The quick flash of his smile made my toes curl into the carpet.
Smiling back, I said, “I thought you were serious about my boobs.”
“Angel, I take your tits very seriously. So tonight, when someone ogles them, they’ll realize you’re much too expensive and they couldn’t possibly afford you.”
I smacked his shoulder. “Shut up.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dresser. He reached into the open drawer and pulled out a diamond cuff. I watched, stunned, as he slid it around my wrist. That was followed by a velvet box, which he opened to show me the diamond teardrop earrings inside. “You should put these on yourself.”
I gaped at them, then at him.
Gideon just smiled. “You’re priceless. The necklace alone wasn’t going to get the message across.”
Staring at him, I couldn’t find the words to say anything.
My silence turned his smile into a wicked grin. “When we get home, I’m going to fuck you while you’re wearing diamonds and nothing else.”
The erotic image that popped into my mind sent a shiver through me.
Catching my shoulders, he turned me around and swatted my ass. “You look sensational. From every angle. Now, stop distracting me and let me get ready.”
I grabbed my sparkly heels off the shoe rack and left the closet, more dazzled by my husband than by the jewels he’d given me.
“You look like a million dollars.” Cary pulled back from my hug and checked me out. “Actually, I think you’re wearing a million dollars. Jesus. I was so blinded by your bling I almost missed that you’d let your girls come out and play.”
“That’s Gideon’s point,” I said dryly, giving a turn to set the skirt of my gown drifting around my legs. “You, of course, are gorgeous.”
He gave me his famous bad-boy grin. “I know.”
I had to laugh. I thought most men looked good in a tuxedo. Cary, however, looked amazing. Very dapper. Like a Rock Hudson or Cary Grant. The combination of his roguish charm and stunning good looks made him irresistible. He’d put on a little weight. Not enough to change his clothing size, but enough to fill out his face a little more. He looked good and healthy, which was rarer than it should be.
Gideon, on the other hand, was more … 007. Lethally sexy, with a refined edge of danger. He entered the living room and I could only stare helplessly, riveted by the graceful elegance of his chiseled body, that easy commanding stride which hinted at how amazing he was in bed.
Mine. All mine.
“I put Lucky in his crate,” he said, joining us. “We ready?”
Cary gave a decisive nod. “Let’s hit it.”
We took the elevator down to the garage, where Angus waited with the limo. I climbed in first and chose the long bench, knowing Cary would sit beside me while Gideon took his usual seat in the back.
I’d had so little time with Cary lately. Fashion Week had kept him super busy, and since I was spending the nights at the penthouse, we didn’t even have a chance for quick chats in the evening or coffee in the morning.
Cary looked at Gideon and gestured at the bar before we rolled out. “You mind?”
“Help yourself.”
“Either of you want something?”
I considered. “Kingsman and cranberry, please.”
Gideon shot me a warm look. “I’ll have the same.”
Cary poured and served, then sat back with a beer and took a deep pull straight out of the bottle. “So,” he began, “I’m flying to London next week for a shoot.”
“Really?” I sat forward. “That’s wonderful, Cary! Your first international job.”
“Yeah.” He smiled into his beer, then looked at me. “I’m stoked.”
“Wow. Everything has happened so fast for you.” A few months ago we’d still been living in San Diego. “You’re going to take the world by storm.”
I managed a smile. I was truly, genuinely happy for my best friend. But I could picture a time, in the not-so-distant future, when we’d both be so busy and traveling so often we would rarely see each other. It made my eyes sting to think of it. We were closing a chapter of our lives and I mourned a little for the end, even knowing that the best was yet to come for both of us.
Cary raised his bottle in a silent toast. “That’s the plan.”
“How’s Tatiana?”
His smile grew tight, his eyes hard. “She says she’s dating someone. She moves quick when she sees something she likes, always has.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“No.” He started peeling the label off his beer bottle. “Some dude’s blowing his load where my baby is. I think that’s sick.” He glanced at Gideon. “Can you imagine?”
“No one wants me imagining that,” he answered, in that even tone that screamed danger.
“Right? It’s fucked up. But I can’t stop her and I’m not getting back together with her, so … It is what it is.”
“God.” I reached for his hand and held it. “That’s tough. I’m sorry.”
“We’re being civil to each other,” he said with a shrug. “She’s less of a bitch when she’s getting laid regularly.”
“So you guys are talking a lot?”
“I check in with her every day, make sure she’s got what she needs. Told her I was good for whatever—except my dick, of course.” He heaved out his breath. “It’s depressing. Without sex, we really don’t have anything to say to each other. So we talk about work. We’ve got that in common, at least.”
“Did you tell her about London?”
“Hell, no.” Cary squeezed my hand. “Had to tell my best girl first. I’ll tell her tomorrow.”
I debated bringing up the question, but I couldn’t help myself. “And Trey? Anything there?”
“Not really. I send him a text or photo every couple days. Stupid shit. Stuff I’d send you.”
“So no dick pics?” I teased.
“Yeah, no. I’m trying to keep it real with him. He thinks I’m oversexed—which he totally doesn’t mind when he’s in bed with me—but whatever. I send him something every now and then, and he replies, but that’s it.”
My nose wrinkled. I looked at Gideon and found him typing something into his phone.
Cary took another drink, his throat working on a hard swallow. “It’s not a relationship. Not even friendship at this point. For all I know, he could be seeing someone, too, and I’m the odd man out.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, celibacy looks good on you.”
He snorted. “Because I’ve put on a few pounds? Happens. You eat, because you crave the endorphins you’re not getting with an orgasm, and you get less exercise, because you’re not practicing any mattress gymnastics.”
“Cary.” I laughed.
“Look at you, baby girl. You’re all tight and toned from Marathon Man Cross over there.”
Gideon looked up from his phone. “Come again?”
“That’s what I just said, dude,” Cary drawled, winking at me. “In so many words.”
After waiting in a line of limos discharging their passengers, we finally pulled up to the red carpet rolled out in front of a historic brick-faced building, home to a private members-only club. Paparazzi were as thick as fall leaves on the ground, lining the velvet ropes that cordoned them off from the walkway.
Leaning forward, I looked through the open glass entrance doors and saw more photographers held back on the right side of the entrance, while logoed backdrops lined the wall on the left for event and sponsor-branded photo ops.
Angus opened the door and I could feel the momentary expectation as the paparazzi waited to see who would step out. The moment Gideon did, it was like the mother of all lightning storms, camera flashes exploding in rapid, endless succession.
Mr. Cross! Gideon! Look this way!
He held his hand out to me, the rubies in his wedding band catching the light and glittering. Holding my skirt up with one hand, I made my way over to him and set my hand in his. The moment I stepped out, I was blinded, but I kept my eyes open despite the spots dancing across my vision, a practiced smile pasted on my lips.