Lush (11 page)
13
tipped his water glass in Adrian’s direction.
14
“I think Mary should order for us.” Jules looked over the
15
menu in their direction.
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“You do just fi ne without me, Juliet.” Mary blushed and he
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pulled one of her curls straight only to have it spring back into
18
place quickly.
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“You’re blushing, Curly.”
20
Paddy snorted. “Leave the woman be, Damien. Will you at
21
least tell me what you think would be best right now? You can
22
give me several recommendations maybe?”
23
“If we all get different things we can share. That’s always
24
my favorite way to do this. Though I don’t usually share dessert.
25
Just so you know in advance. I cannot be relied upon to share
26
sweet things. Ask Jules.”
27
“That’s a good idea. How about we do a selection of the fi rst
S28
and second courses? Does that work?”
N29
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Lauren Dane
01
They ordered, and wine was brought out along with some-
02
thing nonalcoholic for Miles.
03
Damien couldn’t seem to stop touching her. Which interested
04
him. Damien wasn’t one for PDA like that. But she smelled really
05
damned good. Her voice seemed to burrow under his skin. It
06
made him truly happy to be there with her.
07
The chef came out with the fi rst course and Mary’s gaze
08
lit up.
09
She chatted with him, asking about this and that. For his
10
part, the chef seemed to be excited right back to be talking with
11
someone who knew her stuff and clearly loved the food.
12
13
14
Mary paused as they all fi led outside to head to the Empire State
15
Building.
16
“So, Gillian.” She put her arm through Gillian’s and her head
17
on Gillian’s’ shoulder. They were alone, the others clustered a
18
few feet away.
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“Whatever you need, darlin’, it’s all yours.” Gillian smiled.
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“I did notice you didn’t have a glass of wine. Any reason
21
you’re not drinking alcohol?”
22
Gillian blushed wildly and Mary grinned so hard her face
23
hurt. “Really?” She did a little dance but then everyone looked
24
and she stopped.
25
“That made me feel so much better.” Gillian hugged her. “I
26
feel old and sort of sick all the time and it’s new so I’m worried
27
and Adrian follows me around offering me things. Miles is over
28S
the moon. I’m excited and worried all at once. It’s not like I’m
29N
new to the mum business.”
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Lush
“What are you two on about?” Cal called out.
01
Jules and Daisy trailed back, bending their heads and gig-
02
gling.
03
“I’ve only just told Jules a few hours ago, before you left
04
Seattle. I was going to tell everyone but Jules bet me you’d notice 05
before I told anyone.”
06
Jules grinned. “Thank God. I was dying. I wanted to announce
07
it over the intercom.”
08
“We’re not telling anyone for a few more months. It’s early
09
days. I only told you because you’re my family and you’d notice
10
anyway.”
11
If the news got hold of this they’d splash it all over the place.
12
And Mary knew she and the rest of Delicious would pull
13
together to protect their friend as long as they could.
14
“Of course. Your secret is safe with us.”
15
“We’re coming!” Jules waved at Cal. “Lady stuff.”
16
The men had all stood there on the sidewalk, just staring at
17
the women as they giggled and hugged. Most of them were befud-
18
dled and affectionate. Paddy and Vaughan shook their heads.
19
Miles appeared confused and a little embarrassed. “They
20
always do that sort of stuff, then? Even when they’re old?”
21
Adrian laughed, putting an arm around his son’s shoulders.
22
“Don’t let them hear you say that. They’re nowhere near old.
23
But yes, they do. Wait till Elise gets in and she and Erin are part 24
of the group.”
25
“Aunt Erin doesn’t really count. She’s sort of . . . well, a thing 26
unto herself.”
27
Adrian snorted. “That, kid, is what you call an understate-
S28
ment. Your aunt Erin defi es defi nition.”
N29
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Lauren Dane
01
“It’s cool. I want to be like that.”
02
Damien saw Adrian’s face soften, washed by pride and love.
03
“You already are, Miles. There’s no one else on Earth like you.”
04
“Let’s go to the Empire State Building.” Mary joined them,
05
taking the hand Damien held out.
06
“Clear night. We’ll see everything from up there.”
07
He headed right when everyone else headed left once they
08
got out onto the observation deck. In the dark, with the world
09
lit up and spread out in all directions he spun her and pulled her
10
tight to his body.
11
“Alone at last. For two minutes anyway.” He bent his knees
12
to kiss her and she tiptoed up to meet him halfway. Need, which
13
had been simmering all day long, exploded through him, push-
14
ing at his control.
15
Her taste settled in and he savored it. Savored the soft, lush
16
lips, the feel of her curves against his body.
17
She hummed as he ended the kiss, licking her lips.
18
“I’m coming to your room tonight.”
19
“Bring clothes so you won’t have to do the walk of shame
20
tomorrow.”
21
He laughed, turning her to walk so they could catch up to
22
everyone. “Thanks for protecting my honor.”
23
“Least I can do. Because I plan to ride you like a pony when
24
we get alone. I hope you took your vitamins.” She murmured
25
this last as she waved at everyone.
26
That Curly was trouble. He grinned. The best kind.
27
28S
29N
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T
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here were photographers on the sidewalk outside the
17
hotel. Adrian cursed and looked to Gillian. “English,
18
you’re going to have to run the gauntlet. I’m sorry.”
19
She sighed. “Comes with the territory now.”
20
Mary watched, worried, though sure he’d protect her.
21
Damien had ended up in the other cab with his brothers and
22
they’d been a light ahead so they’d most likely gone through the
23
mess already.
24
Admittedly she was glad. The last thing she wanted was to
25
be photographed with him going into a hotel.
26
Levi and Daisy got out fi rst and he glared at them, holding
27
Daisy to his side. Mary took Miles and dared anyone to do any-
S28
N29
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Lauren Dane
01
thing. They pushed, taking pictures, but she held her bag in
02
front of his face so they couldn’t get any good shots.
03
But it was nothing compared to the furor when Adrian got
04
out with Gillian.
05
They shouted his name, shouted questions at them. Shouted
06
Gillian’s name. The doorman held the door open for them and
07
hotel security made sure no one got in, though the fl ashes kept
08
on even after they got inside.
09
“You okay?” she asked Miles.
10
“Mum’s going to be upset. I hate that.”
11
Mary kissed his cheek. “You’re such a sweet boy. Your dad
12
made sure no one got near her. She knows his life comes with
13
this. She chose it to be with him. It’s okay.”
14
They headed to the elevators and Mary overheard Adrian
15
speaking with Gillian about bodyguards. “English, you know
16
I have to. Erin is arriving soon with the guys and Alexander.
17
That scene out there . . . well, she won’t handle it well. And I
18
don’t want you to get hurt or jostled.”
19
The baby. Mary knew he was thinking of Gillian’s preg-
20
nancy. Knew he was worried about her emotional and physical
21
state. Erin, his sister and the bass player in his band for these
22
shows, had been involved in a horrifi c stalking and kidnapping
23
years before that had ended with her daughter murdered and
24
her life shattered. Crowds and paparazzi were one of the reasons
25
she didn’t tour with him and had semiretired from music. She
26
still wrote with him and did his studio work, but aside from
27
special shows like this short tour but she didn’t go on the road.
28S
“I know. Stop worrying. I’ll get used to bodyguards someday,
29N
I suppose.”
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Lush
He kissed the top of her head and looked to Miles. “You
01
okay?”
02
“Yeah. I don’t like seeing Mum upset though.”
03
“Me either. We’ll make it better for her. Maybe with ice
04
cream.”
05
Gillian snorted but smiled. “Oh, my men.”
06
“This is my fl oor. I’ll see you in the morning. Call me when
07
you wake up.”
08
She hugged Adrian quickly and Gillian, kissing her cheeks.
09
“Love you.”
10
“Love you too. I’m so glad you’re here, Mary. Makes every-
11
thing better.”
12
Mary whispered in Gillian’s ear. “You’re having a baby.”
13
Gillian squeezed her tight. “I’m so glad I could share that
14
with you. See you in the morning.”
15
She headed to her room. She fi gured Damien would call her
16
or show up at some point. He knew the number.
17
18
19
It was Daisy waiting at her door though, with Levi. “Are you
20
all right?”
21
“Um? What do you mean?” She slid the card into the slot
22
and invited them inside.
23
“The crazy media outside. You were with Adrian and Damien
24
too right?”
25
“Ah. Not with Damien. They got into a different cab. But
26
with Adrian, Gillian and Miles, yes. She wasn’t pleased. But
27
she’s all right. This is her life.”
S28
“Could be yours too.”
N29
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Lauren Dane
01
Daisy was her friend and so she understood the concern. But
02
she didn’t want to discuss this yet again and she sure didn’t want
03
to discuss this in front of Levi.
04
“Thanks for coming by.” She went to the door. “I’ll see you
05
guys in the morning.”
06
“Oh. You’re mad.” Daisy looked back over her shoulder to
07
Levi. “This rarely happens.”
08
“I really can’t tell the difference. She’s still smiling.”
09
“
She’s
right here.”
10
Daisy paused to hug her. “I’m sorry. I worry.”
11
“I left you alone. For the most part. When this one was mak-
12
ing you crazy.” She gave the eye to Levi, who had the good sense
13
to cringe a little. “I already said all I want to say this trip about 14
Damien.”