Lush (11 page)

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Authors: Lauren Dane

Tags: #Romance, #Erotica, #Fiction

BOOK: Lush
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13

tipped his water glass in Adrian’s direction.

14

“I think Mary should order for us.” Jules looked over the

15

menu in their direction.

16

“You do just fi ne without me, Juliet.” Mary blushed and he

17

pulled one of her curls straight only to have it spring back into

18

place quickly.

19

“You’re blushing, Curly.”

20

Paddy snorted. “Leave the woman be, Damien. Will you at

21

least tell me what you think would be best right now? You can

22

give me several recommendations maybe?”

23

“If we all get different things we can share. That’s always

24

my favorite way to do this. Though I don’t usually share dessert.

25

Just so you know in advance. I cannot be relied upon to share

26

sweet things. Ask Jules.”

27

“That’s a good idea. How about we do a selection of the fi rst

S28

and second courses? Does that work?”

N29

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Lauren Dane

01

They ordered, and wine was brought out along with some-

02

thing nonalcoholic for Miles.

03

Damien couldn’t seem to stop touching her. Which interested

04

him. Damien wasn’t one for PDA like that. But she smelled really

05

damned good. Her voice seemed to burrow under his skin. It

06

made him truly happy to be there with her.

07

The chef came out with the fi rst course and Mary’s gaze

08

lit up.

09

She chatted with him, asking about this and that. For his

10

part, the chef seemed to be excited right back to be talking with

11

someone who knew her stuff and clearly loved the food.

12

13

14

Mary paused as they all fi led outside to head to the Empire State

15

Building.

16

“So, Gillian.” She put her arm through Gillian’s and her head

17

on Gillian’s’ shoulder. They were alone, the others clustered a

18

few feet away.

19

“Whatever you need, darlin’, it’s all yours.” Gillian smiled.

20

“I did notice you didn’t have a glass of wine. Any reason

21

you’re not drinking alcohol?”

22

Gillian blushed wildly and Mary grinned so hard her face

23

hurt. “Really?” She did a little dance but then everyone looked

24

and she stopped.

25

“That made me feel so much better.” Gillian hugged her. “I

26

feel old and sort of sick all the time and it’s new so I’m worried

27

and Adrian follows me around offering me things. Miles is over

28S

the moon. I’m excited and worried all at once. It’s not like I’m

29N

new to the mum business.”

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Lush

“What are you two on about?” Cal called out.

01

Jules and Daisy trailed back, bending their heads and gig-

02

gling.

03

“I’ve only just told Jules a few hours ago, before you left

04

Seattle. I was going to tell everyone but Jules bet me you’d notice 05

before I told anyone.”

06

Jules grinned. “Thank God. I was dying. I wanted to announce

07

it over the intercom.”

08

“We’re not telling anyone for a few more months. It’s early

09

days. I only told you because you’re my family and you’d notice

10

anyway.”

11

If the news got hold of this they’d splash it all over the place.

12

And Mary knew she and the rest of Delicious would pull

13

together to protect their friend as long as they could.

14

“Of course. Your secret is safe with us.”

15

“We’re coming!” Jules waved at Cal. “Lady stuff.”

16

The men had all stood there on the sidewalk, just staring at

17

the women as they giggled and hugged. Most of them were befud-

18

dled and affectionate. Paddy and Vaughan shook their heads.

19

Miles appeared confused and a little embarrassed. “They

20

always do that sort of stuff, then? Even when they’re old?”

21

Adrian laughed, putting an arm around his son’s shoulders.

22

“Don’t let them hear you say that. They’re nowhere near old.

23

But yes, they do. Wait till Elise gets in and she and Erin are part 24

of the group.”

25

“Aunt Erin doesn’t really count. She’s sort of . . . well, a thing 26

unto herself.”

27

Adrian snorted. “That, kid, is what you call an understate-

S28

ment. Your aunt Erin defi es defi nition.”

N29

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01

“It’s cool. I want to be like that.”

02

Damien saw Adrian’s face soften, washed by pride and love.

03

“You already are, Miles. There’s no one else on Earth like you.”

04

“Let’s go to the Empire State Building.” Mary joined them,

05

taking the hand Damien held out.

06

“Clear night. We’ll see everything from up there.”

07

He headed right when everyone else headed left once they

08

got out onto the observation deck. In the dark, with the world

09

lit up and spread out in all directions he spun her and pulled her

10

tight to his body.

11

“Alone at last. For two minutes anyway.” He bent his knees

12

to kiss her and she tiptoed up to meet him halfway. Need, which

13

had been simmering all day long, exploded through him, push-

14

ing at his control.

15

Her taste settled in and he savored it. Savored the soft, lush

16

lips, the feel of her curves against his body.

17

She hummed as he ended the kiss, licking her lips.

18

“I’m coming to your room tonight.”

19

“Bring clothes so you won’t have to do the walk of shame

20

tomorrow.”

21

He laughed, turning her to walk so they could catch up to

22

everyone. “Thanks for protecting my honor.”

23

“Least I can do. Because I plan to ride you like a pony when

24

we get alone. I hope you took your vitamins.” She murmured

25

this last as she waved at everyone.

26

That Curly was trouble. He grinned. The best kind.

27

28S

29N

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01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

6

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

T

16

here were photographers on the sidewalk outside the

17

hotel. Adrian cursed and looked to Gillian. “English,

18

you’re going to have to run the gauntlet. I’m sorry.”

19

She sighed. “Comes with the territory now.”

20

Mary watched, worried, though sure he’d protect her.

21

Damien had ended up in the other cab with his brothers and

22

they’d been a light ahead so they’d most likely gone through the

23

mess already.

24

Admittedly she was glad. The last thing she wanted was to

25

be photographed with him going into a hotel.

26

Levi and Daisy got out fi rst and he glared at them, holding

27

Daisy to his side. Mary took Miles and dared anyone to do any-

S28

N29

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01

thing. They pushed, taking pictures, but she held her bag in

02

front of his face so they couldn’t get any good shots.

03

But it was nothing compared to the furor when Adrian got

04

out with Gillian.

05

They shouted his name, shouted questions at them. Shouted

06

Gillian’s name. The doorman held the door open for them and

07

hotel security made sure no one got in, though the fl ashes kept

08

on even after they got inside.

09

“You okay?” she asked Miles.

10

“Mum’s going to be upset. I hate that.”

11

Mary kissed his cheek. “You’re such a sweet boy. Your dad

12

made sure no one got near her. She knows his life comes with

13

this. She chose it to be with him. It’s okay.”

14

They headed to the elevators and Mary overheard Adrian

15

speaking with Gillian about bodyguards. “English, you know

16

I have to. Erin is arriving soon with the guys and Alexander.

17

That scene out there . . . well, she won’t handle it well. And I

18

don’t want you to get hurt or jostled.”

19

The baby. Mary knew he was thinking of Gillian’s preg-

20

nancy. Knew he was worried about her emotional and physical

21

state. Erin, his sister and the bass player in his band for these

22

shows, had been involved in a horrifi c stalking and kidnapping

23

years before that had ended with her daughter murdered and

24

her life shattered. Crowds and paparazzi were one of the reasons

25

she didn’t tour with him and had semiretired from music. She

26

still wrote with him and did his studio work, but aside from

27

special shows like this short tour but she didn’t go on the road.

28S

“I know. Stop worrying. I’ll get used to bodyguards someday,

29N

I suppose.”

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Lush

He kissed the top of her head and looked to Miles. “You

01

okay?”

02

“Yeah. I don’t like seeing Mum upset though.”

03

“Me either. We’ll make it better for her. Maybe with ice

04

cream.”

05

Gillian snorted but smiled. “Oh, my men.”

06

“This is my fl oor. I’ll see you in the morning. Call me when

07

you wake up.”

08

She hugged Adrian quickly and Gillian, kissing her cheeks.

09

“Love you.”

10

“Love you too. I’m so glad you’re here, Mary. Makes every-

11

thing better.”

12

Mary whispered in Gillian’s ear. “You’re having a baby.”

13

Gillian squeezed her tight. “I’m so glad I could share that

14

with you. See you in the morning.”

15

She headed to her room. She fi gured Damien would call her

16

or show up at some point. He knew the number.

17

18

19

It was Daisy waiting at her door though, with Levi. “Are you

20

all right?”

21

“Um? What do you mean?” She slid the card into the slot

22

and invited them inside.

23

“The crazy media outside. You were with Adrian and Damien

24

too right?”

25

“Ah. Not with Damien. They got into a different cab. But

26

with Adrian, Gillian and Miles, yes. She wasn’t pleased. But

27

she’s all right. This is her life.”

S28

“Could be yours too.”

N29

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01

Daisy was her friend and so she understood the concern. But

02

she didn’t want to discuss this yet again and she sure didn’t want

03

to discuss this in front of Levi.

04

“Thanks for coming by.” She went to the door. “I’ll see you

05

guys in the morning.”

06

“Oh. You’re mad.” Daisy looked back over her shoulder to

07

Levi. “This rarely happens.”

08

“I really can’t tell the difference. She’s still smiling.”

09


She’s
right here.”

10

Daisy paused to hug her. “I’m sorry. I worry.”

11

“I left you alone. For the most part. When this one was mak-

12

ing you crazy.” She gave the eye to Levi, who had the good sense

13

to cringe a little. “I already said all I want to say this trip about 14

Damien.”

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