.”

Kane slammed his fist sideways against the wall beside him. He’d avoided his family for this very reason. His ache for Gigi was strengthening instead of lessening. As he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in the window, he saw a man he didn’t like. First he’d told himself he was staying away from Gigi because she was Gio’s little sister. Then he’d maintained that Gigi’s relationship with her brothers was more important than his desire to have her. However, a battle was raging within him, and it was one he was losing.

He woke each morning with an image of her in his mind. The pain in her eyes when she’d seen him with Lynn.
I am such an ass.
The soft moan she’d made when he’d kissed her on the porch, and the ache of what could have been reality.
Gigi in my bed. In my arms.

The man he saw in his reflection was a hypocrite. He wasn’t staying away from Gigi because he cared about her relationship with her brothers. His decision no longer had anything to do with how Gio would feel.

Gigi had become an obsession.

He knew if he went to her, there would be no turning back. No halfway. She would be his, regardless of what it cost either of them.

After a short pause, Nick added, “Gigi’s back in Scotland.”

Kane kept his eyes on the New York skyline. “I know.” Unable to stop himself, Kane asked, “How is she handling everything?”

“Better. The shock has passed. It’s a big life change, but she seems to be working through it.”

“Good.”

“She said she’d be back for another visit soon. I’m going to miss her. It was nice having a little sister around.”

Kane nodded.

“Rena told me how you went through a bottle of Scotch and gushed about Gigi to your father. How you thought her name was Luisella, the woman you’d been looking for since our wedding.”

Kane took a deep breath. “Rena talks too much.”

Without missing a beat, Nick added, “Only when she cares. We both think you should go to Scotland.”

Kane walked to his desk and picked up a report he’d printed to show his team. “I don’t get you, Nick. I can’t tell if you’re here because you actually care or because you like starting trouble.”

Nick shook his head slowly in disgust. “Stop trying to figure me out, and ask yourself why you’ve moved into your office and have quit talking to your family and friends. If it’s Gigi, you’re a fool if you pass up something with her because you think Gio won’t approve. You don’t have to worry about him. Treat her well, and he’ll get over it. Fuck with her, and I’ll kill you first. See? Problem solved, either way. Go to Scotland.”

As Nick began to saunter away, Kane called out, “Nick.”

Nick stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder.

“Thanks for coming by.”

Nick smiled and walked out of the office.

Kane stood beside his desk. He absently rolled the folder in his hand and tapped it against the open palm of his other.

Gigi.

What would she do if he flew to Scotland?

He knew what he hoped she’d do, and the idea had his cock stirring even as he walked out of his office. They would share so much more than a kiss. He wanted to claim her, slowly, all night long . . . wake the next day and start all over again.

He stopped in the hallway just before the conference room and took several calming breaths. His cock was at full attention, which was no way to run a meeting.

He pictured her sweet lips closing over his cock while he ran his hands through her hair and that was enough to destroy the last of his resistance. He called his secretary and told her to clear his schedule for the rest of the day, including the meeting he’d called. “Tell them something unavoidable came up.” Kane inwardly groaned at his choice of words. “Arrange a car to pick me up at my apartment in an hour, and call my pilot. Have him meet me at the airport.”

“Where should I tell him you’re going?” Marge asked.

“Scotland. Edinburgh to be exact.”

“Thank God,” Marge said under her breath, confirming that Rena did, indeed, talk too much about his personal business.

It was impossible to be irritated with either, though. Nick was right. Rena only got involved when she cared, and Marge had been with the company longer than Kane. She was practically family. She’d originally worked for his father and was not only reliable, but was so integral to the running of the office he often took her for granted. That said, he knew the first call she’d make. Kane decided to use it to his advantage rather than balk at it. “Update my father on the Whittle files. I’ll be meeting with our European teams while I’m over there. He’ll love covering for me while I’m gone.”

Marge added cheerfully, “Tell Gigi I said hi.”

Kane almost denied that he would see her, but there was no reason to try to keep secret what was apparently already a well-discussed topic. “I will,” Kane said, his footsteps becoming lighter as he went. Maybe he’d been a fool to fight his feelings for as long as he had. No one seemed to have a problem with it except him.

A few hours later, Kane was flying over the Atlantic in his private jet. Even though he’d been sporting a grin since he’d made his decision, he knew there was one last thing he had to do.

He took out his cell phone and called Gio. It went directly to voice mail. Kane left a brief message stating he was headed to London for business and intended to stop in to see Gigi while in the area.

It was a more appropriate announcement than he would have left had he decided to be completely honest.
Gio, I’m heading off for what I hope is a deliciously, decadent romp with your sister. Talk to you soon.

‡

“W
hat an asshole,”
Gigi stormed as she entered her apartment with Annelise. She threw her purse down on the table and kicked off her high heels before padding to her cupboard. “I need wine. How about you? Red or white?”

“Whatever you have,” Annelise called back from the living room.

Gigi returned with two glasses and a bottle of merlot. She poured wine for both of them, placed the bottle on the table between them, and sank into the comfort of her couch. “I hate people.”

Annelise kicked off her own shoes and curled up on the chair across from her, sipping her wine as she did. “Don’t let one man represent an entire species.”

“He didn’t even consider our offer. What does he mean, ‘it’s priceless’? He bought it. Which means it had a price. What’s the use of having money if I can’t use it for what’s important?”

“You said Gio and Julia are flying in tomorrow morning, right? Maybe they’ll have a suggestion. Who knows, they might even know him.”

“I can’t ask Gio to help me with this.”

“Why not?”

“It goes into that sticky, emotionally charged area we avoid. I’d have to explain why my mother sold the items off, Gio would feel guilty about not knowing I existed, and somehow we’d end up right back in the place where no one was right and everyone feels badly about things we can’t do anything about now.”

“Except, make amends, which Gio could do by helping you with this.”

“It’s not worth the conversation.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she rethought them. “Not unless it’s the only way. Then, you’re right, making the palazzo whole again for my mother is . . . as Mr. Wentforth said, priceless.”

Gigi’s cell phone buzzed with a message. “It’s Rocco. Oh, my God.” Gigi jumped up from her spot on the couch and knocked her glass of wine over on the table. “Shit.”

Annelise was beside her, mopping up the mess with napkins. “What happened? What did he say?”

Gigi read over the message from her bodyguard again. “He said Kane is here. In my apartment building. Right downstairs. Why would he come here?”

Annelise walked over to pick up her purse. “Because he wants to see you?”

“Where are you going?” Gigi asked in a panic and read another message on her phone. “Rocco said Kane is on his way up.”

“You don’t want me here.”

Gigi grabbed her friend’s arm. “Yes, I do. You don’t know how I get with Kane. I can’t be alone with him.”

Thoroughly amused, Annelise asked, “Are you afraid he’ll jump you or that you’ll jump him?”

Gigi’s grip tightened on Annelise’s arm. “Neither. Both. I don’t know. I need your objective opinion. Stay and watch how he is with me. I don’t even care if this sounds immature. I’m telling you, my brain shuts off around him. Help me not make a complete fool of myself by imagining what’s maybe not there.”

Laughing, Annelise pried Gigi’s hand off her arm. “Okay. Okay. I’ll hang out for a little bit. I’ve never seen you like this with a man.”

“I’ve never felt like this. I’m already a wreck. Imagine how I’d be if I slept with him and then didn’t hear from him. I’d go insane.”

“Whoa, where did that come from? Slow down. You barely know him, and the last time you saw him he was with another woman.”

“I know. Which is why you have to swear to stay. I can’t trust my judgment when it comes to Kane. Whatever happens, don’t leave.” There was a knock on the door. “Promise?”

Concern had replaced Annelise’s amusement. “I promise. I don’t want you to get hurt, Gigi.”

Gigi gave Annelise a quick hug, then checked her image in a mirror on the wall before rushing to the door. “I don’t want that either. Especially since he’s so close to Gio. I don’t want to do anything that threatens what I found, but, oh, wait until you see him.”

With her heart thudding crazily in her chest and her hands shaking with excitement, Gigi tried to keep her facial expression calm when she opened the door. “Kane, this is a surprise.” Her eyes flew to his, and the chemistry she’d asked herself a thousand times if she’d imagined was back, even stronger than before. Her lips parted involuntarily, and she swallowed nervously. He leaned in as if drawn by the same irresistible force. His lips hovered above hers, the warmth of his breath a caress she knew she’d enjoy on many parts of her. Flushed, Gigi licked her bottom lip and loved how he watched the move hungrily.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” he said in a deep, husky voice.

“We were just having wine,” Annelise said from beside them. “You must be Kane. My name is Annelise.”

Kane raised his head slowly and tore his eyes from Gigi to greet her friend. “Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Gigi clung to the door handle for support, practically sagging against it during the temporary reprieve.
I’m such an idiot. For all I know Gio asked him to drop something off for me. Hold it together.
“What brings you by, Kane?”

His eyes flew back to hers, as they silently said, “You.” But his actual answer gave much less away. “I have business in London. I didn’t see you before you left and thought I’d check to see how you’re doing.”

Breathe. Play it cool.
Gigi closed the door and raised a hand in the direction of the couches behind them. “Well, your timing is perfect. As Annelise said, we were just having wine. Would you like a glass?”

“I’d love one.” It wasn’t what Kane said, but how he said it that sent waves of heat through Gigi. He wanted more than wine.

Oh, God, me too. Me, too.
“Have a seat. I’ll get you a glass.”

Behind the swinging door of her kitchen, Gigi wrapped her arms around her waist, closed her eyes, and bit her lip.
I don’t know him well enough to feel this way. If being ditched after a kiss hurt, do I really want to risk more?

Don’t do it.

*     *     *

When Gigi returned
with his glass, Kane was seated on the couch across from her friend. The way Annelise was looking him over reminded him how he’d felt in high school when going out with someone involved meeting her father. He shot her what he considered a charming smile.

She didn’t smile back. “So, how long will you be in London?”

“London?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You said you were here for business.”

“Oh, yes. Not sure yet. We’re considering an expansion, so I’m visiting sites for a potential secondary regional office.”

“Any in Scotland?”

“Very possibly.”

“Would it be a permanent office or a temporary endeavor?”

Kane loosened the tie that suddenly felt tight around his neck. He stood with relief when Gigi returned with his glass of wine and one for herself. The awkwardness of Annelise’s questions was quickly forgotten as well as the woman herself. That was the risk of seeing Gigi again. He wanted her with an intensity that overshadowed everything and everyone.

Gigi held out the glass of wine to Kane. His hand brushed hers while he accepted it. From the expression in her eyes when they met his, Kane knew she felt the same fire that had shot through him. “Thank you,” he said softly. She held his eyes for a moment longer. He’d never wanted to kiss a woman as desperately as he wanted to kiss her. To taste her plump lips. He groaned.