Chapter 17
Cobra stood at his office window and gazed out at the Manhattan skyline.
Five days had passed since the incident with Desiree, and he didn’t want to admit to missing her, but he did.
He went to bed thinking about her and woke up every morning with her on his mind as well.
More than once, he had reached for his phone to call her, but changed his mind.
She was the one who had walked out on him—not the other way around.
Landon had warned him that the report might come back and bite him in the ass.
And it had. Desiree hadn’t wanted to hear anything he had to say, although he’d admitted that he hadn’t read it.
Well, what about her knowing about his bet with his brothers?
She hadn’t said anything to him about that.
Nor had she admitted that she’d gone without sex for a long time too.
He turned when the buzzer on his desk sounded. He moved to it and pressed the button. “Yes, Lauren?”
“Your brother is here to see you, Mr. Masters.”
He frowned. “Which one?”
“Cortez Masters.”
He had spent time with his brothers last week, but Tez hadn’t mentioned anything about coming to New York. “Please send him in.”
He leaned against the desk as his brother walked in. “Tez, it’s good to see you. I didn’t know you were coming to New York,” he said, after they exchanged bear hugs.
“Neither did I. It was a last-minute trip to meet with one of my clients. I just got in this morning and hope to fly out this evening. But I couldn’t come to New York without checking to make sure you’re okay.”
Cobra frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“No reason,” Cortez said as he slid into the chair across from Cobra’s desk. “I hope you noticed that Colt and I made a conscious effort not to say anything about the bet at the family reunion, and the days we spent with the folks afterward.”
“I noticed, and it was greatly appreciated,” Cobra said, sitting down in the chair behind his desk.
“We figured it would be, especially around a nosey family like ours. Very few know about that bet, and it needs to stay that way.”
“Well, I hate to disappoint you, but news about it reached all the way to New York.”
“How?”
“Damned if I know. The woman I’m seeing told me she knew all about it.”
“You’re seeing someone?”
The surprised look on Tez’s face was priceless. Did his brothers think they should know every single thing he did? “Yes. But I intended to adhere to the terms of the bet while I got to know her better.”
That made Tez laugh.
“And what’s so funny?” Cobra asked, frowning.
“When have you ever taken the time to get to know someone better?”
That answer was easy. “Since I met Desiree.”
“Desiree? Desiree Sharpe? Richard Sharpe’s granddaughter?”
Cobra didn’t say anything for a moment, and then nodded. “That’s the one.”
“Damn, man. I warned you about her after the wedding reception. Are you ready to join the unemployment line when Richard Sharpe finds out you’re sniffing around his granddaughter? Do I need to remind you that he’s your biggest account?”
“You don’t need to remind me of anything, and I’m not sniffing around her. She and I have become friends, and after my celibacy ends, I figured we could become friends with benefits. I’m sure you remember how that works.”
While Tez was attending Harvard Law School, he’d met another law student, Dahlia Fulmer, in their sophomore year. They both had big plans that didn’t include getting seriously involved with anyone in the near future.
They had become good friends, and within months of meeting, had transitioned into being friends with benefits.
The arrangement had worked for both of them.
She was his go-to girl, and he was her go-to guy.
People always assumed they were a couple, which kept other interested parties away.
And because Tez and Dahlia planned to become attorneys, they’d had a lot of classes together and spent a lot of time behind closed doors, studying…
and having fun between the sheets. Cobra would never forget the time he and Colton had shown up at Tez’s apartment for a surprise visit… and they’d been the ones surprised.
Tez and Dahlia’s friends-with-benefits relationship had lasted until their last year of law school. Then, Dahlia met someone on a summer trip with her parents to Toronto—a guy who was in medical school at Johns Hopkins. It was love at first sight, and they married within a year of graduation.
To this day, Tez and Dahlia remain friends and even exchange Christmas cards every year. According to Tez, she and her physician husband were extremely happy living in New Hampshire, with a bunch of kids.
“The situation with Dahlia and me was different,” Tez said.
“How so?” Cobra asked.
“That’s all we wanted to be. Friends with benefits and nothing more. That sort of relationship wouldn’t work for you.”
Cobra lifted a brow. “I don’t see why not. Need I remind you that you’re the one who suggested I stop doing one-nighters and get a steady girl?”
Cortez shrugged. “You’re thinking with the wrong head, Cobra. I suggest you give this some more thought. And keep in mind that her last name is Sharpe.”
“Whatever.”
Tez chuckled, making Cobra study him curiously. “Your funny bone seems to be on full display today, Tez.”
“I’m wondering if you truly believe all the BS you’ve been spouting about friends with benefits, Cobra.
I know you, and I can read you like a book.
You want more from Desiree Sharpe. She has gotten under your skin, pushed your buttons, and definitely ruffled your feathers. That could only mean one thing.”
“What?”
You’ve fallen in love with her.”
“Fallen in love?” Cobra asked, as if to make sure he had heard his brother correctly.
Standing, Cortez grinned. “Yes, fallen in love. It can happen, trust me, I know. And if you don’t believe me, ask Colton. I just hope you figure out what you feel for her soon. A woman like Desiree won’t be available for long.”
Cortez glanced at his watch. “My flight takes off at six. Are you free to join me for a meal before I head to the airport?”
Cobra stood and grabbed his jacket. “I’ll make time.”
Because anything was better than going home to a lonely house. A house that still had Desiree’s scent in every room. That was what he got for giving her that tour of his home. But he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
But for Tez to accuse him of falling in love? That was stretching it.
At least, that was what he hoped.
***
Desiree smiled. “I am so happy for you and Léandre, Cam. You found your joy.”
“Yes, I did, but don’t change the subject. Let’s get back to you and Cobra.”
“There’s nothing to get back to. And where is Léandre? Shouldn’t you be somewhere curled up with him?”
“We’ve done a lot of curling up over the last few days, trust me, as well as a lot of other things. Dre is outdoors bringing in more wood. The temperature is going to drop tonight. It’s August, but in the Alps, it feels like the middle of December.”
Then, under her breath, Camille whispered, “Dre’s great in bed, Rae, just like I knew he would be.”
“That’s too much information, Cam. If you keep it up, I’m going to have to cover my ears.”
“Then let’s talk about you and Cobra.”
Desiree rolled her eyes as she leaned back in her office chair. “There isn’t a me and Cobra. The man had me investigated for Pete’s sake.”
“And?”
Desiree frowned. “And? Isn’t that enough?”
“He told you why. Besides, he didn’t read the report.”
“Then he wasted a lot of money,” she quipped.
“Is there a reason you can’t share with him what’s in there?”
Desiree fought back tears that threatened to fall. “Yes, there’s a reason. If he read it, he’d know how desperate I was to prove I wasn’t like my mother...or my father, so my grandfather would love me. I wanted to show my grandfather that I was a responsible human being, worthy of my last name.”
“You didn’t do it for that reason, Rae. You did it for yourself.
I just think you convinced yourself you were doing it for your grandfather.
You were fighting for your own identity and self-worth.
And you discovered both. I think you should tell Cobra, and when your grandfather returns, you should tell him, as well. ”
“Why should I tell Cobra anything?”
“Because I distinctly remember the last time we talked, you said that he’s a man worth waiting for.”
“I spoke too quickly.”
“No, Rae. I think you were listening to your heart. Why don’t you go ahead and admit you’ve fallen in love with him? I think you’ve both made mistakes, but there’s nothing you can’t work out if you really love him.”
Desiree didn’t say anything for a minute and then asked in a soft voice, “And if he doesn’t love me back?”
“He does. If he didn’t, he would have read that report the minute he got it. But he didn’t. He asked you to tell him what was in it so the two of you could share it. I think that’s fair.”
“You would.”
“Think about it, Rae. Cobra might be the best thing to ever happen to you. We already know you’re the best thing to ever happen to him, and I suggest you make sure he knows it.
You’ve always been someone who goes after what she wants, and I’ve always admired you for your tenacity. If you want Cobra, go and get him.”
***
Hours later, Desiree was finished for the day and called Ron to pick her up. Earlier that day, she had received yet another text from her grandfather letting her know he would be extending his trip for an additional week. That was a total of five weeks now! What gives!
He didn’t say why, and she had to admit, at least to herself, that the condo had been lonely without him.
She had caught the elevator down to the ground floor when she saw Cobra walking through the revolving doors.
What was he doing here? Desiree paused as he walked toward her, an unreadable expression on his face.
She wished her heart wasn’t doing flip-flops in her chest, or that a surge of awareness wasn’t trickling down her spine.
More than anything, she wished she believed what Camille had told her, that she loved him… and he loved her back.
“Hello, Desiree,” he said, coming to a stop in front of her.
“Cobra? What are you doing here?”
“I cancelled your ride with Ron. I wanted to be the one to pick you up.”
She tightened her hand on her briefcase. “Why?”
“I’m hoping that we can talk.”
“I’d like that.”
She could tell from the surprise in his eyes that he had assumed she would give him some pushback
“Have you eaten yet?” he asked.
“No. What about you?”
“Tez was in town, and I shared a meal with him earlier, so I’m good.”
“Well, I’m not since I missed lunch. Would you happen to have leftovers from Thursday night?”
His gaze held hers, and the way he was looking at her meant he understood the importance of her question. They both knew the leftovers were at his house, which meant he would have to take her there. “Yes, I believe I do. I’ll be happy to share them with you.”
“Thank you.”
Taking her hand, he led her from the building.