Chapter 8

Demi

The walls that I built to protect myself from my attraction to Barrett were positively crumbling. Watching him with Nancie was not helping things at all.

We arrived at her exclusive high school just in time for her to come skipping out with some friends, looking surprised when she slid into the back of Barrett’s SUV to find me in the passenger seat.

Intelligent green eyes pierced mine, shining with curiosity. “Who are you?”

“Manners, Nance,” Barrett scolded, giving her a look in the rearview mirror.

I stuck my hand out at her. “Demi Fowler. I work with your uncle.”

Her eyes bugged out. “You’re one of his models? I mean, that came out wrong. You’re beautiful. I just, I’ve never met one outside of visiting a shoot.”

“Really?” I arched a brow at Barrett, who nodded but didn’t say anything. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he guided us into the traffic around the school.

“Really,” Nancie confirmed, buckling up without having to be told to do so.

“I’m here to be your fairy prom dress mother,” I told her.

“Awesome!” she exclaimed. “Does that mean we’re going shopping today?”

Excitement radiated from her, filling the vehicle with an energy that only ever came from the genuine happiness of a child, not that I would call her a child out loud.

“Yup,” Barrett said. “Lunch first, though, I think.”

“I’m not hungry,” Nancie answered immediately. “Please let’s go shopping first. We can grab something later.”

“I need to feed you both, and I’m sure as hell not doing this on an empty stomach,” Barrett insisted, then glanced at me. “Where am I going? We can stop for food on the way.”

“Tamara’s is a good bet,” I said. “But how about a compromise on the lunch thing?” I’d noticed how Nancie’s face dropped at Barrett’s insistence that shopping wait until after lunch.

“I like compromises,” she said, perking back up. “What do you suggest?”

“There’s a taco joint about a block away from the boutique. We can park there and eat while we walk.”

“Sounds like a good deal to me,” Nancie said, then started pleading with Barrett. “Please can we do that?”

He shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road, but there was a smile playing on his lips. “Sure, okay. I can do compromises.”

“Since when?” Nancie snorted, then clapped her hand over her mouth.

Barrett fixed her with quick, stern glare in the rearview mirror, and she motioned zipping her mouth and throwing away the key.

“I’ve always been capable of compromise,” he said. “You just never budge.”

Nancie laughed, then leaned back in her seat as Barrett navigated us to the packed streets of the West Village, quizzing her with genuine interest. “How was school today?”

“It was fine. Same as always.”

“Math test?” he asked.

“Aced it,” she said with a wide grin and a thumbs up. “Thanks to Scott’s tutoring.”

Barrett groaned. “Can we please not revive that argument right now?”

Nancie giggled, somehow glaring at him at the same time. “Fine, but only because we’re going shopping.”

Barrett found a parking spot, eased us into it, then herded us to the taco place. We placed our order quickly, and before I knew it, we were stuffed and waiting for Nancie to emerge from the dressing room in the first gown she’d chosen.

Tamara’s was a classic high-end boutique. It had private dressing rooms with viewing areas attached, chandeliers that I was sure were made from real crystal, and carpeting thicker than my mattress.

Nancie drew back the curtain separating the dressing room portion of the room we were seated in and stepped out in her first selection.

“Absolutely not,” Barrett growled as soon as he saw her, looking beyond at home in our luxurious surroundings. He’d left his tie and suit jacket in the SUV and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. Barrett in a suit was hot, but Barrett relaxing and half out of one was scorching.

“Why?” Nancie protested, tugging at the neckline of a soft emerald dress that matched the color of her eyes perfectly.

“It’s way too revealing,” he told her firmly.

I couldn’t say that I disagreed. The dress had a slit down the side that went almost all the way to Nancie’s waist, no material on the back, and hung so low that the top her bra threatened to peek out.

“I hate to say it, but I have to agree with your uncle on this one,” I told her. “You don’t want to be known as the girl who wore that dress at prom.”

Nancie’s expression grew contemplative, and she nodded. “Like Jessica Parks last year. Rumor has it you could see her nipples through the dress.”

“Exactly,” I said. “No one wants to be that girl.”

“Okay,” Nancie agreed. “I’ll go try the next one.”

Barrett watched our exchange with interest, then mouthed thank you as Nancie disappeared behind the curtain. He proceeded to veto three more dresses before we started narrowing down the real options.

Throughout the past week that we’d been working together, he’d taught me so much, showing an interest in me that I hadn’t received since Gabbi passed away. I noticed that he was catering to Nancie in much the same way as the hours passed.

I was starting to realize that he was nothing like I thought he was at first, and nothing like my parents. Nancie wasn’t even his biological child, but he was a hands-on father figure to her. He genuinely cared about people, not just the piles of money that everything from his demeanor, to his suits, to his cars, screamed he had.

The more I got to know Nancie, the better we got along. It was clear to me that she was happy, healthy, and well-loved. Barrett had done a remarkable job raising her. That was for sure.

“That’s the one,” I told her when she emerged in a dress the same color as the first one, but in an entirely different style.

Barrett leaned forward on his elbows and studied her carefully. “I think you may be right.”

“Really?” Nancie squealed. “You guys aren’t kidding? Cause I love it.”

He motioned for her to turn with his index finger, and she happily complied. The bottom layers of the dress fanned out around her ankles as she spun, and her cheeks were flushed when she turned to face us again, a smile lighting up her face as she placed her hands on her hips.

“Well?”

Barrett broke out a gorgeous grin as he nodded. “Demi’s right. That’s definitely the one.”

Nancie jumped up and down, then pulled me up for a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

I laughed into her mahogany locks. “I’m not the one you should be thanking.”

“We wouldn’t have been here if not for you, so I do. Barrett’s next.”

She released me. He walked to her side, and she threw her hands around his waist. “You’re officially the best uncle ever.”

Barrett squeezed her shoulders, eyes sparkling. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“You are,” she said, stepping back from him.

He pumped his fist, then held up his hand for me to high five him. “Go team.”

I laughed, bringing my hand to his. Nancie went back to the dressing room as Barrett’s fingers closed around mine, his expression suddenly intense as his gaze locked with mine.

We stayed perfectly still, staring into each other’s eyes as something passed between us. That pull I felt to him surfaced with the force of a tsunami, and electricity crackled down my arm from where our hands were joined, settling at the apex of my thighs.

“I’m ready to go,” Nancie announced, breaking the moment between us.

Barrett cleared his throat, dropped my hand, and reached for the dress. “Yeah, let’s go.”

I was still dazed by the intensity of the moment we’d shared. Then Nancie grabbed my hand and looked up at me with a plea in her eyes. “You have to come back to our house for dinner. It’s a celebration.”

“Sure,” I agreed, without even thinking about it.

Dinner was nothing like I’d expected or grown up with. It was more of a family affair. Nancie started setting the table of her own accord, while I stayed in the kitchen with Barrett, heating up a home-cooked meal that had been prepared for them earlier. They both spoke fondly about their cook, Katy, and as soon as I tasted her food, I knew why.

“This is amazing,” I groaned.

Nancie laughed. “I know. It’s a good thing Katy’s as into healthy eating as she is. Otherwise, we’d all be rolling everywhere.”

“You would maybe,” Barrett intervened, then patted his flat stomach. “I’m a machine in the gym.”

Nancie rolled her eyes, but grinned good-naturedly. “Sure, we both know that you sneak cookies at midnight every time Katy bakes some.”

“Me?” He pressed his hands to his heart, smirking as he shook his head. “If there’s anything we both know, it’s who the true cookie thief is. I’ll give you a hint. It ain’t me.”

Watching the two of them together warmed my heart. Barrett was attentive and charming, and little by little, I felt myself surrendering to his pull and wishing that we were alone.

I got my wish after dinner was done, and Nancie and I cleared the table.

“I’m off to Sarah’s to research makeup styles for prom,” she announced.

“Are her parents home?” he asked, then explained to me, “Sarah’s family lives a couple of houses down, but they’re away a lot.”

Nancie rolled her eyes, nodding. “They’re there. Have fun, you two.”

As if she was scared that he was going to stop her, she made a beeline for her bag, and the door slammed behind her.

“I have a feeling I’m going to be all prommed out soon,” Barrett said, watching the spot she disappeared from. Then he turned his attention back to me. “Would you like a tour of the property? Or do you want me to take you home?”

“It’s still early,” I answered. Excitement bubbled in my veins at the thought of being alone with him. “I’d love a tour.”

My eyes had nearly fallen out of my head when we’d first arrived at his house. It was next level, even by my parents’ standards. It was an architecturally designed mansion with modern finishes, while maintaining the old world, almost Gatsby-like vibe.

Barrett led me from the dining room to glass stacked doors that led to the patio outside. The property spanned almost to the ocean on one side and to a forest of high trees on the other. Off the patio was a sparking pool with a hot tub attached.

“This is amazing,” I said, taking in my surroundings.

“Thanks, I bought it so Nancie would have a safe place to grow up,” he told me, his eyes softening as he talked about her. He offered me the crook of his arm, and I placed my hand in it, heart racing as he started walking. “You know, I realized that I don’t know much about you.”

I shrugged. “There’s not much to know, really.”

“But you come from money, right?”

My gut twisted. “How did you know?”

“Call it instinct,” he said, watching me carefully.

“You’ve got good instincts then, but yes, I was raised with money,” I admitted, as much as I didn’t want to. I generally kept my past to myself, but I didn’t want to flat out lie to him. It just felt wrong.

I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as we walked along the edge of the trees. The cool night air smelled of the ocean, one of my favorite things about being by the water. But right now, it did nothing to soothe the nervous feelings surging inside me.

The conversation had taken a turn for the worse, as far as I was concerned. The life I used to live was full of unpleasant memories. There was a reason I’d left it all behind, after all. I didn’t want to talk about any of it, especially now, when I was having so much fun having Barrett all to myself.

My salvation came in the form of a tree that was made for climbing. An idea started taking shape in my mind to get us back to fun. “Have you ever climbed that tree?”

“What?” he asked.

I pointed at the large oak tree, its branches extending in every direction—every child’s dream. “Wanna see who can get the highest?”

“Are you serious right now?” he asked, disbelief ringing in his tone.

“As a heart attack,” I told him and stopped at the lowest branch, wrapping my arms around it and pulling myself up. “You coming?”

“No,” he said, looking up at me as if I’d grown a second head.

“Come on. What, are you scared?” I teased, lifting myself to the second branch.

“I’m not scared,” he scoffed. Then he rolled up his sleeves as a mischievous glint crept into his eyes. “Fine, but I want a reward when we’re done.”

My sex clenched, but I very much doubted it would be that kind of reward. “You’re on.”

Barrett caught up to me in no time, planting his feet on one wide branch and placing his hands on either side of my hips on the one that I was sitting on. We were eye-to-eye, his lips inches away from mine.

“I haven’t done anything like this in god only knows how long,” he said.

“Invigorating, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is,” he breathed, his eyes burning into mine.

Bringing a hand to my cheek, he leaned forward and closed the distance between our mouths, pressing his lips to mine in a kiss that made every other kiss I’d ever had pale in comparison.

The biggest surprise to me of all? I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back with everything that I had in me.