It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her what plans and to press her further. It was certainly within his right. But she looked so uncomfortable that he didn’t want to put her on the defensive, and he damn sure didn’t want her to lie to him. And she may well if he cornered her.
“I assume it’s only Friday night then?” he said in a short tone.
She nodded.
“Okay then, be at my apartment Saturday morning. You’ll spend the weekend with me and then we’ll leave Monday afternoon for Paris.”
Relief flashed in her eyes and she smiled that thousand-watt smile again.
“I can’t wait,” she said. “Paris sounds so exciting! Will we have a chance to see anything?”
He smiled at her enthusiasm. “Probably not, but we’ll see what happens.”
His phone rang and he checked his watch. Time had slipped away from him and it was time for his conference call. He waved his hand for Mia to go back to what she was doing, and then he got comfortable in his chair before answering the call.
Chapter twenty-five
“Tell Jace thank you for checking up on Brandon for me,” Caroline said as the two rode in a cab to Vibe. “It was really sweet of him. I feel horrible that I even let you do this for me, but after Ted, I just have this horrible, sick feeling every time I even look at a guy with interest, you know?”
Mia reached over to squeeze her friend’s hand. “It will get better, sweetie. And hey, from everything Jace reported, Brandon sounds like a hardworking, honorable guy. Most importantly, he’s single and he lives alone.”
Relief was evident in Caroline’s face and she twitched eagerly as they approached the club.
“Yeah, that helps a lot. I guess we’ll see what happens, huh?”
Mia smiled as the cab slowed. It was nine o’clock and she was tired after her day at work. She’d rather be with Gabe at his apartment, having a quiet dinner and whatever else he had in store for her. She hated that she’d effectively lied to him about what her plans were for the night. Not that she’d blatantly told an untruth, but she hadn’t been open with him. Somehow telling him she was going clubbing made her worry over his reaction. What if he told her no?
It wasn’t that she wouldn’t have gone anyway. Yes, they had a contractual agreement—God, she was tired of that word. She was getting to the point where she hated the very thought of that piece of paper she’d signed. Not because she regretted any part of her relationship with Gabe, but because of what that contract represented. Or rather what it didn’t represent.
She simply hadn’t wanted that confrontation with Gabe. She wasn’t out guy shopping tonight. She was going to have fun with her girls and spend time with them—time that had been a precious commodity ever since Gabe had taken over her life.
Yes, she could see why Caroline would be worried. If one of her friends had entered a relationship where she spent all her free time with the guy to the point of excluding everyone else in her life, Mia would be concerned about the relationship. She’d question whether it was healthy for one of her friends.
And maybe her relationship with Gabe wasn’t healthy. She knew damn well her emotional dependence on him wasn’t. She was headed for a serious fall, and when that happened, she’d need her friends more than ever, and that was why she couldn’t shut them out now.
But whatever this was between her and Gabe was what she wanted. She craved it. She wasn’t in denial of her circumstances. She had a very good idea of what was going to eventually happen. But she was going to enjoy every moment—savor every minute—until the time he set her free.
She’d survive. Or maybe that was the part she was in denial over. She wasn’t entirely certain she would survive when Gabe walked away.
“Hey, we’re here,” Caroline said. “Earth to Mia.”
Mia blinked and looked up to see Caroline already out of the cab. Mia dug into her pocket for the cash to pay the cabbie and then she scrambled out after Caroline.
Chessy, Trish and Gina were waiting outside the club in the Meatpacking District, and a long line had already formed down the block. They all ganged up on Mia, hugging and exclaiming over her. Mia laughingly fielded their affection and some of her anxiety eased. This would be fun. And an evening away from Gabe was probably a good thing. It was too easy to get caught up in the alternate universe he’d created for them. But this…this was real. These were her friends and this was her life.
It was time to cut loose and have some fun for the night.
Caroline herded them toward the VIP entrance and it was then that Mia got her first look at Brandon. He was a tall, heavily muscled man. Bald, with a goatee, a diamond earring flashed in his left lobe. As soon as his gaze lighted on Caroline, he lost the menacing, badass look of a bouncer, and he looked as though someone had just put a puppy in front of him.
He visibly melted, and if Mia had any reservations that this guy was genuinely interested in Caroline, they were gone.
He positioned himself between the line of people and the door and motioned for Caroline.
Mia and the others followed Caroline and Brandon reached into his pocket to pull out five VIP passes.
She couldn’t hear what Brandon said to Caroline over the street noises. He leaned in close to say something in Caroline’s ear. Whatever it was had Caroline suffused with color and her eyes danced with delight. He smiled gently at her and then motioned her and her friends through the entrance.
“He’s hot, Caro!” Chessy exclaimed when they got inside.
Gina and Trish were quick to agree even as they gazed around at the crowded club. Music pulsed and vibrated off the walls. The dance floor was huge—and packed. There was an electric look and feel to the place. Mostly dark but with neon underglow at the tables and the bar. Laser beams danced across the floor, bouncing off the moving, gyrating bodies.
“I vote we get totally hammered,” Trish said. “Good music, dancing, drinks and hopefully some hot guys.”
“I’m in,” Chessy declared.
“Me too,” Gina said.
They turned to look at Mia. “Bring it on,” she said.
They all whooped and then waded in to find the table Brandon had reserved for them.
Caroline tugged Mia back a step and then leaned in by her ear so Mia could hear her.
“I’m going home with Brandon afterward. Is that okay? Will you be okay getting back to the apartment by yourself? He said he’ll get a cab for you.”
Mia’s eyebrows rose. “You sure, Caro?”