Niall
The ruse is over.
It stopped the minute she scraped her nails down the length of my back and screamed my name. The sun is barely peeking through the blinds in her apartment as her bare arse is pressed up against me. We’re entwined, spooned together, her back to my front, completely naked in her bed, and for the first time in my life, I’m not panicking. I don’t have the insatiable urge to disappear before she wakes or leave cab fare on the dresser while I spend the morning drinking coffee at Starbucks until she gets the hint that I’m not coming back.
It scares me how right this feels. When I said the vows to Laken last night, part of me meant them. Some deep and crazy mental part of me wanted to pretend they were real. That maybe I’d wake up this morning and it wouldn’t have been just words said during amazing sex.
She’s asleep, but I hope to hell last night meant something to her. I can’t remember the number of women I’ve fucked in my life, but never have I lost myself in one like I did Laken Cavanaugh. I watched her. I drowned in her. I wanted to bury myself inside her and never leave. After fucking her against the door, I’d carried her to her bed and I’d spent the entire night loving her body with my cock, my tongue, my fingers…hell, anything I could touch her with. As I whispered what I wanted to do to her in her ear, I willed her to read between the lines, to hear what wasn’t in my voice but what was in my heart, to see that this wasn’t just a one-night stand for me.
“I want to taste you all night.”
I want you forever.
“You’re so wet for me.”
You’re the one I’ve waited for all my life.
“I want you so much.”
I think I might love you.
I hope she felt in the way I made love to her that I don’t want her for just one night. I want her and Preston forever.
We’d fucked all night and early into the morning. Even when she fell asleep, I’d stayed awake and watched her sleep, knowing I’d dipped a toe into unknown waters that I had no idea how to navigate my way through.
And now, in the early morning, I know screwed doesn’t begin to cover what I am. Unable to take the rejection I know is coming, I give her one last kiss behind her ear and slip out of the bed before she can give me the speech I dread hearing.
As I close the front door to her apartment, for the first time since uttering the phrase to Gloria in the conference room of Tate & Cane that started this whole mess, I wonder if I can pull this off tonight, or when it’s all over, I’ll lose my job, Sophie’s future, and most importantly, the woman I don’t think I can’t live without.
***
I’ve heard the phrase “take my breath away,” but I’ve never experienced it until I arrive outside Laken’s apartment dressed in my tuxedo and stand anxiously waiting for her to open the door. The minute I see her wearing what can only be described as floor-length satin sin, the phrase makes more sense than anything ever has in my life. She still looks beautiful, but there’s an edge to her tonight that borders on seductress.
The dress seems modest in the front, with a thick tie that wraps around her neck and dips low enough in the front to show off her ample assets, but not scandalous enough to seem suggestive. It melts into a body-hugging turquoise satin number that pools at her feet with a thigh-high split that allows a hint of her leg to peek through when she walks. However, that’s where the demureness ends. The minute she turns around, I have no doubt that dicks everywhere will stand up and salute her, thanking God that she exists to walk the Earth. The entire back of the dress is bare, the base of the material resting at the top of her arse and barely hugging the sides of her breasts. The skin of her shoulders and back are coated in some sort of shimmer glitter that catches the light when she moves, holding my eyes hostage. She’s all I see. She’s all I breathe. The world around her ceases to exist. I’ve never seen anything so exquisitely beautiful in my life.
Breathtaking.
But what does it for me are the shoes. Crystal-encrusted stiletto fuck-me heels that elevate her legs in a way that forces my mind on nothing but having them draped over my shoulders at the end of the night, hold my eyes prisoner to the floor.
“Eyes up here,” she laughs with a throaty chuckle, bringing my attention back to her face.
Ladies need to learn one thing. To entice a man, it’s all about the heels. High heels and nothing else will have him on his knees begging for your mercy. Forget the expensive lingerie.
“Shoes stay on,” I barely manage on a whisper.
Bending one knee, she seductively braces her heel against the wall. “Well,” she says, hooking a finger under my chin and bringing my attention to her heavily smoky eyes. “It’d be rude to take them off at the party, now wouldn’t it?”
“No, I mean after the party. Keep the shoes on when I fuck you.”
Bringing her lips within a breath of mine, a wicked smile plays on Laken’s mouth as she licks her wine-stained lips. “Let’s just see how tonight goes, shall we, Mackay? Depending on how well things go, I just may fuck you.”
Funny how foreshadowing works, huh?
In my head, I hear, “If we pull this charade off and both get what we want out of this, I’ll ride you until we both can’t walk tomorrow.”
I have no clue that Laken’s words are literal.
***
More than once, I consider asking the cab driver to make a detour and drop us off at my apartment instead of the gala. Even as we pull up outside the hotel, with swarms of paparazzi and reporters crowding the entrance, the thought still cross my mind, especially when she grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze, my grandmother’s ring sparkling brilliantly on her finger.
Once inside, we mingle a bit before making our way to the bar. “I’m so nervous.” Laken smooths the front of her dress for the hundredth time and accepts her martini from the bartender.
Within three sips, half of the liquid is gone and I can’t help but smile to myself. The last time she drank, she let down her guard and I spent the night buried so deep inside her I thought I’d never find my way out. I’m hoping for a repeat performance.
“You’ll be fine,” I remind her, slipping my hand into hers. “Don’t let them intimidate you. Just stick to the facts we’ve talked about and if you’re unsure about anything, get them talking about themselves. These arseholes love nothing more than to talk about how great they are.”
“How are you so calm? I mean, we’re lying to your bosses and everything is on the line for both of us. Getting everything we want out of this is contingent on how well we can sell this.”
How can I be so calm? Calm? I’m not feckin’ calm. I’m anything but calm. I’m a mess inside. My stomach is churning, my head is pounding, and my heart—well, hell. Let’s not even talk about what an bleedin’ hole that thing has become. All I know is that it aches because I’m about to introduce the woman on my arm as my fiancée, and as much as we’ve planned for this, I don’t want it to be for one night. I don’t want her to take off that ring when this is over and hand it back to me.
I want more.
Squeezing her hand, I start to steer her away from the main ballroom and toward a darkened hallway. “We need to talk…”
Before we can turn the corner, salt and pepper gelled hair fills my line of sight, and Mr. Navarro stops me with a friendly hand on my chest. “And who is this beauty, Mackay? I half expected to see little Sophie with you tonight.” Nodding to Laken clarifies his statement. “You know, seeing as how this is a charity benefit for your daughter’s school.”
Lacing my fingers with hers, I pull Laken toward me, some deep-rooted caveman vibe taking over my normal, outgoing demeanor. “Laken Cavanaugh, meet marketing director at Tate & Cane, Gerald Navarro. Gerald, I’d like you to meet Laken Cavanaugh,” I pause as I swallow the words I’ve waited twenty-eight days to say. “My fiancée.”
I steal a quick glance at Laken, whose face is frozen in a forced smile. She’s waiting, as am I, for his response. After a few moments of silence, Navarro’s lips twitch, as a smile builds at the corners until they turn up into a full-hearted laugh. Throwing his head back, he slaps me on the back of the shoulder and beams. “It’s about damn time, Mackay! And I don’t blame you for keeping this one under wraps.” Lowering his voice, he leans in and winks at Laken. “Better to solidify things before subjecting her to the likes of Tribiotti.”
After walking the red carpet, taking the obligatory pictures, and listening to Tate & Cane bigwigs make their inflated speeches, I’ve introduced Laken to Mr. Navarro and all the people who’d be responsible for hiring her as an intern and an eventual hire at Tate & Cane. Everything is falling into place, but unfortunately, I have to leave Laken alone with Vince for a while to actually do my job and take the official pictures of the event. It takes me twice as long to do what I need to do because after every shot, I’m scanning the dance floor and shooting death glares at my friend.
Click.
Vince holding her close.
Click.
Vince looking into her eyes and flashing her a smug smile.
Click.
Vince twirling her around the dance floor, forcing a giggle out of her that makes me want to punch that smug grin off his face.
Even though I’m the one who put her in his arms, it irritates the hell out of me to watch him dance with Laken. He’s holding her much too close, and she’s laughing way too loudly at his stupid jokes. I asked him to keep an eye on her while I worked, but even though he’s my friend, I don’t trust him not to hit on her. The minute he lowers a hand to the base of her spine and dips her low, my hand curls around my camera, almost snapping it in two with jealousy.
Agitated, I force myself to turn my head away. That’s it. I’m done. After tonight, I’m telling Laken that all bets are off. I’m finished pretending. I’ll live up to my side of our bargain and do everything in my power to get her job at Tate & Cane, but I’m not giving her up. There’s something between us. I feel it, and I’m not letting it go.
Scanning the dance floor, I lock eyes with Laken. She gives me a small smile and dangles her fingers over Vince’s shoulder in an unintentionally sexy wave. I lose my breath. I feckin’ lose my breath and my dick jumps to attention just from a smile.
There are countless women in this room who could buy and sell her twenty times over. Women who wipe their arses with hundred dollar bills and spend their lives in the limelight, networking with New York’s finest. However, none of them can hold a candle to Laken Cavanaugh. She’s the star of the show, and I’m the envy of every man in the room.
That’s how I know this shite has to end now.
Just as I move to cut in on their dance, a hand snakes across my back. “I hope you saved me a dance.”
Anger vibrates through me as I grit my teeth and purposely keep my back toward her. “I’m working, Gloria.”
She seems slightly amused at finding me alone. “Where’s your fiancée? I ran into Bryce Holley and he told me I should make sure I introduced myself to her tonight.”
Motherfecker. “She’s busy.”
Gloria continues as if I didn’t even speak, trailing her nails down the length of my spine. “I knew you’d show up alone, Niall. You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, but it stops tonight. My generosity is over.”
I fix my eyes on Laken through the lens of my camera, but I can almost feel Gloria’s stare on me as she slips a key into my pocket.
“I’m tired of being made to wait.” Patting my pocket, she leans in close. “Room five-sixteen. You either show up and give me what I want, or you can find a new job and Sophie can find herself a new school.”
The band finishes playing their song and the room quietens. I’ve never raised my hand to a woman, but I’ve never wanted to hit one so much in my life as I do right now. If Gloria had a dick swinging between her thighs, she sure as hell would’ve already been on the ground with my fist between her eyes.
However, even as our voices raise and eyes turn our way, I rein in my control and turn to face her, dismantling the lens on my camera with more force than necessary. “Threats again?”
Standing in a floor-length, bright red strapless gown, Gloria has her hair swept up in a similar style to Laken’s. But whereas Laken’s looks effortlessly classy and feminine, Gloria’s tightly pulled twist is as harsh as the daggers flying out of her eyes.
“Facts, Niall. And were it not for the fact that my son is here, I’d make a scene right now and bury you.” Gathering her composure, she pats her overly-sprayed hair and nods to the camera still gripped in my hand as she tosses back a glass of champagne. “Now take our picture so I can send him home with my maid, since my so-called nanny had better things to do tonight than her job.”
“Your son?” The words rub me the wrong way. That same unsettled feeling I’ve had all night twists my insides again.
She lets out a small sigh as she snags yet another glass of champagne off a passing hostess tray. “Yes, my son goes to Ravenhill too, Niall. You do remember that this is a benefit for them, don’t you? I need pictures of me being the doting mother.”
“Wait, he’s here? Tonight?”
“Nothing gets by you, does it?”
Walking in, I’d made the decision to protect Laken from Gloria. But this bitch just pushes all my buttons and has now forced my hand. She wants a doting mother? I’ll show her a real one.
“Come with me,” I say, grabbing her elbow and pulling her toward the dance floor.
“Thanks,” she smirks, “but I’m not in the mood to tango.”
“And I’m not in the mood for you to carry on with your bullshite,” I warn with a growl, making my way toward Laken and Vince. I’m putting all of this to rest. Everything ends tonight. I’ll get Gloria off my back, Sophie will be safe, my job will be safe, and somehow, I’ll convince Laken that we’re meant to be together.
I’m feeling confident about my decision until I catch Laken’s eye. The moment she sees me, she stumbles out of Vince’s hold, her eyes wide with terror. Everything seems to happen in slow motion as she bounces her gaze between Gloria and me, backing away and tripping over the back of her long gown.
And then things go from bad to worse as Bryce Holley appears by Gloria’s side and opens his mouth. “Gloria, have you met Mackay’s new fiancée?”
Gloria starts laughing hysterically. “Laken Cavanaugh? What the hell are you doing here?”
Laken gasps. “Lady Hammerle?”
I suck in a harsh breath at the sound of Laken’s name coming out of Gloria’s mouth. “You two know each other?”
“Niall, man, are you all right?” Vince breaks in, lifting an eyebrow. “You’re fucking pale as shit.”
All right?
All feckin’ right?
Although I’m still processing their reactions, nothing about what is happening is all right. The woman I lied to, who wants to fuck me, and the woman I lied with, and am currently fucking, already know each other? In what universe is this okay? In what scenario does this not equal disaster?
Laken covers her mouth and nose with both hands, shaking her head repeatedly as if doing so will teleport her out of the ballroom. “Holy shit, you’re the black widow?”
Shaking off her shock, Gloria’s pupils dilate as she turns and glares at me. “You called me a black widow?”
I shake my head. “Not important, Gloria! Can we please focus on how you two know each other?”
“Laken!” Out of nowhere, Preston, dressed in the smallest tuxedo I’ve ever seen, runs across the dance floor from outside on the terrace and hurls himself into Laken’s arms. Stunned, Laken catches him and gives him a stiff embrace.
“Hi, Pres.”
Bracing myself for an answer I know I don’t want to hear, I ruffle Preston’s blond hair but keep my eyes on Laken. “Hey there, Preston. Don’t you mean Mommy?”
If possible, Laken’s face pales even more and tiny beads of sweat break out across her forehead. “Niall, I can explain,” she whispers.
Realizing what’s about to happen, I ask the words anyway. “Laken, why is your son here?”
“Her son?” Gloria straightens her posture, collecting the shock that somehow managed to register on her expressionless face. “Preston is my son.”
“No, he’s Laken’s son.”
Gloria narrows her eyes, and as realization blankets her face, a guttural laugh brews deep in her throat and spills out, coating the silence. “Oh, this is almost worth everything.” She shifts a finger between Laken and me. “So, you concocted this story to make me think you were engaged, and you were the one who ended up getting played.”
I can’t hear a word she’s saying. All I can do is concentrate on the tears running down Laken’s face as she hugs Preston to her chest.
“Oh, get over yourself, Niall,” Gloria continues. “Laken has been my nanny for over a year and a half. I had a planned C-section at thirty-six weeks with that boy.” Moving closer against me, a smug smile paints her lips as she leans in close. “I have no stretch marks because of it. Do you want to see?”
“Laken?” Preston asks, tugging on one of Laken’s curls that springs loose from her pinned up hair. “Is Sophie here? Mommy, I’ve had so much fun with Laken and Sophie and Niall.”
With a devious gleam in her eye, Gloria claps her hands together and raises her voice. “Well, isn’t this just special? Everyone, can I have your attention, please? My very own nanny here is engaged to our Niall Mackay.” Cuing the band to return to the stage, she grabs as many champagne flutes off a passing tray as she can hold in two hands. “Maestros? Can we hear a little Here Comes the Bride? This has turned into an engagement party!”
Handing me a flute of champagne, I freeze, my shock rendering me speechless and immobile as Gloria walks by Laken, who’s clinging to Preston like a life preserver. Taking a long sip, she leans close, speaking low, but there’s no mistaking the words I read on her lips.
“Oh, by the way, you’re fired. Get your shit and get out.”
And just like that, my world ends.