Chapter 4 – Liam
“I want one.”
That statement is still running through my head long after I had to move Juliana from the sofa to my guest bed.
Juliana wanting a baby isn’t a shock. She’s mentioned it before.
She’s just never sounded quite so immediate about it.
Her sister and I agree she’s addicted to Amelia’s baby smell, the good variety of it. Maybe that prompted her words.
As for me possibly wanting any, I’m still a long way off from that, aren’t I? And, with my father as my example, I’m bound to make a terrible one.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Culver. The other two are already here.” I nod at Teo, the burly head bouncer for the club before heading inside to find my business partners.
Sable is a members-only type place, and security is a must. There are rules here and plenty of our wealthy patrons have to be reminded they’re not above them.
My co-owners are waiting in my office and have things other than work on their mind when I walk in. “We heard about the break-in.”
“She’s okay, right?”
“Give us details.”
Hudson Raines and Santiago Morales have been friends of mine since college, and I appreciate their concern for Juliana.
Like me, Santi grew up wealthy, and his family’s been in California even longer than the first Culver who came during the Gold Rush.
Unlike me, he’s pursued a career in medicine instead of following in his father’s footsteps.
It’s forgiven because his mother likes having a cardiologist in the family, but their strong cultural traditions mean they’ve been expecting him to settle down for some time now. He says he’d rather chew glass.
Hudson was the smart and acerbic kid from the wrong side of the tracks when we met, but Sable exists because of him.
He had the dream and the business know-how to make it happen.
He just didn’t have the start-up cash Santi and I did.
It’s been a learning curve working out all the kinks that a business built on…
well, kinks can throw your way. Hudson meets every challenge with the same ruthless determination to succeed as he does everything in life.
As Saturday is the club’s busiest night, the three of us generally come in early to sort through things and catch up on each other’s latest details.
“So, let me get this straight. You were in bed with another woman but Juliana called and you shot out of there like a rocket?” Hudson asks a short while later. Shit, I gave them too many details.
“Of course, he did. Anything for Jules.”
“My best friend was in danger. What would you have done? And, I call her Jules, Santi. Not you.”
“My mistake, Mr. She’s-just-my-friend-until-another-man-dares-to-fucking-talk-to-her. We’d have gone to her at once though if she’d called one of us. Juliana is our friend, too.”
“Don’t remind me,” I grumble.
Sure, they’re her friend as well, but I know they keep inviting her to Sable behind my back to piss me off.
I’m an open-minded man. It’s part of why I co-own a club dedicated to allowing consenting adults a chance to explore their sexuality and fantasies in a safe, anonymous and appealing environment.
But, Juliana has said she’s not interested in becoming a member.
She’s been here a few times now and I… Well, there’s part of me that doesn’t like that very much no matter how open-minded I claim to be.
“I wish you’d stop inviting her. You’re making her feel obligated to come here.”
“Does she feel obligated or are you being a possessive bastard?” Santi asks, mischief dancing in his unusual amber eyes.
“Oh, fuck off. Just because she’s staying with me for the time being-”
“Why’s she staying with you?” Hudson asks, raising his eyebrows.
“So, she’ll be safe until her security system is-”
“He’s a very protective friend, isn’t he, Santi?” They both roll their lips in a pitiful attempt at hiding their smug expressions.
“I don’t know why I bother with you pricks.”
There’s a knock on my office door and Felicity, our hostess, pokes her head in when I beckon her inside. “Mr. Culver? Your brother’s here.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, shooting to my feet and excusing myself from this interrogation masquerading as an actual business meeting.
I find Dean by the bar, watching the cleaning crew work and steadfastly not watching the dancers in their thongs and feathers warming up. “A happily monogamous married man at Sable? You’re bad for business. How’s my billionaire brother?”
He chuckles at my taunting, pulling me into a hug. “Daydreaming about surfing today instead of work.” Tech’s made him filthy rich, even by Culver standards, but the longboard is his favorite hobby. Or, it was before he met his wife. “What’s up in the glamorous world of a sex club owner, kid?”
“Christ, I could be eighty and you and Ethan will still be calling me kid.” I’m the youngest of four and the two oldest think they’re our parents.
All the same, the nickname has started rubbing me the wrong way lately, especially considering Juliana is nearly Dean’s age.
Even my admittedly healthy ego would shrivel up and die if she ever called me kid.
“I make no excuses for my big-brother behavior.”
“Ethan’s still the oldest, you know.”
“Yes, but he’s not here to torment you.”
That’s true enough. Ethan left his bridezilla nightmare at the altar a few years ago.
I felt bad for the girl… until she came af ter him with some of the caterer’s cutlery, but I was happier that my brother finally realized he was making a huge mistake.
He’s been living in the wilds of Oregon since then.
“What’s this I hear about Juliana getting robbed?” Dean asks.
We take a seat where I catch him up on things and what I’m hoping he can help with. Once that’s managed, he asks where Juliana’s going to stay while the security upgrades are completed. “With me.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Are you two involved romantically now?”
“No, but why do you ask that way?”
“Because, much as I like Juliana, you’re my kid brother, and she’s come out of a bad marriage and a very nasty divorce after being cheated on.”
“I’m aware. I’m also aware that was three years ago.”
“Yeah, but, if she’s still picking up the pieces, I’d hate to see you get hurt as the rebound guy.”
“I’m not the rebound anything. We’re just friends. You know I don’t get serious about women as a rule anyway.”
“I know, kid, but-” My glare has him raising his hands in surrender. “Fine, I’ll shut up.”
“Do that. How’s Tabitha?”
“She’s excellent, better than I deserve as always,” he replies and the momentary tension eases. My feisty, brilliant sister-in-law is absolutely perfect for my brother and they make each other sickeningly happy. She’s his someone special and he’s hers. Some people are luckier than they realize.
“Do you and Tabitha ever think of having kids?” I ask. Both of Dean’s eyebrows shoot skyward this time. The question did slip out without much thought, but Juliana’s words are on my mind. “I mean, you’ve been married a couple of years now. I’m just curious.”
“Well, we’ve talked about it but not seriously yet. She’s younger than me and, as you know, we greatly enjoy traveling. Plus, there’s the fact I didn’t have much of a role model when it comes to fatherhood.”
“Yeah, I know.” Our father is cold and greedy on the best days. He’s cruel and petty the rest of the time. When I think of how he treated us at times, especially my older brothers, I wonder if there’s something defective inside that might turn me into a man like him someday.
“Grant and Daisy are doing a vow renewal soon since they didn’t have much of a wedding to start things off,” Dean mentions, breaking in on my troubling thoughts. “They’re planning to invite you.”
“I thought Grant hated me,” I say of his business partner and prep school friend.
“He hated you being flirty with his wife.”
“It wasn’t done with intent. It’s a habit I picked up from my big brother before he fell head over heels in love.”
“I know,” he says, chuckling. “Bring Juliana along if you like. Should be a fun time.”
“Sure, I’ll ask her. Mom called me yesterday. They’re doing an anniversary party at the club. She asked about you. I think she was hoping you might…”
Dean’s expression hardens at once – he’s not spoken to either of them in years now. He stands, buttoning his suit jacket. “Why the fuck would anyone want a party to celebrate that marriage?”
I hang my head, hating the way I feel like I’m some traitor to my siblings for not breaking off contact with my parents. I’m the only one of Mom’s four children who’s still coming around. Can’t they see how hard it is to turn my back on her? And, I work with Dad. What am I supposed to do?
“I’m sorry, Liam,” Dean says quietly, placing his hand on my shoulder. I thought he’d already walked away. “It’s not your fault how things stand between me and them. I have some family news of my own to share in case you don’t know yet. Ivy’s coming back to town. Possibly to stay.”
My mouth falls open. Our sister has been living in Europe the past several years.
There were some silly society scandals that sent her overseas, but I don’t know what has kept her there.
Ivy’s the goddamn vault of our family. She doesn’t willingly open her mouth about anything unless she wants to.
“I’m glad but… damn. I don’t know what else to say.”
“I didn’t either when she called me,” Dean replies. “If she really comes to town, Tabitha and I will have her over for dinner. I want you and Ethan there. I think our sister needs family around her.”
I wholeheartedly agree with him. I wonder what Hudson and Santi will think when I tell them she might return. She’s only eleven months older than me and the four of us hung out together constantly when we were in college.
After Dean leaves, I trudge back toward my office to hopefully accomplish some work with my two inquisitors when my phone buzzes. I smile, seeing Juliana’s name. “Hello, Ms. Davenport,” I say, ducking into Hudson’s office to talk in private.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Culver. How’s the sexy business?”
“It’s sexy quiet right now. What have you been up to?”
“Well, I started to go over to my place to grab some extra clothes.”
“Jules!”
“Don’t worry. I chickened out. I started thinking what if they came back and were hiding in my closet.”
“Good. Better safe than sorry. I’ll take you over there tomorrow if you need more clothes but raid my closet all you want until then.”
“Already done even if I look like a child playing dress-up in your sweatpants. Who told you to grow this tall?”
“I’ll bet you look fucking adorable. Promise me you won’t go to the house alone until we get everything secured.”
“When the SWAT team gets there, we’ll find out together.” She makes ‘pew-pew’ noises and I’m laughing. Thinking of Juliana in my clothes and at my place makes me wish I wasn’t working tonight. “I decided about your survey by the way.”
“What sur-”
“Blueberry-flavored. ”
That lilting voice has my brain catching up and I have to adjust myself. “I, uh… I’m not sure I’ve ever seen blueberry-flavored lube,” I stammer. Fuck, she has no idea she affects me this way.
“Oh.Well, that’s a shame.”
I will find some blueberry-flavored lube if she wants it. I’ll fucking make it myself if I have to.
“I also called because I wanted you to know that your refrigerator is now fully stocked with a healthy balance from all the food groups. I know you’ll be working late but there’ll be a casserole waiting if you’re hungry when you get home in appreciation of you taking care of me last night. What do you think of that, Mr. Culver?”
“I think I need to marry you, Ms. Davenport.”