A Convenient Arrangement(65)

“I know,” Gwen said. “I understand. Because really, there’s nothing between you and any of your dates, is there? I mean, that’s the whole premise of this app, right? That there doesn’t need to be anything but the physical and the now.”

How could he answer that? Well, yes, that was the premise and before…before he’d met Gwen, spent time with and fallen for her, that premise and that lifestyle had seemed like enough. But now, standing here across from her, seeing false bravado barely disguise the pain in her eyes, he knew that his before-Gwen life was no way to go through life at all. Those kinds of liaisons didn’t mean anything, weren’t meant to mean anything. Like eating cotton candy for dinner seven nights a week, they couldn’t provide nourishment—they could only leave him feeling empty. But he couldn’t say those things tonight, not all that, not now. Not when he was launching the app and needed to just get through this party.

“I’m sorry.” He straightened his spine and inclined his head toward her. “I should have at least had the courtesy to tell you that I was bringing someone. I didn’t mean to throw you off your game. I know you’re a professional, and I wouldn’t want to put you in a difficult position.”

She shook her head, gave him a faint, distant smile. “A difficult position? No, no, Leo, I’m not in a difficult position. I’ll be just fine.” Her eyes lost focus, and she put her fingertips to her ear, holding one upright finger toward him. “Okay, okay,” she said into the wire mic next to her mouth. Her eyes returned to him. “You need to go, they’re ready to introduce you. The DJ is ready.”

He nodded and started to turn away, but glanced back to look at Gwen one more time. He wanted to see his Gwen—to soak up her legs, her figure, that dress, her high heels—but his Gwen was already gone.





Chapter 19




Gwen needed a vacation. She needed to get out of New York City. She sighed and took one final circle of the venue. The partygoers were gone, the servers were finished, and the DJ had packed his equipment. Even Nina and her kitchen staff were nearly finished.

Gwen had three other events before Shelly’s bridal brunch, which was almost completely planned. Since she was no longer meeting with Milan every Monday for the Vanderpelk wedding, Gwen had a week, maybe two if she stretched it, where she could go out of town and take a vacation. Maybe Hawaii? Or Tahiti? Or that place Aubrey raved about…what was the name? Mesquale. Yes, she could go to Mesquale. The Travati family had a condo at the resort Aubrey had invited her to use more than once…but did she want to? Maybe she actually needed to distance herself from all things Travati. Well, all things but Aubrey and Shelly…maybe just Leo and family events. Because family events meant Gwen would see Leo, and right now she didn’t want to see him at all.

She’d been professional, she’d done her job, a damn good one, even with the distraction of watching Leo with Mischa twined around his body. My God, but the woman wouldn’t get off him. Perhaps Mischa also desired more than an arrangement that was simply convenient? The heiress hadn’t appeared to be on Leo’s arm tonight just to enhance her own business pursuits, but to please Leo and perhaps any whim he wished to indulge after the party.

Heat bloomed in Gwen’s chest.

Not her problem. She shook her head, trying to remove the unwelcome thoughts of Leo and Ishy and their evening together from her mind. A vacation, she definitely needed a vacation. Maybe after Aubrey had the baby she could find a way to get out of town for a bit…

“Want to share a cab?” Nina emerged from the hallway that led to the kitchen. “We’re headed the same direction.” Gwen nodded. Nina stayed with Aubrey and Justin when she was in town. Better to share and split the cost. Her feet ached. Damn, this had been a long event. And emotionally brutal.

“You did a great job tonight, by the way. Held it together really well,” Nina said as they walked into the brisk spring night.

A compliment from Nina meant something. Nina didn’t fib, and she didn’t sugar-coat. If Nina told her she’d done a good job, then she had. “Thanks. Fooled them all?”

Nina nodded. “Everyone but me and maybe Leo. But he’s an ass. He should feel like the shit someone scraped off the bottom of their shoe.” She stepped off the curb and waved her arm at the passing taxis.

“Stop.”

“No, really. I don’t care how convenient an arrangement someone might have or not, there’s such a thing as common courtesy.” A cab pulled to a stop and Nina opened the door. “He knew you’d be here. He should’ve at least sent you a text or an email. This crap makes him a boob in my book.”