“Obviously, we’re going to need more than a few rooms when we go out there,” Turner said, still on the topic of what kind of suites Julian would offer him for the trip out to the resort in Biarritz. “It’s not gonna be just me and Carter out there. I’ve got my business advisors, financial consultants, lawyers.” He lifted his eyebrows at Julian as if waiting for him to be impressed, or daunted maybe. Of course, he was neither.
He looked calm, collected, far too dashing in classic Persol shades and a white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked to me like he should be driving some shiny wooden speedboat in Lake Como, not dealing with Turner Roth’s insufferable drunkenness.
; “I look forward to meeting your advisors,” Julian said evenly.
“You should. They’re smart men. I’m bringing the whole fuckin’ team, and they sure as shit ain’t gonna share rooms.”
“It’s high season, but once you agree on an actual date, I’ll be sure to call the resort to arrange for the proper amount of suites,” Julian said.
“Yeah… I’m bringing a bunch of old fucks who sleep at like, ten, so their rooms actually matter,” Turner snorted, draping an arm over the glass railing of the balcony. We were twenty floors above ground, but with a flick, he tossed his garnish over the side of the roof. “The four of us though… I hope you know we’re going to have some late nights in Biarritz.”
“And why is that?” Julian asked.
“Well, I haven’t been out there in years, and you two are the experts. You gotta show me where the gems are. I gotta feel like I wanna take my business to that town, you know what I mean?”
“That just sounds like an excuse for you to get shitfaced instead of work,” Julian said.
My jaw fell open. A brief silence followed, and I looked up from my drink to see Julian and Turner smiling at each other despite the palpable tension at the table.
“What can I say? You know me by now, Hoult. I work hard, and I play hard.”
Julian’s laugh was genuine, and I knew it was because he found only the latter half of Turner’s claim to be true. He played hard, and he played hard. Even I knew that at this point.
“Well, regardless, I’ll at least have your advisors on board at that point. That’ll guarantee me at least a couple sober minds to talk to.”
“Yeah, maybe you can all talk shop and sleep at ten while I take Sara out for drinks. How about that?” Turner asked, his glassy eyes unblinking at Julian.
“How about we get back on topic?” Julian suggested, his mouth still curved slightly up despite his voice sounding as brittle as ice. Even Carter flashed me a what just happened look over the exchange.
I had no idea, and Julian wasn’t giving me any directions, so feeling slightly awkward, I excused myself.
In the bathroom, I used a paper towel to dab at the beads of sweat forming on my hairline. I was dying to put my hair up, but I’d left my only racer back bra with Julian, and I had no intention of giving the Roths that much of a show. Besides, the biggest battle was almost over. Turner and Carter had agreed on the trip to the Biarritz resort, and once we got out there, their advisors would more than likely tell them the purchase was a no-brainer, and this would all be over. We’d probably complete the trip within the next few weeks, and then negotiations would take place for some time after.
Well before the end of the summer, this would all be done.
Holding my hair off the back of my neck, I stared at myself in the mirror.
I didn’t want to admit to myself that I already feared this being over. But that was a difficult truth to suppress considering anytime I so much as looked in the mirror lately, I saw the body Julian couldn’t keep his hands off of. I imagined the heat of his broad chest behind me, his lips on my neck and his palms smoothing down my hips.
He was the one responsible for whatever reawakening I’d had since quitting my job, and now I was screwed. Now, I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else. I’d seen plenty of good-looking men since meeting Julian - at the gala, at Hoult Tower. They were all polished, handsome and put together. Technically, Turner and Carter were handsome. But Julian’s allure had completely spoiled me to the point that I found myself almost annoyed by how little my favorite actors and TV stars did for me at this point.
He really had ruined my taste and ability to have a normal attraction for others. So what was I supposed to do with myself when he moved on from me? Become asexual? The thought made me feel grim.
But I couldn’t afford to be grim.
I had to be strictly bright and engaging for the Roths, so with a splash of water to my face, I snapped myself out of it, or at least tried.
Of course when I returned to the table, I found Julian looking just as dark and somber as I had a second ago.
“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling wary when I noticed Turner’s big, shit-eating grin.
“Oh, I was just telling Julian that before we set a date for the trip, we gotta make sure of one thing.”
I cocked my head. “What’s that?”
Turner wiggled his eyebrows.