A Convenient Arrangement(41)

“Shenille was lovely. Said she completely understood the situation with your bed rest. They’re returning your entire deposit.”

“Really?” Aubrey clasped her hand to her chest. “I love them.” Her eyes started to tear.

“Oh my”—Gwen jumped up to get the tissues beside the bed and extended them to Aubrey—“are you okay?”

Aubrey plucked two tissues from the box and dabbed her eyes. “Yes, of course. I mean yes…it’s the hormones. I’m as big as a whale and—” Her face crumpled into a full-on crying jag.

Oh dear. Gwen pulled Aubrey in for a hug.

“I’m just so damn emotional all the time.” Aubrey pressed the tissues to her eyes and nose. “I’m so lucky you’re here and in my life. I don’t want to be sad around Shelly. I mean, she just got engaged, and Nina’s so far away right now. What would I do without you?”

Gwen hugged her best friend closer. Renewed guilt tugged her heart. She was lying to Aubrey. Fibbing, really, by not telling Aubrey about Leo. But goodness, if Aubrey was crying over floral arrangements and guest lists, what would she do if Gwen told her about Leo? Who knew? No, best to wait, see if this “thing” even kept going. While Leo was perfect, made her heart beat fast and her toes curl, that didn’t change the fact he seemed to want a very different future than she did. No, now was not the time to tell Aubrey about Leo.

Aubrey sniffled and picked up her phone. Her tears faded as quickly as they had started, and a faint watery smile replaced them. “I almost forgot. Nina texted me an hors oeuvres menu and asked me to pass it along to you. See what you think.” She touched the screen a few times to get to the correct message, then forwarded the text. “Said you can text her any time, but I’m still restricted.”

“When does she get back?”

“First week of March, just before the baby shower. Which really isn’t that long from now, unless of course you’re trapped in a bed on bed rest.”

Gwen pulled out her own phone and skimmed the forwarded text. “Excellent menu. And ooo, I love her crab cakes and spinach puffs. So happy she’s making both.” Gwen’s phone buzzed and a new text appeared at the top of the screen.



Lunch?



Her stomach fluttered and warmth filled her chest. She unconsciously pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she began to tap out a response.

Aubrey perked up. “It’s him, isn’t it? You’re totally blushing. Tell me he asked you to lunch.”

Gwen nodded. “He asked me to lunch.”

“Go! Get out of here. Enjoy. It’ll be vicarious for me.”

“You’re sure?” Gwen hesitated, even though she wanted to run out the door to meet Leo that instant.

“Positive. We’ve gone over everything, you’ve let me cry, I feel one hundred percent better, and besides, Justin is coming home early to keep me company.” Aubrey handed Gwen the iPad.

“Really?” Gwen scooped up her bag and slid it inside.

“Maybe send me a picture when he’s not looking,” Aubrey suggested. “I’d love to see what this man who has you blushing and meeting up for clandestine lunches looks like.”

With a noncommittal smile, Gwen gave her friend a peck on the cheek and walked out the bedroom door. She absolutely would not be sending Aubrey any pictures of her date any time soon.





Chapter 12




The suite at The Four Seasons had been prepared just as Leo requested. Champagne chilled in a bucket; rose petals adorned the bed; and chocolate, fruit, cheese and the gourmet lunch he’d ordered for them both rested on the table. Leo had spent two of the last three nights with Gwen, and yet his body still craved her today. He wanted her. The entire morning, as he sat captive in meeting after meeting, he’d tried desperately to banish the thoughts of her warm smooth skin beneath his fingertips, her lush supple curves caressed by his hands, her flaming red hair brushing across his flesh. Leo had tried to push the thoughts from his mind and he’d failed, utterly and completely. He finally surrendered to his desires with a text to Gwen and a phone call to the hotel.

He’d never before experienced this overwhelming obsession for a woman. More than simple desire, this was a thick craving that wound deep within his belly and squeezed. He couldn’t remove the need. Thoughts of her smile, the way she laughed, her words crept into his mind, making him smile, distracting him with want and need. This wasn’t any kind of convenient arrangement. In fact, if he truly considered how intrusive his thoughts of Gwen were, this entire thing between the two of them was damned inconvenient.