A Convenient Arrangement(23)

“I did, indeed.” Her gaze was on his mouth. He wanted to reach out, pull her close, and press his lips to hers. If being together meant nothing to her emotionally, then why wouldn’t she agree to explore this outrageous heat that sizzled between them? One night hadn’t been nearly enough for him, and from the look in Gwen’s eyes, that one night hadn’t satisfied her either. Her gaze flicked from his mouth to his eyes.

The answer hit him, sharp and fast like a jab to the gut, as soon as her eyes met his and he saw the longing she tried so hard to mask with another stiff smile. Gwen’s decision wasn’t just about discretion, or about his family, or about being a busy executive. Her reasons were much simpler. How could he have failed to see the truth? He’d been right all along. He’d been right the morning after. Gwen couldn’t have sex without emotion. A convenient arrangement wasn’t just inconvenient for her right now—a convenient arrangement was an impossibility for Gwen Fleming.

Leo took a step back. Away from the heat, away from the attraction…away from Gwen. His breath hitched in his lungs. With those long legs and effervescent smile, Gwen was the type of woman any man would be lucky to have in his life, even with the complications of a relationship.

A relationship?

When was the last time he’d considered having a real relationship with a woman?

“Aubrey will love this space.” Gwen looked away from him and turned back toward the room. “So will Nina. You want to show me the kitchen?” Her eyes sparkled and her lips relaxed into a true smile. A smile that seemed to let him off some hook she’d hung him on. A smile he most likely didn’t deserve. He hadn’t realized, even when he’d doubted her words, hadn’t realized for certain that the night between them did mean more to Gwen than a simple one-night stand.

Gwen deserved more. Deep breath. Did he want to give her more?

“I like it when you smile.”

Gwen’s eyes widened. This moment wasn’t just chemistry and heat. A need to reach out, to pull Gwen into his arms and gently kiss her, swelled in Leo’s chest.

“Gwen—” He stepped forward. “Gwen, you are—”

“Leo, I—”

“Gwen please, will you let me—I don’t want to have a convenient arrang—”

Her phone trilled the notification of an incoming FaceTime call and she looked away, the moment shattered by the electronic device.

Aubrey’s face popped onto the screen. “Soooo, how is it?”

“The place is amazing.” Gwen held out her phone and pressed the button to switch to the rear-facing camera so Aubrey could see the room for herself. “Won’t work for the launch party because of Hipster 1 and Hipster 2, but it would completely work for Nina and catering.”

“You’re right!” Aubrey chortled from the phone. “This is perfect, and the address is ideal. Leo”—Gwen pointed the phone at him so Aubrey could address him directly—“I can’t believe you guys have this place and we didn’t know.”

“It’s been empty for months.” He sighed and forced a smile onto his face. “You may do with it what you will. Want to see the kitchen and the offices?’

“Offices?” Gwen and Aubrey gasped in unison.

“Oh yes, please,” Gwen said.

“Perfect, perfect, perfect,” Aubrey crowed.

Leo led the way, pleased he could make his sister-in-law happy, but wishing he could find the way to make Gwen happy as well.





Chapter 7




The next morning, Gwen’s sat with her iPad open on her kitchen table. She sipped her coffee, her hair up in a messy bun, clicking through different locations on her computer while Aubrey’s face beamed out from the iPad screen. She still needed a venue for Leo’s launch party. Though her face showed nothing but calm concentration, panic careened around her belly. She was running out of time.

“The invitations for the baby shower are finished and sent.”

“That’s part of my job,” Gwen chided, smiling.

“Check it off the list. Why messenger them over to you so you could drop them in the mail? It’s done.” Aubrey sipped her tea. “Oh! I showed Nina the video of the Upper East Side location.”

“And?”

“She flipped. Couldn’t believe the video of the kitchen. Was shocked, first, that we didn’t know, second that no one is using it, and third that the guys own it. Who knew? Those guys. I swear one of these days I’ll find out they own an island.”

“I think they do own an island,” Gwen said.

“What? How do they fail to tell me these things? I mean, that space is perfect for nearly any party we could want to have, right? It’s a blank canvas. You could put up moveable walls and decorate. Plus the kitchen? Gwen, really, that is a perfect space for your business.”