Rush(85)

“We’ll spend the weekend together and I’ll take you shopping for anything you may need for the trip,” he said indulgently.

She sobered and her gaze dropped for a moment. He couldn’t tell if she looked guilty or if she was merely avoiding his eyes. His brows furrowed as he continued to stare at her. Waiting for what she’d reacted to.

“I have plans Friday night,” she said in a husky voice. “They were made before. I mean before you and I…”

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her what plans and to press her further. It was certainly within his right. But she looked so uncomfortable that he didn’t want to put her on the defensive, and he damn sure didn’t want her to lie to him. And she may well if he cornered her.

“I assume it’s only Friday night then?” he said in a short tone.

She nodded.

“Okay then, be at my apartment Saturday morning. You’ll spend the weekend with me and then we’ll leave Monday afternoon for Paris.”

Relief flashed in her eyes and she smiled that thousand-watt smile again.

“I can’t wait,” she said. “Paris sounds so exciting! Will we have a chance to see anything?”

He smiled at her enthusiasm. “Probably not, but we’ll see what happens.”

His phone rang and he checked his watch. Time had slipped away from him and it was time for his conference call. He waved his hand for Mia to go back to what she was doing, and then he got comfortable in his chair before answering the call.





chapter twenty-five



“Tell Jace thank you for checking up on Brandon for me,” Caroline said as the two rode in a cab to Vibe. “It was really sweet of him. I feel horrible that I even let you do this for me, but after Ted, I just have this horrible, sick feeling every time I even look at a guy with interest, you know?”

Mia reached over to squeeze her friend’s hand. “It will get better, sweetie. And hey, from everything Jace reported, Brandon sounds like a hardworking, honorable guy. Most importantly, he’s single and he lives alone.”

Relief was evident in Caroline’s face and she twitched eagerly as they approached the club.

“Yeah, that helps a lot. I guess we’ll see what happens, huh?”

Mia smiled as the cab slowed. It was nine o’clock and she was tired after her day at work. She’d rather be with Gabe at his apartment, having a quiet dinner and whatever else he had in store for her. She hated that she’d effectively lied to him about what her plans were for the night. Not that she’d blatantly told an untruth, but she hadn’t been open with him. Somehow telling him she was going clubbing made her worry over his reaction. What if he told her no?

It wasn’t that she wouldn’t have gone anyway. Yes, they had a contractual agreement—God, she was tired of that word. She was getting to the point where she hated the very thought of that piece of paper she’d signed. Not because she regretted any part of her relationship with Gabe, but because of what that contract represented. Or rather what it didn’t represent.

She simply hadn’t wanted that confrontation with Gabe. She wasn’t out guy shopping tonight. She was going to have fun with her girls and spend time with them—time that had been a precious commodity ever since Gabe had taken over her life.

Yes, she could see why Caroline would be worried. If one of her friends had entered a relationship where she spent all her free time with the guy to the point of excluding everyone else in her life, Mia would be concerned about the relationship. She’d question whether it was healthy for one of her friends.

And maybe her relationship with Gabe wasn’t healthy. She knew damn well her emotional dependence on him wasn’t. She was headed for a serious fall, and when that happened, she’d need her friends more than ever, and that was why she couldn’t shut them out now.

But whatever this was between her and Gabe was what she wanted. She craved it. She wasn’t in denial of her circumstances. She had a very good idea of what was going to eventually happen. But she was going to enjoy every moment—savor every minute—until the time he set her free.

She’d survive. Or maybe that was the part she was in denial over. She wasn’t entirely certain she would survive when Gabe walked away.

“Hey, we’re here,” Caroline said. “Earth to Mia.”

Mia blinked and looked up to see Caroline already out of the cab. Mia dug into her pocket for the cash to pay the cabbie and then she scrambled out after Caroline.

Chessy, Trish and Gina were waiting outside the club in the Meatpacking District, and a long line had already formed down the block. They all ganged up on Mia, hugging and exclaiming over her. Mia laughingly fielded their affection and some of her anxiety eased. This would be fun. And an evening away from Gabe was probably a good thing. It was too easy to get caught up in the alternate universe he’d created for them. But this…this was real. These were her friends and this was her life.