A Convenient Arrangement(48)

“I was thinking Sunday dinner after the shower.”

“Bring her,” Justin said, gasping as he recovered from their run. “But that’s an intense one too. The entire family will be there.”

“She knows.”

“Brave girl,” Justin said. They walked into the warm lobby of the building.

“I guess.” Leo pressed the elevator call button.

“Come on, seriously? She’s gutsy enough to date one of the most dedicated bachelors in New York. She’s either brave or doesn’t want a relationship. And now, she’s agreed to eat with all of us at a family dinner?” They both entered the elevator. “That’s bravery, all right.”

Leo pressed the button for the forty-second floor. Was Gwen brave, or was he a fool to think that this thing between them was special? Or that they wanted the same things. They hadn’t discussed what she wanted or what he wanted…and what if those ideas were completely different. Granted, he didn’t want a convenient arrangement with Gwen, and he wasn’t just after a good time…but what did he want? He didn’t want kids and a house…a wife? Maybe. Someday. Not now. Maybe with Gwe—

“What the hell, man? You’ve got that way-too-serious look on your face.” Justin bent forward and stretched his hamstrings as they rode up to the top floor.

“No. Maybe.” The elevator dinged, opening onto the empty lobby of Travati Financial. He and Gwen were getting takeout tonight and watching a movie. Justin walked past him toward his office door. “Hey,” Leo called out. Justin turned back. “How did you know? With Aubrey?”

Justin shrugged. “It was different for us.”

“I know, but how did you know?”

“It was—” A smile flitted across Justin’s face. He shook his head. “I didn’t. For a while, I didn’t know.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “One day it hit me, that no matter how amazing my life was with the business, the success, the money, the cars, the trips, the jets…with all of it combined, no matter how awesome it was, my life would never be as good without her as it would be with her.”

Leo raised one eyebrow at his brother. “Dude? Way too much estrogen in your life. Seriously. We need to run more often.”

“What?” Justin smiled and laughed. “You asked.”

“I did,” Leo said. “I absolutely did.”





Chapter 14




Her legs would make a sculptor weep. Leo lay in Gwen’s bed, the pink flowered sheets tousled around him, watching her get dressed. She stood in front of the full-length closet mirror. First she adjusted the shortish skirt of her dress and then bent forward and clasped the tiny straps of her high heels. Best view he’d ever experienced. Every part of him wanted to lunge from the bed, grab her, and rip off her clothes, baby shower be damned.

“Don’t even think about it.” She shot a pointed glance at his reflection in the mirror.

“No idea what you’re talking about.” He sat up and crossed his arms over his bare chest.

“I see it in your eyes. Some of us have to be at the party early for set up.” She looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a flirty smile. “I don’t have time to roll around in bed again this morning.”

Leo scooted forward across the bed as if he were trying to grab her. She yelped and hopped away, laughing. “Stop! Not kidding. I have to get to Aubrey’s. I’m already twenty minutes behind schedule.”

“You’ve got hours before the party.”

“Hours of work. You think these things just happen?” Gwen grabbed her purse and coat from the chair in the corner of her bedroom. As she walked toward him, his gaze traveled up over those gorgeous legs, to her hips, her breasts, and her now-flushed cheeks. “I’ll see you soon.” She leaned down and kissed him.



*



Amazing. A growl escaped his throat. “You sure you don’t have a little extra time?”

“I already had ‘a little extra time’ before my shower,” she whispered against his lips, kissing him again.

His sex was hard and, damn, he wanted her. He reached out, but she pulled away from his grasp.

“I could stay here all day,” she sighed.

He wished she would. Without the dress, but she could wear the high heels.

She headed toward the bedroom door. “See you in a couple hours.”

Leo nodded and she gave him a little wave as she disappeared from his view. Her front door slammed shut. He got up from the bed. He had enough time to get Renley and go for a run before he had to be at the baby shower later today. But first a shower, a very cold shower to be sure.