Chapter Thirteen
JAMESON
The night air was perfect, as I brought out the egg sandwiches, fresh fruit cut up, and two glasses of wine.
“This looks amazing.” Brielle took a bite. “Mmm, so good. I didn’t know you could be this hospitable. You are different when you are here.”
“I know this isn’t my place. I have five places all around, but I like to come here because it is so serene and peaceful. And I can be myself. I wish I had my own place here, but the real estate is expensive.”
“You can afford it.”
I chuckled. “Did I tell you Chris bought this place for seventy-five million dollars? And you didn’t see the nightclub he has on the ground level.”
She almost spit out my drink.
“What about opening up a branch out here?”
“For Titan?”
“Yes.”
I thought for a moment. “I haven’t actually, but it might be a good idea. I just love it here; you can hear the waves of the lake, and it’s very peaceful and stress-free.”
“I’m glad you brought me here.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
When we finished eating, Brielle stood to look over the lake, this house was several feet above, basically sitting on a cliff as large rocks surrounded it as well.
My arms circled her waist, and I stuck my face in the crook of her neck. She spun around, I wrapped my arms around her as she buried her face into my chest.
“Ready for bed?”
“I am.”
***
I held the coffee mug as I waved it under Brielle’s nose to wake her up. I wanted to make the most of our trip here since we only had another day and a half before we had to be back in New York. Though this is Chris’s place, I could live like this forever.
“Mmmm,” Brielle said dreamily, as she opened her eyes. She instantly took the coffee and sipped it. “Thank you.”
“Sure. Ready to start the day?”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Chris has a boat we can take out.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Get your butt moving, Bri.”
I was already changed and ready for the day, but I hung out in the room while she got ready because I didn’t want her to get lost, which is easy to do.
“Ready to go?” I asked once she appeared to be ready. Her hair was in a ponytail, and she wore jean shorts and a tee shirt.
“Yep.”
“We’ll take the cable lift.”
We loaded into the lift and got to the bottom in half the time it would take to walk.
“That was so cool,” Brielle said as we walked onto the dock, I got in the boat first, then offered her a hand to get on safely.
“You know how to drive this thing?”
I smirked. “Is that a trick question?”
“What do you not know how to do?”
I shrugged as I started the boat. Brielle sat on a bench while I got acquainted with the boat and the workings.
“How often do you come here?”
“A couple times a year.” The wind whipped Brielle’s ponytail around. “Come over here.”
She stood by me, and I pulled her closer.
“Take the wheel.”
She looked at me hesitantly, but I encouraged her with a nod. I positioned myself behind her and helped her steer the wheel around the lake.
“I love it here. I can see why you like it here,” she told me.
The sun was going down when I pulled back toward the dock.
“That was so much fun!”
“It was. Let’s get ready for dinner.”
After a shower, I pulled on a pair of black dress pants and a black dress shirt with the top buttons undone.
“How do I look?” Brielle asked.
“I’m not sure I want anyone seeing you wearing that.” She wore a short dress that was fitted in the bust area, but more flowy from the waist, and the dress was short, as she showed off her toned legs and the high heels. Her hair hung down in big waves.
Smiling, she closed the distance between us, I put on my shirt and brought my lips down onto hers.
“Just think about how you’ll be undressing me later.”
I shook my head. “God, I’m going to be living with a hard-on twenty-four seven.”
We carefully descended the stairs and walked into the dining room, where there was a long glass table with fancy looking chairs.
“There you are,” Chris greeted Brielle by kissing the back of her hand, and half hugged me. “Please come sit.”
I pulled a chair out for Brielle while Chris sat at the head of the table. Brielle and I on either side of him.
“You look exquisite,” he complimented her. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him flirting with her.
“Thank you, Chris.” Her cheeks flushed as she placed the cloth napkin on her lap.
After the drinks were filled, the first course came.
“Jameson says you aren’t married.”
“It’s true. I’m not. 1. I haven’t met the right one yet, and 2. I have too much fun being single.”
We all laughed. Conversation flowed through dinner. “Are you two going to be at the club tonight?” Christ questioned.
I answered, “Maybe for a few minutes.”
“Sure.” Brielle shrugged in agreement. “This steak is to die for,” Brielle told Chris.
“Thank you. Only the best for my guests.”
“What did you guys do today?” Chris asked.
“I took Brielle out on your boat.”
“Oh. How’d you like it?”
“I loved it.”
“You guys will have to come more often. There’s a great hiking trail that’s just a short drive. It has a great lookout point.”
“Maybe we could do that tomorrow before we leave,” I told Brielle.
“That would be fun.”
Once dinner was over, we moved out onto the balcony with a glass of wine. In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for Chris and I to share things, and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about it this time around. It seemed like Chris was helping himself to make a move, to see how far she’d let him. Or how I’d feel about it. However, the thought of it kind of turned me on, and I wondered what it would be like with Brielle. If she’d even do that.
“Let’s head down to the club,” Chris offered with a smile as he looked at her. “I have a bar down there as well. And the walls are soundproof, you wouldn’t even hear the music through other parts of the house.”
“Oh, cool,” Brielle replied as she listened intently.
I held her hand the whole way there.