Chapter 46
Asset Turnover
Sara
“Deidre researched investing in this store.” Madison pulls open the door and ushers us into the entryway.
Deidre Bryne is Madison’s mentor and the kind of powerhouse we all hope to be someday.
She’s also talked about teaching Madison to take over her company, Cliodhna, and it’s fast becoming all our dreams to help lead it with her at the helm.
When the door to the street is closed, the inner door to the store opens for us. A giant of a man dressed in a black suit guards the door. He nods to Madison as she passes. “Ms. Harris.”
Hope’s eyes are huge as she takes in the diamonds and gemstones surrounding us. Kayla gives the guard a once-over and a flirty smile, but he doesn’t really change his expression. Madison takes my hand and leads me over to a case.
“Coop loves to drape me in diamonds.” She leans in close and says quietly, “When he heard that Deirdre had taken me to this store, he insisted on opening an account and bringing me here.”
She takes in our surroundings. A few other customers mill around. It’s hard to tell who works here and who’s a customer. Everyone is dressed to impress.
“I don’t need that many diamonds,” she says. Her cheeks turn pink. “But he likes to stake his claim on me however he can.”
She touches her necklace, unintentionally flashing her antique engagement ring. They don’t really talk about a wedding, but she doesn’t take off that ring. I don’t blame her. It’s gorgeous.
“Do you have a budget?” she asks softly.
I clear my throat. I don’t usually talk about money with my friends. They didn’t grow up with money like I did. That means they don’t throw it away like some of my old friends did. “I have an allowance.”
And a trust fund I rarely touch. It helps with college, but I don’t need a lot. I live at home by choice and because it makes Mom feel better having me close by. I’m not an excessive shopper.
Madison nods and Hope calls her over. I turn to follow, but a long trail of diamonds catches my eyes. When I step closer, a gentleman in a suit steps up to the case with me.
I shift away from him slightly. Does he work here? Or is he another customer? There are a few other people wandering around the store with us.
He gives me a smile. “See something you like?”
I glance up at him. He’s a very handsome man. Older. Dark hair, dark eyes. He has a few rings on his fingers. Maybe he works here?
“Maybe?” My gaze is drawn back to the diamonds.
The man raises his hand and a woman dressed in black with her blond hair in a topknot comes over.
“How can I help you?” She smiles.
“The lady would like to see that necklace please.” Helpful stranger or coworker?
I’m still not getting a good read on him. Everything is so hush-hush in here, like a museum. But as the woman lifts the necklace and sets it on black velvet, I’m captivated by the fire flickering in the depths of the diamonds.
“May I help you try it on?” He lifts the diamonds, and the woman steps away to help someone else.
He must work here if she trusts him with the product. I nod and lift my hair off my neck.
“This is my favorite piece.” He clasps it on and steps back. All very professional.
The front is a choker with a single drop length of diamonds that falls between my breasts while the back flows down in tiers of loops. With the dress I picked out, I can wear my hair up and this will fall down my bare back.
“It’s lovely on you.” He gestures to the mirror and I turn to admire it.
“It’s gorgeous.” It really is. I can afford it. It would likely be a little bit of a stretch for my allowance. But so worth it.
“Are you wearing it somewhere special?” he asks.
“A fundraiser.” I don’t go into specifics. I don’t need to tell him that I want to make the men I’m sleeping with insanely jealous of the other man I’m sleeping with. A laugh almost bubbles out of me. Even after all this time, I want to make Wyatt Hawkins jealous.
“Your date will be a very lucky man.” He lifts his hands. “May I?”
Nodding, I lift my hair out of the way so he can remove the piece. “It’s perfect.”
“I’ll have it wrapped for you.” He strides over to the woman and speaks with her about the necklace.
I didn’t even ask the price, but I have decent savings.
I barely touch my allowance. The necklace is extravagant, but I’ll be able to wear it again.
Just thinking of the guys’ faces when they see me in it.
.. worth it. Slowly, I work my way over to the others who are looking at a collection of jewels.
“Did you find something?” Madison glances toward the salesman and the woman as they wrap up the necklace.
“It will be perfect.” I smile.
“I wish I could see you guys all dressed up.” Hope’s smile grows wistful again. “Send me a picture.”
“We will.” Madison touches her arm and Hope sighs.
“Ma’am?” The saleswoman comes over with a bag. “Your necklace.”
Smiling, I step toward her, drawing my card out of my purse. “Where do I pay?”
She gives me a confused smile and nods toward the door. “The gentleman took care of it.”
“The gentleman?” I glance toward the door and then around the store. My heart stops. The man who helped me is no longer in the store. A cold feeling works its way through me. “I’m sorry, but are you saying that man bought me this necklace?”
She smiles graciously. “Of course. He looks forward to seeing you in it tonight.”
Dante
I tie my hair back in a bun and straighten my cuffs. Black tie affairs are something I wasn’t invited to as a child. Even if they were my birthright. We’d watch my uncle and his family dress up and attend all the events.
As I matured, my friends wanted to go to them to hit on women. Sounded like a plan, so I got a tux and played along. Until the events became necessary for networking. Until Sara began stalking Wyatt and I was the one chosen to deal with her.
Tonight, she’ll be on someone else’s arm but she’s still my responsibility. Always mine.
And I want that. I want her to be my everything. It’s like this ache inside me.
I leave my room and knock on her door. It’s a bad idea. I’ll want to touch her and fuck her, but I also can’t resist.
“Come in.” Her voice is soft.
I open the door and catch my breath. Sara stands in front of the mirror, barefoot, gathering her curls into a topknot. Her dress hugs her hips and falls to the ground in soft green waves, but from the back, she looks topless.
She glances over her shoulder at me and smiles. “I forgot how good you look in a tux.”
Stepping into the room, I close the door behind me. She’s beautiful. I don’t remember why I held myself back before. Why I convinced myself I couldn’t have her.
“Can you hand me those bobby pins?” Her gaze lands on a stack of bobby pins on the nightstand.
I grab a handful and hold them out to her one by one as she slips them into place. The front of her dress is almost Grecian with the way it drapes down from her shoulders to cover her breasts. Her breastbone is exposed.
Finn won’t be able to resist. Fuck, I may not be able to resist.
When she turns to me, her smoky eyes lift to my face as her red lips curl into a smile. “Like what you see, boss?”
“Is there more to this dress?” I clear my throat and shift my erection to get more comfortable.
Her eyebrow arches wickedly. “This is it.”
I swallow hard. We’re not going to be the only ones who notice. That doesn’t bode well for Wyatt.
She puts her hand over my lapel and steps in close. Her citrus scent wafts over me. She grabs my belt and draws me closer.
I rest my hands on her bare shoulders and give a little groan. “You’re temptation incarnate. If we had more time, I’d show you exactly how you tempt me, pip.”
She runs her hand down my tie and steps back. “I’d like that, boss. Will you help me with my necklace?”
She already has clusters of diamonds in her ears.
“Of course.”
Lifting a bag, she takes out a velvet box. “I have a weird story to tell you about this necklace.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Is this like the time you told me pirates took your birthday cake?”
She smirks and shakes her head. When she opens the box, the delicate strands of platinum and diamonds inside sparkle. I lift the clasp, and the strands fall from the choker.
Closing the box, she turns to face the mirror. Without her shoes, she barely comes up to my chest. She’s small but so strong. I place the necklace around her neck and fasten the clasp. The diamonds drape in layers down her back and a single line lies on her skin between her breasts.
She touches the necklace. Her green eyes meet mine in the mirror. “We went to a boutique, and a gentleman bought this for me after I picked it out. I wasn’t aware he didn’t work there. He didn’t have any of my information, and when he asked what it was for, I said a fundraiser.”
I settle my hands on her shoulders. “Were you afraid?”
Her instincts could be useful.
Her eyes are wide and she shakes her head. “Nothing about him tripped any warning bells, but I don’t have the best track record with people.”
I draw her back to lean against me.
“He told the saleswoman he couldn’t wait to see me wear it tonight.” She swallows and touches the necklace. “It feels wrong to accept the gift, but he was gone when the saleswoman told me. I was going to buy it anyway.”
She shrugs one of her delicate shoulders.
I press my lips together. That necklace isn’t a cheap trinket someone could just give away on a whim. “We’ll see what we can find out.”
“I’ll let you know if I see him.” She rests against me. I wish she was my date tonight instead of Nancy, but Drew won’t let her out of his sight. I doubt any of us will with her looking like this.
She pulls away and slips on her shoes, bringing her up a few inches.
Her eyes sparkle when she lifts them to mine. “Will you be dragging me out of this fundraiser?”
“Maybe, pip.” I straighten one of her curls. It wouldn’t be like the other times I dragged her out and dropped her at home.
She steps into me. “You know, there’s only one way to wear silk without getting lines.”
She brushes her hand against the front of my pants, making my cock jerk before she walks around me to the door.
“How’s that?” I glance over my shoulder at her.
She smirks. “Don’t wear anything under it.”
Her laughter fills the room as she opens the door and walks into the living room. Peabody yips excitedly but I stay where I am, trying to control the urge to lock her in this room and fuck her until the only name coming from her mouth is mine.
She’d be safe in my arms. But that’s not how tonight will go. She wants to find out why Tom set up Wyatt with Verity. I need to show Nancy a nice time. And we all need to network.
I don’t know who bought Sara diamonds today. Maybe they’ll show. But she’s not leaving my sight.
Sara
The dress. The diamonds. Even the heels. All feel deliciously sinful against my skin. My heartbeat throbs as I wait for Dante to come out. There’s something about him in a tuxedo that makes me want to mess him up.
Tug his hair free. Loosen his tie. Unravel the stone-cold Viking he presents to the world. The one that makes me burn for him.
Peabody dances around my feet.
“I’m excited too, little dude. Don’t worry. Tanya will be here later to take you for a walk.”
He runs to the door and barks. I just shake my head. Tanya has been his dog walker for years. With everything going on, I’m glad we have someone we can trust with him.
Finn walks out of his room with his head down, fastening his cuff links. “On my way down to bring up your date, flower.”
He lifts his gaze and freezes. “Fuck me.”
“Always.” I blow him a kiss as his eyes eats me up, heating my blood.
“Drew can go fuck himself tonight. I’ll be your date, flower.” Finn strolls over to me and lifts the diamond strand between my breasts. When my gaze meets his, he smiles. “I’ll ditch Olivia. You and I will sneak off to fuck somewhere.”
Heat flares inside me. “Not in this dress we won’t.”
He backs me into the wall and leans down to kiss my neck. I draw in a breath, already dizzy with desire. “We can come in each other’s mouths, flower. No muss, no fuss.”
I shiver as he drops kisses against my throat. Movement captures my attention and Dante settles opposite us, propping his hip against the back of the couch. His icy eyes are dark, looking content to watch.
“Weren’t you going to get Drew?” I ask, huskily.
“Drew who?” Finn sucks on my skin.
Dante puts his hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Come on or we’ll never get out of here.”
Finn grins. He takes in every inch of me, making my skin prickle with anticipation. “I don’t see a problem with that.”
They leave through the front door. Peabody goes and settles in his bed while I try to cool off. I’m going to be in trouble tonight.
A door opens and I don’t turn to look at him. Fuck, if I can’t take seeing Finn and Dante in tuxes without wanting to fall to my knees, I won’t be strong enough to handle knowing Wyatt is mine while he’s holding another woman.
“What the fuck are you wearing, trouble?” His voice is a low growl, sending shivers through me.
I draw in his leather scent, feeling it surrounding me. I could drown in him.
He tips my chin up to meet his dark eyes. His gaze devours me until I can barely think. When he leans in close, his jaw brushes mine.
“Tonight, when we come home, I’m going to punish you for every man that looks at what’s mine.”
He pulls back and our eyes lock. I whimper in need. Because fuck. Him in a suit is good, but him in a tux makes my insides go liquid. He should come with some sort of warning sign.
His thumb brushes over my jaw.
My voice suddenly rushes back. “Maybe I’ll punish you for every woman that covets what’s mine.”
He growls low in his throat. His hand wraps around the front of my neck. My thighs press together against the ache. “Game on, trouble.”