Skyscrapers & Camelot (Renovate Book 1) (12 page)

When I finally put the box away and get back into bed, I sleep peacefully with dreams of myself and a beautiful boy lying on our backs in my backyard, staring at the stars.

Chapter Thirteen

After a slow and torturous workweek, it’s finally Saturday. Last night, Olivia, Reese, and I went out for drinks. They reminded me that, before I see Keegan, I must not forget to shave my legs, and my undergarment choice—and I quote Reese—“must be hottie tot hot.”

After a week of not seeing Keegan, I’m not sure what to expect, even though we have talked on the phone and sent a multitude of flirtatious texts. I’m nervous, yes, but also excited.

Andrew will be picking me up soon to take me to Park in the Sky. I have been promised a special tour, and I’m not sure what that will entail, but if Keegan is giving it, I’m definitely on board.

My lovely best friend assures me she has me covered and would help me choose a sexy outfit. When I tell her that I want to be comfortable, so a tight, low cut dress is out of the question, she gives me a frown and tells me I am no fun. After much debate, we opt for a pair of black, skinny pants; a blue, off-the-shoulder tunic top; and a pair of black ballet flats. Then I decide to wear my hair down with curls flowing down my back. I have been wearing my star pendant since Monday, and I’m hoping when Keegan notices, he doesn’t think I’m strange for being sentimental.

Reese and Kaleb are out. No surprise there, since they pretty much spend every waking moment together except when they are working. It’s sweet watching them together, and even though I’ve told her multiple times that I don’t want to hear about them having sex, she tells me, anyways. Apparently, the things he does with his mouth are what dreams are made of. I’m not sure my bleeding ears can take much more of her play-by-plays.

As soon as the downstairs buzzer alerts me to Andrew’s arrival, I let him know I will be right down through the intercom. Then I grab my purse and a little something else to surprise Keegan with later and lock the door, but not before popping a couple Altoids, the mints instantly refreshing my mouth.

Andrew is waiting in the front of my apartment building as I exit. “Hello, Ms. Brennan, so nice to see you again.”

“Nice to see you again, Andrew.”

“Shall we?” Andrew motions his hand toward the waiting Range Rover.

I nod and follow him. He opens the door and gives me his hand, helping me into the car. I spot a single red rose sitting on the seat and smile. Red roses are my favorite flower. My heart warms to how Keegan still remembers everything that I love.

Andrew eyes me in the rearview mirror as I sniff the delicate flower. Then he smiles and starts up the car, immediately pulling into traffic. The ride to Park Avenue is a smooth one with few bumps. Andrew really is the best driver, especially in the crazy New York traffic.

When I can see Park in the Sky, I look out the window in amazement. The structure is scary tall, making my stomach begin a slow plummet as we pull to a stop. I read somewhere its actual height is one thousand three hundred ninety-six feet. Andrew opens my door and helps me out of the car then leads me to a set of glass doors. I can feel my sweaty palms, so I quickly wipe them on my pants, hoping my escort doesn’t notice.

Once inside the building, we are greeted by the doorman who wishes us a good evening, and looking up, I see a massive crystal chandelier that cascades down above a giant desk. The room is beautifully furnished with a shiny, black baby grand piano positioned in front of one of the tall surrounding windows.

We reach a set of open elevator doors where Andrew pulls out a small key and inserts it into a keyhole inside the elevator. As I enter, he pulls the key out then presses the button for the ninety-sixth floor before he tells me to have a good evening and leaves me to the closing doors. Then the elevator begins moving and dings at every floor, eliciting a new pounding in my heart.

Finally, the doors open to my destination, and I step forward, poking my head out. There is an expansive living room in front of me, so I figure this must be the place, but there’s no Keegan in sight.

I hesitantly make my way out of the elevator, and the doors immediately close. I call out to Keegan, but there is no response. The place is huge, which I, of course, expected, but what I am drawn to is what I see out the windows.

I walk through the living room with a giant, cream-colored sectional and granite end tables to look out the floor to ceiling window, and I see the entire city below, blanketed in a light mist. I can see the Hudson and east rivers, the Bronx and Brooklyn, and also Central Park. This is a billion dollar view, and I’m so envious Keegan gets to wake up to it every day. The only thing missing right now is Keegan. Where is he?

I eye a gourmet kitchen with light filtering through, shining on the stainless steel, top-of-the-line appliances. A sweet smelling aroma fills the space as I continue my search. I spot a hallway and see several doors, so I open one and find a bedroom with a giant king sized bed with grey satin sheets. I step away, not wanting to invade the man’s privacy. Then I notice a door cracked open with natural light shining through and make my way to it.

I find Keegan sitting at a large, glass desk, facing the massive window and talking on the phone. Wanting to surprise him since he hasn’t been alerted to my presence, I remove my shoes and place my purse and the surprise I brought him on a white leather chair near the door. Then I quietly tiptoe over to him, the cool, white marble feeling good under my feet.

He’s talking to someone about a deadline in a stern voice that I find very sexy. He also goes on to say he won’t be reachable for the rest of the weekend, and I quietly jump up and down, knowing his plans include me.

When I reach him, I take him in. He’s wearing a pair of jeans and a blue T-shirt. I notice his biceps peeking through his sleeves, making me pretty sure one of the twenty-five rooms in this place is a gym, because he is gloriously sculpted.

I slowly reach my hands around his face and place my hands over his eyes, startling him, but I’m sure he knows it’s me. He quickly ends the call and pulls me around to face him.

“There she is,” he says, smiling as he pulls me down on his lap and hugs me close.

I take in his scent and whisper in his ear, “Hi, stranger.” Then I look at him and see excitement in his eyes.

He pulls me into a kiss and it’s desperate, letting me know he has missed me. I feel him harden underneath me, and I suddenly want to straddle him and kiss him everywhere possible. I’m like an animal that needs to be tamed.

When I grab a handful of his hair and tug, he moans, moving from my lips to my neck and kissing down my collarbone to my shoulders and back to my collarbone again. I feel so electrified, welcoming every sensation he gives me.

He nips my ear, giving me a shiver right down my back then laughing at my reaction to his playfulness.

“You smell so good,” he says seductively.

“So do you,” I respond, matching his tone.

“Are you hungry?”

“Maybe a little.” I’m hungry for him, but I will take whatever he’s offering.

“Was the ride over all right?”

“Yes, it was fine.”

“Good. Now, do you want the tour, or would you rather eat first?”

“I’ll take the tour,” I say.

He gently lifts me off his lap and looks into my eyes. “You look beautiful.”

I feel the heat creep up to my cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Even more now with those rosy cheeks.” He takes his finger and taps me on the nose.

I look away, feeling embarrassed that he can see my reaction to his words.

“I take it you have seen the living room.” He grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door.

We walk across the hall where he opens a door, and then we enter a room that I can only guess is the library because there are shelves lining all the walls with rows and rows of books. What catches my eye, however, is the white telescope placed in front of the floor to ceiling windows.

I look at him and smile. “Oh, you have been holding out on me.”

“Go ahead, have at it,” he says.

I sprint across the room and bend down to look through the telescope, seeing crystal clear waves through the lens.

“Is that the ocean?”

“Yes,” he replies, staring at me.

“This is amazing. I may just steal this for myself,” I say with a wink.

He gives me a heart-stopping smirk. Then I notice I missed seeing a beautiful, green-felt billiards table and plush, white couches and chairs facing a fireplace with a large, flat-screen television above it.

“If I lived here, I would never leave this room.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Maybe.”

When he walks over and holds his hand out for me to take, I place my hand in his, and then we walk out the door, heading down the long hallway.

The next room he shows me surprises me the most because it houses a pool. He has a pool in his house? This definitely feels like an episode of
Cribs
.

“You still swim?” he asks.

“Not as much as I like. It’s a little hard without having a pool in my apartment.”

“Feel free to swim here anytime. I rarely use it.”

“Why have this if you’re not going to use it?”

He shrugs.

I keep forgetting this isn’t high school Keegan who worked at the video store. He owns his own company. He’s famous, and I’m sure, if
Cribs
is actually still on, he would be on it.

He shows me a few more rooms that include a bedroom, a dining room, and a home gym, matching furniture in each room we see.

“Last but not least.” He opens the door to the room I peeked in earlier. I’m not sure why, but this makes me nervous.

“Your bedroom?” I ask, knowing the answer. It smells like him, and close up, the bed looks inviting, like I could have the most comfortable sleep ever. Directly in front of the wall is another large, flat screen and a huge walk-in closet, lined nicely with all his clothes. A nice white oak dresser sits to the side, and on top, there are two frames. One is a family picture with his parents and Kaleb. By the looks of it, they are on vacation somewhere warm.

“Your parents look good. Was this taken recently?”

“Last year, Kaleb and I took them on a Bahamas cruise.”

“I bet they loved that,” I state.

“Have you ever been?”

“On a cruise? Yeah! Reese and I went on one a couple years back. I can’t tell you anything about it, though, except that I have been sworn to secrecy.” I laugh at myself and the corny joke.

The other frame is the same picture of us as in his office.

“Did you take this from your office?” I ask.

“No, I’ve had this here since I moved in, and even before that.”

I’m not sure if I believe him. Why on earth would he keep this picture with him? How could he look at us every day and not want to reach out to me?

He pulls me into a hug and says, “I can see those wheels turning in that beautiful head of yours. I haven’t forgotten about you one single day since we met.”

I hold back my tears, enjoying the warmth and comfort he is giving me right now. We stay like this for a few minutes before he breaks the embrace and stares into my eyes. Then he grabs my chin, sending goose bumps all over my body.

“I have never lied to you, Aimee, and I never will.” I believe his sincerity, but I just have a suspicious feeling he’s not telling me everything; he’s holding something back.

I can’t think on that long, however, because he pulls me across the room and into what has to be the most enormous bathroom I have ever seen.

In the middle of the room sits an enormous bathtub, positioned in front of the window since there is no need for blinds or curtains being this high in the sky. I can see myself taking a hot bubble bath while looking out at the lights of the city at night. Every view is even better than the last.

I turn around to find there are two large, glass doors to a shower that is bigger than my entire apartment. There are multiple showerheads in the enclosed space. I also spot two matching his and hers vanity sinks with two mirrors.

What shocks me is the window, though. I think the window washers must have some great stories.

“Nice,” I comment.

This place could be on an episode of
Cribs
. Is that even still on television? I have no clue.

As we make our way back to the living room, I ask, “Did you decorate all by yourself?”

“No, I’m terrible at making decisions. This is all Gretchen. She chose everything.” There she is again, the person he’s close enough to that she is trusted to decorate his place.

“Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious. Don’t get me wrong; this place is extraordinary. I love everything about it,” I admit.

I almost forget he’s still holding my chin until he swoops down for an innocent kiss.

“Shall we?” he asks.