Page 28 of Nothing to Beat (Nothing to… #13)
SHOWER. YES. That’s where she’d been headed.
Breck would deal with whoever was on the phone and didn’t need supervision.
She slipped into the bathroom before he could finish the call.
If she delayed to satisfy her curiosity about the identity of the interrupter, they’d only get sucked into another discussion and, as she’d said, time was running short.
The routine of washing and preparing herself for the day gave a focus. Any time she considered what Ackley may say, what he’d found out, what he wanted from her to continue on, she redoubled her effort to exfoliate or moisturize or whatever else she was doing. Dwelling wouldn’t change the outcome.
Drying her hair was a quick affair. She went with just a little makeup, enough that the effort would be noticed, not far enough that it looked like impressing anyone was on her agenda.
At least with Breck at her side, she wouldn’t have to contend with any leering.
Ackley wasn’t the overt sort, as such, he just carried an air most women would recognize as creepy.
Breck wouldn’t stand for it if any man tried anything with her, and it wasn’t jealousy, he hated the disrespect. All Breckenridges were big on that.
Clothes took a little longer than usual. The closet was full and nothing was hers. Each time she settled on something, another something would catch her eye. Nothing wrong with researching the options.
Though, shit, time, time, time. Finishing up, she hurried through to the living room expecting Breck, Roxie, maybe even Tripp. She didn’t expect to see Breck enjoying coffee with Alice and Carolyn.
“Good morning,” Alice said, bright and beautiful, as always.
“Is it still morning?” she asked and went to bend down to pour coffee into one of the clean cups. “Roxie and Tripp are still asleep.”
“I told them that,” Breck said. “And that we have an appointment downstairs.”
She straightened up. “You changed it?”
“The man we’re meeting did,” he said. “I’m not sure of the specific developments.”
Something must’ve changed for Ackley to avoid his office. What would it be…? There was that speculation again, and she had no soaps or shampoos to distract her.
“All very cloak and dagger,” Carolyn said.
“Not really,” she said, though that wasn’t far off. “It’s just…complicated, and really not that interesting.”
Yes, she could feel Breck mentally poking her. Okay, so it may impact whether one of the present parties became a grandparent, but was that necessary to talk about now?
“We didn’t come to interrupt your day.” Alice sipped her coffee. “With the wedding nearing, we just wanted to be of help.”
“Roxie’s who you have to talk to about that,” she said. “And Rox might direct you to Jane. I imagine everything is in hand.” Did that sound defensive? She didn’t mean it to and adored both women. “Though I’m sure she’d love the help.”
“Jane went back to New York to help Lilya with the baby,” Alice said and glowed when she smiled. “She can’t stay away and I don’t blame her. The little one is perfect. Have you met him?”
“The baby?” She shook her head. “No. I’ve heard he’s adorable though.”
Had she? When Roxie talked about him. He was a little prince, one who’d want for nothing, born into love, hope, and prosperity.
He had an incredible future ahead of him, filled with nothing but possibility.
His parents wouldn’t dictate who he could build a life with because he wouldn’t have to worry about protecting their wellbeing.
“You’ll meet him at the wedding.”
A little, squishy baby, maybe a month old… Now she wasn’t sure if Breck was the one prodding her heart or if that came from the need of her ovaries.
“Breck says you need a dress.” Alice put her cup down. “For the wedding.”
Mm, of course he had.
“Unfortunately, my appointment has to take precedence over wardrobe.”
“Oh, we understand. There’s a superb stylist in town,” Carolyn said, phone already in hand. “She’ll bring everything here, and you can try it on this evening.”
“I…” This time she did let her attention track to Breck. “I might not be here tonight.”
“Plans? If it’s the nightclub—”
“She’s worried about Dad falling apart without her.” Breck: the squealer. “The company crumbling and foundering without her input.”
“I didn’t say that—” she said to him, then turned it on the mothers. “I didn’t say that.”
Alice was amused, not offended. “Don’t you worry about Ben or the company.”
“I’m not—I love my job.”
“It’s a tough time to slack, given she’s looking for a promotion,” Breck said, earning himself another demerit. “I don’t work for the company anymore, babe. It’s out of my hands.”
That wouldn’t be the only thing far from his hands any time soon. Her decision to abstain in bed last night was all the brighter. Hope he wasn’t holding his breath for later.
“I’m happy with the job I have,” she said. “And I’d like to keep it.”
Alice and Carolyn laughed at the same time. Beyond besties, they were more like sisters.
“Ben would never take away your job,” Alice said.
Highly amusing, maybe, not so much after her conversation with Breck.
“One day Ben’s job will belong to your children.” And there was Carolyn’s bold tenacity. “Never forget that. I doubt he does.”
She’d skate on by that landmine.
“I don’t know.” Her revelation would shift the gears. “I did find out I only got my job because I was pathetic and Ben pitied me. That was fun news. No chance of a promotion for that person, is there?”
Not so quick to open his mouth, Breck found his reliable glare. The women weren’t laughing anymore.
“That’s not true,” Alice said, sort of devastated, which hadn’t been her intention. “Breck, did you tell Sequoia—”
“I didn’t say that.” His firm tone was more boardroom than bedroom, but if he wanted to speak up, so be it.
“She’s a Breckenridge. I told her that happened, her inclusion in our family, before we met.
That Dad would never have tolerated what Coy’s father put her through.
My falling in love with her was incidental; she’s a Breckenridge with or without my affection. ”
“Now that is true.”
Did he have to bring up her father like that? Her whole “complicated” explanation put that to bed, didn’t it? She didn’t want the pus from her tormented mental wounds to rain on anyone.
“Is your father in LA?” Carolyn asked.
Oh, great, so that mention hadn’t dashed by unnoticed. Had he honestly expected it would? This was the number one subject she wanted to avoid.
“I hope not, I don’t speak with him or follow his calendar.” Now she sounded defensive again. “It’s a complicated situation.”
Carolyn knew who she was, who she really was, without her mother’s maiden name.
They’d been a part of each other’s lives sporadically, more so at family events or social situations when she was with Breck.
As for sitting down and pouring it all out, yeah, she didn’t have the energy for that. Or time! Time, time, time.
“We’re going to be late, Stat,” she said, tapping at an invisible watch. “If you want to stay here with your mom—”
“No.” Breck stood, straightening his slacks and his cuffs.
Jeans and a tee-shirt would have been inappropriate, yes.
Was it any more appropriate that he was wearing a tie?
Showed the rest of them up. The “rest of them” being her.
“Given you don’t know where the meeting is, since our change of venue, I think it’s important I tag along. ”
Hmm, yeah, match point.
“Do you have to wear a tie?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around it when he reached her side. “You do the whole sexy bossman thing, I’ll forget our purpose.”
His mom was in the room. Did that matter? Throughout the duration of their relationship, Alice Breckenridge had seen, and heard, her do or say much worse with her son.
“Yes, I have to wear a tie. You didn’t drink your coffee.”
Observant, wasn’t he?
“I got enough coffee this morning.”
Okay and the way she’d said that made it seem like she wasn’t talking about java. Something about him being close to her melted her bones. She was maybe supposed to be mad at him… why was that again?
He looked to his mother. “Do you want me to wake Tripp before I leave?”
Good question. Better Breck go in there and find whatever carnage Tripp brought back from the club last night, than his mother witness any horrors.
Plus, Tripp slept naked, and no relative wanted to see that.
The woman might have changed his diapers, but he’d changed a whole lot since then…
she’d suppose, and didn’t want to imagine.
When the choice was him or his mother, Breck would take one for the team.
Tripp would probably prefer his brother do the waking too.
All the Breckenridge men adored Alice, few other women got a second look when it came to their maternal dedication.
“No, I’ll just—”
“Mr. Breckenridge?”
Their butler’s voice brought them all around. Usually when someone addressed that name, there was a cornucopia of people available to answer to it. This time, there was only one.
Breck stepped up. “Is there a problem?”
“You have a guest,” the butler said.
Another one? What the hell? Had they brought Times Square with them?
Their unplanned trip was supposed to be discreet.
You know, secret, unknown. They’d been failing on that from before they even touched down.
She wasn’t used to being so popular. Except, hmm, okay, maybe Breck was the exception; he didn’t really count as a guest.
“Bring them in.” Breck’s impatience was appreciated. Maybe now he was getting her persistence about the hour. “We don’t have a lot of time.”
As the butler retreated, she spun around to Breck. “We don’t have time at all.”
“The meeting is in the building, Coy, relax. There’s no travel time.” He stroked her cheek. “And they want this as much as we do. No one’s walking away.”
It was supposed to set their relationship free; the fact Ackley and his cohorts would relish the win was a bonus.
But Breck was right, that did keep the power balance teetering.
Except, who cared? This wasn’t business.
She didn’t care who blinked first or who had more power.
This wasn’t a negotiation that ended with zeroes on a check, this was so much more important.
Of all people, Breck should understand that.
“And I thought our Grand Hotel was fancy…”
Her jaw relaxed as back she went and… “Porter.” She couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t explain it. Didn’t even have a guess as to… “What are you doing here?”
“You tell me, Ms. Gambatto. What am I doing here?”