Toxic (22 page)

Bastard!

Dinner with Friends

Jeremy’s place was amazing.

The fully renovated loft was formerly part of a caviar warehouse. It was three floors with a double-height ceiling in the living room. The main floor was an open-space combination living room and kitchen. Two sets of open stairs appeared from just inside the front door, both with glass guardrails. The first set took you from the main floor to the second floor where Jeremy’s bedroom took up half the space and the other two bedrooms, both of which served as office space for Jet Set New York, took up the rest of the space.

The second set of stairs led to a totally redone roof deck. The deck was high enough up that you got a complete view of the surrounding area. Jeremy showed it to me the first time he brought me here.

I loved it up there.

Everything Jeremy had was functional. All the walls in the loft were painted white and there was very little in terms of decor. Yet, the place was still somehow warm and inviting.

The loft was completely Jeremy.

Voices echoed from the kitchen. Jamie and Lindsay were in there talking to Max, one of the chefs from Catch.

“Jacket,” Jeremy whispered in my ear and his warm breath gave me goose bumps.

I narrowed my gaze at him. “I got it.” I took it off myself because the less he touched me, the better. I had to calm down my desire for the rest of the evening, at least. I could see what his game was. He wanted to drive me wild. And I was going to prove to him that I had some semblance of self-control.

While he took both our jackets and hung them in the closet at the bottom of the stairs, I checked my clothing to make sure I was put together. I hoped the lace bottom of my skirt didn’t give away that I was bare beneath it. At least the top portion, to midthigh anyway, was solid black.

Once I was certain I didn’t look
just fucked
, I went ahead of Jeremy into the kitchen.

Max was making sushi rolls and Jamie and Lindsay were busy eating them.

“Jamie,” I squealed, happy to see him.

“Phoebs.” He smiled and hopped off the bar stool to meet me in the middle of the kitchen. He hugged me and whispered, “I think you’re going to love her.”

I pulled back to look at him. “I think you already do.”

“Jeremy,” Jamie said, letting go of his hold on me and grasping Jeremy’s hand.

“Good to see you, James. How’s the head?”

“Harder than ever,” he joked.

We all laughed.

“Lindsay,” Jamie called, outreaching his arm.

As she approached, I couldn’t help but think she was even more stunning in person. Tall, in her heeled booties, she stood at equal height with both Jamie and Jeremy. She had hair that was more orange than red. It was long and hung in loose waves down past her shoulders. She was also waif thin and had legs a mile long. She wore a short, tight red dress with black fishnet stockings. I could see what Jamie saw in her. She was sexy and naturally beautiful rolled together.

“Baby, this is my best friend, Phoebe St. Claire and her—” He paused.

“Boyfriend,” Jeremy quickly added. “Nice to meet you. I’m Jeremy McQueen.”

Boyfriend!
My heart skipped a beat.

We had yet to define our relationship, but it seemed we just had.

“Hi, Lindsay,” I said, giving her a quick hug.

“Max,” Jeremy greeted the chef as he walked toward him and shook his hand. They spoke quietly for a few moments.

“Baby, Phoebs and I have known each other since ninth grade.”

She clasped her hands together. “Oh, then she should have some really good dirt to share with me.”

Jamie’s hand went to her behind and he tapped it.

Lindsay jumped in surprise.

Jamie leaned in close to her and whispered, “You already know everything naughty about me that you need to know.”

But his whisper wasn’t soft enough.

I rolled my eyes.

“What?” he said, raising both brows.

I wrinkled my nose and gave him a slight shove. “There are some things I’d rather not know.”

The three of us laughed at that but I couldn’t help but stare at Jamie. He was just so different with this woman at his side. He was gazing at his new bride adoringly. I’d never, ever, seen him act like this, nor had I ever heard him call a woman
baby
.

“Congratulations are in order,” I heard Jeremy say, but my state of shock wasn’t interrupted until the pop of the champagne cork.

So lost in Jamie’s actions, I had completely forgotten about their marriage. I hurried over to the table in the living room and grabbed the gift I had purchased for the new couple. I rejoined them just as Jeremy was filling the flutes with champagne. I hadn’t seen those in the loft before. I was pretty sure that was because they were new.

Feeling a little close to gushing, I was touched that he had thought to get champagne and glasses. Jeremy had actually planned the entire evening. I was so caught up in preparing the investor packets for distribution, I had spent little time on anything else except Jeremy himself.

Excited, I handed the gift to Lindsay. “Just a little something for the two of you.”

She beamed with enthusiasm. “James, it’s our first wedding gift.”

Jamie beamed as well and then kissed her on the cheek. “Go ahead, open it.”

“Yes, open it,” I assured her.

Lindsay carried it to the island where the plates of sushi had multiplied and looked to Jamie again.

With a slight huff of laughter, he nodded toward her in reassurance.

I was certain she was worried about breaking etiquette. Although she wasn’t an Upper East Sider, she must have known that the older generation of East Side women believed gifts were not meant to be opened in the presence of those who gave them. God forbid you hated it and had to pretend you liked it. I had to give Jamie props for not caring about what his mother might think about his choice in women.

Lindsay tore the package open with excitement and my heart opened to her immediately. She wasn’t like anyone Jamie had ever dated. She was warm, kind, and genuine. I didn’t have to know her well to know she was good for him.

“I like her,” I whispered to Jamie.

His smile was brighter than I’d ever seen it. “I knew you would.”

“Come on, let’s join her,” I said and tugged him that way.

When we reached the island, Jeremy had just set the glasses on it and I went to stand beside him. Butterflies were soaring in my belly and I felt a little giddy myself. Jeremy looked at me curiously and I rose on my toes and whispered in his ear, “Thank you.”

Grinning in triumph, he whispered back, “You can thank me later,” and he let his hand graze up my derriere. My back was to the front door. Thank God no one was behind us because he slid his hand inside my skirt and his fingers stroked right down the middle of my behind.

My pulse leaped.

“Oh my God,” Lindsay cried as she held the pewter bowl in her hands and then clutched it to her chest.

I tried to focus on Lindsay and her excitement over the gift.

But it was difficult.

Poppy, for all her flaws, did have a terrific tradition. She always gave a newly married couple the perfect salad bowl. She searched high and low for one that fit the couple. She said it would be sitting on their table through many meals and hopefully the couple would remember it was given to them at a time in their lives when their love was the strongest.

I had adopted her tradition.

The only thing my mother valued in life more than money was family and it was the one thing I truly admired about her. I knew my bowl was waiting for me. It was old, and wooden, and had belonged to her mother. I remembered it sitting on our table for every family meal.

Jeremy’s hand stayed where it was, caressing a place I wouldn’t have thought would make my entire body tingle. I was starting to breathe heavy. I made a mental note to not wear anything jersey the next two days. Structure would inhibit easy access and hopefully a thicker fabric wouldn’t elicit such a harlot response on my part. His hand moved lower and he slid a finger just barely inside me. The tingles I was already feeling turned into pulsing. If he kept it up, I was going to come right there.

And Jamie would be telling me there were some things he’d rather not know.

I fidgeted but when I did, he slid his finger deeper. It was a warning for me to stay still or he was going to drive me over the edge. I wasn’t sure which would be worse—his constant teasing, or just coming right there in front of everyone.

I was incredibly turned on.

I shifted my focus, turning my attention back to Lindsay, who was still sobbing as she showed the inside script on the bowl to Jamie that read, “May your future be bright.”

I didn’t know Lindsay at all, but I knew Jamie. Fancy crystal or designer china wasn’t his thing. So when I saw the antique pewter set at a small gift shop near my office, and read what was inscribed inside it, I thought it was perfect. I didn’t include a note like my mother would have instructing the couple to use this bowl at each and every meal and remember the love they shared always, because I wasn’t sure then if what they had was love. But I was now as I watched them.

“Hey,” Jamie soothed her. “It’s only a salad bowl.”

He glanced at me and mouthed, “Thank you,” and then pulled her in for a hug.

I in turn dared to raise my gaze to Jeremy.

“Are you okay?” he whispered. “You look a little flushed.”

I pulled at my turtleneck. “It’s just a little warm in here.”

His grin was devilish.

I sucked in a breath and then slowly exhaled. “You’re a bad, bad boy.”

When Jamie pulled away and Lindsay still hadn’t stopped crying, I knew something wasn’t right.

She finally spoke. “Thank you so much for accepting me. It means so much.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked her.

Jamie sighed. “It’s been a rough week.”

“His mother refuses to accept our marriage,” Lindsay blurted out.

“She will,” Jamie said softly. “Just give her time.”

“And your friend too, she couldn’t even look at me.”

“Emmy,” Jamie whispered and that said it all.

Obviously sensing the mood shift, Jeremy removed his hand.

I took the glasses he had set down and handed them out. “It’s time for a toast.”

Lindsay inhaled deeply and brushed away her tears and Jamie gave me a slight smile.

“To beginnings,” I said. “They aren’t always smooth but what matters is that the future remains bright.”

“Cheers,” Jeremy said, looking at me. The heat of his stare told me he knew I meant that for us as well.

“Cheers,” Jamie also said.

“Cheers,” Lindsay said as she clinked each of our glasses.

Max raised his own glass. “Cheers and it’s time to eat.”

We all laughed and moved toward the table, which was already set.

“So how’s work?” Jamie asked me.

“Still walking the line, but I hope not for much longer.”

He nodded. “The club renovation is still a go?”

“It is. In fact, Jeremy got me everything I needed to make initial projections and I sent out the requests for investment earlier tonight.”

Jamie looked over at Jeremy and gave him a nod. “That’s great.”

I told him and Lindsay about the ultramodern fixtures and lighting, and the design of the bar. I went on and on and between the wine Jamie brought and the champagne Jeremy had bought, by the time we finished dinner, not only did they have a vivid picture of what Sinners would look like, we were all a bit buzzed. Max had left long ago, leaving dessert in the refrigerator.

Jamie cleared his throat and grabbed Lindsay’s hand. “So, we were thinking,” he said. “As long as everything continues to go as well as it has been and you open Sinners on New Year’s Eve, I’d like to have our wedding celebration there that night.”

My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Fuck yeah, it would be a great way to bring in the New Year.”

I clasped my hands together. “That couldn’t be more perfect.”

“Next Friday night, dinner and a preliminary discussion,” Jamie suggested.

I glanced toward Jeremy. “Sounds like a plan,” he said.

“Oh wait. I can’t Friday. Wednesday?” Jamie asked.

Jeremy nodded and so did I.

“Does that mean we should wait to make a public appearance together until the New Year?” Lindsay asked, looking hopeful.

Jamie shook his head. “No, we have a season of events to attend. It’s perfect. That way, you’ll get to meet everyone before the celebration.”

Lindsay didn’t look happy.

Jamie squeezed her hand and then looked at Jeremy and me. “Are the two of you attending the White and Black Jack Ball tomorrow night? It’s stressing Lindsay out for some reason.”

The makeshift casino fund-raiser was Avery Lake’s crowning achievement and she basked in the attention she received for her philanthropic ways. Much to her credit, she did raise millions every year for the families of the victims of 9/11. She had a very personal connection—she had lost her father in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Her stretch continued to be far reaching, providing college funds to those who needed it, senior care to those who didn’t have the proper insurance any longer, and trusts had been set up for the children of firefighters and police officers who lost their lives that day. Her support was appreciated beyond measure and everyone joined forces to make the night an annual success.

It was the event of the year and yet the thought of attending put dread in my belly. Jeremy had left the choice up to me and with everything going on during the week, I had pushed the decision aside. I think I was secretly hoping it would just disappear. But Mrs. Bardot had sent over the most spectacular black-and-white gown during the week and of course I knew going would be good for Jeremy’s business.

I looked at Jeremy, who remained neutral. “Yes, we’ll be there,” I said.

Lindsay looked extremely relieved.

I wondered if she had met Avery yet and if that was her reluctance. Long before Jeremy and even Dawson, Jamie had been Avery’s target and she gave up hope of landing him only after many years and many unsuccessful attempts. I even think she and Emmy had joined forces for a bit in order to coerce him away from other women. I believe it was because of the threesome that Avery and Emmy no longer spoke to each other.