LINDEN
I could watch her all day. Even the way she twirled the pasta with the fork looked appealing. Nothing sexier than your woman enjoying your food, licking her lips, her eyes lighting up. I took it as a compliment.
After dinner, she volunteered to clean the kitchen, but I refused. “I know what to do.”
“I don’t doubt that, but I don’t like someone touching my kitchen.”
She came beside me with her fist on her hip as I loaded the dishwasher. “Don’t tell me you named your knife after a great samurai or your favorite pot after Gordon Ramsey.”
I laughed out loud. “I do have a favorite pan and named it after the gorgeous woman who broke up with me on a piece of paper. Every time I put it on fire, it reminded me of wanting to spank her ass.”
She wrinkled her nose. “That’s horrible.”
“Yeah. You can go up and change to my shirt. I take it you want to stay?”
“Can I?” she asked without a doubt.
“I have a spare bedroom on the left. Just next to mine.”
“Why can’t we share a bedroom?” I thought I saw something in her eyes. Was she testing my self-control?
“Not the smartest idea, Estelle. And you know why.”
“Fine. Is there a bathtub in the spare room?”
“No. You can use mine. Give me five minutes to ready it for you. Meanwhile, there’s a clean towel and a new toothbrush. Go ahead. I’ll call you when ready.”
“Thanks.”
Once I heard her footsteps fading, I closed my eyes and drew deep breaths. “What are you doing, Linden? If this isn’t torture enough, then I don’t know what to call it.”
I went to my bathroom and turned the water to fill the tub. I couldn’t even pick between my two different new body washes. How was it even hard? I poured both when the tub started filling. Then I went to open some drawers and cupboards to find candles. Thankfully I had a few. I lit up two with the same scent before I went to knock on her door.
“It’s open,” she yelled from the room.
I opened the door just enough so I could peek. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Do you know massage?” She was already in the robe. Her hair was already tied in a messy bun. What was she up to?
“I can call a masseur.”
“Just a simple massage on my shoulder, Gabriel.” I ignored her sarcasm and wanted my libido locked up somewhere.
“We’ll do it later.”
Once we were both in my room, and she was walking into my bathroom, I remained in my place. “Let me know if you need anything. How about a glass of red wine? It helps you fall asleep.”
“No wine, Dr. Oz.” She didn’t lock the door, and I watched her carelessly drop the robe on the floor. Her ass, damn.
I was quick to look away, but her naked image was already stuck in my head.
“What’s this smell?” I thought I knew what would come next, but sadly she stuck me in a friendzone. No matter what she did tonight, I was not going to fall for it. Not again.
“What smell?”
“Can you come, please?” So subtle. I wanted to roll my eyes.
I let go of a deep breath before I walked in. “Yeah?”
“Why are you there?” She was referring to me standing at the door.
“Is the water warm enough?”
“You don’t wanna get near to me.” She sat on the tub, enough to show her chest. No matter I kept my focus on her face, it was hard not to look at her tits. “Help me here.”
I inwardly groaned as I went close to her. I grabbed the loofah she offered and knelt behind her. “You’re used to having a maid around you. I get it.”
“You clean the house alone?”
“Feel some dust at your fingertips, my lady?” I started rubbing the loofah on her back.
“You’re sarcasm doesn’t work on me. I know I hurt your feelings, but you have to know what I did is for your own good.”
“How selfless of you. Maybe you should try thinking of yourself once and a while and stop making helping people ideology your excuse. It doesn’t work on me anymore, Estelle.”
“You don’t understand.” Still, she was making excuses.
“Oh, I do. I’ve helped my friends, and God knows how many more favors I did for them. When I am in need, they don’t think twice. So I let them because it’s not about collecting their debts. It’s about accepting help from others, especially from true friends. And I know we still have much to talk about what’s going on, and I hope I’ve shown you enough certainty to share it with me.”
The water splashed out as she moved into the tub to face me. Her hand came up to my face. “I trust you with my life. In return, I only ask one thing— to trust me on this.”
“Alone? How courageous of you. Do you want to struggle and face whatever it is alone when you have friends, true friends who are willing to help you? That’s not an act of selflessness, Estelle. That’s stupidity.”
“You can’t. You have to understand me.”
I stared at her in disbelief. She still had no idea what her life would be with Weston. She had no idea what throwing herself into a wolf felt like. I did. I’d been there, done that, but I lived because I had brothers who never left my side.
“Don’t do this, Estelle.” I let my guard down for her to see how sincere and desperate I was to help her. And I’d never felt so vulnerable without carrying my armor of defense around me.
“Gabriel.” When she called my name like that, it not only crushed my chest but also ripped my heart out. She swallowed hard, and I did the same. The anticipation was killing me. My fingertips tingled. My heart thrashed in my chest. When she leaned forward, I leaned in. Our lips were merely a thread, a part, but something deep inside me snapped.
I pulled back with all the integrity I had left. Her brows were drawn together. The last thing she expected.
“I thought you would take what I could give.”
“That was weeks ago, Estelle. I care so much. I am here with you because I am the same man who respects you. I won’t touch you or kiss you while you are my friend. I don’t kiss friends. I don’t want complications when I can stay out of it, but if you want to be with me, I want you, your heart, your soul. I want you to be completely on board. No more reasoning out.”
“Leave me alone.”
I stood up. “You’re in my bathtub.”
“God, I want to punch you right now.” She growled, her eyes narrowing.
I left her alone. I went to the foyer with my coffee. Yeah, coffee in the middle of the night. After an hour, I heard footsteps.
“What are you drinking?” She joined me. She was in my shirts and boxers.
“Coffee.”
“The Great Gabriel Linden. I was thinking whiskey or beer, maybe.”
“Would you like some?” I offered my mug to her.
“No thanks.” There you go, that dragging breath. I had a feeling that the next words coming from her lips would either shock me or hurt me. “I went to see Klayton at his penthouse.”
I groaned. Of course, It was Estelle. Nothing could stop her from doing whatever she was planning to do. “Why?”
“It didn’t go well.”
“Are you okay?” I turned to face her. “Did he hurt you?”
I felt relieved when she shook her head.
“I’m fine. He was a class-A asshole.” She closed her eyes for a brief moment. “God.”
“Don’t say more. I can’t. I don’t wanna hear it.” I stood up and offered my hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”
She grabbed my hand and smiled. “Can I stay with you? I promise I’ll behave.”
“Of course, baby.”
***
The next morning I decided to meet Gustav. I knew where I could find him. He enjoyed his free time golfing. After our pleasantries, we golfed, even if I didn’t pay much attention.
“Your daughter went to see Klayton.”
“I thought your job was done.” He swung for his strike. The ball landed a few meters into the hole.
“This is not about my job. I went to Italy on my own terms because Moses asked a favor.”
“So you’d rather do it for free? How noble of you? Nothing in this world is free, Mr. Linden.” I already disliked this son of a bitch even before. I disliked him even more right now. “Why are you here?”
“Estelle became my friend.”
“You are sleeping with her?” His accusation was direct, and if he thought I would deny it, he was mistaken.
“We had a brief relationship until she broke up with me because she’s supposed to marry Klayton Weston. If I heard correctly, she signed a contract to keep Star LLC. I know what business alliances mean and what they can do to both parties, but I don’t understand why you didn’t trust her enough to fund her dreams?”
“It’s none of your concern. Don’t stick your nose in our business because you know nothing about running a business in the first place. And don’t fool me with your mercenaries.”
I poked the bear, and I liked it. I nodded. “One thing I know of, Weston won’t ever treat her right. Once they get married, you just end her happy life. You know who he really is and what he’s capable of with women. I hope it enlightens you before you lose the only daughter and family you have left.”
“You don’t have any proof against Klayton. I suggest you stop digging.”
“I will do everything in my power and use my resources to stop the wedding, Mr. Bladwyn.”
Now Gustav faced me. His eyes narrowed. His face became red. “Let me guess, Moses Braddson. Do you think he will risk his empire over his errand boy? Think again, Mr. Linden, before coming back and threatening me. Do you know who I am? You can’t even fathom what I can do to your little company if you ever do something stupid again.”
“I know exactly what kind of man you are, Mr. Bladwyn.
“You don’t, but I’ve watched you for several months and know who you are. The only thing you think makes you different from those sick soldiers because of Striker Cade, but you are nothing alike. You are just Moses’ errand boy. And when you’re done running his errands, he will just dump you like his useless wife.”
“Don’t ever—”
“Don’t threaten me with your empty threats!” He grunted as he pointed the golf club at me.
“Oh, it wasn’t empty. I will drag you with Weston down if you don’t stop this marriage. Mark my word.”