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“Yes. The party was at Blackwater, and I remember how pretty the grounds and garden were that day,” I said honestly. From what I could recall, the grounds at Blackwater had been just beautiful. I wondered if they had fallen into disrepair along with the house when it was shuttered.
Winter looked thoughtful, as if she was reflecting on a memory. “It makes me sad the place will be gone out of our family soon. My mother is determined to sell since we don’t stay there anymore. I’ve always thought it could be repurposed as a school or a retreat of some sort. The location is ideal, but sadly, I can’t imagine anyone who can actually afford to buy Blackwater being very altruistic.” She frowned. “Trust me, I know from experience.”
“Caleb shared with me that you are finishing your master’s in social work.”
“Yes, I will finish in spring and then it’s time to find something to do with it. I will. There are plenty of people who need help,” she said optimistically.
“You are right about that,” I agreed. “I am sure you will find just what you need.”
“I’m going to go now, darling. I know you have to prepare for your all-nighter so I am off to find my own something to twerk.” Eduardo flounced the end of his yellow scarf as he kissed me on both cheeks. “Nice to meet you, Winter Blackstone.” He took her hand and brought it
up to his lips in far too familiar a fashion for someone he’d just met, but this was Eduardo and he got away with shit like that all day long. I was so used to it by now I barely registered he’d just referred to my all-nighter reunion with Caleb in front of his little sister. God.
Winter giggled as he sailed out the door with his yellow scarf bouncing along behind him, as only my friend could manage. “Oh, you’ve got another one,” he called to us as he disappeared out of sight.
Eduardo’s final comment made sense a few seconds later when a tall, dark, and handsome man walked into the main room and introduced himself. “Hi there. James Blakney, two floors down. You must be Brooke.” He held out his hand in greeting.
“Yes.” I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, James Blakney, two floors down. You must be the brother Victoria told me about. Are you also a friend of Caleb’s perhaps?”
“Been wreaking havoc together since we were ten years old,” he said, grinning wickedly.
“Somehow I don’t doubt it.” I noticed Winter had gone quiet beside me. “You must know Winter then,” I suggested.
James Blakney’s eyes changed as he directed them onto Winter Blackstone. They went from a green-brown to fiery dark as he raked them over her longingly. “Mmm-hmm. The twelfth floor is mine, and Winter is right . . . underneath me.”
I caught the tension—or whatever was going on between them—and just smiled. I pretended ignorance at just how badly James Blakney had it for Caleb’s very beautiful little sister.
Interesting. I wondered if Caleb was aware, and if so what his thoughts were.
“So, did Caleb tell you to stop by and check on me?” I directed my question to the both of them.
Winter nodded, smiling.
James said, “To meet you and take you to dinner actually. Caleb’s instructions are to bring you and Winter to dinner at Callihan’s, and he’ll meet us there. He should be in Boston in under two hours—he just texted me and ordered it done. The bastard’s a bit of a dictator sometimes.”
“I see. Please don’t tell him that I find his dictator-ing utterly adorable, okay?”
Yeah, you love him all right.
Caleb
What in the hell had I been thinking?
Reuniting with Brooke after so many days apart in a public restaurant was the worst idea ever. And I couldn’t even begin to understand why James and Winter were here, too. James was supposed to deliver Brooke to Callihan’s, not invite himself along on a double date—with my baby sister for fuck’s sake! Asshole. The restaurant was situated on the level directly above the Blackstone Global offices, and just below the helipad. I’d thought it would be extra convenient for me to arrive via chopper, and then merely take the elevator down to meet Brooke for dinner. But things were not even remotely going to plan tonight.
Fail.
I’d wanted Brooke alone in a private dining corner of Callihan’s where we could make out over a plate of food and not have to worry about being seen. After dinner we would’ve taken the elevator down to my executive offices where I’d give her the grand tour, and if she were game—we’d break in the bed in my attached en suite apartment. Then I would’ve taken her home to the penthouse and fucked the longing I’d lived with for the last seven days out of my system, until we were both too exhausted to move. Finally, I would have fallen asleep with my beautiful woman safe in my arms and in my bed.
That was how this motherfucking night was supposed to go.
But—no—I was being cock blocked by my best friend while trying to tamp down a raging hard-on.
Brooke was sitting beside me, though, and I had zero complaints about that. Inhaling the scent of oranges, I squeezed her hand under the table and turned to her ear. “I want to be alone with you so badly I might die before this dinner is over,” I whispered.
She curled her neck into my lips and laughed quietly. “I’m not in the slightest bit hungry, Caleb . . . for dinner,” she answered so softly only I heard.
Not one more second was wasted before I was standing up from my chair and helping Brooke from hers. As soon as I comprehended what she’d said to me, I knew I was done here with the public show. I needed privacy and her naked—and in that order. “We have to leave,” I said.
