Desperate Measures(104)
“Doing what?” he asked. “You could stay here, you know.”
“Nope. I have business planning to do and a workout at the gym.”
“I can think of other ways you could work out,” he said slyly, sitting up to kiss her neck.
She could feel him waking up beneath her. “You’re kidding me, right? You’re ready to go again already?”
“When I have a girl like you lying on top of me? Hell yes!”
She giggled and leaned down toward him, starting the kissing and fun all over again.
Chapter 29
KIKI COULD NOT FIGURE OUT what her problem was. “I haven’t been this nervous since my first show at Lola’s,” she said to her steering wheel.
Her phone rang and she picked it up. “Hello?”
“Kiki, hi. It’s Elizabeth. Are you here yet?”
“I’m thirty seconds out. Where are you?”
“Standing out front.”
“I see you. I’m just going to park.” She hung up and waved to Elizabeth as she drove by, admiring her friend’s choice in outfits. Elizabeth had that classic upper-crust type of beauty - understated but striking. Her chignon matched the Chanel-style black cocktail dress perfectly. Kiki was almost jealous of the look. Hers was always a lot less understated and a lot more wow-would-you-get-a-load-of-that.
She found a spot and got out, hurrying to join Elizabeth while silently bemoaning the humidity that was surely going to make her hair fluffier than she wanted it to be. “Hey, girl,” she said as she arrived, giving Elizabeth a quick kiss on the cheek. “You look gorgeous, as always.”
“I was just going to say the same to you. Those heels are outrageous. I don’t know how you even walk in them.”
Kiki turned her toe a little, lifting up her heel to reveal the red underside. “Christian Louboutin. Love ‘em. Even though they’re not known for their comfort. At least, not this style.”
“Oh my goodness, you spend a lot on shoes. I’ve never done something like that.”
Kiki shrugged as they walked toward the gallery entrance in the barely there evening light. “I used to, but not anymore. Now I have to pinch my pennies if we’re going to make a go of this cafe.”
“You got that right. I kept my checkbook at home tonight. Even if I see something I like, it’s not going back with me. No matter what.”
“Word up, sister. Desperate Measures … hoo rah.”
“So what’s our game plan?” Elizabeth asked, stopping just outside the front door.
“Well, I’m going to go in, say hi and see what happens. I have my car, so I can take off if things get weird. Just … stick by me until I give you the signal.”
“What’s the signal?”
“Shit, I don’t know. Ummm, maybe I’ll use a certain word. Yeah, that’ll work. If I use the secret word, you know that means you can go and that I’m cool about being alone with him.”
“Fine. What’s the word?”
“I don’t know. It has to be something I wouldn’t normally say, but that could be worked into a sentence easily.”
“How about ‘popcorn’?”
“Popcorn?”
“Yeah.”
“I guess so. It’s not very sexy.” She grabbed the door handle and pulled, letting the cool and crisp climatized air hit their faces and exposed arms.
“I’m sure you could find a way to make it sexy.”
Before Kiki could respond, she saw Brent making his way over to them, first a smile and then a flash of confusion on his face.
“Hello, Kiki,” he said, reaching her and giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for coming. And you brought a friend.”
“Brent, this is my friend and business partner, Elizabeth.”
“Pleased to meet you,” said Elizabeth, offering her hand. “I’m so glad Kiki suggested I come. I love gallery shows. Who’s the artist?”
A girl in a serving uniform walked by and Brent waved her down, taking two flutes of champagne off her tray to give to the girls before taking one for himself.
“His name is Sebastian Buisson. Come. I’ll introduce you.”
Brent took Kiki by the elbow and steered her across the room. She looked over her shoulder, making sure Elizabeth was still behind her. Her friend was looking at some of the pieces hung on the white walls and lit by overhead lights, nodding in appreciation.