penthouse’s bedroom, phone to my ear as it tries to connect.
“Come on, come, on,” I urge.
I close the door, even though there’s no sign of Maddy in the hallway. To say she was less than pleased that I checked her into the hotel’s penthouse with me would be an understatement. But I won the argument because her office wasn’t expecting us to return to Milan, so they hadn’t booked her a room. Plus, I told her they were all booked out. Which could be true. I never bothered to find out. If she stays with me, I can keep an eye on her, like I promised Drew.
“Hello?”
“Gabrielle?”
“Logan.” There’s a warmth in her voice. “It’s been a while. How are you?”
“Good. All good.” I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and move the thin drapes so I can look out at the city. The evening lights are making the streets glow a warm yellow. “How are you?”
She blows out a breath with a soft laugh. “Getting used to being back in London.”
“I guess it’s a change from field hospitals.”
“You can say that again. It’s nice to spend more time with Dad, though. I can’t get this crazy idea about you and me out of his head.”
I drop my head back and look at the ceiling. The muscles in my shoulders and back loosen with my relieved laugh. “Yeah. What the hell is that all about?”
“I know.” Gabrielle laughs too. “You think our dads had a weird age-related epiphany and decided to drag us into it? They should have gotten a new sports car or something.”
“Or something.”
“You’re not worried about it, are you?”
I reach up and tug at the collar of my tuxedo shirt. “No, I mean, not really.”
“Good, there’s no need. I bet it was my father’s idea. He comes up with these hair-brained schemes all the time. Remember when we were kids and he sent me to those boring finishing classes, convinced I was going to marry into the royal family one day?”
“I thought there was something wrong with your pinkie whenever you drank.”
“Exactly.” She sighs. “It’s just another silly idea. I think Dad has it in his head since losing Mum that he needs to make sure I’m settled. He worries about the future more than he used to.”
“Mm.” Gabrielle lost her Mum to cancer a few of years ago, and I’ve noticed when Spencer visits Dad, he’s a lot more reserved than he used to be. Lacking some of the energy he once had.
“Dad said you’re in Italy?”
“Yeah. Meeting with investors.”
“This new project sounds exciting. Let’s meet up when you get back. We can make a united front and crush our fathers’ matchmaking dreams together.” Gabrielle laughs.
“That’s a meeting I’m looking forward to.”
Gabrielle is right. This stupid wedding idea would never happen, and hearing her say it out loud, and being so unfazed settles the niggle of unease that’s been lurking in my gut since leaving London.
She’s not worried. So I am no longer even the tiniest bit concerned.
My smile widens as she says goodbye.
Another call comes through my phone within seconds.
“Hey.”
“You sound even happier than usual. You’ve not got company, have you?”
My lips curls down as I sit on the end of the bed. “Like I’d answer a call and speak to you if I did. Way to make a guy’s dick shrivel.”
“I don’t want to think about your dick,” Drew says.
“You were the one asking about it.”
“Shut up, fucker.”
We both laugh.
“So, how’s it going?” Drew asks.
“Good. Great, actually. I just got off a call with Gabrielle. She’s shot the idea down with Spencer. And we’re going to meet when I’m back and make sure it’s skinned and bled out too.”
“Knew the idea of you getting married was never going to happen.” Drew chuckles. “You been using the dating apps there, then? Making the most of the local sights?”
I groan. “I wish. I’ve been too busy with meetings. And I went sightseeing with Mads the one day I had some downtime.”
“Sounds like she’s keeping you out of trouble as much as you are her. She going easy on you?” Drew’s voice is laced with amusement. He knows damn well when Maddy and I are in a room together, sparks of the sarcastic comment kind fly. Usually from her.
“Like hell she is.”
My mind still flicks back to our fight. It’s been good the past day, but…
I hate you. I’ve always hated you.
“We’re going to the opera tonight. One of the investors gave us tickets.” I smooth a hand down over my shirt, then check my watch. We are due to leave in ten minutes.
“Yeah, I just called her. She’s really excited,” Drew says.
“I get it. I’m second choice.”
“Fourth. I rang Tan and Dax before you.”
“Jerk,” I mutter with a grin. “How is everyone? Tanner, Dax? Jasmin?”
“They’re good. Really good.”
“Good,” I echo.
Regret settles in my gut like a lead weight. I’ve always tried to help my friends when they’ve needed me. Only with Maddy I screwed it up. I was young and stupid. I didn’t know what I was doing. I made Drew a promise to look after her. The same promise I made Dax when he got sent to jail. Only with Jasmin I got it right. Me and her are friends. She likes me.
Maddy hates me.
“Just…” Drew’s voice drops. “Keep an eye on her?”
“You know I will. I always have, haven’t I?”
“I know, I know.” Drew pauses. “It’s just Dad…”
“What about him?” I curse under my breath at the mention of Drew’s father. The tension I happily shed with Gabrielle’s call wraps itself back around my back and shoulders like a cloak.
“Mum thinks he’s having an affair.”
“Another one?”
“Yep.” Drew snorts in disgust.
“And Mads—?”
“I told her when we spoke a couple of nights ago. She was oblivious. I don’t think she wants to believe it. I didn’t tell her it probably isn’t the first one.”
“Uh-huh.”
Two nights ago was the night of our fight. I thought Maddy caved easily when I went to apologize. I’d mentally prepared for another round of insults to be launched at me. Once she gets going, she lets loose. Although, I was no better. The way she looked at me fired up something inside me. I thought what we had was banter. But in her eyes, all I could see was pure hatred.
“She knows he’s not a saint though,” I say. “I mean after what—”
“She doesn’t know.”
“What?” I pace around the room, rubbing my chin with one hand as my grip on the phone tightens. “But you said—”
“I know. But I couldn’t tell her. She has a closer relationship with him than me. I didn’t know what it would do to her. I kept putting it off and…” His groan is heavy. “Fuck, then we get to now. When I have to tell her not only does Dad cheat on Mum like it’s an Olympic sport, but that he—”
“She deserves to know. You said you were going to tell her when you found out. How do you think she’s going to feel knowing you’ve known about this for—”
“I know,” Drew snaps. “Fuck, I know.” He sighs. “Sorry. I just… I’ll tell her, okay. When she gets home. She’s got enough to digest right now.”
I nod, helpless to the turmoil in my friend’s voice. Drew wants to protect Maddy. It’s what family does for one another. It’s what friends do.
“Just, look after her, yeah? She might not show it. But I know she’ll be thinking about Mum and Dad and stuff at home.”
“Okay.”
Now I understand why Maddy hates me so much, or at least, I’m starting to.
“Thanks, man,” Drew says. “I know she’s safe with you.”
“Yeah.” I try and fail to clear my throat.
So safe that I got a fucking hard-on when she was wet and clinging to me in the bathroom. So safe that I told her that her curves are sexy as I fought not to imagine her naked tits pressed against my chest again. So safe that I took great delight in the way she shivered as I whispered in her ear to buy the damn panties. Panties that I spent my earlier shower thinking about, wondering what they’d look like on her.
“Yeah.” I don’t even bother trying to move the lump again. “She’s safe.”
“This is so amazing!” Maddy squeals.
Squeals.
I’ve never seen her excited about anything before. Her usual setting around me is a notch above hit me in the dick and one below rip my head off.
“Look at the stage.” She points over the balcony of the royal box, before gazing around in wonder at all the occupied seats below us.
I’ve got to hand it to Sterling Beaufort, this is impressive.
“Best view in the house. Royal box for the prince.” I grin.
Maddy looks at me and rolls her eyes. “Even the company can’t ruin tonight for me.” She turns back toward the stage and leans forward resting her arms on the low wall in front of us, then lets out a happy sigh. “It’s magical.”
My eyes skim over her. Her hair is tied up. There are a few loose tendrils slipping free, which she keeps tutting at, but she seems to have forgotten about them since we sat down in the royal box. And the green silk dress that hugs her curves is… hugging her curves.
I swallow, flexing and straightening my hands in and out of fists against my tuxedo pants as I spot a hint of black fabric peeking out above the neckline of her dress as she leans forward.
She’s wearing the bra. Which means she’s also wearing the black G-string. And perhaps the garter belt? My eyes drop to her legs and the thigh-high split in the dress.
Black silk.
Fuck.
I clear my throat, dragging my eyes away, but that fucker of a ball has taken up permanent residence near my vocal cords, making my voice deep and gravelly when I speak.
“Show’s about to start, Mads.”
The lights dim, and she looks at me, her eyes glittering with delight. A spotlight falls on the stage and music begins to play.
I don’t have the first fucking clue what the story is about. A load of singing, which is impressive, accompanied by a lot of wailing and stricken looks between the characters on the stage.
“It’s so beautifully sad,” Maddy whispers, leaning close so I can hear her over the music. “She’s desperately in love with Pinkerton. She’s waited years for him to return to her.”
“You can tell that from the singing?”
“By the way she looks at him.” She lays a hand over my arm and points with her free one. “See? But he’s re-married while they were apart without telling her.”
I squint at the stage. The actress looks hopeful, in love, I guess, like Maddy says. But I can’t read his face.
“Oh my god!” Maddy brings a hand to her mouth as the music builds. Then grabs my thigh with her other hand and squeezes it. “She’s going to do something.”
She lets out a gasp as the female character acts out killing herself.
“No.” Maddy wipes tears from her eyes, enthralled by the stage as the story ends. “Logan, it’s… Oh my god, it’s so sad. But so utterly beautiful too.” She sniffs, wiping the tears from her cheeks as she smiles through them.
My mouth goes dry.
“It is,” I agree, my voice thick. “Beautiful.”
Her breath hitches and she blinks at me. “You enjoyed it?”
“Never felt anything like it,” I reply with complete honesty.
Her dark curls fall around her face, and her hazel eyes shine with tears, but sparkle with energy at the same time. Her lips are a deep pink from where she’s biting the bottom one, bringing more blood to the soft surface.
She breaks eye contact with me and leans down to rub her foot.
“Is it okay if we go now? These shoes are killing me.”
I look down at the high heels she’s wearing that I also insisted on buying her.
“Of course, my driver will be waiting outside.”
“Good,” she groans, continuing to rub her foot.
I stand and offer her my hand to help her up. She takes it and bites her lip, her eyes glittering.
“You know, I can’t wait to get the stupid things off and put some slippers on.”
My lips twitch.
I place a hand on her lower back to guide her to the exit.
“All slippers have been removed from our penthouse. In fact, I’ll pay to see them banned from Italy altogether. I want to live to see thirty-four.”
She giggles. Fucking giggles. And it takes every ounce of strength I have not to do anything that could taint this moment and make it something other than it is… Magic.
I promised Maddy I would make her laugh one day, but as I lead her out, I acknowledge a simple fact.
I never expected it to feel this good.
