CHAPTER 8
GIGI DIDN’T FEEL SAFE UNTIL she was behind the deadbolt on her apartment door. She felt dirty. And damn it—he ruined her post orgasmic high.
The phone in her bag dinged frantically and she was sure he was bombarding her with messages. Probably trying to get her to come back or worse, threatening her if she didn’t. She would not rise to it. She would not be bending for him or any other fool. How do you go back to chopped steak once you had Grade-A prime-cut beefcake? You don’t.
She wasn’t fully convinced she was ready for a relationship with a man like Roman, but there was zero chance of having one with Chad. Men like him were the reason she didn’t do relationships. She would not end up like her mother—not for any man. Which led her back around to Roman. She shouldn’t have taken the leap with him. It wasn’t fair since she was being so indecisive still. On the same token, it was done and she couldn’t put him back on a shelf.
Once again, she was in dire need of her best friend to help navigate these waters. Unfortunately, that was something else to feel guilty over. She promised Ann that she wouldn’t fool around with Roman. She lasted all of two weeks before she was coming apart in his hands literally and figuratively.
Gigi collapsed on her sofa. She dug the offending phone from her bag and tossed the purse to the ground at her feet. Cradling it in her lap, she stared down at the green and white speech bubble icon and the red circle with its number thirteen, taunting her. Ding. Correction, fourteen.
She pulled her chunky sweater tighter around her shoulders as if it was armor and dialed Ann. She couldn’t tell her best friend everything but she’d at least know what to do about Chad or offer a shoulder to cry on. Not that the asshat deserved her tears.
It rang twice before Ann’s brisk cheerfulness came on the line. “Gigi? How’s it going? I’ve been seeing the buzz about the gallery event next Saturday. I knew you’d do right by my brother.”
That was Ann, sidestepping the personal and rushing straight to business talk before you could answer her first question. Gigi felt a stab of guilt at just how “right” she’d done Ann’s brother. Ann had trusted her and now Gigi rewarded that faith with secrets and half-truths.
“The gallery opening is coming along nicely. But that’s not why I called.” Gigi choked back a sob. “Things are getting worse with Chad. He messaged me tonight that he wanted to talk. I met up with him so I could tell him in person to leave me alone.”
“Tell me you went someplace public.” Her words came out in a rush of concern.
“Of course. But he grabbed me.” Her hands shook as she told Ann the rest of the story, leaving out that he’d seen her kissing Roman and maybe more.
When she finished the line was silent. She could hear Ann breathing so she knew she hadn’t lost signal. Gigi stood and began pacing the hardwood floors that ran the length of her open floor plan living space. “You’re freaking me out here, Ann.”
“I’m sorry I’m just…shocked is the word I’m looking for. I mean I always thought your boy toys were eventually going to lead to trouble.” Gigi hated being called out with an I told you so. Ann had never made it a secret that she disapproved of Gigi’s lifestyle but she rarely held it against her or made her feel bad for it. “No matter what I think, you don’t deserve trouble. You’re not doing anything wrong, not really.”
“There isn’t anything wrong with having a healthy appetite for sex and not waiting for prince charming to make you feel good.” Gigi voice came out more defensive than she’d meant but she firmly believed there was no shame in the life she’d been leading and when she wanted a better one she would change, like she was starting to do with Roman. In the meantime, she made no apologies.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to raise your hackles because you aren’t wrong.”
It did not escape Gigi’s notice that Ann didn’t say she was right either.
“I think you should start carrying pepper spray and maybe think about a restraining order.”
“I’ve thought about the restraining order too. He’s left me at least fourteen messages since I walked out of that bar. I’ve been saving them all for just that reason. But he is a lawyer and knows my father so I’m just not ready to take that step.”
“Will you at least have my brother walk you to your car at night?”
“Yeah, I can do that.” That would be happening anyway and probably a lot more for reasons Ann didn’t need to know.
Oh no—what if Roman told Ann about what they’d started? There was nothing Gigi could do to stop him that wouldn’t raise his suspicions about why. She’d have to press her luck.
“Thanks for letting me vent, Ann. I’m sorry I snapped at you a little.”
Gigi padded into the bathroom and cranked on the hot water. It suddenly sounded like a fantastic idea to wash off the stain of Chad’s violating touch. She only wanted to remember the parts of the day with Roman in them. She sat on the edge of the tub in her tiny apartment bathroom and tested the water, tempering it with cold until it was just right.
“I get it. I’m here anytime you need.” Ann hesitated as if she meant to say something else.
For a moment, Gigi wondered if Ann knew there was something Gigi was leaving out, but Gigi wasn’t brave enough to pursue it.
“You have a good night,” Ann said at last.
This week with Gigi had been more than Roman could have hoped for. He was a romantic fool. Sitting in his office watching her like he was now, he worried a little. Gigi had been more than attentive to him when they were alone. What concerned him was her preoccupation with her cell phone. When she checked the frequent pings she chewed her bottom lip in an expression he’d learned meant something bothered her. Other times her eyes blazed with fury when she focused on it. Whenever she caught Roman watching, she smiled sweetly. Something was wrong there. Something she wanted to hide.
His sister’s cryptic phone call hadn’t helped either. His mind drifted back to the too brief conversation with Ann, mining it for clues that Gigi had yet to be forthcoming with.
“Roman, I need you to do me a favor because our girl Gigi isn’t going to ask.” Ann usually came across high-strung, but now the clipped tremor of her voice practically screamed trouble.
“What’s wrong?” His voice deepened with concern.
“I can’t tell you if she hasn’t, but I just need to be sure you walk her to her car at night and watch out for her whenever you guys are out together. I know you see her at Red Barron sometimes.”
So, Gigi hadn’t told Ann about them. That was okay, he wouldn’t mess with their friendship by spilling it now. It did make him wonder why she would hold that back. Seemed Gigi wasn’t all in despite her claims.
“You don’t have to worry, Ann. I’ll take good care of your friend.” It was an easy promise to keep since he planned to spend as much time together after hours as he could wrangle out of Gigi. She seemed a little averse to relationship basics like dinner dates.
“I know you will. That’s why I called. Trouble is, she doesn’t always take good care of herself. That’s all I’m going to say. She’ll murder me if she knows I talked to you about this.”
“No worries. I won’t say anything.”
He hadn’t said anything since they hung up that call. Now, watching Gigi, he had to wonder if the problem came from whoever messaged her on the other end of that cell phone.
The only thing easing Roman’s mind after that was the girl herself. Gigi always had a smile for him and when he walked her to her car at night, she sank into his kisses, hot and pliant, begging him to follow her home. He wasn’t ready and neither was she. He needed to know she was committed to this, committed to them.
Roman leaned back in his chair as Gigi sauntered into his office. She closed the door with a soft click before crossing the tight space. Stepping between his knees, she leaned her ass against the desk behind her. A full color mental image of her bent over that desk with her ass in the air had him adjusting himself.
He looked up at her, his gaze hooded. “What’s up, beautiful?”
“Just wanted to get your approval on a couple last minute details for the gallery event tomorrow night. Your next client isn’t for another thirty minutes so I thought now might be a good time.”
Roman sat forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Make it fast because I can think of a better way to use that time.”
She chuckled softly as she used her slender little fingers under his chin to tilt his head back to look up at her. “I’m sure you can, but let’s keep things professional while we’re here, shall we? You can always follow me home later.”
He huffed like a petulant child but stayed quiet, allowing her to get on with her business.
“I called around and it turns out our favorite drinking hole, the Red Barron, would be happy to step up tomorrow with their liquor license and serve your requested rosé and whiskey. I was able to rent a bar and the necessary glassware from the local event company, although if we do enough of these we might think of purchasing our own at some point. I’ve emailed you the quote, so if you could just pay the bill we’ll be all set.”
“If you emailed me you didn’t need to come and tell me. I think you came in here for something else, a happier distraction maybe?”
She laughed and pushed him, sending the chair rolling backwards. “Don’t flatter yourself. I know how you are.” She reached behind her and grabbed his sketchbook, waving the evidence like a flag. “You’re here sketching, not checking you emails, and I need that bill paid today.”
She tossed the sketchpad back down and pushed off the desk, turning to leave. She got one hand on the door before she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Her voice was soft and the corner of her mouth turned up flirtatiously. “I bought something special to wear tomorrow night. I was hoping at the end of the night you’d come home with me so that I can show you.”
Maybe she was ready. It also occurred to him that if he kept telling her no, then eventually she’d lose interest or think he had. It couldn’t be further from the truth. He wanted her so bad on his best day that he had trouble breathing when she was in the room whether her intoxicating green eyes were on him or not.
“Tomorrow can’t get here fast enough,” he answered at last.
Her smile sparked brighter and then she slipped out the door.