Gavin
“I need to borrow twenty-thousand dollars.” I’ve just spent the last several minutes outlining why.
“Borrow?” Warren slaps his hand down over his glossy desk. “Like you’ll ever be able to pay it back.”
I glance at Ace. Warren is right. It’ll take a lifetime for me to repay that kind of money.
“I’ll take on half the debt,” Ace offers.
“No deal.” I cut him a look that says back off. “It’s all me, or I’m not doing it.”
“Well, I’m not doing it, so that should settle this playground dispute.” Warren gives his full attention to his laptop as if we were no longer sitting in his uptight office brimming with dick art. I glance around at the bevy of beauties splayed out on oversized canvases. It doesn’t matter if it’s oil or pastel, it’s porn at its finest. The fact that he spends half his nights with my sister makes me want to plunge fistfuls of pencils into my eyes.
“How much do you think that company of yours is worth?” Warren mumbles so low I half wonder if he’s speaking to me.
“My company?”
Ace knocks his knee into mine and shakes his head.
“It’s worth fifty grand,” I lie. But if he plans on offering half, it just might work.
He rubs the scruff on his chin. Since he quit the law firm, he’s grown a goatee. He hasn’t ditched the argyle yet, but if he plans on making it in the lumber industry, he might just have to.
“Twenty and I’ll let you stay on, keep any employees you might have.” He wears his poker face as he says it.
“What about a salary?” Ace thunders it out like a threat. “You’re going to pay him, right?” It’s a small wonder Ace hasn’t killed him by now after what he tried doing to Reese, not to mention the fact Neva has let everyone in Loveless know she’s nursing a broken heart by way of the smoke exuding from her ears.
“I guess he has to eat.” Warren threads his fingers behind his neck and relaxes in his pricey leather chair. “Let me see your tax returns—we’ll figure something out. I’ve been looking for someplace to park my money. I think this might be a good start. Besides, I always knew you’d be working for me.” He gives a greasy smile, and I can tell Ace is ready and willing to beat the shit out of him, but right now I’m just grateful.
“I’ll be needing cash.”
Warren’s forehead glides back, amused. “Bank’s across the street. Let’s take a little walk.”
We head to the door, and Warren shakes his head.
“All this for one night? Dude, she’d better be worth it.”
“She is.”
I hope she thinks I am, too.
Reeva’s mansion comes up on the horizon like a dove in flight. The windows are lit up like jewels, and there’s a regal elegance about it as it stamps across the horizon. Ironic. This entire place bleeds irony. My stomach turns because I’m starting to wonder if this was a big mistake. I’m not sure what to expect but, tonight—I’m just hoping Emmy and I can get a chance to talk. All I want is a few answers. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m hoping this is her last day in that hellhole. She tunneled into my heart the moment I saw her. I need her more than the air filling my lungs.
I hop out and turn my key over to the valet. No quick escapes. I guess that’s a bonus security measure. If anyone hurt Emmy—if anyone touched Emmy, I’d want them hung on the nearest tree.
My nerves set themselves on fire from head to foot. I was rattled enough driving down here, and now the idea I might actually see her sets me on edge.
My fingers curve over the long brass handle, and a horrible thought hits me as I open the door. What if it’s not Emmy? What if I gave away everything for a chance to speak with a total stranger, some close second, nothing but a cheap lookalike.
Shit. I cinch the envelope full of cash bundled in my hand. Either way, this is going to hurt.
“You’re back.” The redhead in the wheelchair beams. She’s spruced up for the evening, wearing a glittering black gown and bright pink lipstick.
“Could you look at the picture one more time?” I pull out the photo and iron it out with my hand. “Is this the girl you have working for you?”
“That would be her.” She looks up, the smile gone from her face. “Let’s make one thing clear. Once a cash transaction takes place, there are no refunds. Should this night not meet all of your desires, I suggest you recalibrate your expectations.”
“Recalibrate my expectations.” I pump a dry smile. “That’s what I’ve been doing for the last few months.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
I hand her the cash. She counts it out, twice. The bank gave Warren a hard time for withdrawing so much at once, but he threw in a good tantrum in retribution like only the wealthy can and put them in their blue collar place.
“It’s all here.” Her face lights up as she quickly locks it away in a drawer. I swallow hard at the finality of it all. “I need you to know something.” Her eyes harden over mine. “I’m bending my rules a bit tonight. Emmy will receive the entire lump sum, but you’re not to touch a cent. She needs it to take back what’s rightfully hers.” That last part is muttered under her breath as if it weren’t for my ears.
“What is it that’s rightfully hers?”
“That’s not for me to tell.” She leans forward, drinking me in like I’m her favorite sin. “So are you ready to embark on one of life’s greatest adventures?”
I bet that’s the line she feeds all the morons willing to hand over their life’s savings. Although I’m pretty sure I’m the only fool who’s ever done that. But for Emmy I’d be a fool every day of the year.
“I’m all in.” Emmy can tie me up and pour kerosene over my body. I’d light the match if she asked me to. I’m ready and willing to take on anything she wants to throw my way—and if screaming at me, maiming, or destroying me in general is what she wants, so be it.
“That’s the attitude. Head on upstairs. Apartment twelve. Step inside and close the door. She’ll be out of the dressing room when she’s ready.”
Apartment. Dressing room. It all sounds a little off.
“Got it.” I head for the stairs.
“Oh, and Gavin?”
I turn, startled that she remembered my name.
“She doesn’t know you’re coming.”
Emmy isn’t expecting me.
“Thank you.” Enough adrenaline speeds through me to fuel a locomotive.
Emmy doesn’t know I’m coming. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing.
The air upstairs is cooler, crisper. The carpet is lush and floral, in marbled shades of the same garish color as the lobby. Room, ten, eleven—twelve. Just seeing the small metallic number tacked up on the door stuns me, efficient as a slap.
I let out a breath. My body pulsates and hums like a defunct motor. My chest palpitates like machinegun fire.
Fuck. A knot builds in my throat. I run my fingers through my hair and bounce in my sneakers. I could take off. I could say screw this shit and be back in Loveless by midnight. But I’d regret it. I’d hate myself every day I was alive if I didn’t go through with it.
I fill my lungs with another cool breath just to keep from passing out. Reeva was right. I need to lower my expectations way the heck down. This is simply me asking a few questions. I’m not here to yell, or scream, or cry like a pussy. I’m not here to make love to her for the very first time or beg her to run away with me—although I’m up for all of the above.
My hand rises, and I flatten it over the door a moment.
“Emmy,” I whisper. “I love you so damn much it hurts. Help me take the hurt away.” I give a gentle knock. Reeva said to head in and shut the door. A wave of nerves rides over me as I turn the knob. It’s dim inside with the exception of a sea of candles on the dresser. I step in and close the door behind me. The soft scent of lavender and lilacs infiltrates my senses. That’s the scent, right there. I close my eyes and take in Emmy before she ever sets foot in the room.
“I’ll be right out!” Her sweet voice drifts from the right, and I startle. She’s here. That’s her. I’d recognized that beautiful voice anywhere.
A tall, four-poster bed made up with pristine white bedding, fluffy as whipped cream, sits in the middle of the oversized room. It’s huge in here—half the size of the cabin. There’s a silver vanity off to one side, a plain dresser to my left, and every last inch of this place breaks my heart.
“Sorry to keep you waiting I—” She jumps out from the door to the right, and I stop breathing. Her hair is longer. Her skin glows against the short white lingerie, but it’s her face, her sad eyes, her soul that is heartbreakingly beautiful beyond words.
“Emmy.” Her name expires from my lungs as I take a step forward.
Her eyes glint round and white as flames. Her mouth opens, and she chokes for a moment.
I want to run over, hold her, but my feet have screwed themselves into the floor.
Emmy takes a few careful steps forward until we’re less than a foot away. The candlelight dances off her features like a pulse.
She studies my face as if confirming it’s me.
“Gavin.” She closes her eyes a moment.
I fish in my pocket and pull out the necklace I gave her that last day. I had the chain replaced with something thicker, something impossible to tear away and discard like an old newspaper.
“You forgot something,” I say as I hold it out to her.
Her eyes latch onto mine, and I can’t tell if she’s pissed or elated. Definitely not elated. She doesn’t take the necklace, so I toss it over to the bed. It’s hers. She can flush it if she wants.
“Emmy, I just wanted to—”
She holds up a hand, and I stop speaking.
There’s a fire in her eyes. She’s angry, hurt, and she’s making this entire effort feel like a big mistake. But there’s something desperately broken hiding behind her glassy stare, and I hang onto that because more than anything it spells out hope for the two of us.
“This is business,” she spits the words out. “This is what I do,” she says it stiff as cardboard to drill the point home.
“We don’t need to—”
“No words.” She flashes her palm at me again, and I shut the fuck up.
Tears glitter in her eyes, but she’s seething. If looks could kill she would have already pulled my balls up through my nose.
My jaw tightens. If this is the game she wants to play, I’ll go along for the ride. If I can’t soften her up with words maybe I can do it with my body.
I flick the lip of my jeans. “Do you do this—or should I?”
Emmy and I enter a standoff. Neither of us flinches.
She lays a finger over my mouth, so cool and soft. I close my eyes and kiss it.
Emmy drops to her knees and unbuckles my belt.
I want to stop her. I don’t want her to stop.
I want to pick her up and tell her I’m just here to talk.
But I don’t.