ROOK (Billionaire Buck Boys Book 6), page 7
Plugging my ears with my fingers is an option, but I’m pretty sure the two of them will notice me when they skip down the hall on their way to their rendezvous spot.
Does Declan even know that his best friend is coming here to… have sex? Screw? No… fuck. Rook seems like the kind of man that fucks, and fucks hard.
I shake my head to try to chase away the image of that.
“He has his own apartment,” I whisper. “Why can’t he do it there?”
My feet suddenly are cooperative, so I sprint to the guestroom, but I’m not fast enough.
“Carrie?” Rook’s voice sends goosebumps over my skin. “What are you doing here?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rook
When I planned this night I never thought it would include an eyeful of Carrie Gilbert’s perfectly round ass contained in a pair of shorts.
Let the record reflect that it’s barely contained.
I glance away because the image of that has brought my cock to life, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
The petite blonde standing next to me jabs an elbow into my side. “You said no one would be here.”
“I’m here,” Carrie says, her voice wavering. “I’m Carrie. I’m Abby’s sister.”
I step in to finish the introductions. “Carrie, this is Posey.”
Carrie turns to the side, which only revs my desire up another notch. I’m seriously uncomfortable at the moment. The pants I’m wearing are tailored to fit, but they don’t have a lot of give for when I’m battling a hard-on, and I’m doing that now.
Her tits are moving under the pajama top she’s wearing since she’s bouncing in place. I’ve seen that type of nervous energy from people before, but it’s typically related to my work. A law degree tends to garner that reaction.
“It’s good to meet you, Carrie.” Posey takes off toward Carrie. “I’m sorry. I was under the impression no one would be here.”
Carrie briefly glances past Posey to focus on my face before she levels her gaze on the floor. “I didn’t know you’d be here either.”
Posey makes it within a foot of where Carrie is before she spins to face me. Her hands drop to her hips. “I think we need to go, Rook. Maybe you should talk to Declan about a schedule for us to work on the mural.”
“What mural?” Carrie asks, her voice barely more than a whisper.
A slight turn of her body accompanies the question. She’s facing me now, and Jesus, she’s even more stunning tonight than she was in that green dress at the wedding.
Her nipples have furled into tight points under the fabric of the shirt. The bottom button is undone, so when she moves, a sliver of the skin of her stomach is visible.
I have to tear my gaze away from her because I swear to fuck, the zipper on these pants is about to burst from the pressure of my erection.
“Declan asked Rook to arrange for someone to paint a mural for the nursery,” Posey explains because I’ve yet to offer any reason for why I’m here. “He hired me. I’m a paralegal by day and an artist by night.”
“Oh.” Carrie’s eyes widen behind her glasses. “That’s really sweet.”
“It’s a surprise for Abby.” Posey pauses. “Wait. Are you Abby’s sister? Are you that Carrie?”
Carrie nods slowly. “That’s me. Do you know Abby?”
Posey closes the distance between her and Carrie with a few short steps. “We work together. I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re a fragrance chemist, right?”
Carrie’s arms cross her chest. “I am, yes.”
“That’s so awesome.” Posey glances over her shoulder at me. “It’s freaking awesome, right, Rook?”
I don’t make eye contact with her when I answer because my gaze is pinned on Carrie. “It’s freaking awesome.”
That lures a small smile to Carrie’s face. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to slip on some other clothes, and then we can talk more.”
“Of course.” Posey hurries Carrie along with a brush of her hand in the air. “Rook and I will wait in the main room for you. We’re sorry we barged in.”
She may be, but I’m damn glad that we did.
The way Carrie looks right now will live in my memory bank for a hell of a long time to come.
Less than five minutes later, Carrie enters the living room carrying Cindy. The kitten leaps out of her arms and onto the back of the couch, narrowly missing Posey’s head.
Posey laughs. “Animals usually like me.”
Carrie smiles at her. “I’m convinced that’s Cindy’s way of expressing love.”
I’m convinced that Carrie Gilbert looks magnificent in anything she wears.
Right now, it’s faded, ripped jeans and a black sweatshirt that bears the logo of New York University.
Carrie takes a seat on the couch next to Posey. I’m across from both of them in a chair. I tossed my suit jacket over the back of it when we first arrived. A sweatshirt bearing the name of Posey’s brother’s Brooklyn based restaurant is on top of it. She’d wear that thing to work if I allowed it. She sees herself as a walking, talking billboard and it’s paying off. A few people asked her about the restaurant as we made our way over here from the subway stop we met up at.
Posey runs a hand through her hair. “I want to apologize again, Carrie. When Rook hired me to do this, he said I’d have all the time I wanted in the evening and into the night.”
“Are you staying here, Carrie?” I already know the answer to that question based on the fact that we caught her in pajamas.
“I am.” She nods. “I take it Declan didn’t mention that?”
“No.” I huff out a laugh. “He’s been so caught up in all the surprises he has planned for Abby on their honeymoon. You being here while they’re gone must have slipped his mind.”
That’s a polite way of covering up for both Declan and I. Kirby asked if she could watch Cindy during our pre-wedding dinner, and Declan answered by saying the cat would be staying with Carrie. I assumed that meant that the cat would be bunking in Brooklyn. I should have followed up with Declan before he left.
“So, you’re painting a mural?” Carrie shifts her attention to Posey. “What kind of mural?”
Posey’s phone is in her hand, and displaying a brightly colored mural before I can blink my eyes.
She flashes the picture at Carrie.
“That’s gorgeous,” Carrie croons. “Abby is going to be over the moon happy.”
“Over the moon?” Posey flashes me a smile. “Do you see what she did there, Rook?”
I do, but I don’t think Carrie is aware because her brows have knit together.
I tap a fingertip on the phone’s screen. “The cow jumping over the moon. It fits into the nursery rhyme theme of the mural.”
“Right.” A blush creeps up her cheeks. “I know my sister will love it.”
I suspect she’s right.
Carrie looks around. “I’ll pack up and take Cindy to my apartment.”
Like hell she will.
She may view this situation as a problem. I see it as a solution. If I handle this right, I’ll get more time with the beauty before Declan and Abby return to New York.
“You’ll stay. Abby wants you here.” Since I’m paid very well to handle delicate negotiations, I present an opening offer to her. “Posey will work on the mural during the day, and I’ll stop in after work to add my artistic flair to it.”
Posey’s head snaps to the right. “You have an artistic flair?”
“Yes,” I lie.
I can color between the lines. That has to count for something. I have my daughter to thank for that. All those hours helping her with the color by number books my mom buys her are finally paying off.
“Are you saying I can ditch the office and work here during the day?” Posey questions, her eyes lighting up with hope.
“Yes,” I say, and this time it’s the God’s honest truth.
I need this mural done before Abby sets foot back in this apartment.
“You’ll pay me what we agreed to for the mural, and I’ll still earn my salary at the office?”
I’d say no fucking way to that if Carrie weren’t following this conversation as closely as she is.
Impressing the green-eyed beauty is my goal tonight so I up the ante with my employee, “I’ll give you a bonus if you get the mural done before Abby’s back and if you finish your work on the Polanco case.”
A grin plays on Carrie’s lips.
Posey doesn’t hide the broad smile that takes over her mouth. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll start on the mural tomorrow morning.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Carrie
Posey tugs a sweatshirt over her head. The logo stamped on the front is one I’m all too familiar with. It’s from a restaurant two blocks from my apartment. I regularly order pizza from there, and after sampling their dessert offering with Telford last week, I’ll have that again as soon as I’m back in Brooklyn.
Posey’s hands drop to her hips. “If you’re ever in Brooklyn searching for great food, you should check out the menu at Franzini’s.”
“I order from there all the time,” I tell her. “I tried their dessert pizza recently, and it was just wow.”
“Right?” Posey claps her hands. “I got to taste test that before Elio put it on the menu.”
“You know Elio?” I smile. “The owner?”
“He’s my brother.” Her entire face lights up. “My older brother. There’s eight years between us, but we’re close or as close as possible because I’m always working.”
She tosses some major side eye in Rook’s direction, but he’s staring at me.
Thank goodness I put on a bra before I came back out here. My nipples have been in uncooperative mode since he arrived.
“Do you know Elio?” she questions with a tilt of her head.
She in no way, shape, or form resembles her brother. He’s tall, with dark hair and what Telford calls ‘brown bedroom eyes.’ Posey is around my height, which puts her at five feet two inches on a good day. She has blonde hair and blue eyes.
“We’ve met,” I explain, but don’t launch into the time Telford tried to set me up with the sexy restaurant owner.
I like the pizza at Franzini’s too much to risk a bad relationship ruining that.
“He’s a good guy.” She looks at Rook. “We should go, boss.”
Rook keeps his gaze on me. “Should we?”
It’s inching closer and closer to my shuteye time, so I nod. “I get up at five every day, so I’d like to…”
“Five?” Posey questions. “Why on earth?”
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s the time I’ve always gotten up. I’m usually at my lab shortly after eight.”
Posey shoots a look in Rook’s direction again. “If Carrie clears out of here at eight and I start around tenish, that works, right?”
“Wrong,” he says, finally glancing at her. “Be here at eight fifteen every morning and stay until…”
“I’m never here before six,” I offer since I suspect he was searching for that tidbit of information.
“I’ll stop by around five thirty to help Posey clean up each day,” Rook explains.
“You said you’d help with the mural,” she directs that at her boss. “You said something about your artistic flair.”
With a straight face, he nods. “I’ll stop by whenever I have a chance to contribute. If we run past six occasionally, will that work for you, Carrie?”
“Sure.”
“Expect to see me here tomorrow evening.” His lips inch toward a smile. “I’ll stop by to lend Posey a hand with the painting and clean up.”
“Sounds great to me.” My smile beams brighter than his. “I have plans after work tomorrow. I don’t expect to be back here until late.”
Well, late for me. Nine o’clock is early in this town.
Rook’s smile disappears. “All right.”
I can’t tell if he’s disappointed or if he’s relieved.
Since I blurted out my virgin status to the man, I haven’t stopped wondering whether he views that knowledge as a burden.
He’s becoming close friends with my sister, and although I can’t see him telling her I’m still lugging my V-card around, it does put him in a delicate position.
I stand. “I don’t mean to throw you out, but it’s getting late.”
Again, that’s all in the eye of the beholder, and my eye says I need these two to leave.
“Of course.” Posey is on her feet first. “It was nice to meet you, Carrie.”
“You too.” I smile at her.
“I’ll tell my brother about you.”
“Why?” Rook surprises us both with that question.
Posey shakes her head. “Because she’s a regular customer, and that will mean a lot to him.”
“Right.” Rook nods. “I’m sure Elio will appreciate that Carrie enjoys his offerings.”
Posey’s eyebrows dance. “You might be onto something, boss.”
Rook looks as stunned by that as I feel.
Posey goes on, oblivious to the silence that met her last statement, “I happen to know that my brother is very single. Are you, Carrie?”
“We’re leaving.” Rook motions toward the door before he grabs his suit jacket and heads in that direction. “We’ve taken up enough of Carrie’s time for tonight.”
“Fine.” Posey is hot on his heel.
I stand in place, cataloging the way Rook Thorsen looks in suit pants and a matching vest into my memory.
He slides the jacket back on just as I glance down to appreciate how his ass looks.
“We’ll see you around, Carrie.” Posey raises a hand to wave goodbye. “Or here, I guess. We’ll see you here soon.”
“You will,” I assure her before I hesitate briefly. “I should give you my number, Posey, so we can stay connected and work out times for you to come over.”
“That’s a brilliant idea!” She taps on the screen of her phone as she sprints back toward me. “Here, program it into my contact list.”
Rook starts toward us, too. “I should get it as well since…”
“No need,” Posey cuts him off. “Let’s face it, boss. I’m doing the bulk of the work on this, so I’m the one who should be the point person with Carrie.”
It makes perfect sense to me.
I add my name and number to her phone before I hand it back to her. “I know the mural will mean a lot to my sister.”
Posey smiles. “It means a lot to me to do it for her.”
I glance at Rook to see him standing stoically with his phone in his hand.
I expertly avoided having to discuss my virgin confession with the man tonight. With any luck, I can keep that up for the next four weeks and beyond.
Sooner or later, he’ll forget he ever heard it. I know he will. He has to.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rook
How in the ever loving fuck did one of my employees walk out of Declan’s apartment tonight with Carrie’s phone number, and I left with nothing but a case of blue balls?
I remedied that as soon as I was home.
My suit jacket was on the floor in the foyer of my apartment before my vest, shirt, and tie followed somewhere in the hallway leading to my bedroom. My shoes, socks, pants, and boxer briefs landed at the foot of my bed. I’ll have to search for my silver cufflinks later because I’m about to go another round with my cock in my palm because blowing my load in the shower did little to relieve the pressing need that is still inside of me.
That need is for Carrie.
My phone chimes, so I set out to find the thing.
It sounds again as I near the foyer. I say a silent prayer that I didn’t destroy the screen when I dropped my jacket since my phone is obviously still inside it.
I reach down and slide it from the pocket. I skim through all the notifications lighting up the undamaged screen.
Most are related to work.
Even though I practice corporate law, my clients don’t view their issues through a nine-to-five lens. Many of them crave my attention twenty-four seven, and since they’re paying me what amounts to a king’s ransom, I do my best to keep myself available for their whims.
I smile when I spot the last text message to arrive.
Milo: You’ll be glad to know that I didn’t get arrested today.
I glance at the time on the corner of the screen.
Rook: The day isn’t over yet. You’ve still got two hours to stir up some shit.
I tug on the waistband of my boxer briefs while I wait for his reply.
Milo: I’m at my office, so you can rest easy, counselor. I won’t require your services tonight.
I’m thankful for that, and grateful that my daughter is with her mom tonight. I’ve got a hell of a lot of pent-up energy that I need to release before I fall asleep. I need to come again to try and soothe the ache inside of me for Carrie.
I glance down when another text pops onto the screen.
Milo: I’ll buy you dinner tomorrow. Consider it payback for helping me out at the police station the other night.
Chuckling, I type out my response before hitting send.
Rook: Dinner won’t close your tab with me. You know my hourly rate.
I laugh harder when I catch sight of my brother’s response.
Milo: Fuck you. It’s dinner or nothing.
He may be only three years younger than I am, but I consider Milo a good friend, and one of my closest confidantes. Our mother claims our nonstop cursing at each other is our way of expressing our love. If that’s true, I’m about to tell him he means the world to me.
Rook: Fuck you too, asshole. Meet me at Nova at 8. I’ll be ordering the most expensive entrée and the best bottle of champagne they have.
I stalk back toward my bedroom but stop mid-step when his response hits my phone. I can’t contain the hearty laughter that bounces off the walls in my silent apartment.
Does Declan even know that his best friend is coming here to… have sex? Screw? No… fuck. Rook seems like the kind of man that fucks, and fucks hard.
I shake my head to try to chase away the image of that.
“He has his own apartment,” I whisper. “Why can’t he do it there?”
My feet suddenly are cooperative, so I sprint to the guestroom, but I’m not fast enough.
“Carrie?” Rook’s voice sends goosebumps over my skin. “What are you doing here?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rook
When I planned this night I never thought it would include an eyeful of Carrie Gilbert’s perfectly round ass contained in a pair of shorts.
Let the record reflect that it’s barely contained.
I glance away because the image of that has brought my cock to life, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
The petite blonde standing next to me jabs an elbow into my side. “You said no one would be here.”
“I’m here,” Carrie says, her voice wavering. “I’m Carrie. I’m Abby’s sister.”
I step in to finish the introductions. “Carrie, this is Posey.”
Carrie turns to the side, which only revs my desire up another notch. I’m seriously uncomfortable at the moment. The pants I’m wearing are tailored to fit, but they don’t have a lot of give for when I’m battling a hard-on, and I’m doing that now.
Her tits are moving under the pajama top she’s wearing since she’s bouncing in place. I’ve seen that type of nervous energy from people before, but it’s typically related to my work. A law degree tends to garner that reaction.
“It’s good to meet you, Carrie.” Posey takes off toward Carrie. “I’m sorry. I was under the impression no one would be here.”
Carrie briefly glances past Posey to focus on my face before she levels her gaze on the floor. “I didn’t know you’d be here either.”
Posey makes it within a foot of where Carrie is before she spins to face me. Her hands drop to her hips. “I think we need to go, Rook. Maybe you should talk to Declan about a schedule for us to work on the mural.”
“What mural?” Carrie asks, her voice barely more than a whisper.
A slight turn of her body accompanies the question. She’s facing me now, and Jesus, she’s even more stunning tonight than she was in that green dress at the wedding.
Her nipples have furled into tight points under the fabric of the shirt. The bottom button is undone, so when she moves, a sliver of the skin of her stomach is visible.
I have to tear my gaze away from her because I swear to fuck, the zipper on these pants is about to burst from the pressure of my erection.
“Declan asked Rook to arrange for someone to paint a mural for the nursery,” Posey explains because I’ve yet to offer any reason for why I’m here. “He hired me. I’m a paralegal by day and an artist by night.”
“Oh.” Carrie’s eyes widen behind her glasses. “That’s really sweet.”
“It’s a surprise for Abby.” Posey pauses. “Wait. Are you Abby’s sister? Are you that Carrie?”
Carrie nods slowly. “That’s me. Do you know Abby?”
Posey closes the distance between her and Carrie with a few short steps. “We work together. I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re a fragrance chemist, right?”
Carrie’s arms cross her chest. “I am, yes.”
“That’s so awesome.” Posey glances over her shoulder at me. “It’s freaking awesome, right, Rook?”
I don’t make eye contact with her when I answer because my gaze is pinned on Carrie. “It’s freaking awesome.”
That lures a small smile to Carrie’s face. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to slip on some other clothes, and then we can talk more.”
“Of course.” Posey hurries Carrie along with a brush of her hand in the air. “Rook and I will wait in the main room for you. We’re sorry we barged in.”
She may be, but I’m damn glad that we did.
The way Carrie looks right now will live in my memory bank for a hell of a long time to come.
Less than five minutes later, Carrie enters the living room carrying Cindy. The kitten leaps out of her arms and onto the back of the couch, narrowly missing Posey’s head.
Posey laughs. “Animals usually like me.”
Carrie smiles at her. “I’m convinced that’s Cindy’s way of expressing love.”
I’m convinced that Carrie Gilbert looks magnificent in anything she wears.
Right now, it’s faded, ripped jeans and a black sweatshirt that bears the logo of New York University.
Carrie takes a seat on the couch next to Posey. I’m across from both of them in a chair. I tossed my suit jacket over the back of it when we first arrived. A sweatshirt bearing the name of Posey’s brother’s Brooklyn based restaurant is on top of it. She’d wear that thing to work if I allowed it. She sees herself as a walking, talking billboard and it’s paying off. A few people asked her about the restaurant as we made our way over here from the subway stop we met up at.
Posey runs a hand through her hair. “I want to apologize again, Carrie. When Rook hired me to do this, he said I’d have all the time I wanted in the evening and into the night.”
“Are you staying here, Carrie?” I already know the answer to that question based on the fact that we caught her in pajamas.
“I am.” She nods. “I take it Declan didn’t mention that?”
“No.” I huff out a laugh. “He’s been so caught up in all the surprises he has planned for Abby on their honeymoon. You being here while they’re gone must have slipped his mind.”
That’s a polite way of covering up for both Declan and I. Kirby asked if she could watch Cindy during our pre-wedding dinner, and Declan answered by saying the cat would be staying with Carrie. I assumed that meant that the cat would be bunking in Brooklyn. I should have followed up with Declan before he left.
“So, you’re painting a mural?” Carrie shifts her attention to Posey. “What kind of mural?”
Posey’s phone is in her hand, and displaying a brightly colored mural before I can blink my eyes.
She flashes the picture at Carrie.
“That’s gorgeous,” Carrie croons. “Abby is going to be over the moon happy.”
“Over the moon?” Posey flashes me a smile. “Do you see what she did there, Rook?”
I do, but I don’t think Carrie is aware because her brows have knit together.
I tap a fingertip on the phone’s screen. “The cow jumping over the moon. It fits into the nursery rhyme theme of the mural.”
“Right.” A blush creeps up her cheeks. “I know my sister will love it.”
I suspect she’s right.
Carrie looks around. “I’ll pack up and take Cindy to my apartment.”
Like hell she will.
She may view this situation as a problem. I see it as a solution. If I handle this right, I’ll get more time with the beauty before Declan and Abby return to New York.
“You’ll stay. Abby wants you here.” Since I’m paid very well to handle delicate negotiations, I present an opening offer to her. “Posey will work on the mural during the day, and I’ll stop in after work to add my artistic flair to it.”
Posey’s head snaps to the right. “You have an artistic flair?”
“Yes,” I lie.
I can color between the lines. That has to count for something. I have my daughter to thank for that. All those hours helping her with the color by number books my mom buys her are finally paying off.
“Are you saying I can ditch the office and work here during the day?” Posey questions, her eyes lighting up with hope.
“Yes,” I say, and this time it’s the God’s honest truth.
I need this mural done before Abby sets foot back in this apartment.
“You’ll pay me what we agreed to for the mural, and I’ll still earn my salary at the office?”
I’d say no fucking way to that if Carrie weren’t following this conversation as closely as she is.
Impressing the green-eyed beauty is my goal tonight so I up the ante with my employee, “I’ll give you a bonus if you get the mural done before Abby’s back and if you finish your work on the Polanco case.”
A grin plays on Carrie’s lips.
Posey doesn’t hide the broad smile that takes over her mouth. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll start on the mural tomorrow morning.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Carrie
Posey tugs a sweatshirt over her head. The logo stamped on the front is one I’m all too familiar with. It’s from a restaurant two blocks from my apartment. I regularly order pizza from there, and after sampling their dessert offering with Telford last week, I’ll have that again as soon as I’m back in Brooklyn.
Posey’s hands drop to her hips. “If you’re ever in Brooklyn searching for great food, you should check out the menu at Franzini’s.”
“I order from there all the time,” I tell her. “I tried their dessert pizza recently, and it was just wow.”
“Right?” Posey claps her hands. “I got to taste test that before Elio put it on the menu.”
“You know Elio?” I smile. “The owner?”
“He’s my brother.” Her entire face lights up. “My older brother. There’s eight years between us, but we’re close or as close as possible because I’m always working.”
She tosses some major side eye in Rook’s direction, but he’s staring at me.
Thank goodness I put on a bra before I came back out here. My nipples have been in uncooperative mode since he arrived.
“Do you know Elio?” she questions with a tilt of her head.
She in no way, shape, or form resembles her brother. He’s tall, with dark hair and what Telford calls ‘brown bedroom eyes.’ Posey is around my height, which puts her at five feet two inches on a good day. She has blonde hair and blue eyes.
“We’ve met,” I explain, but don’t launch into the time Telford tried to set me up with the sexy restaurant owner.
I like the pizza at Franzini’s too much to risk a bad relationship ruining that.
“He’s a good guy.” She looks at Rook. “We should go, boss.”
Rook keeps his gaze on me. “Should we?”
It’s inching closer and closer to my shuteye time, so I nod. “I get up at five every day, so I’d like to…”
“Five?” Posey questions. “Why on earth?”
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s the time I’ve always gotten up. I’m usually at my lab shortly after eight.”
Posey shoots a look in Rook’s direction again. “If Carrie clears out of here at eight and I start around tenish, that works, right?”
“Wrong,” he says, finally glancing at her. “Be here at eight fifteen every morning and stay until…”
“I’m never here before six,” I offer since I suspect he was searching for that tidbit of information.
“I’ll stop by around five thirty to help Posey clean up each day,” Rook explains.
“You said you’d help with the mural,” she directs that at her boss. “You said something about your artistic flair.”
With a straight face, he nods. “I’ll stop by whenever I have a chance to contribute. If we run past six occasionally, will that work for you, Carrie?”
“Sure.”
“Expect to see me here tomorrow evening.” His lips inch toward a smile. “I’ll stop by to lend Posey a hand with the painting and clean up.”
“Sounds great to me.” My smile beams brighter than his. “I have plans after work tomorrow. I don’t expect to be back here until late.”
Well, late for me. Nine o’clock is early in this town.
Rook’s smile disappears. “All right.”
I can’t tell if he’s disappointed or if he’s relieved.
Since I blurted out my virgin status to the man, I haven’t stopped wondering whether he views that knowledge as a burden.
He’s becoming close friends with my sister, and although I can’t see him telling her I’m still lugging my V-card around, it does put him in a delicate position.
I stand. “I don’t mean to throw you out, but it’s getting late.”
Again, that’s all in the eye of the beholder, and my eye says I need these two to leave.
“Of course.” Posey is on her feet first. “It was nice to meet you, Carrie.”
“You too.” I smile at her.
“I’ll tell my brother about you.”
“Why?” Rook surprises us both with that question.
Posey shakes her head. “Because she’s a regular customer, and that will mean a lot to him.”
“Right.” Rook nods. “I’m sure Elio will appreciate that Carrie enjoys his offerings.”
Posey’s eyebrows dance. “You might be onto something, boss.”
Rook looks as stunned by that as I feel.
Posey goes on, oblivious to the silence that met her last statement, “I happen to know that my brother is very single. Are you, Carrie?”
“We’re leaving.” Rook motions toward the door before he grabs his suit jacket and heads in that direction. “We’ve taken up enough of Carrie’s time for tonight.”
“Fine.” Posey is hot on his heel.
I stand in place, cataloging the way Rook Thorsen looks in suit pants and a matching vest into my memory.
He slides the jacket back on just as I glance down to appreciate how his ass looks.
“We’ll see you around, Carrie.” Posey raises a hand to wave goodbye. “Or here, I guess. We’ll see you here soon.”
“You will,” I assure her before I hesitate briefly. “I should give you my number, Posey, so we can stay connected and work out times for you to come over.”
“That’s a brilliant idea!” She taps on the screen of her phone as she sprints back toward me. “Here, program it into my contact list.”
Rook starts toward us, too. “I should get it as well since…”
“No need,” Posey cuts him off. “Let’s face it, boss. I’m doing the bulk of the work on this, so I’m the one who should be the point person with Carrie.”
It makes perfect sense to me.
I add my name and number to her phone before I hand it back to her. “I know the mural will mean a lot to my sister.”
Posey smiles. “It means a lot to me to do it for her.”
I glance at Rook to see him standing stoically with his phone in his hand.
I expertly avoided having to discuss my virgin confession with the man tonight. With any luck, I can keep that up for the next four weeks and beyond.
Sooner or later, he’ll forget he ever heard it. I know he will. He has to.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rook
How in the ever loving fuck did one of my employees walk out of Declan’s apartment tonight with Carrie’s phone number, and I left with nothing but a case of blue balls?
I remedied that as soon as I was home.
My suit jacket was on the floor in the foyer of my apartment before my vest, shirt, and tie followed somewhere in the hallway leading to my bedroom. My shoes, socks, pants, and boxer briefs landed at the foot of my bed. I’ll have to search for my silver cufflinks later because I’m about to go another round with my cock in my palm because blowing my load in the shower did little to relieve the pressing need that is still inside of me.
That need is for Carrie.
My phone chimes, so I set out to find the thing.
It sounds again as I near the foyer. I say a silent prayer that I didn’t destroy the screen when I dropped my jacket since my phone is obviously still inside it.
I reach down and slide it from the pocket. I skim through all the notifications lighting up the undamaged screen.
Most are related to work.
Even though I practice corporate law, my clients don’t view their issues through a nine-to-five lens. Many of them crave my attention twenty-four seven, and since they’re paying me what amounts to a king’s ransom, I do my best to keep myself available for their whims.
I smile when I spot the last text message to arrive.
Milo: You’ll be glad to know that I didn’t get arrested today.
I glance at the time on the corner of the screen.
Rook: The day isn’t over yet. You’ve still got two hours to stir up some shit.
I tug on the waistband of my boxer briefs while I wait for his reply.
Milo: I’m at my office, so you can rest easy, counselor. I won’t require your services tonight.
I’m thankful for that, and grateful that my daughter is with her mom tonight. I’ve got a hell of a lot of pent-up energy that I need to release before I fall asleep. I need to come again to try and soothe the ache inside of me for Carrie.
I glance down when another text pops onto the screen.
Milo: I’ll buy you dinner tomorrow. Consider it payback for helping me out at the police station the other night.
Chuckling, I type out my response before hitting send.
Rook: Dinner won’t close your tab with me. You know my hourly rate.
I laugh harder when I catch sight of my brother’s response.
Milo: Fuck you. It’s dinner or nothing.
He may be only three years younger than I am, but I consider Milo a good friend, and one of my closest confidantes. Our mother claims our nonstop cursing at each other is our way of expressing our love. If that’s true, I’m about to tell him he means the world to me.
Rook: Fuck you too, asshole. Meet me at Nova at 8. I’ll be ordering the most expensive entrée and the best bottle of champagne they have.
I stalk back toward my bedroom but stop mid-step when his response hits my phone. I can’t contain the hearty laughter that bounces off the walls in my silent apartment.
