Brant woke up to his cell vibrating near his ear. With a grunt, he grabbed for it five, six times before finally swiping the right way and answering. “What?”
“You forgot to set your alarm.”
He bolted out of bed. “Shit!”
“Relax.” Bentley yawned loudly on the other end. “Brock and I took care of the details, the girls helped, and I think we’re all on track. Damn, you’re lucky to have us.”
Brant sighed in relief and glanced down at a sleeping Nik. “Thanks, man. I’ll be down as fast as I can. Will you do me a favor and grab my suitcase?”
“Sure thing.”
“See you in a few.”
“Yup.”
Brant threw on his clothes, barely remembered to brush his teeth, grabbed his wallet and everything else he needed, and then went over to the bed and brushed a kiss across Nikki’s forehead. “I’ll always love you. Never forget that.”
He left as quietly as he could. The minute the elevator doors closed, he grinned and then felt like throwing up.
It was time.
Yeah, throwing up was probably on the to-do list for the day.
* * *
He left.
She heard the tail end of his conversation. Get his suitcase? Was he in that much of a hurry that he couldn’t even grab his own stuff? Rejection made her so numb she wasn’t sure if she should laugh or just have a good cry and then rip the pillows to shreds.
He left. Again.
She could probably manage to get dressed on her own—there was a reason she liked wearing black; it always matched—but the point was, she thought he’d wake up slowly, offer her breakfast, and then they’d have the talk, decide how they were going to move forward, if they were going to move forward. Not this.
Emptiness.
A knock sounded at the door.
She nearly fell out of the bed.
The knock got louder.
It was followed by a series of hushed voices, two more knocks, and then finally, “Open the hell up!”
She jumped out of bed and wrapped the sheet around her body, feeling the walls as she made her way to the door and pulled it open.
“Bastard refused to give us the keys to this part of the suite!” Nadine said in her loud shrill. “I mean, doesn’t he trust us at all?”
“No?” Sarcasm dripped from Jane’s voice. “I wonder why.”
“Aw, just look at you.” Nadine sighed. “All rosy cheeked and exhausted from last night’s sexual encounter. Oh, honey, you sit down and tell me all about it. Those Wellington men can be quite the stallions in the bedroom.”
Nikki’s smile felt hollow, sad. She didn’t want to talk about Brant. About the sex. About the sorrow of waking up this morning and finding him gone.
“Are you here for his suitcase?” She tried to keep her voice even, her body from slumping, her hopes from shattering on the ground in front of them.
“Nope.” Margot snapped the word. “Actually, we’re here to kidnap you.”
“Huh?” Kidnap? What were they talking about?
“Oh yes!” Nadine shouted unnecessarily. She was right in front of Nikki’s face, making her dizzy with constant hand movements and a little nauseated from the strong perfume that was her trademark scent. “Jane, grab the dark jeans, oh, the shirt will look just lovely with that!” Shirt? What shirt? Her black shirt?
Before she could protest, the sheet was getting wrangled from her hand.
“Just—” Nadine jerked harder. “Let us help you get dressed!”
“I’m completely naked!”
“You can’t see your own nakedness. Therefore, you can’t be embarrassed!” Nadine said with one final heave; was she on steroids or something?
Cold air slammed into her body, and with a shiver, Nikki covered up as best she could.
“Ladies, we need the set.”
“The set?” Nikki repeated. “What set?”
“Here you go!” The sound of tags ripping hit the air, and then she was getting a lacy strapless bra fastened around her body while simultaneously getting ordered to step into soft panties that fit her like a glove.
“Her ass looks amazing.” Margot sighed.
“It better,” Nadine said. “They’re from France.”
“My ass is from France?” Nikki wondered aloud.
“No dear, the lingerie set.” She snapped her fingers. “Jane, grab the shirt, there we go now. Nikki, just lift your arms up over your head like a good girl.”
What the heck was happening?
Why were they dressing her?
Furthermore, why was she letting them?
A soft cotton shirt was pulled over her head. She felt the front of it, pressing her hands down her breasts. It felt plain like most of her clothes, except for some weird writing that felt a lot like Braille.
She started to trace only to get her hands slapped away. “Feel yourself up on your own time,” Nadine ordered. “Now, the shoes. Jane do you have the shoes, dear?”
“Yup!” Jane must have hoisted the shoes in the air, because another colored blur danced in front of Nikki’s eyes, and then she was getting ushered into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
Her arm nearly came out of its socket when Nadine pulled her into her embrace and very aggressively walked her out the door and onto the elevator.
Cheerful music greeted them.
A nervous energy buzzed among the three of them, and Nikki still had no idea what was happening.
Before she could protest, the elevator doors opened and she was taken through the lobby and into the spa.
Were they escorting her to work? What a complete and total letdown.
She didn’t know what time it was, but by the smell of breakfast in the air as they passed the lobby it had to be before ten, since Azul stopped serving breakfast then.
“Yay!” Annie’s voice sounded, and then clapping. Lots of clapping. “You’re here!”
“At work,” Nikki added. “What, I’m guessing an hour and a half early?”
“Work.” Annie snorted. “The only person working today is Carol!”
“Here!” Carol shouted. “Oh, that shirt is just perfect!”
“What does it say?”
“Nice try.” Nadine elbowed her. “We’re here for our appointments.”
Ugh. They really were going to torture her and make her do a spa day at her own workplace. Not that she wasn’t thankful, but why couldn’t they just let her suffer in silence? Cry in the shower so nobody could see the tears or her swollen face?
“Ladies!” Carol cleared her throat. “We have to stick to the schedule. Nikki will get her makeup done last just in case.”
“Just in case what?” Nikki blurted.
“And then,” Carol continued, ignoring her, “everything should be ready to go! If you have questions, Annie has extra copies of the itinerary, or you can always grab Cole.”
“Cole? What does Cole have to do with getting my makeup done?”
Carol went on, “And do not let anyone in, got that, Annie? Nobody!”
Nikki could almost hear Annie rolling her eyes. “Carol, I’m a pro,” Annie said. “I got this, plus Cole promised he would take off his shirt for thirty seconds if I don’t mess up. I went and bought pepper spray, tear gas, and a pair of nunchucks just in case a fight breaks out. Those thirty seconds are mine.”
“Oh, honey.” Nadine sighed. “We need to find you a man.”
“Eh, thirty seconds with Cole should last me at least a year’s worth of fantasies. One time I had a dream he got attacked by wild dogs and came to work with shredded clothes.” She sighed. “It was the best Monday ever.”
“Annie!” Carol clapped her hands. “Focus, woman! Operation—” Silence. “Never mind, get it done!”
What the heck was going on?
Blurs moved in front of Nikki and then she was getting tugged into the familiar feel of the salon.
“If you cry,” Carol said in a way-too-cheerful voice, “I’m going to slap you, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I can’t make everything waterproof, though God knows I try.”
“Right.” Nikki was pushed into a seat.
“Now. Let me work my magic.”