Chapter 15 #2
“Ok, picture this: We’re in a self-defense class, paired up to practice wrist releases,” Kate said, throwing punching motions.
“Everybody is yelling and laughing, music blaring loud and wild. All of a sudden … silence.” Kate snapped her fingers.
Her body stilled. “We all whipped around to the speakers, where this sexy redhead was rocking a resting bitch face,” Kate crossed her arms and pursed her lips.
Connor’s laughter burst out at her impression—even I felt a smile creep in.
Kate lifted her chin, scanning the empty studio behind us, and spoke crisply, “I’m here for Alexander Clarke. ”
“Incredible,” Connor murmured. I dropped my forehead into my hands. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and I buried my embarrassed cheek in his shirt.
“Connor, you should have seen Alex’s dumb face. He was so into Grace. When reality crashed in on him?” She brought her fingers to her lips for a chef’s kiss. “Then Victoria strolled out of there like she owned the place. Cruz’s tongue was hanging out of his head, panting after her.”
“Who’s Cruz?” Connor asked.
“The instructor,” Kate said, sitting down on Mallory’s other side and picking up her champagne flute. “And Victoria’s rebound.”
“What? A rebound?” Connor screeched, jolting upright and sending me reeling. “Who are you and where’d you put Victoria Blackstone?”
“It’s been three years, Connor. You think I’ve been celibate since Alexander moved out?” I asked, hiding my flushed cheeks behind my champagne flute. Even when we lived together, our sex life hadn’t exactly been scorching … but Connor didn’t need to know how pathetic my sex life was.
“Not just any guy,” Kate said, picking up her phone. “Picture young Jason Momoa without the eyebrow scar—”
“Stargate, not Baywatch,” Mallory said.
“But Dominican instead of Polynesian.”
Kate handed over her phone. “I took this for his sister’s Instagram.”
I glanced over at a grid filled mostly with women with flawless makeup. Connor zoomed in on a photo of Eric, his bicep tattoos on display while painting the wall, shooting the camera a sexy smirk.
Connor’s jaw dropped, tearing his gaze from Kate’s phone to smack my arm. “You hooked up with a guy with tattoos? I don’t even know you anymore.”
“It’s not her fault,” Mallory said. “When he locks those eyes on you, it’s like a tractor beam. Your legs just fall open.”
“She held out longer than I’ve ever seen,” Kate said, admiration shining in her eyes. “At first it seemed like they were fighting on the dance floor, then suddenly they were making out.”
Jesus, I can’t believe they were watching that closely. I ran my hand over my mouth, ready to defend myself without knowing what I would say, but their conversation continued without me.
“So he’s a fuckboi?” Connor asked.
They both stilled, heads tilted in thought like dogs watching ducks take flight.
“No, he doesn’t let anybody believe they’re exclusive,” Mallory replied.
“And he’s upfront about his intentions,” Kate added. “He wouldn’t lie to get in your pants.”
“It’s honestly refreshing,” Mallory said. “When I took my night, I wish I—“
“You took a night?” I asked in surprise.
“Yeah, two years ago,” Mallory said as her gaze softened. “Top five best nights of my life.”
Kate’s face tinged with regret as she twisted her engagement ring.
“What do you mean, take your night?” Connor asked.
“Cruz has a one-night policy to prevent clinginess,” Kate explained.
Mallory grinned. “Women plan for months. Make sure they’re waxed and not on their period. They don’t take him home their first week in town … unless they don’t know they only get one night. But he told you before you left the club, right?”
I nodded as Kate leaned forward, chin on her palm. “So how was it?”
I considered coming clean, telling them nothing happened … but I was never going to sleep with him, so there was no harm in them thinking I was more adventurous than I was.
And more importantly: It would look pathetic if word got back to Alexander.
“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”
Mallory scooted closer, refilling my glass with liquid courage. “Good thing we’re not ladies.”
“Definitely not a lady,” Connor said with a nudge.
“I’ll just say …” I said, trailing my fingertip down the damp glass. “I have no regrets about going to his place.”
“He took you to his place?” Kate’s palm slapped the floor, her jaw unhinged. “We’ve been friends for years and I’ve never seen his apartment.”
“And he visited the next afternoon once my bed arrived.”
Their scandalized faces were worth the white lie about my furniture assembly.
“Damn, sounds like the perfect rebound," Kate said.
“And a great way to get my brother out of your system,” Mallory said.
“Though I can’t believe you dated Alex for seven years,” Kate said. “What did you see in him? Besides those broad shoulders, those stunning blue eyes, and that little bit of scruff …”
When Mallory shoved Kate, she raised her hands. “What, your brothers are hot!”
“Okay, besides those irresistible Clarke genetics …” Mallory rolled her eyes. “He was such an asshole. Even now he’s barely tolerable. How could you stand him for so long?”
I took a sip of champagne to gather my thoughts, but Connor explained for me. “You wouldn’t believe the egos around Hamilton & Houghton, Alex wasn’t even the worst of them. Dick measuring contests were the norm.”
“And having a vagina meant I had to have the biggest balls of all.”
“Sounds awful,” Mallory said.
“It was paradise compared to my previous job,” I said, taking in their sympathetic expressions. “After I left there, lawsuits revealed rampant sexual misconduct. Dozens of women came forward with accusations that bordered on criminal behavior, but nobody was fired.”
“Damn, hope those other women got help," Mallory said.
I paused. I’d been so deep in applying to law school, I hadn’t considered the women who risked their careers to share their stories. What happened to them?
“I hope so too,” I murmured.
“So, now that Alex is off the market and you’ve taken your night with Cruz, do you need introductions to Saratoga’s eligible bachelors?” Kate asked.
“Matchmaking!” Mallory perked up, clapping her hands. “What are you looking for in a partner? I introduced Kate to Paul, I’ll find you someone amazing.”
Maybe they were right. I didn’t need to marry Alexander to build a legal empire with him.
When Richard needed a cash injection for The Sinclair Group, he hadn’t turned to my grandmother’s wealthy family—he’d approached Calvin Larsson, and now Sinclair Larsson was a billion-dollar company.
Maybe I’d be better off with Alexander as just my business partner.
When he finally agreed to move to New York City, he could bring Grace and Ruby. Hell, I’d get Ruby a night in the Eloise room at the Plaza if it meant getting back to Manhattan, to show my family what I could accomplish without them.
Ideally in time for Richard’s 80th birthday party in May, only two months away. My family would expect me to bring home somebody handsome and successful, with an Ivy League education.
Alexander could keep Grace, and I’d find a replacement.
Men tripped over themselves to date me, so I’d stop ignoring their advances.
It was March, I had plenty of time before May to sculpt someone new into the other half of my power couple.
Even faster if they worked in real estate and understood how much their career would benefit from a powerful alliance.
I visualized my Forbes cover again. The blurry gap held a new face … his gaze on my cleavage.
I waved off the matchmaking offer—restraining a full-body shudder at who Mallory Clarke would consider a good choice—and texted the real estate agent who’d shown me this property:
Lawrence, signed a new tenant. Still interested in that celebratory drink?