Bound to You: Volume 2 (5 page)

Love,

Katherine

It has been too many years, and yet the pain of losing Alex is still fresh. I’m starting to think that this night might be easier with some company than flying solo. Maybe I should ask Tristan to go with me. I haven’t talked to him much because he’s been so busy with planning the opening of his art exhibit. I pull out my phone and dial his number. To my surprise, he picks up on the first ring.

“Tristan speaking.”

“Hey, it’s Nick. I was calling to see if you have plans for next Thursday? I’m attending a charity event and I need a wingman.” In the background of the call, I hear what sounds like general noise from a city street.

“Are you asking me on a date, Mr. StoneHaven?” he asks, mocking me.

“No, asshole, I’m asking you to do me a favor.”

“You know I would do anything for you, but I have plans next Thursday.”

“Plans? Doing what?” It takes Tristan a moment to answer. I check my phone to see if he’s hung up, but his name still flashes at the top of my screen.
That’s weird.

“Hello?” I ask.

“Sorry, I, uh, well I’m going out…”

“Out? Like on a date?” I ask, confused.

“Yes.”

“So, who is she?” I ask curiously. Tristan usually doesn’t hold information back. He doesn’t shove his conquests in my face, but I know he gets his fair share of beautiful women. And I’ve seen the way women look at him.

“It’s complicated, and probably a conversation for another time. I’m sorry I can’t go with you. Let’s have drinks soon.” And with that Tristan hangs up, leaving me confused as fuck.
What is he hiding?
I re-dial Tristan’s number, but this time it goes straight to voicemail. Alright…well, I guess that means I’m going to this event alone. Alison would probably love to go with me, but I have absolutely no desire to entertain her all evening.

My office phone rings and Rebecca’s name flashes on the line
. Gellar.
She’s the one who got me into this mess. She should be the one attending the event with me. After all, she’s my assistant, and I think it’s only fair to make her go with me since she didn’t even bother to ask if I wanted to attend it. Just as I’m about to pick up the line, it stops flashing. I switch to line 2 and call Mary at the front desk. She answers in her usual amused voice.

“How can I help you, Mr. StoneHaven?”

“Mary, I need a dress.”

“A dress, sir?” I can almost picture the confusion on her face.

“Yes, it’s for Ms. Gellar. She will be accompanying me to the appreciation event for Lit For Kids. Can you please contact Melanie Cole from Madison’s and ask her to bring some dresses over?”

“Of course, should I pull Ms. Gellar’s measurements from her HR folder?”

“Yes.” Thank god, I completely forgot about finding the right dress size. Rebecca’s curvier than most of the women I’ve ever dated….
god, those curves.
I never thought of myself as an ass man, but I can’t stop thinking about how good hers felt in my grip. Mary clears her throat pulling me back from my fantasy. Shit. I didn’t even realize she was still on the line.

“Is there a certain color or colors you would like Melanie to send?” Mary asks.

“Red.” I smile, picturing Rebecca in a deep red dress. The color fits her personality so well. I don’t doubt that it would look just as good on her.

I shouldn’t be surprised to find Nicholas waiting at my desk the following Thursday, but I am. It’s late in the afternoon, and most of the office has gone home for the holiday with the exception of the cleaning staff and me. I practically drop the pile of documents in my hand at the sight of him sitting casually in my chair.
Doesn’t he have anything better to do?
I suppress a moan as he half smiles at my nervous reaction. It takes me a moment to realize he’s dressed in the black tuxedo I picked up from the dry cleaners earlier this week.

“Rebecca, can I have a word?” Nicholas asks, adjusting his tie slightly. I can’t help but wonder if I make Nicholas just as nervous as he makes me. He stands, giving me room to squeeze by, so I can set my stack of papers down. Whether it’s intended or not I’m not sure, but he only moves enough so that our bodies slightly touch when I pass him. I catch the slightest hint of honey and mint on him.
Damn him, he always smells so good.

“Sure, I was just making copies of the financial documents that you asked for,” I reply, handing him the second set of copies.

“I need to ask you for a favor.”

A favor?
“Okay,” I say, hesitating. This already doesn’t sound good.

“I need a date to a charity event I’m attending tonight.”

“A date?” I gulp. “Where’s Alison?”

“She’s out of town.”

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m pretty sure if you went alone, the world wouldn’t end,” I say, crossing my arms.

“Gellar…,” Nicholas says in a challenging tone.

“Are you really asking?” I say, exasperated.

“No." he says smirking. “I just thought it would be polite if I tried to first.”

“The word ’try’ seems to be a foreign concept for you.” I roll my eyes at him, trying my best to emphasize my annoyance.

“I’ll pick you up at 6:00 p.m. Dinner starts at seven,” he says, as he turns to leave.

“And if I refuse?”

“I’ll drag you, even if it’s kicking and screaming.”

“Aren’t you going to ask for my address?” I ask, annoyed.

“No. I know where you live,” he says with a devilish grin. I shiver at the streak of desire coursing through me. Nicholas knows where I live? Somehow that seems like a very, very bad thing.
Knowledge is power and Nicholas seems to know a lot about me.

“I don’t have anything to wear,” I confess.

“I took care of that. Just go home and get dressed,” he says, giving me a once over. “No more excuses, Ms. Gellar.”

I don’t have a good explanation as to why I asked Rebecca to come with me tonight. No, that’s a lie. I need a distraction. I haven’t been to this event in five years. Every year the executive director, Katherine Brown, sends me an invitation to come, but I never show and I never accept. If Rebecca hadn’t accepted the invite this year, I wouldn’t be here. I didn’t really need a date. And while the thing I said about Alison isn’t a complete lie, she’s not technically out of town. She’s just gone for the weekend to check out venues in the country for our wedding. She’s called me at least five times within the last few hours to tell me about a winery she saw on her way there. It’s probably not a good idea if we get married in a place where I can consume massive amounts of alcohol. But I’ll definitely need it.

“Good evening, Mr. StoneHaven.” I turn to find Mary packing away her purse and carrying out the trash from behind the reception desk.

“Mary, you do know we have janitors who do that?” I ask.

“Why have someone else do something that I can do myself?” she says brightly. “Are you headed out to the donor appreciation event for Lit For Kids?”

“Yes, I’m stopping to pick up Rebecca and then I’m off.”

“Your brother Alex would be proud of you.”

I flinch at the mention of his name. Has it really been five years since his death? It seems like just yesterday. “Thank you, Mary.”

From my pained expression I know Mary sees it’s better not to bring up Alex again. I’ve been giving to their organization since my brother Alex passed away. He was the good son and the best brother Emily or I could ask for. Lit For Kids was one of his favorite nonprofits. They promote literacy at schools and they have afterschool programs for children who need help learning how to read. It’s a natural fit for our company and I happily give to it in his memory. Alex was always putting others before himself. He didn’t know how to be any other way.

“Mary, can you do me one favor before you leave for the night?”

“Of course,” she says, half-smiling.

“Please call and let Rebecca know I’m on my way.”

“Done.”

“Thank you. Have a wonderful night.”

“And you, sir.”

“I am not wearing that dress.”

“Why not?” Carol asks, grinning.

“I have never worn a dress like that.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” she says with way too much enthusiasm.

The dress that Nicholas purchased, which I would hardly call a dress, has a deep neckline that drops and stops just below my breasts. I don’t think I can properly wear a bra with it. In fact, I can’t imagine how anyone could wear anything underneath. The fabric is thin and colored a deep satin red. It’s formed and fitted like a halter-top, flowing all the way down to my feet and splitting slightly above the knee. It’s beautiful, sexy, and seductive, but it’s not a dress I would ever wear near my boss.

On top of all of this, it’s snowing. I’m going to freeze my lady parts off. I reach inside the black satin bag that the dress came packaged in and find a matching shawl.
At least he’s being somewhat considerate.

“This is what he wants me to wear for a kids’ charity event?”

“How old are these kids?” Carol asks, grinning.

“I’m pretty sure not old enough to see my boobs flailing about.” I turn to see Carol silently laughing at me.

“You’re having way too much fun watching me.”

“Sorry, it’s like watching a fly try and get out of spider’s web.”

“I hope you’re not implying I’m the fly in this situation,” I say, raising my eyebrow at her.

Carol turns me so that I’m staring into her long floor mirror. “You don’t look like one, but you’re definitely the fly,” she says, whacking my ass.

“How was work?” I need to keep Nicholas off my mind.

Nicholas drives us from Carol’s apartment on Park Avenue down to Lincoln Center Plaza. On our way there, we take a road that runs through Central Park peppered with snow. I spot several horse-drawn carriages pulling up on the side. Each one is decorated with Christmas lights fastened to the edges, giving their carriage a fairytale feel. I’ve always wanted to take a ride in one.

“Have you been on a horse-drawn carriage before?” Nicholas asks, as he catches me staring out the window.

“No, not yet.”

“They’re a novelty to visitors. You can’t go to New York and not take a ride in one. I’ll take you on one sometime.”

Nicholas’s words catch me off guard. I don’t say anything, but I can’t help but question the motive behind his words. What could I say other than
why bothe
r? Nicholas doesn’t owe me anything, but here he is making plans with me. I promised Carol I would enjoy tonight, but it’s hard to when I’m already thinking this is a mistake.

Paparazzi stalk the outside of the Lit For Kids donor appreciation event. They snap a flurry of pictures as Nicholas and I step out of his car. A valet attendant takes the keys to Nicholas’s car and hands him a return slip. Nicholas grabs my hand and leads me through the front of the Wilkes Library.

The library is a majestic display of architecture. It’s like staring at a building straight out of a gothic novel. It’s strange to see a building like this in the middle of New York, but it’s beautiful. There’s even gargoyles protruding from the topside of the building. Each one appears carefully carved with exact details.