Once Upon A Time(47)

“Of all the places in New York he could've gone, he comes here?” Kylie whispered angrily.

“Ew. Have you seen the accessory on his arm? Can someone say split ends?” Quinn piped in.

I shrunk a little in my chair as I watched the scene unfold. Walking towards a table not too far from ours were Gabriel and what was meant to be a piece of arm candy. As if that wasn't enough, in walked Luca right behind him, also carrying some arm candy.

I sighed hard; he couldn't have known we came here every week. He couldn't have predicted we’d be here at this time. I knew I hadn’t mentioned it to him.

“Are we getting the bill?” I asked, my gaze moving back to my best friends, who looked at me with a little more sympathy than I could stomach. “Will you stop looking at me like that? He’s a client. He’s free to do whatever the hell he likes.”

Kylie turned to me, a serious expression on her face.

“Do you enjoy torture, Pay?” she asked. I just looked at her, confused. “If you weren't so hellbent on making your career your priority and informing the man – the first man in a long time who was interested in more than a fuck – that he's not worth the risk... He wouldn't be torturing you right back.”

I looked at my best friend with fresh eyes. Clearly she was seeing something I wasn't.

“You lost me.” My voice was small, smaller than when the principal yelled at me in high school. Ugh. Mr. Keeton was scary as shit!

“Ask yourself this: is your job more important than love?”

I cringed. There was that word.

“You know I don’t belie—”

“Cut the shit, Payton. You believed in it once. You believed in it with Cam. I get that he screwed you over, I know he broke your heart. But there’s a time when you just have to get back on the horse. He…” She pointed at Gabriel, who still had no idea we were here. “He is your Prince Charming but you’re so blinded by hatred towards Cam that you can’t see what’s right in front of you. Just because you don’t believe in Prince Charming or fairy tales doesn't mean I don’t or Quinn doesn't.”

“Hey, don’t drag me into this!” Quinn held up his hands in surrender. “I’m just here for entertainment purposes.”

Rolling her eyes, Kylie carried on.

“He’s a client. I get it. But he’s also a man – a damn fine one at that – who clearly has some form of connection with you. You’re deluded if you think you can suppress those emotions we all know you’re feeling — emotions if he even just walks into a room. You’re doing it right now. Your skin is flushed and your breathing has quickened. I love you but right now, you’re holding yourself back from something that’s far more important than a job.”

I waited a beat before answering.

“If there’s such a thing as Prince Charming and fairy tales, then where the hell is yours? Hmm?”

She sat back in her seat and smiled.

“My Prince Charming is out there, he’s just taken a wrong turn and is too stubborn to ask for directions. Whereas yours is sitting at another table with a woman who looks Barbie on stilts. You’re a catch, Payton. Stop thinking with your mind and start thinking with your heart.”

“How many times do I have to tell you? He’s just a client.”

“Yeah, and I have an IQ of one-seven-four. We both know neither my IQ nor Gabriel only being a client isn't true. Why fight the inevitable?” She shrugged.

“Can we stop the vagina measuring long enough for Payton to tell us who the hell that fine ass man is with Gabriel?” Quinn bit his lip. “He’s delicious.”

I rolled my eyes.

“That’s his very British, very straight brother, Luca,” I replied, forgoing interest in the entire conversation. I was ready to leave.

“That very British brother is walking this way, Payton,” Kylie muttered, elbowing me in the ribs. I winced.

“Ouch! Motherf—”

“Hey tiger.” Luca’s British accent, accompanied by a smirk that could potentially melt panties, practically echoed around the room. “You miss me?”

“Not in the slightest, Luca.” I snickered.

I liked Luca. I’d only met him once briefly but something about him appealed to my sweeter side. He was like a little puppy, cute and way not my type. The same couldn't be said for Kylie. I glanced at her and couldn't help placing my finger under her chin and close her open mouth for her.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“You’re drooling, honey.” Quinn handed her a napkin and she blushed!

“Listen, I need a really big favor.” Luca flicked his head to indicate his table where Gabriel, Barbie and Cindy sat. I already didn't like the sound of it. “Those are the twin daughters of one of my father’s associates who came into town for fashion week. As a favor to my father, we agreed to show them around town but they’re getting a little… grabby.”