Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Gigi
Emma goes back to school, Rush and I go back to work. The afternoon is a flurry of calls with legal as they prepare to submit a revised list of expenses and contractors.
Before I know it, it’s close to six, and time to pick up Emma.
I can’t wait to put my pajamas on and go to bed.
I head downstairs, collecting my daughter, and then press the elevator button to return to our apartment.
As they open, I find Killian in the elevator, holding a large box.
“Lian!” Emma shouts. “Are those for Birdie?”
“Yep,” he answers with a smile, dropping the box so Emma can look.
I cry as I peer into the box. “Oh, Killian, you didn’t have to buy all this. I could reimburse you. I?—”
His laugh rumbles through the elevator. He might look dangerous, but his laugh is one of the most pleasant sounds I’ve ever heard. “I’m a billionaire, Gigi. You don’t have to pay me back for a bird cage and some seed.”
“Right,” I blush as the doors slide closed. I insert my key to access our floor. “It’s just, I don’t make a habit of letting men buy me things.”
“Even married ones?”
“Especially married ones,” I mumble back, feeling a little flush fill my cheeks.
He laughs again. “Trust me. You’ve nothing to fear from me. My wife is my whole world. Before her…” He looks away, before his eyes return to me. “I was lost.”
“That’s beautiful.”
His eyes meet mine, as he holds my gaze. “I did mean my offer at lunch. You need anything, you call me. And I mean anything. No problem is too big, you understand?”
I don’t even know what that means exactly, but I nod. “Right now, I just hope to work hard enough that I get to keep this job.”
He cocks his head. “If it doesn’t work out with my brother, I’ll find you a position in Vegas. We’re always in need of good people and you’d like my wife. Chloe is the most wonderful person I know.”
My heart rises in my throat. It’s the most generous offer and one that could make a real difference if I needed it. I don’t even know how to thank him.
The elevator stops again, and this time, Rush steps in. “Fancy meeting all of you here.”
“Rush,” Emma calls out, hopping up and waving at Rush. “Look what Lian got.”
Rush steps into the elevator and leans down over the box. “Are we going to get your bird set up tonight?”
“Yes. And I thought of a name.”
“What are you naming him?”
“Birdie!”
Both men laugh.
But my earlier joy at watching all this is replaced by a certain amount of dread. It’s a sweet torture being around Rush in the office.
In my apartment, everything is more intimate, and more…personal. And now Emma has invited him over for another evening of sweet pain.
I feel my nipples peak in my shirt, and I hunch my shoulders trying to hide them.
It would be so much easier to keep our relationship professional if I just had a little room to breathe.
“Thank you both so much,” I say with a thin smile that I’m sure doesn’t reach my eyes, “but I’m sure Emma and I can get Birdie settled.”
“Nonsense,” Rush straightens, his gaze holding mine. “I’ll help and I can order us some dinner too.”
“You don’t have to do that. And besides, I’m the assistant. Isn’t it my job to bring you food?”
He laughs and I feel my nipples stiffen further, that ache pulsing between my thighs. “You saved my ass this weekend. The least I can do is take care of dinner.”
It’s hard to argue with that, though I’d like to try. Then again, I’ve never been one for confrontation.
The elevator stops, the doors open, as Killian picks up the box and Rush takes Emma’s hand.
I step out first, leading the way to my apartment. Which is the exact moment that Gris appears from Rush’s apartment doors.
“How’s the bird?” he asks.
“We’re moving him into his new home,” Emma answers. “Want to see?”
My brow furrows. “How does Gris know about Birdie?”
“He was touring the daycare when the bird hit the glass,” Rush answers, taking my key from my hand. “When the daycare couldn’t reach you, he called me.”
“Oh,” I answer, shaking my head. Rush opens the door and next thing I know, all three Smith brothers file into my apartment.
I’ve seen the other names on the letterhead. There is Triston Smith, CEO of their Las Vegas holdings. There is Ryker Smith, who is in acquisitions. And then there is Lord Winston Smith, the Duke of Grandmont and founder of Smith Brothers Real Estate.
But as much as my apartment is perfect for me and Emma, adding in three large men makes it tight. “It’s a good thing no more of your brothers are in New York,” I mutter as Killian and Emma open the box. “This apartment wouldn’t hold them.”
“We’d just move you into a larger one,” Rush casually answers, as I sit down on the couch.
Does he know how odd that sounds? But I don’t tell him as I reach down and rub one of my ankles. A full day in three-inch heels, that included some running, has worn my feet out. Rush sits next to me, and leans over, like he heard me, and starts to pull the first shoe off my foot.
But the feel of his hands on my skin has me tensing all over again. I try to pull out of his grasp, but he holds tight, removing the shoe. A little sigh escapes my lips, and I lean back on the cushion, it feels so good to have it off.
He takes off my other shoe, his hand smoothing over my skin. My feet are so tired. The rest of me is tired too.
A full week of work, then working through the weekend, has worn me out and it’s only Monday.
Of course, it might help if I was sleeping.
I keep having sexy dreams that feature my boss. Even more awkward when he leans close, his chest touching my arm. “Emma will be fine for one minute if you want to change.”
“I do,” I groan out, rubbing the spot between my brows.
“Go,” he replies, his hand coming under me to give me a little push up and off the couch.
Both Gris and Killian are on the floor, setting up the cage with Emma.
“Want a salad?” Rush asks as I head to my bedroom.
“A burger,” I say over my shoulder. “I am starving.”
“That’s my girl,” he chuckles.
“I’ll take a burger too,” Gris offers. “I don’t want to eat alone again tonight. It’s getting old.”
“I’ll take one too.” Killian lifts the bird from the box, gently moving it through the cage door. “Haven’t eaten all day.”
I disappear into my room, changing out of my skirt and blouse and into leggings and a sweatshirt. Then I crack the door open, checking on Emma who is happily watching Birdie with Killian.
That’s when my phone rings. “Hey, Erika,” I say and open the door, pointing to the phone as Rush meets my gaze.
He gives a quick nod.
I don’t close the door all the way, wanting to see my daughter.
“Hey. Everything all right?”
“You are the sweetest, and yes, it’s fine.” I put her on speaker and quickly tell her the story, right up to the part where all three Smiths are helping Emma get the bird into a cage as I brush my hair and put it into a ponytail.
“Wow. I mean you’re hot, but I didn’t know you were three-Smith-brothers hot,” she says with a laugh.
I snort. “Please. As if.” And then I hesitate. “Honestly, I super appreciate the help and the fact that Emma is overcoming some fears, but I could really…”
“Use an orgasm?” Erika supplies.
I nearly spit as I choke on my own saliva. “I was going to say, I could really use some space. First week at a new job, busy work weekend, and then a killer Monday with crazy meetings.”
“Oh please,” she pishes. “I know that because you have Emma, you’re thinking about being a permanent solo act, but if that’s the case, we either need to get you a really good handheld device, or you might have to join a dating app just to sleep with the occasional guy.”
“I am not bringing random men home with Emma here,” I hiss back.
“Handheld it is, but girl, you’re getting dark circles under your eyes. You need some real sleep, and a good O would really help.”
“I do need sleep.” And she is totally right about the O. “Do people still shop at Sharper Image for that kind of equipment?”
“The internet is a beautiful place,” she giggles. “I’ll send you some links.”
I hang up, turning in time to see Rush in the doorway. I gasp, wondering what he might have heard.
“Dinner’s here,” he says with a quirk of his brow, before he disappears again.
Stepping back out of the room, I try to calm my thrumming pulse. My cheeks must be completely flushed red.
The bag with our dinner is already on the table, but since I only have four chairs, I pull Emma’s booster from one. “You can sit with me, M&M.”
“I’ll stand,” Killian offers. “I don’t mind.”
“Nonsense,” I reply, glad for the distraction. “Emma and I eat together all the time. Please sit.”
Killian does, looking slightly uncomfortable as Rush unpacks the bags.
Emma’s eyes light up when she sees her grilled cheese, but she waits for all the food to be laid out.
When all the food is out, I quietly whisper in her ear, “We give thanks.”
It’s her cue to eat and she picks up a half of her grilled cheese, taking a big bite right out of the middle. I slide out from under her, heading to the kitchen to grab a knife.
I didn’t really think this whole burger thing through, eating in front of three ridiculously handsome men. But I am exhausted and hungry.
I’ve always been curvier, even when I’m thin, and when I get really tired, I crave beef. Am I getting my period?
I can’t worry about it now. Returning to the table, I cut my burger and then pick it up, taking a bite, before I set it back down and then lift Emma to sit back on my lap so I can eat like a civilized person.
The burger is delicious and I take another bite, worried that I’m devouring my food. But as I look at Killian and Gris, both of their burgers are gone.
“Come sit with me, M&M, and let your mama eat.” Killian waves her over.
She hops down, climbing onto his lap and takes one of his french fries as I push her grilled cheese over to his plate. “Thank you, Killian.”
“My pleasure,” he says with a nod at me. “Now, M&M, remember what you need to do for Birdie?”
She rattles off instructions and I take note of them too as we eat. Having a pet bird was not really part of the plan, but then again, it might be good for Emma.
Gris leans back in his chair, unusually quiet. Normally, he’s the charm that fills every room. As if he knows I’m thinking about him, he looks at me. “You from New York, Gigi?”
I shake my head. I have been trying to share as little as possible, but I don’t see how I avoid a direct question. “Chicago.”
“When did you move?”
“When I got married.”
Rush drops his fork. “You dropped out of school when your dad died?”
My mouth drops open. I told him that on the first day. “That’s right.”
“That was before you got married?” Rush turns to me and I can’t shake the feeling that he’s trying to piece something together.
“Yes.”
“What did he do? Your father.” Gris asks.
I’m sure they’re just trying to get to know me, but talking about my pops is painful. “He worked construction.” He died on a job site, heart attack. He should have retired but he was trying to help me with law school. I dip my head. “We were really close. He was a great dad.”
Most of my burger is uneaten, but I’ve lost my appetite. Thinking of my dad does that. I made so many stupid decisions in my grief, ones I’m still paying for and so is Emma.
I lift my eyes, my gaze connecting with Killian’s. The intensity of his stare makes me grimace. “I’m trying to be as good as he was, you know? But I’m not sure I’m measuring up.”
“You’re doing great, Gigi,” Rush says from next to me. “Emma is smart and fun and full of life.”
Tears well in my eyes again. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I have an engagement this evening,” Killian interrupts. “So, I’ll say my goodbyes.”
“Me too.” Gris rises, taking his container to the trash. “Thank you for the conversation and the company, Gigi. It was most pleasant.”
I rise too, glad this night is coming to a close. I need to collect myself. But as I see Gris and Killian to the door, Rush picks up his fork, taking another bite of his salmon.
I guess that means my boss isn’t leaving yet…