Chapter
Twelve
After Vice parked in the underground parking garage, one that seemed scarier than the one I used every day at his building, he led me toward the elevators and pressed a button.
“Name?” was snarled from the panel beside the elevator, causing me to jump. Vice’s hand came to my lower back, which didn’t help my nerves at all.
“Vice Salvatore.”
“Right, doors will open soon.”
Why would the building have someone control the elevators? Vice must have seen my confusion and worked out what I was puzzled about because he explained, “It’s top security here. Grayson wouldn’t have it any other way once the children were born.”
“This is Grayson and Kenzie’s place?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
“Their security is manned mainly at night, but they do have some in the front entrance as well since this is also Jackson Media.”
“Jackson Media?”
Vice glanced at me, surprised to find me still confused. “Yes. Grayson Jackson, music producer. He has to be safe also for all his clients’ sake. Especially when there’s a guest floor where his artists sometimes stay.”
“Grayson’s a music producer?”
His lips twitched. “Yes.”
The door opened, and Vice led me in, but I was still lost in my thoughts. I never knew Grayson was so famous. Should I bow in front of him? No, that was plain stupid. Oh, wow, I wondered who his artists were. They’d seemed so normal, all of them, and yet I had been sitting among the rich and famous that night in the restaurant.
Shit on a stick. I’d split my dress in front of the rich and famous.
They’ve seen my panties.
“I can’t go in there.”
“What, why?”
“I made a fool out of myself last time.” Shifting to Vice, I leaned in and whispered, “They saw me fall… and my panties.”
He chuckled. I slapped his stomach, and he took my hand. My body shivered, and my pulse kicked up. “Yes, we have to work on your coordination.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I asked, my pitch higher, and then I melted when his thumb started to circle my wrist.
“Relax. We’re here to have dinner, and they’re normal people like you and me. Shit, we forgot your jacket.”
Wait.
Hang on.
Pulling my hand free, I turned fully to him with my hands on my hips. “Forget the jacket. You said this was a business dinner. I did get that right, right?” He didn’t answer, so I went on, “Why are we here? I canceled with Den for this?”
“We’ll get to that, but, Adalyn—”
“I was sure you said business dinner,” I mumbled to myself, searching the floor for answers.
“Adalyn—”
Glancing up, I asked, “Why would I have to come to a business dinner in the first place? And while I’m asking the question, why in God’s name did you name your sex stores after yourself?”
A throat cleared. “Vice, Adalyn, so good to see you both.”
Shit.
Dropping my head, I sighed, and then raised my gaze and turned with a smile.
“Hi, Grayson, Kenzie, and Mr. High.” I waved lamely.
Grayson’s lips twitched. What was it with these men and their cute lips action? It drove me crazy when Vice did it to a point I wanted to kiss the twitch right off his face.
“Hi, Adalyn. Thanks for joining us. I, um, ah, I asked Vice to bring you so I wouldn’t be bored when they talk business. Hope you don’t, um, mind. By the way, you look lovely.”
If I didn't already think Kenzie was really terrible at lying, then Mr. High’s words would have confirmed it, “What the fuck you talking about, Puddin’? Vice wanted her—”
“Dad!”
“Trent,” Vice clipped.
“Drinks,” Grayson shouted.
What in the world was going on?
“Shit,” Mr. High muttered. “Yeah, son. I’ll take one of those drinks.” He followed Grayson to the bar, and I took the chance to step off the elevator and look around the room. It was amazing, big, beautiful, and fancy.
As if she read my mind, Kenzie said, “This is the formal lounge, where Grayson puts on small gatherings.” While Vice made his way past us, heading toward the other men, Kenzie stepped up to my side and pointed to the left, and added, “That’s the children’s side, with two bedrooms. We cut the third room out to make a larger playroom for them. Don’t worry, the place is huge, but we have cameras everywhere linked to our iPads, so we know what the kids get up to. To the right is mine and Grayson’s bedroom, a living room, and another spare room. And in through that door is the kitchen and dining area.”
“The place is amazing.”
“Thanks, we think so. Here, let me take your bag.” She pulled it from my shoulder and placed it on the side table by the door.
“Where does Mr. High stay?” I asked.
“Sweetheart, call me Trent. Mr. High is so formal. We ain’t that around here. And I stay on the guest floor. That place is bloody huge,” Trent explained as he made his way to us carrying a glass of champagne.
Smiling, I took his offered glass, and replied, “Thanks, Trent. So where are the kids?”
“In bed.” Makenzie picked up an iPad on the side table near the couch and tapped it. I snatched it out of her hands and cooed over the cute little bundles.
“They’re adorable. How do you get anything done? I’d keep watching them sleep or play or eat.” I glanced up to see everyone watching me. “Um, I’m a mother, and I do love children.”
Kenzie laughed. “I totally understand.”
Trent snorted. “Just thank God you didn’t have two little girls. That’s stress right there.”
“We weren’t that bad, Dad, and I’m telling Lori you said that.”
Trent threw a hand out. “See, they always ganged up on me. Anyway, I wanna get back to Vice naming his shops after him. What’s it called, sweetheart?”
My eyes met Vice’s, and I was sure a slight blush coated his cheeks. Then I told Trent. “Carnal Vice.”
Trent threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Oh, shit. Wait until I tell the boys.”
Boys?
Kenzie leaned in and whispered, “He means the security guys. He goes down and plays cards with them all the time. Oh.” She gasped. “I better check the food.” She took off toward the kitchen, and I took one look at the remaining men, all who were good-looking in their own way, even Trent. So knowing I didn’t want to be left alone with so much testosterone, I stuttered out, “I-I’m, um, going, to ah, help, Kenzie.”
“Adalyn,” Grayson called, I turned back. “Vice lost a bet.”
My brows rose. “Sorry?”
“We made a bet. He lost, so I got to name the stores for him.”
My mouth dropped open. I was surprised Vice actually stuck to the bet. “What were you going to name them?” I asked my boss.
He coughed on his sip of beer. Trent slapped his back. Vice laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Let’s just say it was probably good Grayson made the bet. I’m never good at naming things.”
“Come on, what would you have picked?” I smiled.
He cursed, looked at the roof and then back to me. “Pleasure Center.” Both Grayson and Trent cracked up. I let a small giggle free and then covered my mouth.
“Hmm, I think you’re right. It was lucky Grayson won that bet.” I grinned and then walked into the kitchen.
A thought popped into my mind. If Vice and I had a child, we’d have to seek someone else to name them.
“What’s that smile for?” Kenzie asked as I stepped up to the counter.
“No reason.”
She rose her brows but left it alone. “Do you like your new job?”
“I do. It’s pretty easy. I used to do the bookkeeping for my ex-husband, so that helped a lot.”
“Really? What does he do?”
“He’s a graphic designer.”
“I was married before I met Grayson. Actually, I was still married when I came to work for him. I left my husband because I couldn’t take his personal jabs any longer. They were sinking deep to a point I thought they could be true.”
“At least you were strong enough to leave him.”
She let out a huff. “It only took me six years. At least I found my happily ever after now.”
Snorting, I asked as she potted around the kitchen, “Do they actually exist? And do you need a hand with anything?”
“No, thanks, just sit, relax, and drink your drink. Also, to answer your first question, I do believe they do. Lori and I have both found ours, and I’m sure you will one day.”
Shrugging, I said, “One can hope.”
“It’s good to hope. Do you want a refill?” she asked.
“Um, no, at least not yet. I’m a cheap date. I hardly drink so alcohol goes straight to my head.”
She laughed. “That could be a good thing.”
“Not when I’m around Vice it wouldn’t be,” I muttered to myself.
“Pardon?” she asked.
“Oh, um, I’m not sure it would be appropriate at a business dinner.”
“Pfft, we’re here to have fun, too. Do you know, on my first business dinner I asked if I had a sign on my forehead that read I hadn’t had sex in a while?”
A shout of laughter fell from my lips. I covered my mouth. “No?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “And I hadn’t even had a drink.”
“I like you, Kenzie.”
Her smile was warm. “I like you, too, Adalyn. And I’ve been meaning to ask where you get your amazing jewelry from?”
My hand reached up to my necklace, and I looked down to my rings and bracelet. She called them amazing. I grinned. “I made them.”
“No way, really?”
“Yes. I could make you some if you like.”
“I would so love that, but I’ll pay for them.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Friends rates, meaning they’re free. But you can take a look at my online store, to see if anything interests you on there. However, if I find a purchase from you, I’ll cancel it.”
She laughed and grabbed a pen and paper from the drawer. “Write down your store, and I’ll take a look.”
Once I wrote it, I passed it back. “One thing you can do, if you know anyone who’d be interested in my product you could share.”
“Oh, I will.”
“What are you two conniving about?” Vice asked as he entered with Grayson and Trent.
“How to take over the world.” Kenzie winked.
“Sounds interesting.” Grayson deadpanned.
“Glad you all came in. Dinner is ready. Let’s eat,” Kenzie announced. I helped her take the cooked chicken, roast vegetables, and warmed rolls to the table.
“This looks amazing, sweetheart,” Vice said, and kissed Kenzie on the forehead before taking a seat next to me. Trent sat at the end of the table and on my other side, while Grayson and Kenzie sat opposite Vice and me.
The room fell silent while we dished up our own meals, and then Vice took the time to share, “Did you tell Kenzie about the time you saw me naked?”
“Shut up!” I screamed. The roll I had just picked up went flying through the air and knocked Trent in the face.
“Puddin’, do not dish out rolls. I seemed to always get one in the face.”
Grayson chuckled. Kenzie’s eyes widened, and then she giggled. “This I have to hear.”
Vice retold the time in the bathroom. All three had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard. I took my drink and skulled the rest, shocked he’d told them. Then again, they were his friends and not just business associates. Which reminded me, why had I been invited to come in the first place? It didn’t make sense.
“Adalyn, would you like another drink?” Vice asked. He moved, ready to stand. When I didn’t answer, he faced me. “Adalyn?”
“Kenzie, can you please tell Vice I’m no longer speaking to him?”
She looked from me to Vice and back to me. “Um, sure.” She glanced to Vice. “Vice—”
“I heard.” He sighed, but his lips twitched, and I caught his look to Grayson, one I didn’t understand.
“Adalyn girl, don’t stress over it too much. We share in this family. It’s how it is. Why, I’m sure Grayson has some stories to tell you about Vice back in college days.”
Family.
Trent was including me in their family. Why? Even though it spread good fuzzy feelings inside of me, it still confused me.
“This is true. I have many.” Grayson nodded and smirked at Vice.
“Don’t you dare,” Vice warned low.
“Payback is a bitch as they say.”
“Yes, please tell me.” I grinned. It would be good to have some dirt on the man who drove me crazy, and it was a welcome distraction from overthinking about the invite there.
“Right, where to begin.” Grayson rubbed his hands together. Vice groaned, but he didn’t stop Grayson any further.