Page 58 of Desired By you (Always & Forever #3)

Chapter Forty Nine

Brad

I landed back in New York last night after over a month in LA, and it’s exactly what I needed. I flew in so I could be here for Ali’s campaign party. I know this is a big deal for her and after everything she’s been through. I want to show up for her.

I needed to escape the city and my troubles.

I’ve been my version of sober for over two months, and though I’ll never fully be able to let go of my habits because they keep me in check, I’m not as regimented, and it was Gabriella who showed me that life doesn’t have to be kept to a schedule.

That sometimes just being in the moment and letting life flow is okay.

Now I’m back, I know I need to face my dad.

I lied before I left and sent a letter saying I was close to sorting it, and he should hear from a lawyer soon to buy me some time.

I needed to make sure he wouldn’t bother Gabriella in my absence.

But now I’m back, and feeling stronger, I’m ready to deal with things and then find out where Gabriella’s head is at.

Harry texted to say Gabriella was going to stop by and pick up the files and I’ve anticipated her visit all morning.

I clear my last email and my office door creeps open.

Expecting it to be Gabriella, I rise and head for the door, but I’m shocked to find Cassidy there, dressed in a figure hugging blue dress.

Her brown hair is shorter than when I last saw her; she looks well.

“Hi,” I say, furrowing my brow, surprised she’s here.

“Hey. I heard through Ali that you were back home, and I wanted to see you.”

“Come in.”

I sit on the edge of my desk and she fiddles with the strap of her purse.

“I wanted to thank you for saving my life.” She looks me straight in the eye as she says it.

“You’re welcome. Anyone would have done the same in that situation.”

She shakes her head. “No, you’re wrong. It was heroic and part of my program is to thank the people who saved me, make amends.”

“You’re in a program?”

“Yep, sixty-three days sober, go me.”

I give her a smile because that is something to be proud of. “Congratulations, Cassidy that’s really great.”

She takes a step forward, her eyes roaming up and down my body as she does. “I’d like to make it up to you, you know, for putting you through that.” She closes the space between us, running her index finger down my chest. I stiffen at her touch.

“And how exactly are you going to do that, Cassidy?” My tone is clipped.

“Are you going to Ali’s magazine party tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe we could go together and have our own after party,” she says in a flirtatious tone, dragging her index finger down my chest. Her fingers attempting to unhook the buttons.

I need to shoot this down right fucking now.

She leans in so close our lips almost touch. I pull away to find Gabriella standing there, eyes wide, looking between me and Cassidy.

“I, um, can come back.” She turns to leave, but I brush Cassidy aside and head for the door.

“No, Cassidy was just leaving.” I glare at Cassidy, and I don’t like the expression on her face. Grinning, she walks past me and Gabriella, her hips swaying, running her index along my chest as she does.

“See you tonight.” Her voice is as smooth as velvet. I don’t say anything. I get up and close the door behind her, and an awkward silence falls between us. This isn’t how I wanted our reunion to be.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted. I just stopped by to pick up the files.” She looks around my office and spots a pile of brown files on the cabinet behind my desk. “Is that them?”

“Yes, but, Gabriella, that wasn’t what it looked like,” I say.

“Brad, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. You don’t owe me anything.” There’s an edge to her voice, and I don’t like it. In fact, it pisses me off. I shove my hands in my pocket to keep them busy because the need to pull her to me is becoming too hard to bear.

“I assume you will be there tonight,” I say.

“I will.”

“And Patrick will be there?”

“He might be,” she says like a petulant child. O h, she’s pissed.

“I better get to work on these,” she says, holding up the files as she brushes past me, but I catch her arm and stop her. My nose nuzzles her hair, her cherry scent I’ve missed so much invades my nose and it feels familiar, safe, and comforting.

“That wasn’t what it looked like,” I repeat.

“It’s none of my business.” She shrugs me off and walks out of my office without a backward glance.

Well, that wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

The magazine party is bustling. Crowds of people, celebrities and socialites flood the building. My eyes dart around the room, waiting for Gabriella to arrive.

“Are you sure you don’t need a chair?” Jack asks Ria, and she rolls her eyes.

“No, just like the other three times you asked me. I appreciate the concern, but if I need a seat, I’ll tell you.”

Ria is now very pregnant, and I too have been wondering how she balances on those heels with that bump.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay, sweetheart,” Jack says softly.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Cassidy. She’s wearing bright red lipstick and a short silver dress that barely covers her ass.

“Hey, handsome. Fancy seeing you here,” she purrs.

“Well, seeing as I saw you earlier, and I confirmed I was attending. It shouldn’t be that much of a shock to you.”

I take a sip of my cola, still very much on the sober train, so I’m shocked when I see her holding a glass of wine. “I thought you were sober.” I eye the glass and notice it’s nearly gone.

“Pills, sweetie, not the Lord’s juice.” She throws back the wine and I roll my eyes. If she is going to hang around me all night, this evening is going to be long.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”

“Hey, I’m Cassidy.” She introduces herself and they all look at me with recognition in their eyes. Yes, this is the Cassidy, the Cassidy who overdosed in our club and I had to perform CPR on yes, that Cassidy.

“It’s nice to meet you, Cassidy” Ria says warmly. Thank god for her and her sweet nature because I am ready to drag Cassidy out of here and throw her in a cab.

“Where’s Ali?” Cassidy asks.

“She’s backstage getting ready,” Harry answers.

“Oooh, are you the boyfriend?” Her eyes roam up and down Harry’s body, her tongue peeking out her mouth and running along her bottom lip.

“Lucky, Ali.” Harry gives her a disapproving look and then his eyes widen at something over my shoulder.

“Holy shit, is that Gabby?” I turn to look, and fuck, it is.

My jaw almost hits the floor. She’s wearing her YSL heels, the strapless red dress she wore when we were in LA, and her hair is out in full, the curls bouncing as she walks.

I grin to myself, imaging peeling her out of that dress later tonight the way I did before, her heels wrapped around my head as I devour her, but my grin soon fades when I see that two steps behind her is that prick she calls a boyfriend.

They reach us and Gabriella stands beside me, Patrick to her side, his arm wrapping around her. She glances at me as if awaiting my reaction. I stand there, unmoving and but then Cassidy’s arm comes up around my waist and Gabriella’s eyes flicker to where her hand rests.

She then leans into Patrick’s touch, which ignites a fire inside me and I’m ready to fly for the guy, but instead, I pull Cassidy into my side. Yes, it’s a dick move, but it was that or punch Patrick.

Oh, it’s going to be a fun evening.