Chapter 2
Two weeks later…
XAVIER CLOSED HIS LAPTOP, satisfied with the notes he’d made so far, but not thrilled with the lack of direction or information he’d been able to gather on Larry Thompson and his connection to the Costello mob family and Cali and her parents’ restaurant. He didn’t like to make assumptions about anything, but suspected the family business was used for money laundering. The question was how much did Mr. and Mrs. Banister know about their business dealings with Thompson.
And did Cali know anything.
If she didn’t, not only would his publisher be royally ticked off since his latest proposal hinged on this experience, but Crime Coast Investigations, the cable show that still employed him, would most likely fire him. They expected a piece on the Costello’s in three months.
He stepped from the den he’d been using as his office and made his way toward the family room. Standing in the foyer, he leaned against the wall and stared at Cali. She wore his sweat pants, which he wondered where she’d gotten them from, and a long-sleeve, plain-white shirt. Her long, auburn hair curled over her shoulders while she bit down on the end of a pencil. A legal pad was in one hand, and the other a very large paperback book that reminded him of those study guides he had to use when studying for his ACT and SAT tests.
Cali been something unexpected. Smart, beautiful, fun to talk to, and down to earth. He didn’t feel he had to wine and dine her, though he did enjoy cooking with her. Every night since she’d arrived, they cooked a fine meal and drank wine and got to know one another, only he was living a lie.
She thought he was wealthy, but he wasn’t. He had a decent savings, and his first book deal was a major start to being able to say to his father, ‘I don’t need your money at all, thank you.’ But it wasn’t that as much as he was using her to get a byline and a book contract for a three-part series, which should seal the deal with Crime Coast Broadcasting, giving him his own series of specials.
“You’re staring at me,” she said, not turning her head.
“You’re the prettiest thing in the room.” He pushed himself from the wall and made his way to the sofa, lifting her feet and setting them down on his lap.
A bold move considering they hadn’t even shared a kiss.
They had a few long stares. The occasional accidental touch while cooking. But nothing overtly sensual in any way. Of course, he had been avoiding her during the day, hiding in his office, working.
More like being distracted by her presence.
“I’ve never understood toe polish other than it’s sexy.” He brushed the tip of his forefinger over her big toe. “But in the winter, is it necessary?”
“I have a little more time on my hands than I’m used to, so.” She shrugged. She acted casual around him, but there was an underlying tension seeping from her pores that he couldn’t put a finger on. He’d grown up being used to women treating him like an object. Not because he was all that good-looking. He considered himself average in that department, but in his circle of peers, young ladies wanted power and money, and they all thought he could provide a lavish life-style similar to the rich and famous.
When his father had cut him off financially, he’d been concerned he wouldn’t make it. He had a thirst for his father’s tastes, but didn’t have the bank account to go with it. However, Xavier had quickly learned how make it on a lot less and enjoy every minute of it.
He intended to pay his father back every penny he used on this personal sting operation the second the publisher cut him the first check on the second book.
“When do you take your LSATs?”
“June, which gives me time to take them again if I don’t do well before applying for the following year.”
Her heel rested on his thigh, and it proved impossible to keep his hand off her soft skin as he massaged the top of her foot gently. “That means you’re a year and a half from entering law school.”
“It will be worth it in the long run,” she said, the pencil still pressed between her lips.
“What about money between the time our year is up and law school?” He hoped his questions appeared to be normal everyday conversation and not probing, investigative inquiry.
“Maybe you’ll renew our agreement on our anniversary month, and technically I’ll still be employed.”
He tried to bury his surprise at the thought. For the last few weeks, he’d done his best to avoid spending any more time with her than he deemed appropriate because he could barely stop gawking. Whenever they were in the kitchen, he wanted to grab her by the hips and slam her up against the fridge, taking her hot mouth in a deep, wet, sloppy kiss.
“Maybe I will,” he said, running his finger across her arch, watching her toes curl. He could think of another way to make her feet flex and point. “Did you look at all the dresses I had sent over for you to consider for our debut in public?”
“They are all so gorgeous. I can’t decide which one.” She set her study material on the coffee table, pulling her knees to her chest, leaving his lap as cold as the winter wind slamming into the windows.
“You can keep the ones you like that fit. We have a few things to attend over the next couple of weekends.”
“I can’t keep them all. You left the price tag on them—”
“It’s all part of the arrangement.” He’d begun resenting the entire concept of Infidelity Corporation, even though he had no problem with the service they offered. He knew two men who’d been matched perfectly through the company. Of course, he knew another who hadn’t been so lucky, but it wasn’t that much different than any other dating site, other than Cali was a paid employee and he was a client for one year.
“Thank you.” She rested her chin on her knee. “I noticed a jewelry box was delivered with the dresses.”
“Those, unfortunately, are on loan. Sorry about that.” Yeah, on loan from his mother and sisters. His father had put a limit on what he could spend, as well as a two percent interest rate on whatever the total for the year came out to be.
If he needed the year to break the story.
“That’s impressive,” she said, her lips neither drawn into a smile, nor a frown. “I’ve always been fascinated by borrowed jewelry.”
“It’s rented, so to speak. I don’t have enough clout to have a designer lend pieces out without a deposit.”
“I’ll make sure nothing happens to whatever pieces I wear.” She set her feet on the floor. “I should probably go get ready.”
“I can’t imagine what you’d need to do other than put on a dress, which wouldn’t be anywhere near as stunning as you.”
“Flattery will get you places.”
“What kind of places?” Her took her by the hand, helping her from the sofa, and drawing her to his chest. He’d started this believing that since Infidelity wasn’t selling sex by any means, he would somehow be immune to attraction.
Only, he’d been magnetized by her beauty the second he’d seen her standing by the door in the train station.
Her hands rested on his shoulders. She tilted her head, her tongue peeking out as it glided across her plump, rosy lips. “That depends. What were you thinking?” she whispered.
“You brought up what my compliments might get me,” he mused, drifting his hands over her firm biceps, slowly making their way to her exposed neck. “I’m simply following your lead.”
Her hot breath tickled his skin as she breathed, sending his body all sorts of signals, and he reacted in such a way that told him he wouldn’t last another evening without finding out if the attraction between them was part of the illusion, or something else.
It reminded him of one journalism professor he’d had that had told him, never, under any circumstances, get close to anyone remotely related to your story. No informants. No sources. And certainly not those who could potentially be the center of your piece, and if Cali was indeed messed up with Thompson and the Costello family, she could be the story.
That would suck.
He really hadn’t thought this through very well.
“What do you want?” She bit down on her lower lip.
He groaned.
“A kiss will do for now.” Cupping the back of her neck, he melded his mouth against hers, tasting her strawberry and Nutella snack. He kept things slow and controlled, which just made the ache he’d developed over her stronger and more intense. It had started deep in his gut and spread like syrup, filling all the nooks and crannies of a waffle. He’d had almost no experience with relationships and the few he did have, didn’t end well. Women wanted something he couldn’t give.
His father’s money.
And even if he could, that isn’t how he wanted to live his life. Well, except maybe a house like this on the ocean where he could write and do his research. The last two weeks, besides the distraction of the woman in his arms, he’d accomplished more than normal, and he blamed it on the ocean and view.
His mother constantly told him, no amount of money would make him happy. That money, while a driving force in his father’s life, wasn’t what drove his father. It wasn’t his passion, like his family had been, and Xavier appreciated that.
He deepened the kiss, swirling his tongue around hers, sucking it into his mouth, feeling her full breasts pressed into his body, her tight nipples constricting against his hard chest. He’d dreamt of this moment every night for the last two weeks, and the reality, thus far, surpassed his fantasies with flying colors.
“I should go get ready if we’re leaving in an hour.”
“I need a cold shower if you’re going to leave me hanging.”
She patted his chest, turning on her heels. “Cold showers are good for the soul.”
***
Kissing him in his family room had been a momentary lapse in judgment.
Making out with him in the back of the limo on the way to a news award show in the city like a horny teenager on prom night went beyond a bad decision, but it didn’t stop her from letting him feel her up.
With his hand on her breast and his thumb dipping inside her strapless dress, caressing her bare nipple, he nibbled on her neck while she ran her hands over his taut shoulders. His tongue felt like velvet inside her mouth. She could kiss him for hours and not get bored for a single second.
“You’re irresistible,” he murmured against her earlobe.
“Keep talking.” She sucked in a deep breath, tugging her dress closer to her body, trapping his finger against her skin.
“Beautiful.” His kisses dribbled down her chest, dangerously close to her puckered nipple. “Sexy. Sweet. Dangerous.”
“Dangerous, how?”
“I was physically attracted right away, but that I could have managed had it not been for the fact you, the woman, intrigues me on so many levels. You stimulate me intellectually as well as sexually. It’s a risky combination.”
She wished she didn’t understand exactly what he’d meant. After the first night at his house, she’d begun to think he not only didn’t find her attractive, but he didn’t like her since it felt like he wanted nothing to do with her. She worried that there would be no way he’d lavish her with gifts to sell, or cash to spend.
Now she had a closet full of designer clothes, and she hoped she’d be able to sneak some out soon. That would be the easy part. The hard part would be not falling for this man. She needed to pull away and not just physically, but emotionally, though she doubted she’d be able to hold out from having sex with Xavier for an entire year, so she needed to build a protective wall around her heart.
He thought she was dangerous? He was a roller coaster about to derail in the middle of an upside-down loop.
“I think we’re here,” he whispered.
“You’ve messed up my hair.” He’d done more than mess up her hair, but that had been the first thing that came to mind.
“And your boob is hanging out.”
She glanced down, hiking up her dress, her cheeks heated. “Wonderful. I think I’ll stay in the limo.”
He cupped her chin, his green eyes piercing her soul. Protecting herself would be harder than she thought, but she’d have to find a way.
She needed him to not want to renew their agreement after the first year. If she didn’t have enough money by then, there was no point anyway.
“Just think of what we can do on the way back.”
“We’re not having sex for the first time in a car.”
He smiled. “At least I know sex is on the table.”
“Was it ever off?” The limo door swung open, and she took the hand of the attendant in front of the Marriott Hotel where the ceremony was being held.
She adjusted her dress, just as that reporter, Marlin, snapped his camera, lights flickering in front of her causing her to lose her balance.
“Back off, Jeff,” Xavier said as he stepped in front of her.
The reported continued taking a few pictures while asking questions about Cali, which Xavier didn’t answer. “Ready?” Xavier pressed his hand at the small of her back, just at the triangular opening of her dress, his fingers dancing over skin as they moved quickly into the hotel lobby, leaving the cold New York winter chill outside.
“If that guy spent more time on real stories, maybe he’d have a bigger following,” she said, pausing mid-step as they passed the front desk.
Thompson leaned against the wall, talking with a man she didn’t recognize.
“Well, I am I’m up for an award, so maybe a little coverage, even if from that idiot, would be nice.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” she said, keeping her gaze on Xavier and his dashing smile. She passed Thompson without making eye contact, but his presence made her shiver.
“It’s for a ten-minute piece I did on the show about crime families in the city.”
She coughed, glancing over her shoulder, wondering what the hell Thompson was doing at the Marriott.
“Do you know those men?”
“I don’t think so, why?” She swallowed, trying to calm her insides from rattling the floor she walked on. The last thing she needed was Thompson poking around in her plan. If he knew what she was doing, he’d find a way to extort it.