26. Halliday
26
HALLIDAY
“What do you think?” Sinclair asks, cradling a champagne flute as she appears beside me.
I school my expression as my heart pounds from the shock of her not only approaching me, but actually speaking to me after so long.
“I think you look stunning.”
I gaze up at the giant image of her, dripping in various pieces of diamond jewelry, which hangs on one wall of the flagship Beaufort Diamonds store where Sullivan is showcasing an early viewing of the new designs.
She frowns, following my gaze.
“Ugh, not that. I hate that one. Sullivan chose it. I mean, Zoey and Ashton. They’re so cute together, aren’t they?” She bumps my shoulder, inclining her head in their direction.
“They are.”
I smile over at where Zoey is wrapped around Ashton like a baby monkey, happily showing off her custom-made Beaufort ring to everyone they talk to. They look perfect together. He hangs on to her every word, looking at her like she’s the most exquisite creature he’s ever seen. And every time he murmurs something in her ear, she giggles and then kisses him.
“I want to be an artist’s muse.” Sinclair sighs and sips her champagne.
“I sense you’ll be inspiring someone soon.”
Her eyes drop to the glass in my hand in question.
“It’s just orange juice. I haven’t been drinking. I just have a feeling.”
“Oh. You have a feeling?” Her brows shoot up. “Well, excuse me, but the last time you had a feeling, you had sex with my dad.”
My eyes bug out and she snorts into her glass. Her eyes are bright as she catches mine. I let go, joining her in a laugh that starts deep in my stomach.
After a moment, she sighs. “I’m sorry for giving you the silent treatment. It just took me a little time to get my head around you and Dad.”
“What made you… okay with it?”
“Something Sullivan said.”
“Really?” The last time I really saw Sullivan, he was asking me to sign that NDA.
Sinclair shrugs. “Yeah. And Zoey reminded me that I hired you to make Dad happy. And he is. So I guess I shouldn’t concern myself over how it happened, only that it did. I need to be more open to things happening in ways I’m not expecting. I just don’t like surprises so much since everything that’s happened.”
“I understand that. And for what it’s worth, thank you.”
Sinclair returns my grateful smile and Sterling looks at us from the other side of the store, his eyes crinkling at the corners before he turns back to his friends.
“He’s happy.” Sinclair sighs. “It’s what we wanted, me and Sullivan. And Uncle Mal. The whole family. He needed you.”
“No, I was the one who needed him.”
He says something that has the men with him nodding along in interest. One is Lawson, the art gallery owner. Another is Frankie. I’m sure Sterling said he worked in real estate when I met them both at the charity gala. And there’s a third man with them tonight, a lawyer, who Sterling introduced as Roman.
They look like a real-life commercial for sexy men’s suits, all standing together like that.
Sinclair gives me a coy look like she can read my mind.
“I’ve always thought Roman was pretty hot, as far as older guys go,” she says, her eyes tracking to the tall dark-haired man.
I follow her gaze but my attention fixes on Denver by accident instead. He’s standing against one wall, in his usual black suit, close to where the group of men are talking.
“Do you think Denver misses giving you rides now that you have your car back?”
Sinclair laughs, her eyes rolling. “You’re funny. That sparkling personality of a man has barely spoken to me in the last five years. I figure he was born like it. Must have been at the back of the line when God handed out conversation skills.”
I look back over at Denver, his eyes are on Sinclair, but he looks away the moment he sees me looking at him.
“Do you want another drink?” Sinclair asks.
“I’m good.”
“Okay. I’ll be back.”
I smile at her before she makes her way to one of the long glass display cabinets that is serving as a bar area for tonight.
I sip my juice, soaking up the ambiance. Sterling said it was a small ‘intimate’ affair. But there must be around eighty people moving around the store, not including the staff who are carrying around the velvet display stands, showcasing the new designs. I’ve seen many of the guests try pieces on and marvel at how beautiful they are. I knew Beaufort Diamonds was a world-famous brand. But seeing it like this is still spectacular.
The store area itself is double height and has a huge, intricate crystal chandelier. All of the lighting makes the jewelry in the display cabinets glimmer so brightly it’s almost blinding. Sterling gave me a tour when we arrived while Sullivan barked out meticulous orders to his staff. The rear office areas and private viewing rooms are dripping in luxury. Marble floors, velvet seating, silk cushions. Fish tanks with jewelry displayed inside them in large ornamental shells. The whole building smells of something expensive, like they pump out fragrance from the walls.
It’s an experience just setting foot through the doorman operated entrance.
Sterling showed me the safe too. All of the millions of dollars’ worth of jewels they haven’t made into pieces to sell yet. I was too nervous to touch anything.
Sinclair looks at me from over at the bar where she’s been pulled into a conversation with a couple who are admiring one of the new pieces—a bracelet—that she’s wearing. I smile back to let her know I’m all right by myself before heading to the restrooms to freshen up.
My face glows in the ornate mirrors that are inside. Maybe it’s all the orgasms. For every one of Sterling’s, I have at least three. I’m so sexually attracted to him, it’s insane. Now I’m finally letting it all in, my body literally hums with this aroused energy for him constantly. It’s almost unbearable at times. I want his skin against mine all the time.
I bite my lower lip at the warm dampness in my panties, the evidence I asked him to leave for me so I could still feel him this evening while we’re apart.
I exit the restroom and slow my steps as I recognize two deep voices coming from around the corner at the end of the corridor.
“I’ve got some in my office. I’ll get them for you. You need to wrap it up, Dad. Unless you want to get Halliday pregnant.”
I clap a hand over my mouth, creeping closer. I’m not sure whether to laugh or be mortified that Sullivan is talking to Sterling about us in this way.
“I don’t need a biology lesson, Son. I know how these things work.” Sterling chuckles.
I don’t know what I expected him to say. But the way he’s so calm about it, not panicking, makes something glow inside my chest.
“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you end up getting called Daddy again,” Sullivan grumbles.
“Being called Daddy, huh?” Sterling muses in his deep gravelly tone.
Sullivan scoffs out a disgruntled huff. “I don’t want to know.”
Footsteps echo in my direction but I don’t move fast enough. Sullivan strides around the corner, his jaw set as he pulls his cell from his tuxedo jacket pocket. He almost collides with me, his eyes glued to the screen.
“Halliday,” he greets, his blue eyes—so much like Sterling’s—narrowing with curiosity as he looks at me.
“I chart,” I blurt. “And we haven’t had sex on any of my fertile days, so we’re good. In fact, we could probably have nonstop sex for the next three days without issue. Then, we’ll avoid Sterling finishing insid?—”
Sullivan looks at me in horror.
“—Lovely party.” I smile, internally wincing.
Sterling walks up behind him, chuckling.
“It is. A lovely party.”
He pats Sullivan on the shoulder. Sullivan shakes his head and looks at the two of us like we’re a couple of teenagers caught playing hooky, before he stalks off.
“I don’t know why I told him that.” I meet Sterling’s twinkling eyes.
“He’s a big boy, he can handle it.”
He holds his hand out and links his fingers with mine.
“We should talk about it, though. Like he said. I don’t want you to worry. I know the days we can do it safely. I should have brought it up sooner,” I say.
“Hallie, it’s fine.” Sterling uses his other hand to lift my chin, tracing his thumb softly over my skin. “I knew we were taking risks, and I was going to talk to you about it. But if you’re happy with this charting and it’s a reliable method…?”
“It is.”
“Okay.” His eyes soften. “In that case, send me your chart so I can put it in my calendar.”
“Send it to you?”
“I need to know which days I can’t come inside you.”
“Oh.” Just him saying those words has my core pulsing with arousal.
“We’ll find other ways to enjoy each other.” He gives me a soft kiss.
“Mm-hm, we will,” I agree, taking my time to kiss him back and wondering if anyone would catch us if I were to enjoy him again right now.
He pulls away with a groan. “Now I need to wait a few minutes before we walk out there.”
My eyes drop to his impressive dick tenting his tuxedo pants. Maybe I could drop to my knees and help him with it.
He chuckles. “Later, Baby girl. We’ve got all night.”
I thrum with light, bouncy energy as he leads me out into the store a few moments later, his hand resting on my lower back.
“Did you try any of the new pieces on?” he asks, his deep voice husky in my ear.
“No. I’m too scared, they’re all so beautiful.”
“They’re almost as beautiful as the person wearing them,” he recites the company slogan, winking at me as he waves one of the staff over who’s holding a large velvet display cushion in white-gloved hands.
He stops in front of us, and I stare at the collection of rings.
“Sterling,” I murmur, my eyes darting around to see if anyone’s watching.
“It’s okay.” He takes my left hand and holds it in his. “Which one?”
“Which one?” I balk.
He can’t be serious. I look at the giant, glinting diamonds, then back at him.
He arches a brow in amusement.
“Which one?” he repeats.
I purse my lips, heat blooming across the back of my neck as I fluster.
“I mean, I guess I like that one best out of all of them.” I point to a ring that has a row of diamonds. The one in the center is the largest, and either side taper down in size. “It reminds me of the beams of a sunrise.”
“Hmm.” Sterling takes the ring from the display and studies it. Then he slides it onto my wedding finger. “Looks good on you.”
My breath snags in my throat, and I follow his burning gaze to my hand. He’s stroking my knuckle above the huge ring. I can’t deny it, it does look good, all twinkly and pretty. But it’s the way his thumb moves over my skin without breaking contact to prevent me from taking if off that sets my heart racing.
“Looks really damn good,” he rasps.
My cheeks heat as we stare at one another, just like we have so many times now, with something magical swirling between us. He’s told me multiple times, and I’ve told him, that we’re in this together. Yet, seeing a ring on my finger and noting the way his eyes are full of an intense, sinful possession, entwined with all that love and adoration, makes my head light and fuzzy.
“Nice,” Sinclair says, nodding her approval as she appears next to me. “This is my favorite.” She points to a solitaire princess cut diamond the size of a dime.
“They’re all gorgeous.”
I slip my hand out of Sterling’s and remove the ring, placing it back onto the display cushion. His eyes are fixed on my face, a darkened heat smoldering in them. His hands might have kept to respectable places tonight, but the way he’s looking at me is enough to let the world know there’s something between us.
I shake my head, indicating to cool it down. He clears his throat, looking away and biting back a grin.
“This one looks like Trudy’s.” Sinclair points to an emerald cut diamond flanked by other smaller stones, making it look like a flower, oblivious to the come-fuck-me eyes her father was just giving me. “Uncle Mal chose the diamond himself from one of our mines. It’s a shame she couldn’t make it; she’d have liked to have seen these.”
“Where is she?” I ask, concentrating on Sinclair so my cheeks will cool.
“Some college reunion with girlfriends.”
I glance at where Mal is talking to an older couple, the woman pointing at a display of necklaces.
“He’s flying to Botswana in the morning for a week to visit the mines. I’m so jealous,” Sinclair groans theatrically. “I haven’t been out of the city in weeks. All my jobs have been here.”
“Do you have any location shoots coming up?” I ask, a familiar head of blonde hair across the room catching my attention.
“Yes, next week, thank god. A swimwear shoot in Bermuda.”
“That sounds great,” I say as Lavinia makes her way to us.
Sterling steps closer to me and slides his hand onto my lower back as she reaches us. She gives me and Sinclair a small smile and says hello, but her eyes quickly dart to Sterling.
“Quite the turnout.” She moves closer, then retreats like she’s about to kiss him hello but thinks better of it.
“It is. Sullivan’s done a great job. You look well,” Sterling says, oozing his usual polite charm.
Lavinia’s eyes brighten. “So do you. I was hoping we could talk. I accompanied William here”—she waves in the direction of man wearing glasses—“but we can’t stay for long.”
“Nice to see you, Lavinia,” Sinclair chirps as she’s drawn away by another guest.
Sterling clears his throat. “Lavinia?—”
“I want to apologize.” She looks at me and I feel bad for her. She must be embarrassed after what happened at his penthouse. She has no idea I was there and heard everything.
Or any idea what Sterling and I did against the door after she left.
I shift a little on my feet, ready to excuse myself, but Sterling slides his hand from my back and around to my hip, clasping it so I don’t move.
“I’m sorry,” she continues. “We’ve been friends a long time. I’d like it to remain that way.”
The man she gestured to appears by her side and holds his hand out.
“Sterling, good to see you.”
“William,” Sterling greets as the two men shake hands.
William’s eyes move to me, and Sterling’s grip tightens on my hip.
“Hallie, this is William Fulton. He’s a very talented chef with three restaurants in the city. William, this is Halliday Burton. She’s a very talented businesswoman who works magic.”
I smile as William takes my hand. “Pleased to meet you, Halliday.”
“And you,” I reply.
“So, magic?”
I smile. “I bring people together. Find them love.”
“Ah, so you’re a matchmaker?” His eyes move from me to Sterling. “And you’re working together? How long ago did Elaina?—?”
“Two years,” Sterling clips, stiffening beside me.
William’s brows shoot up. “Two? And you’re ready for…? That’s… Well, good luck. I don’t expect dating at our age is easy.” He chuckles uneasily, his eyes roving around the room as if he’s looking for an escape.
“William,” Lavinia chimes in, “two years is plenty of time. And Elaina was no saint. If you knew what she’d been up to, you’d be applauding Sterling for waiting this long.”
William pales, his throat bobbing. “Of course, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“No harm done,” Sterling replies smoothly.
I look at him, but his eyes are fixed on Lavinia. A muscle in his cheek clenches.
“It was nice to meet you, Halliday,” William says quickly before looking at Lavinia. “My car’s outside. We should…”
“Of course.” Her gaze drops to Sterling’s hand on my hip before she paints a bright smile on her face. “Halliday, I hope you’re successful in your search. And Sterling, it was good to see you.” She squeezes his forearm, then leaves with William.
“You said no one knew about the affair.”
“I didn’t think they did,” he murmurs.
“They were friends. Elaina must have told her.”
“Perhaps. Lavinia’s never mentioned it, though, and she didn’t see Elaina much those last few months. She was overseas on a charity mission.”
“Oh. That’s…. a little weird, then,” I say.
Sterling’s brow is furrowed as he watches Lavinia and William exit through the main door on the far side of the room.
We stay until all of the guests have left and only staff and family remain.
Sterling pulls me into his arms and presses a kiss straight to my mouth with a groan. “Do you realize how hard it’s been not to do that all evening? Especially knowing you aren’t wearing a bra underneath this dress?”
I smile into his kiss, ignoring the staff around us, packing up all of the jewelry to take to the safe.
He slides his hand down over the silver satin until his fingertips graze the top of my ass. He doesn’t move any further, maintaining some gentlemanly manners. But the heated glint in his eyes conveys all the filthy things he’s planning for me when we get back to his place.
“Let’s go,” he murmurs, kissing me again.
“Don’t you want to wait for the others?” I look over to where Sullivan is giving out instructions to his staff. Sinclair folds her arms as she says something to him.
“No, they’re fine.” Sterling holds my small wrap out, slipping it around my shoulders.
“Boss?” Denver clears his throat as he walks over. “Sullivan’s suggested I take Sinclair home instead of him. He says he still has things to finish up here.”
“Good. As long as she’s safe.”
“I always make sure she’s inside and the door is bolted before I leave,” Denver says, his expression serious.
“Thanks, Denver. See you in the morning.” Sterling pats his shoulder, and Denver strides in the direction of Sinclair, who looks like she’s complaining to Sullivan, shaking her head as she talks.
As we exit, the cold night air hits me, and I lean gratefully against Sterling’s warm, solid side as he wraps his arm around me and holds me close.
“Safe flight,” Sterling calls to Mal as he heads to his waiting car.
“See you in a week,” Mal replies as he opens the rear door.
Sterling reaches out and opens our car door for me. His warm lips catch my cheek in a kiss. “In you get, it’s cold.”
I turn to smile at him but freeze as a man pushes off from the wall a little further up the street and moves toward us.
“Hell no,” I mutter, watching Rory get closer. I knew it was too good to be true hoping he’d actually listen to me and keep away.
Sterling tenses and whips his head around, causing Rory to freeze in his tracks.
“Get in the car, Hallie,” he says calmly.
I glare at Rory, my fingers tingling with the urge to run at him and bite and scratch. Why can’t he leave me alone?
“You look… That’s a nice dress,” Rory says, his eyes dropping over my body.
I pull my wrap around me tighter, but it does little to hide my nipples, puckering against the fabric from the cold. Rory doesn’t even try to hide the way he’s zeroed in on them. Maybe he’s been drinking. He looks kind of glassy-eyed.
Sterling positions himself in front of me. “You either believe you’re brave, or you’re just plain dumb.”
“Better than being old and delusional,” Rory says, tipping his chin as he tries to look down at Sterling. But Sterling’s at least four inches taller, so the move is pointless.
“Please get in the car, Hallie,” Sterling says again in a deep, confident gravel.
I lay a hand on his bicep and look out from behind him at Rory. “He’s not worth it,” I say as his muscles harden beneath my grip.
“Sterling? Everything all right?” Mal calls from the sidewalk where he hasn’t gotten into his car yet.
Rory looks at Mal, then back at Sterling and snorts. “What’s the matter, old man? Scared your hip will give out if you fight me? You going to get your ancient buddy there to help you?”
“We’re fine,” Sterling calls back to Mal.
“Can we go?” I ask, my hand still curled around his solid arm.
“It’s okay, Hallie. I’m a gentleman and I’ll settle this like one,” Sterling replies, his hardened eyes pinned on Rory like a hunter lining up their shot.
“How’s that?” I whisper.
A muscle in his neck tenses, his vein pulsing steadily next to it. “In private.”
He helps me into the car before sliding into the rear seat beside me. He shuts the door, ignoring the slow clap coming from Rory on the sidewalk.
“Think you can buy me off, old man?” he says, tapping on the window with a leery grin. “Well, bravo, nice try. But I’m not going anywhere.”
“Oh my god.” I press my fingers against my temples.
Sterling’s right. He’s plain dumb.
The car pulls away, leaving Rory behind us.
Sterling takes my hand, interlinking our fingers. “You okay?”
“You tried to pay him to leave me alone?”
“I did. I’ll always take care of you, whatever it takes,” he answers without hesitation.
Three hundred thousand dollars at the charity fundraiser, plus whatever amount he gave Rory.
“You’ll do it no matter what I say, won’t you?”
Despite the tension over his face, his lips quirk. “You’re catching on.”
I can’t be mad at him for trying. I’d do exactly the same for him if he needed it, and I thought it would work.
“I don’t know why Rory wouldn’t just take it and go. He sounded so desperate for the money.”
“Some things make men more reckless than money.”
I frown in confusion.
“He didn’t want that annulment, did he?”
I stare at him, realization coiling around me and squeezing until I think I might be sick.
“No,” I whisper. “He suggested we give the marriage a go the next morning. I thought he was joking. Oh god!” I screw my eyes shut and rub my forehead. “He’s never going to leave me alone. The sooner I get back and see my parents, the better. I can’t stop him from trying to ruin my business, but I can at least make sure they hear it from me first.”
“I’ll get us a flight organized.”
“Really?”
“You need to see your parents, Hallie.” He lifts our joined hands to his lips and kisses my fingers. “So we’ll go and see them. I’d like to meet them.”
“Thank you.” I exhale, my shoulders loosening.
“Now, lose all thoughts of him because I have plans for us when we get back.”
Despite the sour turn of the evening, my core thrums to life, and I press my thighs together.
“You do?”
Sterling chuckles.
I’ll never get enough of him looking at me like this, happiness making the blue of his eyes shimmer like tropical waves.
Even Rory can’t ruin that.