Ruby Ink (Clairmont Series Novel Book 1) (11 page)

“I know you told Troy about the shower scene. But you also told him I came on to you. Didn’t you?” he said, jerking her arm slightly. “Why would you tell him anything, never mind a lie?”

She shrugged.

“How’d you play it, Chloe? Did you tell him I seduced you, invited you up to my bedroom? No wonder the kid’s been all but spitting bullets at me.”

“Don’t get in such a knot. I didn’t throw you under the bus. I explained it as two people who’d had too much beer. From there, it just
happened
. After all those years of being locked up, the things a man will beg for from a pretty girl.”

“You think so? Why, do you know any pretty girls?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Fuck you, Aaron. And I didn’t make you out to be a monster or anything—just a man, in a bad way, who influenced a young woman who had too much to drink.”

Aaron let go of her arm. Touching her, for any reason, was a bad idea. “Why would you do that to Troy… come on to me, or confess to him later?”

“Things had gotten boring. I like spice.
Two
Clairmont brothers? I may start a collection. Your movie-star brother, wouldn’t that be a coup!” she said, raising overly plucked brows. “And like I said, you were a long-time goal.”

Aaron had no come back.

“Oh, don’t be so shocked. Where’s the harm? Troy will get over it—”

“Damn straight Troy will get over it—get over you as soon as I explain exactly what kind of seedy whore he’s screwing around with.” Aaron started toward the building.

Chloe called after him. “You might want to think that through. We wouldn’t want a situation where my story needs to change. Troy was upset when I confessed to drinking too much, using bad judgment, and sucking on the cock of a desperate man.” The description halted Aaron. “Because we didn’t
technically
have sex, that helped… made it easier for Troy to, um, swallow.” Aaron turned, and she giggled. “I really took a hit for you, Aaron. Troy was plenty pissed off. You’d be amazed how many times I had to fuck him just to get things back on track—including last night in your driveway. But we don’t want Troy to hear a different explanation.”

The most offensive words he could think of weren’t enough for Chloe Pike. “A different explanation. What the hell does that mean?”

A pitchy crackle overtook her voice. “Troy, I have to tell you something…” she said, shaky and vulnerable. “What happened with your brother… It wasn’t exactly what I said.” She sniffed, Aaron watching a spot-on Hollywood audition. “He, um… Well, I’m sure it was just pent-up frustration on his part, but he made me… forced me into his bedroom… into his shower… Actually, it was awful. I was so scared…. All those prison muscles. I couldn’t fight him off. I hate to use the word… ”

Aaron reconsidered. “You fucking, little cunt.”

“Now, we’ll have none of that,” she said, wagging a finger at him, her spry tone recovered. “Troy’s dealing with it, and we’re working on putting it behind us. In the end, it will make for a more meaningful relationship. Also consider this,” she said, challenging his personal space. “Whose story do you think Troy will believe—maybe even the police, if necessary?” She reached into her back pocket and produced a selfie on her phone. “If I were the guy fresh out of the slammer, I probably wouldn’t want this to become public knowledge.” In the picture, Chloe’s arm showed a nasty bruise.

“I didn’t do that. You know that!”

“Want to argue that in public, maybe to the same DA who convicted you?”

Breathe
…
Think… Don’t kill her here. Okay, maybe kill her here. Toss her into a clean dumpster… Fuck no. It would be inhumane to the dumpster.
“Stay the fuck out of my way, Chloe. I don’t need to tell Troy. He’s smart enough to figure you out. Whatever pussy-whipped spell you’ve got going, he’ll get over it.” He turned once more for the building, saying over his shoulder. “And move your piece of shit car. Kitchen help parks behind the building.”

Aaron found Honor in the kitchen. “What in the hell did you do that for?” From stacks of recipes, layered by foods from around the world, she looked up.

“Do what?”

“Hire Chloe Pike!”

She glanced at the stove where a young Latino man stirred a pot of something. “Steadier, Edwardo!” She raced over, demonstrating. “If you don’t stir the béchamel constantly it won’t thicken properly.”

“Si, Miss Clairmont.”

She smiled weakly, abandoning Edwardo for two other men who appeared to be transporting a side of beef—in sections. “The freezer is just to the rear, but I need it stocked in order… Wait! I’ll be right in to show you.” Honor looked back at Aaron. “What did you say?”

He sighed. He couldn’t dump on her. “I said Chloe Pike is on her way in. I heard you hired her.”

“Uh, yeah. It was on Stefan’s recommendation. She’s got some kitchen experience, and I can use all the help I can get,” she said absently. “Besides, I thought it might score points with Troy. You know, me being nice to his girlfriend.”

“Yeah, good plan.” Then he mumbled, “But you might want to hide all the knives.”

“What?”

“Nothing… it’s nothing.” Poised at the stainless-steel counter, Aaron squeezed his eyes shut. He felt a warm hand wrap around his.

“Hey, I’m feeling pressure from all sides too. Let me get this beef straightened out, and we’ll take a coffee break. Sound good?”

He nodded, exiting the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, Aaron and Honor sat on the gazebo steps, sipping coffee. Aaron purposely sat with his back to Butterfield Lake. The rear view of Abstract Enchantment showed off its new gabled roof lines and wide back porches. Workers busily arranged white-wicker furniture. It didn’t look like the old Rose Arch Inn. It looked more like the cover of a hot-spot vacation brochure. He guessed that was the point. Aaron glanced fast over his shoulder where lakefront landscaping continued. Maybe by the time warm weather came again, he’d have a different job, on another planet. Aaron wasn’t entirely sure he could handle a full-on view of his and Ruby’s beach.

“You were in a good mood when you left the house,” Honor said, disrupting his thoughts. “In the kitchen, that seemed to have changed.”

Aaron sipped his coffee. It burned his tongue, but he needed the pain-filled second to snap him into the moment. “It was nothing. Just what you said, pressure coming in from all sides. I’m still getting used to the real world of supply and demand.”

“Things will calm down,” she said. “And at least Stefan is preoccupied. With his fiancée arriving, he’s hardly been around.”

“So, Honor,” he said, bumping her shoulder. “You really didn’t know Stefan was
betrothed
? I’m just wondering. Maybe he only referred to her as a girlfriend? Or did he go out of his way not to say anything at all?”

Honor stirred a swizzle stick in black coffee. “Guess I look pretty foolish, huh?”

“Not at all. I was just curious.”

“I’m not sure,” she said, plucking the stick out and chewing on an end. “Maybe I heard what I wanted to hear. But I honestly don’t recall him mentioning a significant other.” She laughed and pitched the coffee onto the grass. “I’m willing to get in the game, Aaron. But since Rowen, I don’t think my radar’s in proper working order.”

“Copy that,” Aaron said, a shoulder gently knocking against hers again.

“But,” she said, “I’m glad I heard it from you before I made a fool out of myself—like yesterday, when Stefan blindsided me. He told me he was moving his wedding ceremony here… to the beach.” Honor motioned over her shoulder.

Aaron wanted to swallow hard, but there wasn’t any spit in his mouth. “He wants what?”

“The beach. Apparently he’s moving up the date of his wedding—which is top secret, by the way. Supposedly, Butterfield Lake beachfront was something in its day. I heard from Shauna that their wedding was slated to be a small affair in California.”

“Yeah. He said that to me when we first talked in his office.”

“Stefan thought the beach would be more intimate, good promotion for the inn. He’s like that, always making the most of an opportunity. I swear, I almost asked him why he’d never mentioned a fiancée. But why purposely plunge into an embarrassing moment when I can so easily trip right—” Honor’s hand clasped hard over the iron-locked muscle of his arm. “Aaron, are you all right? You look absolutely ill.”

His and Ruby’s beach. Aaron knew every grain of sand, the body that belonged on it beside his. His eyes closed, and his jaw locked. The world spun by as the past slammed around his brain. It took everything he had to hold it together, keep it in context. “I… I’m fine, Honor,” he said, forcing out words that made sense.

She nodded, slowly letting go of his arm. “Okay… so… anyway,” she said cautiously. “A lakefront wedding is now on the calendar—one more thing to deal with. But back to the point, which is that my man-radar needs a tune-up.”

Aaron finally got a full breath in. He pushed it out and caught up with her conversation. “Uh, you’re not the only one with some rust when it comes to signs and signals. I totally did not see an incoming invite from Shauna.”

“Really?”

“Earlier, we were up in the executive suite, taking a final inventory, and Shauna asked me out, like a date.”

“And you said?” Honor pressed, leaning in.

“I, um… I said we could talk about it after all the suits come and go, after the grand opening.”

“Ha! If it had been me, and that was my answer, what would you say?”

“I’d say I thought you liked men.” She looked at him, frowning. Aaron squinted toward the building, taking in its to-the-bones reinvention. He wished his life could be like that, stripped down and so easily rebuilt.

“Shauna’s an incredibly nice woman.” Honor nudged him. “And you’re an idiot for putting her off.”

Aaron gulped cooler coffee.

“Listen, big brother, I know what’s on your mind. Ruby wasn’t last week. She wasn’t even last year. We both might suck at it, but we both need to make a real effort… with realistic options.”

“Yeah… okay,” he said, standing.

Honor’s phone rang. “Ah, I spoke too soon.” She answered. “Yes, Stefan… Sure. Right away, in your office.” She hung up. “Boss wants to see me. Come on, walk over with me. Maybe Shauna will be at her desk.”

He hesitated.

“Aaron? You don’t find her attractive?”

“No… yeah, I do. She’s beautiful, smart… she doesn’t seem like a crazy bitch.”

Honor’s eyes widened. “I’ve known Shauna a while, I don’t think crazy bitch is a worry—why would you say such a thing?”

“Uh, no reason,” he said, thinking of Chloe Pike. “I just get the feeling I’m currently in a zone of bad karma when it comes to women.”

Honor disappeared inside Stefan’s office. Aaron lingered near Shauna’s desk, wondering what that was all about. “Aaron, is there something you need?” She sounded cool and professional. He looked down, seeing a photo of Shauna and her son, a semi-toothless kid who looked about six. She followed his gaze to the picture. “His dad is a pro-football player—white boy from Nebraska,” she said, fingers brushing over her son’s face, whose blue-green eyes popped like Aaron’s did against darker skin. “I was a cheerleader for the team. Fraternization with players is strictly forbidden—page one in the contract. I got pregnant and fired. He’s living in a mansion in Westchester, probably Super Bowl bound this season. He hasn’t seen his son since he was six-weeks old.”

“Geez, that’s, um… that’s rough. Why… why did you just tell me that?”

She shrugged. “Because we’ve all got a little sin somewhere. I’m lucky enough to keep mine in a photo on my desk. Good and bad, yin and yang. I also believe what goes around comes around. My son will grow up to be somebody wonderful, and his father won’t even know him.”

Aaron smiled at her take on life. She had a great attitude. He glanced at Stefan’s office door, which could open at any moment. “Can I talk to you around the corner for a second?” Aaron led them to the private elevator entrance. It wasn’t secluded enough and he used a master key, leading them outside the building. A small cobblestone alcove offered privacy and a glimpse of Abstract Enchantment’s main entrance. “Before, when you suggested dinner, I wasn’t thinking… or maybe I was thinking too much.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not into big pursuits. If you’re not feelin’ it—hey, we have a friendly thing here, no need to make more out of it.”

“That’s just it. I’m not too great at figuring out what I’m feeling these days. But the friendly vibe is definitely mutual. So if the offer still stands, and I’m not being too much of jerk by not jumping when you asked, I’d love to have dinner… anytime.”

“I see,” Shauna said, folding her arms. She didn’t say another word, and Aaron shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing the rest of him could vanish. Then she laughed. “No, you’re not being too much of a jerk. Just let me look at my calendar. Okay?”

“Okay… great.” Aaron took a step toward the alcove’s door. But Shauna reached out, touching his arm. Aaron turned and Shauna leaned in, kissing him. For a moment, Aaron’s mind was clouded by the kiss. She was incredibly sexy, everything from her mouth, which was moving hard over his, to a slender frame that pressed seamlessly into his. Aaron’s hands moved from his pockets to her ass, surprised by the spontaneity, which didn’t exactly feel
wrong.
Well, his dick certainly wasn’t feeling anything wrong, having turned to titanium. The kiss slowed, and a purring sound emanated from Shauna’s throat as the two got a grip on their surroundings.

“Sorry,” she said, fingers running over the lipstick that surely stained his mouth. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I wouldn’t say
that
exactly. Maybe just the location.” Aaron saw a town car pulling into Abstract Enchantment’s circular drive. It made him step back into the shadow of the alcove.

“I have to get back.” Shauna squeezed his hand. “Maybe we can pick this up at a more appropriate time.”

“Maybe we can…” Clearly, women were going to run the gamut when it came to stunning Aaron Clairmont that day.