“At least you havea job,” Rhianna said.
“Hey, don’t besad. Your brother takes care of you. There are a lot of people who would loveto have someone take care of them.”
“You wouldn’t.It’s why you want to get out of the apartment so fast.”
“I’m used totaking care of myself. Don’t you worry about me.” She ate her breakfast and afterward,they went shopping. Saving up for an apartment, she only watched as Rhiannashopped, while she gave her opinion on the outfits she wanted.
As they wereleaving a shoe shop, Rhianna smiled. “You’re so not getting away with notbuying something.” Rhianna looked up from her cell phone.
“Come again?”
“Gabriel has sentme a personal request to buy you and myself each a ball gown. There’s an eventthis weekend, he wants us both to go.”
“Both of us?”
“Yep.” Rhiannafrowned. “That’s strange. I normally have to order him around to include you.”
“Maybe he doesn’twant the hassle.”
“Or maybe mybrother has found the error of his ways and realizes how awesome it is to haveyou around. You do cook so much, and the food’s amazing.” Rhianna draped herarm across her shoulder. “We need to find you a guy.”
“I don’t need aguy.”
“Then you couldalways date my brother,” Rhianna said.
“Yeah, right.” Itwasn’t like they were actually dating now. They were … having fun. Private fun.
“Come on, we canfight about this later.”
For the rest ofthe day, she was taken from shop to shop, forced to try on over a dozen gownsthat were way overpriced. She’d never felt so uncomfortable in her life and shewas thankful when Rhianna seemed content with another white gown showing off agreat expanse of thigh and chest. Claire was past caring and was more thancontent to just cook.
Rhianna left tomake the necessary arrangements for their hair and makeup. She got stuck makingmeatballs with some pasta. The pasta came from the grocery store, and there wasno way she was even attempting homemade today.
Her nerves wereshot.
She was finishingup the sauce when Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist. “I messaged you,”he said.
She frowned. “Youdid?” She pulled the cell phone out of her pocket and groaned. “Sorry.”
He kissed hertemple. “I’ll have to punish you later.” He let her go just as his sisterentered the kitchen.
“You’re backearly.”
“Business isslow.”
“Please, as if itis ever slow. I remember a time I could go weeks without seeing you. I wonderwhat changed.”
“You exaggerate.”Gabriel took a seat at the counter, picking up a carrot stick and taking abite.
“Whatever. Anyway,I got her a kick-ass dress. It’s going to help her pick up a man.”
“I’m standingright here and I’ve told you, I don’t need a man.”
“For all you know,she might have a man, Rhianna. Someone who doesn’t want to be known, who isquite possessive,” Gabriel said.
Rhianna laughed.“I know Claire and she wouldn’t be with someone who wants to keep everythingprivate.”
“I think we shouldeat now. I’ll serve up at the dinner table.” She carried the sauce to thetable, followed by the pasta.
While she sat onone side of Gabriel, Rhianna sat on the other. She’d hoped the conversationwould change topics, but clearly no one who would listen to her, as Rhiannacontinued about her need for her to be with a man.
Gabriel wasn’thelping matters as he played along.
“You think she’llfind someone at this society event?” Gabriel asked.
“Why are yougoing?” Claire asked. “How did you get an invite?”
“I’m a businessmanwith plenty of … contacts.”
“And how does thishelp you?”
“It’s allbusiness,” Rhianna said. “Stop changing the subject. Yes, she’s gorgeous.”
“I’m sitting righthere.”
“And what kind ofmen does she usually go for?” Gabriel asked.
“The bad ones,”Claire said, glaring at Gabriel. “The kind you don’t take home to a parent orbrag about having.”
“It’s good youdon’t have any family then.”
Gritting herteeth, Rhianna laughed. “Come on, Tony, and what’s-his-name back in high schooldon’t count. She likes men who are sweet, caring, or at least appear that way.It’s how Tony lasted so long. He must have had a sweet bone in his body tobring back her stuff.”
“Don’t, Rhianna,”she said.
“What about herother boyfriends?” Gabriel asked.
“That’s it. Nomore. Not even one-night stands. She’s not into those. Claire has always beenthe one looking for love.”
She’d heardenough. Pushing her chair back, she left the table without a word. She stormedinto the kitchen, scraped her food into a bowl, and left it to cool down beforeshe put it in the fridge. Staring at the dishes, she was tempted to wash thembut decided they could do it.
After going to herroom, she picked up the paper where two more apartments had been advertised.
Claire expectedher door to open. She had hoped it would be Rhianna; that would have been nice.However, Gabriel’s shoes came into her line of vision.
“Say what you’vegot to say and then leave.”
“This is my place.This is my room.”
She dropped thepaper. “I’m trying to find another place to stay.”
“And it’s goingbadly for you.”
“How do you evenknow that?” She glanced at the paper then back at him. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the reason I’m struggling.”
“I don’t know whatyou’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie.” Shegrowled and stood up, pacing the room and stopping infront of him. “Why?”
“You’ve only beenwith two men.”
“So?”
“Why?”
“You answer myquestion. Why have you stopped me from finding a place? You didn’t want me tobe here and now you’re stopping me, why? What the hell, Gabriel?” she asked.
He stepped closerto her. “You know why I’m not letting you go and now it’s time for you toanswer my question.”
She stood herground this time, not allowing him to scare her off. “What does it matter?”
“Two men.”
“And both of themwere assholes. Like I said, I have the worst taste inmen.” She went to pass him but he gripped her arm, stopping her. “Don’t thinktoo much into it. I wasn’t a virgin when I entered into this thing withyou.”
“You were a womanwho hadn’t been shown what could be,” he said.
She lifted herhead to look him in the eye. His eyes were dark, sinful. She loved to drown inthem. Whenever they were alone, being in his arms, his cock inside her, sheforgot everything and just allowed him to dominate, to take over, to flood herworld, and she loved every minute. There was
