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Griffin

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Rufus has to have a sixth sense when it comes to Piper. He waltzed through the studio door just as I was about to kiss her.

She was open and ready after I told her that she’s the only woman I’m interested in. I could tell that my words didn’t shock her. Her shoulders relaxed, her lips parted in a soft smile and just as I was about to go in for a kiss, Rufus strolled in and stole the moment and Piper’s attention away.

“You ready to head out, Piper?” Rufus walks up behind me wearing torn jeans and a light blue hoodie. “My friend Brett wants to know if we’re down for sushi at this place in Hell’s Kitchen. He had such a good time hanging out with us on Saturday he wants to do it again.”

He looks like a frat boy who hasn’t seen a shower in a week. I get that he’s got to sell the male model look wherever he goes, but running a comb through his hair wouldn’t hurt.

I glance back at Piper. Her gaze volleys from his face to mine. If this is a battle about who is leaving with her, I’m coming out on top.

“I’ll take Piper home tonight,” I offer without glancing back at him. “We were in the middle of something, Rufus.”

“Sorry, dude.” He brushes his hand on my shoulder. “I need to talk to Piper too. I’m bummed about a job I didn’t get. She’s the voice of reason, you know. She lifts me up.”

As inspirational as that is, whatever job he didn’t get, he’ll get over it.

“You didn’t get the runway show for Berdine?” Piper brushes past me to stand next to Rufus, her hand resting on his forearm. “I’m sorry. I know you had your heart set on that.”

I had my heart set on tasting Piper’s lips tonight, but I’m not crying on anyone’s shoulders. I’m taking fate into my own two hands.

“Doing that show in London would have changed everything for me.” He lowers his head. “My career would have hit the next level. I can’t catch a break lately.”

Piper glances back at me with a sigh. I can sense what’s coming next. She’s about to bail on me to comfort Rufus. That’s not happening.

“Gabriel Foster owns Berdine.” I pivot to face Rufus directly.

“That’s not news to me,” he drawls through a frown. “I heard he has last say on the models. Guess I’m not his type.”

Gabriel’s type is petite, blonde and the principal second violinist with the New York Philharmonic. His wife, Isla, hired my brother, Draven, to renovate their main bathroom. When she offered him free tickets to a performance, he handed them off to me.

I spent two hours sitting next to Gabriel while his wife mesmerized him on stage. We talked during intermission and formed an unlikely friendship. The woman I took with me that night wasn’t impressed with the concert, but she did land a job working in one of the Liore lingerie boutiques that are under the umbrella of the Foster brand. 

Gabriel will do what he can for anyone who asks.

“I’m his type,” I quip. “Gabriel’s a friend.”

“You’re shitting me.” Rufus pats me on the chest. “Do all you suits know each other?”

“Us suits?” I repeat back.

“You’re a nine-to-fiver. You spend your life in an office, right? Gabriel does the same. I figure you all must meet up somewhere after work to blow off steam and kick back with a beer or two.”

I don’t bother correcting him. My life isn’t bound to a time clock. My clients make life-changing decisions day and night. They expect me to be a phone call away. For the most part, I am.

“I’ll talk to Gabriel for you,” I say it to impress Piper but it’s not going to cause me an ounce of pain if Rufus is clear across the Atlantic.

Piper may not see him as anything other than a friend, but his eyes are glued to her tits right now. He’s clearly on the friends-to-lovers path with her, so I’m going to get him that gig in London.

It benefits everyone.

Rufus adds a new line to his resume. Piper thinks I’m the hero and I don’t have to look at his dick anymore.

Win. Win. And win.

“You would do that for Rufus?” Piper’s gaze slides over me. “That’s an incredibly generous thing to do.”

It’s not. It’s a blatantly selfish thing to do, but I have no shame where this woman is concerned.

“She’s right.” Rufus wraps his arm around Piper’s shoulder. “You’re a better guy than I thought you were.”

Considering the fact that I want to snap his arm in two, I’m not going to win any awards for goodwill. The sooner Rufus is out of town, the better.

“I’ll talk to Gabriel tomorrow.” I gesture toward the studio door and the clear path that I want Rufus to take. “If I need to talk to you, I’ll get your number from Piper.”

Right before I delete it from her phone forever.

“You’ll make it happen, right?” His thick blond brows lift. “You’re my ticket to London.”

I’ll be whatever I need to be to get Piper alone.  “I’m taking Piper home now. Keep your phone close, Rufus.”

He pats the back pocket of his jeans. “I’ll keep it with me twenty-four seven. You’ll get by without me, Piper? You’ll find another model?”

Brushing her hair back from her shoulder she moves away from him and comes closer to me. Her eyes scan my face before she looks over at Rufus. “I’m good, Rufus. If Griffin can make this happen, this is the chance of a lifetime.”

If I can make it happen?

It’ll happen. By this time tomorrow, Rufus will be packing a bag for his trip across the pond.