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Speaking of playthings…
Cole had been clear with Elena: he didn’t want me back in his bed. The Madam had given it to me straight. She said that after I countered with my request to have my own space, his lawyers came back with final terms. We had a strictly business arrangement. Cole Bryson had no interest in utilizing the full range of my services. The arrangement was just for show, solely for the benefit of James and Audrey’s wedding. There was no “us” anymore.
But I thought about what Cole had said in the lobby.
“You aren’t coming?”I asked.
“I will be later,”he snapped.
Did that mean he’d becomingcoming later? Like, in a sexual way? A little thrill zipped through me, followed by a deep, ugly pain. Sex with Cole was the best sex ever. At least, it had been when we’d been close. But the idea of being physical with him now, when we were estranged, seriously confused me.
On the one hand, I longed to be close to him, to feel his bare skin against mine. I yearned to put my head on his chest and be held by him; I longed for our connection. It was beyond sex. It was this wild, mind/body/spirit sort of thing, like maybe wewere two halves of the same whole. Being with him had made me feel complete.
But now, if we had sexnow…? It might break me. To be clear, I still wanted him—badly. But to be close to him physically, withoutfeelingclose to him emotionally, might do me in.
My phone rang. I lunged for it, hoping it was Cole.
Instead, it was Shirley. “Jenny, thank goodness! I just got back from the cruise—thank you for the flowers—they were beautiful. I was so happy when Mr. Bryson called me and said you were coming back. Phew!”
“Yeah,” I said lamely. “Phew.”
“Is everything okay?” Shirley sounded worried.
“Everything’s fine,” I lied. “We just had a little mix-up, is all.” More lies. I hoped God wasn’t counting.
“Well, you’ll be better after tonight,” she said, sounding upbeat. “Mr. Bryson just had me make reservations atViva Luxe. It’s the fancy restaurant at the top of the Prudential Center. He wants me to buy you a new dress—something super sexy!”
Hope swelled in my chest. “He’s taking me to dinner?”
“Not just any dinner. It’s the most romantic restaurant in Boston. I’ll drop the dress off with Amari later,” Shirley promised. “Take pictures, will you? Mr. Bryson’s keeping me busy with this deal he’s been working on, but I want to see the final product!”
“Will do, Shirley.” I blinked back tears. “It’s really nice of you to look out for me.”
“It’s my pleasure,” she said warmly, and I knew she meant it. “You make Mr. Bryson’s life easy, which makes my life easy. I’m the one that owes you.”
She hung up before I could correct her.I don’t make Bryce’s life easy,I thought.I make it miserable.
Still, I GoogledViva Luxeand saw that it was, in fact, lavish, sumptuously decorated, and had a great view of the city. It hadbeen voted the number one most romantic restaurant in Boston for the past three years. My heart skipped a beat, and a tiny spark of hope ignited in my chest.
Don’t,I warned myself.Don’t do it to yourself.
But it might’ve already been too late.
The dress Shirleypicked out was todiefor. It was strapless, white, and hugged my curves like a freakin’ five-star scuba suit. I looked at the price tag—nine thousand, six hundred dollars.Holy shit! It was easy to look like a million bucks when you spent a million bucks!
She’d gotten me some sexy lingerie to go underneath the dress—a white, lacy, strapless bra and a matching scrap of lace passing for a thong. The shoes she’d chosen were also todiefor. Metallic heels that laced over my ankles, sexy and edgy, and oh my God, they cost two thousand dollars.
Shirley said the reservations were for eight p.m. By seven, I’d already finished my makeup and hair. I hadn’t heard from Cole all afternoon, which made me crazy. I checked my reflection, satisfied with what I saw. I lookeddamngood in a nine-thousand-dollar dress and two-thousand-dollar shoes. I fluffed my curls until they were big and sexy, just as Cole liked them.
Even if he hated me, he’d have to admit I looked good.
There was a knock on the door, and I almost tripped as I hastened to open it.
It was Cole. I just stood there for a moment, staring. Being so close to him but not being able to touch him was the strangest sensation in the world.
“Hey, Jenny.” Cole looked devastatingly handsome in a dark suit with a white shirt beneath, open at the throat. Hispowerful muscles strained under the fabric of his jacket. He wore an enormous platinum watch and matching platinum cufflinks.Why was a man in a well-fitted suit sexy as hell?I had no idea, but it didn’t stop me from ogling Cole.
OMG, I missed him so much.