Chapter 4
Four
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a slim figure making its way toward me. Turning my attention toward the woman is the most natural thing in the world. But when I actually look her up and down, my eyes widen in surprise and I grip my tumbler of scotch tighter.
She’s absolutely breathtaking in a skimpy white dress that highlights the mahogany color of her skin.
Her entire countenance seems radiant, almost dewy, her collarbones and thighs on prominent display.
Her eyes are dark, her mouth full, her cheekbones prominent.
Her hair is an ebony river that cascades down her shoulders and brushes her hips.
She looks young, but I can’t actually pinpoint how young. If I had to guess, I would say that she’s maybe twenty five.
The man inside me stands on his tiptoes, shouting that I should pull away from my little crowd and go after this woman. Her cheeks seem flushed and I can’t help but wonder just how hot she would look naked, riding my cock, in the throes of passion.
For a second, my mouth opens. But then she walks up to Kaia, my friend Calum’s wife, and slides an arm around her waist.
They know each other, then.
“There you are!” Kaia says, beaming at the other girl. “You know Calum, of course. But I want you to meet our friend Keir. Keir, this is my best friend, Ella.”
Ella.
I try not to look shocked as Ella turns to me, smiling widely, and extends her hand.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”
My first impulsive as fuck thought is that there is no ring on her manicured finger. She doesn’t belong to anyone, not yet anyway. Thank god for that.
My second thought is that if she’s Kaia’s best friend, they are probably similar in age. Kaia is married and pregnant, so she can’t be that young.
…right?
I can see Ella sizing me up as I lean forward, taking her hand in mine.
My hand draws her smaller one and I shake it with purpose, feeling a flash of heat suffuse my cheeks from the mere press of her skin against mine.
She looks up at me with those dark eyes, delicately rimmed with lashes, and her nose wrinkles.
Calum jabs me in the ribs with his elbow. “It is considered polite for you to say hi in return, Keir.”
“Hi. My name is Keiran, or Lord Grayrose in case you are a journalist in disguise.”
Releasing Ella’s hand, I rub my side and shoot Calum a dirty look. Ella laughs and I don’t quite know what to do with myself. Her laugh is light and delicate, like the tinkling of a crystal chandelier. I will admit, I fucking love that sound.
Kaia speaks up. “Keir, Ella is looking for a job. Just something for a few months, to bridge the gap between professional ballet and whatever her next big venture is. Are you still trying to hire someone to work as your child’s nanny?”
Again, I’m caught off guard. I cough into my fist to cover my surprise.
“I am…” I answer slowly.
Before I can finish my thought, my brother comes barreling into our little circle. He makes room for himself by pushing Kaia and Calum apart.
“Don’t mind me, big guy,” James says to Calum. Calum glares at him, but when he speaks his tone is cool.
“Don’t touch my wife, James,” he says.
“What? Wife?” James looks Kaia up and down, picking up her hand and acting shocked. “That’s a big ring if ever I saw one. Why wasn’t I invited to the wedding, then?”
Kaia pulls her hand from his, a hint of disgust flitting over her features. “I don’t even know who you are.”
James gives the girls an exaggerated bow.
“Lord James Grayrose at your service. I am currently on the campaign trail, aiming to be the next prime minister of Great Britain.”
“You’re what now?” Ella asks, crossing her arms.
Calum saunters behind James to stand by Kaia’s shoulder. “How do I know two Scottish men and yet both of you sound like prissy English girls?”
A rumble of laughter escapes my chest.
“Ask our mother. She’s the one that sent us both to Oxford,” I suggest. Eyeing my brother, I arch a brow. “Did you need me, Jamie?”
James is too busy looking Ella up and down, practically licking his chops while he does it. “And what is your name, my dear?”
My hackles rise. I have no claim on the girl, but I definitely don’t want my brother even looking in her fucking direction.
Ella doesn’t even move a muscle when he extends his hand to her. “I’m Ella. And you interrupted a private conversation.”
My brother, unused to meeting a girl that doesn't fall all over his dark red hair and deep blue eyes, blinks a few times. “Oh, did I? Why don’t you come over here and let me apologize?”
Ella looks at him as if she doesn’t quite understand him. “I’m sorry, in what world was that an apology?”
James licks his lips, glancing at me surreptitiously. His smile widens, making him look cartoonish.
“Look, we got off on the wrong foot. I think you’re very pretty. Why don’t you come over to the bar with me and let me buy you a drink?”
“Leave her alone, Jamie,” I say, my voice testy. My patience is wearing thin now.
“It’s James!” he reminds me, sliding me a look.
Ella puts her arms down by her sides, but her hands are clenched into little fists now.
“Well James, I am going to first say, no thank you to whatever you’re selling. And second, I don’t care who you are or what office you’re running for.”
Kaia is right on her heels, chastising James. “Ella is totally right. You very rudely cut in, you doubled down on that behavior, and on top of all that, you are not as cute as you apparently think you are.”
For half a second, my brother’s face shows a dark kind of anger. But then he fights it, swallowing the emotion and replacing it with a snide laugh.
“Whatever. Keir, let's go.”
Anger sizzles in the pit of my stomach. I hate when James assumes that he’s the one calling the shots now. He’s been this way ever since my parents decided not to back me politically any more. I reach out and push his shoulder, forcing him to back up a step.
“You heard the girls, Jamie. You’re not wanted here. Get lost.”
“Fuck you, Keiran. You can’t tell me what to do.”
I grimace. “What are you going to do? Tell mommy and daddy about me?”
He snorts, his cheeks going pink.
“I’ll be over there, talking to ladies who are not so combative. Find me when you’re ready to go.”
Ella gives him a crooked smile. “Good luck with that.”
Seeing Ella and Kaia assert themselves in front of James makes a small smile appear on my face. I watch him go.
Calum glowers at James’ back. “He might be your brother Keir, but his personality is the complete opposite of yours. Honestly, I think the wrong brother is running for office.”
My smile fades. That brings back the heated anger that filled my veins before.
Not now. Don’t lose your shit. It was just a passing comment.
Pushing the emotion down, I glance back at Ella.
“You were right. He had no right to cut in on our conversation. I apologize on his behalf.”
“You know, I bet this is not the first time you’ve had to apologize for him.” Ella gives me a tight smile. “You shouldn’t do it, though. Your brother is kind of a creep.”
Her comment makes me snort. “You have no idea.”
“I can guess.”
I look at her for a long moment. Her lips twitch. I feel my own turn up ever so slightly at the corners.
I think I like her wit.
“So…” Kaia says, trying to make conversation. “I hear that the company is going to hire a bunch of new dancers. Is that true, Calum?”
“Yes. I tasked the newer members of the board with choosing diverse candidates. I just have to wonder if they did a good job or not…” Calum intones.
Ella looks away and the moment between us passes.
I can’t be bothered with the internal politics of the ballet company, so I let the conversation swirl around me.
Still, I can’t keep my eyes off Ella, darting glances at her just rarely enough as to not be thought of as a creep. At least, I hope not.
She’s plucky and smart, sexy and from Kaia’s description, very talented. I imagine that she also has some kind of distinct self-discipline, as she is a fucking ballerina at the best company in the world.
But does that make her nanny material? Or does that leave the door open for me to ask her out?
You’re just in town for the weekend. That’s all you could ever have. The reminder is like throwing ice cubes in a fire.
Ella rests her hand on her hip. It catches my attention, then I find myself out and out staring at her legs.
“Keir, do you want to join the conversation with the rest of us?” Kaia says, squeezing my arm.
“Yeah…” A long time passes before I’m able to come up with the perfect question. “Ella, do you have any experience with teaching children?”
“What?” Ella flushes and smiles. “Uh, yes, Keir. I do. I practically raised my little sister Joy. And of course I was responsible for teaching a class of five year olds ballet all through high school. Kaia here was usually assigned to co-pilot those classes.”
“Oh god, don’t remind me,” Kaia laments. “Those kids had the worst moms ever. They complained about like… every single class that we taught. It was horrible.”
“Keir and I haven’t known each other for a million years. But we have had to wrangle his daughter as a toddler. Let me tell you what, Isla had the two of us running around like madmen.”
“Isla? Is that your daughter?” Ella asks.
“It is.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
I squint at her, trying to read into her words. But if there is subtext, I can’t tell.
“Thank you.”
A waiter stumbles and knocks into a tuxedoed man just behind me. The man backs up, stepping on me and slashing his drink on my sleeve. I glare at the man, who is clearly drunk.
“Watch who you’re stepping on,” I say, low and threatening.
The tuxedoed man turns around to face me; I can tell from the red glow in his cheeks that he’s had more than a few.
“I’ll step wherever I want.”
He gestures, sloshing his drink again. This time, it almost hits Ella. In the blink of an eye, I descend on the man, grabbing the tumbler and forcing his wrist back at a painful angle.
“I have no time or patience for your drunken buffoonery, you lout,” I grit out. “Let go of the damn glass.”
He lets go and squeaks as I bend his wrist back further. When I suddenly turn him loose, he wobbles, unsteady.
The red color in his cheeks flourishes and he looks at me, angry. “I’ll sue you!”
“I look forward to it.”
I turn around, holding up his glass for a server to grab. The man grabs at my arm, ripping my tuxedo jacket.
And that’s all it takes for fury to flood my veins. I’m not thinking about the sexy girl I met tonight or the friends that I’m about to potentially frighten.
No, I’m a thousand percent reacting to the man’s drunken antics. My blood feels like fire coursing through my veins.
“Do you know who I am?!” he screeches.
And just like that, I make a fist and pop him in the jaw as hard as I can. He reels back, gaping at me. I point a finger at him, getting close to his face once more.
“Don’t fuck with me, you drunken idiot,” I growl. “I’ve already seen enough of your kind in my life to know just how little you’re worth.”
“That’s enough.” Calum steps in, calmly putting himself between us. “Come on, Keir. You’ve said all that you need to say.”
Bucking my body forward at the other man, I’m satisfied when he nearly falls all over himself backing away. Calum grabs my arm and pulls me along, past the stunned looking gala and goes toward the penthouse elevators.
It’s only when the elevator doors open and I hear Kaia calling for us to wait that I start to regain my senses. Leaning against the stainless steel wall, I feel the rage begin to fade.
Kaia and Ella slip in the elevator that Calum holds for them. Kaia flashes her husband a tight smile, but her expression falls when she looks at me.
Ella sidles right up to me, standing perfectly straight and looking at me with amusement. “And here I thought that you were the normal one.”
My lips twitch and I grunt. Calum lets the doors close and presses the button for the lobby.
“Where to now?” Kaia asks quietly.
Calum claps me on the shoulder. “What do you say to a drink somewhere quieter?”
I think for a second. “The bar next to my hotel is nice. The Continental. Have you heard of it?”
Kaia coughs into her hand. Calum smiles secretively. “You could say that.”
Kaia whispers something to Ella. Ella looks at me with a calculating expression, like she’s trying to figure me out.
Kaia is right about one thing. Ella is perfect. But will I be satisfied if I merely take her home to be my child’s au pair?
A tightness in my chest says I won’t be satisfied until I take Ella to my bed for the night.
I should know better. Ella is too young, too beautiful. There is no way she’s not every bit as wild as Kinsley, my ex. For so many reasons, she should be off limits to me in a way that women rarely are.
You know what they say about forbidden fruit, though… it always tastes the sweetest. And I can’t stop myself, not after being alone for so long.
And what’s the worst that can happen? After tomorrow, I’ll be half a world away… so why not just enjoy her now?