Page 88 of Turning Back

In this round of the game, we are, once again, all three winners.

Chapter Nineteen - Rochelle

I dress in front of the full-length mirror as Adley plays in the new walker Bric bought. Her little socked toes do their best to maneuver the thing, but the hardwood floors are clean and slick. There is a maid, I guess. A team of them who come with the loft. Bric says they’re on salary because he was renting this place out by the night before we moved in together. And he feels bad taking the contract away from them, so they will come twice a week from now on. The floors are spotless.

Bric should be here in a little bit to babysit. Quin said he got stuck doing a conference call at the last minute so won’t be home until seven or so. But I don’t care what time he gets here. I have a whole night of Quin to myself.

I love being with Bric and last night’s lovemaking was exceptional, even for us. But I came home for Quin. I haven’t lost sight of that goal. Not one bit.

Quin sent the dress I’m wearing. This is something both he and Bric have done many times in the past. Especially Bric, who likes to control what I wear to the parties he takes me to. Quin less so, only a few times. But we’ve been apart for a year, so he probably has a fancy restaurant in mind and doesn’t want me showing up for our date underdressed, and in order to avoid an awkward moment at the beginning of the night, he has provided me with his wish.

I am happy to oblige.

The dress is red and long. It has a strapless sweetheart neckline and it’s made of the most luxurious silk my fingertips have ever had the pleasure of caressing. It came with a thin diamond belt to heighten awareness of my waist. I am sure the diamonds are real, as these men do not do fake anything, but they cannot possibly be real.

They’re real.

I had forgotten how much my men like to buy jewelry.

It also came with a platinum choker, diamond earrings set in white gold, and a white gold cuff bracelet.

And the black shoes have red soles.

He also provided me with a black cashmere evening coat with the most beautiful red silk-covered buttons, because it’s snowing again.

Even though it’s Tuesday and we are going nowhere special, I’m ridiculously excited about our date.

The elevator dings and I catch Adley turning her head to see who is here. She’s made her way into the hallway, but I can see her smile in profile as Bric walks up to her and drops to his knees to have a chat.

“What are you doing, pumpkin?”

She giggles.

“We have a date tonight,” Bric coos, lifting her out of the walker. “Your mom thinks I set her up with Quin to make her happy, but I didn’t. I just wanted you all to myself so I can tell you a bedtime story using fake voices and no one will hear me.”

I shake my head at him, laughing. “I have no idea who you are right now.”

Bric whistles low as he looks me over. “Wow. That’s some dress.”

“Zip me, will you? Quin won’t be here for another twenty minutes and I want to be ready.”

He sets Adley back into her walker and her socked feet get busy trying to move again. She gets some purchase and follows him into the bedroom.

I turn my back to him as he walks up behind me, lifts my hair carefully aside, making it drape over my shoulder, and then leans into my neck for a warm kiss. One hand is on my breast, the other flat against my stomach.

I melt backwards, enjoying his touches.

“I’m jealous,” he whispers into the shell of my ear.

“You are not,” I say back, my heart picking up a faster beat. “Elias Bricman doesn’t do jealous.”

“But if he did, he’d be jealous now. You look beautiful. I will have to rethink my choice for tomorrow night. There’s no way I’m letting Quin make you prettier than I will.”

“Men.” I chuckle.

He backs off, slightly, and reaches for the zipper low down on my back. His fingers touch my bare skin for just a moment, and I sigh.

It’s dangerous to love him so much. I know it’s a different kind of love than what I feel for Quin. It’s more like lust. But still, it’s dangerous.