Cherish her: Laws of Seduction, Book 4 (6 page)

“Lainey,” my mother says, “We haven’t seen each other for so long. Why don’t you spend the night with me at the hotel?”

“Or you could stay with James and me. I told you there is plenty of room.” When my mother and Jett exchange looks, I decide to ignore it. With the way the evening had gone, it was becoming more difficult to defend my relationship with James.

“Maybe next time. I thought it would be fun to stay next to Jett.”

My mother’s diplomatic response is so typical of her. I smile at her with affection. I had missed her, and since James was off doing who knows what, I might as well take her up on her offer. After all, she would only be here for a short weekend. “If you promise to stay with us next time, I guess I could spend the night with you.”

I laugh when my mother claps her hands in delight. “I’m so glad.”

In the back of my mind, I wonder if a tiny part of me didn’t agree to spend the night with my mother as a way to punish James for missing our dinner. To pacify my conscience, I send a text to James.

Since you are busy, I’m going to spend more time with my mother. Will probably crash at her hotel tonight XX

My phone pings almost immediately with a return text. Don’t be mad. Will explain tomorrow XX

My heart clenches. He knows me so well. I’m not mad XX

I don’t believe you. Think of me when you get into your lonely bed tonight XX

I consider what to write back and finally settle on. Think of me too XX

Always XX

Feeling slightly better, I focus my attention on enjoying time with my family.

CHAPTER 6

The next morning is overcast. My mother and I return to the apartment to find it empty. I swallow back my disappointment as I show my mother around. I watch as my mother takes everything in. Viewing it from her eyes, I am struck again by how impersonal it looks. The décor is sparse and reflects little of James’s personality. Of course, I haven’t even lived here a week, so I haven’t had time to make my own mark on the space. I realize now that I have made a tactical error. I should have at least put up a photo or two. My mind flashes to the photos I had given James for his birthday. Okay, maybe not those.

Hoping to gloss over the lack of personal touches, I take my mother to the majestic windows and point out the soundproofing. Unfortunately, it has begun to rain, which obscures the normally fantastic view of the Hudson River. Next, I show her the hidden entertainment system. Nerves are making me talk too quickly, but I cannot seem to control myself.

Resting her hand on my arm, my mother halts my manic chatter. “James must be a very successful lawyer to afford all of this.”

Nonplussed, I blink back at her. “I thought Jett told you, since it is one of his main complaints. James comes from money, a lot of money,” I think to add.

Before my mother has time to respond to this revelation, we hear the elevator doors opening. James walks in with a slight stoop to his shoulders that is very different from his usual easy, confident stride. He checks himself as he looks up to see both my mother and I watching him. His suit is the same one he was wearing yesterday, and he looks tired. My curiosity grows by leaps and bounds. What in the world could have kept him out all night and have him coming home like this?

I watch as he approaches us, slipping into that aura of easy charm that comes to him so naturally. He steps up to my mother first and offers her his hand in greeting. Unusually silent, she takes it. I know my mother well enough to perceive that she was not prepared for the sophisticated good looks and charm that is James. Turning to me, James grasps my upper shoulders with both hands and pulls me towards him. The brush of his lips against my cheek fill me with a longing to nestle up close to his chest and stay there. It startles me to realize how much I have missed him after just one night apart. Before breaking away from me, I hear his whispered words: “We need to talk.”

“You look you could use a nap. Mom and I are going shopping for dresses tonight, so why don’t you go in and get some sleep?”

The disgruntled look on James’s face almost makes me laugh. “I don’t take naps.”

“Okay, let me rephrase. Why don’t you go crash while we shop? I’ll come and tuck you in.”

This arrangement seems more acceptable, because James grabs my hand and starts walking toward the bedroom. “I won’t be long,” I promise my mother.

As soon as we reach the bedroom, James closes the door behind us and swiftly places his mouth on mine for a languorous kiss. It feels so good that it takes all of my willpower to push my hands against his chest and break away. “We don’t have time for that. Where were you last night?””

Ignoring my question, James reaches up and touches my cheek. “I thought you would be madder.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m withholding judgement. Now spill it.”

James rakes his hand through his hair before moving to sit down on the edge of the bed. “Rex was arrested last night.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Rex was arrested, and I spent the night getting him out of jail.”

I feel a terrible sinking sensation in my gut as I ask, “What did they arrest him for?”

“Solicitation.”

It takes me a few moments to process this. I had been expecting something like tax evasion or some other white-collar crime. “Of a prostitute?”

“Yes, but it was a complete misunderstanding. I can explain later when we have some more time. I just wanted you to know there was a good reason for missing your dinner last night.

He was right, of course, but it was going to kill me to go around all day not knowing the full story. “I guess hearing that your best friend was arrested for trying to pick up a hooker would not have made a good impression on my mother. What am I going to tell her?””

“Tell her it was a family emergency.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that last night?”

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

His thoughtfulness makes my heart turn to mush. He’s right again. I would have worried. “Oh, before I forget.” James pulls a thin wallet from his pocket and takes out a card. ““I arranged a personal shopper for you and your mother at Barney’s. Maybe it can make up some for last night.”

Taking the card, I see the appointment is in fifteen minutes. “Oh my God, why didn’t you tell me sooner? We are going to be late.”

“Sorry, it slipped my mind. Enjoy yourselves.” He commands as I dash toward the door.

Stopping at the threshold, I turn back. “Thank you. You’re the best. Get some rest, and we’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

At Barney’s, we are met by two enthusiastic personal shoppers. They tell us their names are Jeannie and Holly. They both take their jobs extremely seriously, and in short order they have both my mother and me trying on a series of gowns. At first my mother is quiet, going along with whatever Holly suggests, but as her confidence grows, so do her opinions. I can see that she is in her element

After trying on what seems like a hundred gowns, I narrow my choice down to three. The first dress is a strapless black dress with clean lines. It is deceptively simple and makes me feel elegant. My second choice is a red gown that I love for its eye-catching color. The last dress is brown with a sweetheart neckline and satin folds that hug my body at all the right places. Although it is not a typical color for an evening dress, it makes me feel very feminine. I must admit the length and cut of the gown make me feel like a princess.

I am standing in front of a three-sided mirror and am vaguely listening to my mother and Jeannie discuss the merits of each dress when out of the corner of my eye I see a man who strikes me as looking familiar. He also seems out of place in the evening gown department at Barney’s. Although he could be shopping for his wife or girlfriend, he doesn’’t appear to be interested in the clothing around him. Wracking my brain, I try to figure out where I have seen him before. I turn to my mother to point him out, but when I turn back around, he is gone.

Pushing thoughts of the man aside, I return my attention to choosing a dress for the evening. I meet my mother’s eyes in the mirror. “What do you think?”

“You have to take the brown. Look how it offsets your hair and eyes. You look beautiful.”

I turn to see Jeannie nodding her head in agreement. I smile back at her. “It looks like this is the one.”

“Wonderful, you have made an excellent choice.” I feel guilty for not even looking at the price tag. Once I have changed back into my clothes, Jeannie and Holly pack up the gown along with the light peach dress that my mother has chosen. They chatter away with my mother making decisions about shoes and accessories. I can’t stop thinking about the man I had seen.

We are leaving the store when I finally remember where I had seen the man before. He had been at the tapas restaurant the night before. I recall seeing him seated at the bar. He was of medium stature and looked fairly ordinary, but I was positive it had been the same man. Once we reach the street, I look around quickly to see if I can spot him again. The sidewalk is packed with shoppers and tourists, but I see no sign of him.

Unsettled by thoughts that someone may be following me; I search for a taxi to take us home. It has nearly stopped raining, but in bad weather taxis always seem scarce. It takes a few minutes until I spot one with its light on, indicating that it is available. I flag it down and whisk my mother into the backseat before climbing in behind her.

“Lainey, aren’t you listening to me?”

I become aware of the fact that my mother has been speaking to me, and I have not heard a word she has said. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

My mother lets out a frustrated sigh. “It’s not that important. I was just saying it doesn’t make sense for them to deliver the gowns when we are going straight home anyway.””

“You’re right, but I think they were following James’s orders.”

I drop my mother at her hotel so she can start getting ready for the evening. I wait impatiently as the taxi sits in traffic. Taking out my phone, I consider calling James to tell him about the man that I thought was following me. Instead, I put my phone back in my bag. I would rather talk to him in person. I long to feel his arms around me again.

I am stepping out of the taxi when my phone chimes with a text. Once I am on the sidewalk, I take my phone out and see that it is a text from James.

Dealing with the Rex situation. Will see you in time for the party.

Disappointed that I will not be getting together with him anytime soon, I continue on up to the apartment. Since it is getting late, I jump into the shower. I have just gotten out when the concierge calls to tell me that my shopping has arrived. He sends it up with one of the doormen. The garment bag seems heavy. I open it up and see not only the brown dress I had chosen for tonight, but the black and red dresses I had been considering as well. Looking into the other shopping bags, I find accessories to match each of the dresses. I don’t know what to think of this extravagance. The fact that James Is wealthy is something that I know on an intellectual level, but hadn’t really thought about how it would affect me. It was something I was going to have to think about.

I take my time getting ready. After blowing my hair dry, I pull back the front pieces and fix it in the back with a clip. Satisfied with the results, I decide to go all out with my make-up. Several layers of mascara later, I step back to admire the results. Not bad if I do say so myself. Taking a look at the time, I see that it is almost time to leave, and there is still no sign of James. After putting a few things into the bag that I would be carrying, I walk into the living room wondering what I am going to do to fill the time.

My stomach rumbles, reminding me that is has been a long time since the late breakfast I had shared with my mother. I walk over to the fridge in search of something to tide me over when my phone pings with a text. Fishing it out of my bag, I see that it is another message from James.

I am running late. Will meet you at the party. I have a car downstairs waiting to take you to the party whenever you are ready XX

Sighing, I send James a quick text letting him know that I will be leaving shortly. I find a Powerbar in the cabinet and stuff it into my bag before heading down to the lobby. When the doorman sees me, he pops open the umbrella he is holding and escorts me to the waiting car, which, it turns out, is a stretch limousine. Expecting to see Gary, I am surprised when the driver is someone I had never seen before.

“Ms. Hart? I’m Dan and will be your driver tonight. Mr. McAlister said we would be picking up your mother and brother next.”

“Yes, that’s right, and please call me Lainey.”

Dan tips his head in acknowledgement before closing my door. I wait as he settles into the driver’s seat and pulls out. The steady swish of the windshield wipers is the only sound as we make our way to the Midtown hotel where Jett and my mother are staying. I text Jett, letting him know that he can expect us in a bit, and when we pull up in front of the hotel, it is only a few moments before the door opens and Jett and my mother slide in.

Even though I am his sister, I have to admit that Jett looks quite nice in his tux. My mother is also looking lovely in a pale peach tea-length gown with a lace overlay. They settle into the seat across from me, and it doesn’t take long until they are asking me about the conspicuously absent James. I fend off their questions as best as I can. I watch Jett for even a hint of schadenfreude that James is making such a poor impression on my mother by his multiple absences. The expression of polite inquiry remains fixed on his face and gives none of his thoughts away. I half-listen to my mother and Jett’s easy banter. Butterflies seem to have taken flight in my stomach as my nervousness about the impending party builds. I can’t help feeling a bit resentful of James for deserting me. Not only has he once again stood up my mother, but I am also going to have to face his mother and grandfather without his reassuring presence.