When I get back to my office, I do find a text from Saige. A little ripple of pleasure rolls through me and I don’t stop to analyze it.
How are you, Quinn Brand?
I’d love to hear her voice, but I’m assuming she’s probably in class or another place where she can’t take a call.
I’m doing very well. And how are you, Saige Beaumont?
Either she types extremely slowly (which I think is unlikely), or she’s definitely in the middle of something.
Sorry, in class. Should probably be paying attention. I’m fine.
I’m in the middle of typing out another response when another message from her comes through.
So I was wondering what you’re doing this weekend. I know it’s short notice.
Very nice. I’d definitely like to have another date with her, hopefully capped off by more sex. And this time I’d like not to be interrupted.
What did you have in mind?
Well…
Now I’m definitely intrigued.
How do you feel about wearing a tux?
That depends.
I really wish I could hear her voice.
Would you wear one for me? At a friend of my father’s charity event?
I figured. There seems to be one every weekend. Funny that she was asking me to go to one now when I’d already gone to two and hadn’t seen her.
I think that can be arranged.
She doesn’t write back right away, so I set the phone back on my desk and wait. When nothing happens for five minutes, I unfreeze my computer and start working on some emails. A watched phone doesn’t ring.
Sorry again. Okay, great. I’ll text you the details later.
I message back that I’ll await her instructions. This could be good. Might be a good chance to smoke out my stalker. The boys probably won’t be pleased, but they’ll suck it up. I send a mass text giving them a heads up that I’m going to need everyone on board for this weekend.
I expect to get more than a few disgruntled texts back, but I don’t. Interesting. Usually there’s a least a little complaining. Weird.
I called a meeting for the next night so we could talk about my stalker and about how the event was going to go. I was first to arrive at Cash’s and he was sitting at his writing desk.
“I thought you weren’t going to use it. Just admire it.”
“Yes, well. I’m sitting and admiring it.” He runs his hand across the top and then looks up at me. He looks fucking ridiculous, hunched down in the flimsy seat. Like an adult sitting in a kid’s chair.
“Whatever,” I say and head to the office. I definitely need a drink.
Cash follows me.
“What’s up with you lately? You seem perpetually pissed off.” I pop the top of a cold one and glare at him.
“I’m not. And even if I was, I think having this stalker problem entitles me to that.” He puts his hands up in the air like he’s surrendering.
“Fine, fine. I know you’re armed. And I get it. You just seem different lately. I’m just trying to figure out why.” The concern in his expression makes me feel like a dick. There are so few people who care about me and I shouldn’t be acting like an asshole to even one of them.
“I’m sorry. I just feel like there’s a lot going on and I guess I’m not dealing with it that well.” I don’t want to admit this, because not that long ago I’d been bored. Wishing something would happen.
Be careful what you wish for.
Baz arrives next, followed by Track and then Row and Hardy.
“Okay, so we’ve got a stalker on our hands,” I say as everyone sits down.
“Fun, fun,” Cash says, rubbing his hands together. The intensity from minutes before is gone and he’s back to his upbeat self.
“Yeah, for those of you who didn’t get the night shift,” Baz says, pouting a little bit.
“Hey, this is what you signed up for. The job never stops. There are no vacations. You don’t get to sit on a beach in fucking Cancun whenever you’re stressed. This job is your life.” I don’t mean to sound so harsh. I don’t know what’s come over me.
There’s a beat of silence as I finish my little rant. Then Cash clears his throat and starts giving out assignments. I just sip my beer and shut my face.
I really need to get my shit together.
Fourteen
I decide on the Brioni again because Saige never saw it the first time. Track is driving me and everyone else is working surveillance. Cash will actually be going with me so in case anything goes down, there will be two of us. He’s donned a black tux with a black shirt and black tie. It makes him look both intense and intimidating. He’s put away his smile for the evening.
“How’s my serious face?” he asks as we get in our separate cars. I’ve got the Ferrari and he’s taking one of the extra BMWs.
“Believable. Can you wear it all night?”
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” he says with a grin before getting into the driver’s side. He gives me a thumbs up and I head out first, with him follow close, but not too close.
Something almost… flutters in my stomach and I realize I’m nervous. What the fuck? I haven’t been nervous to pick up Saige before. Why is tonight different?
I shake my head at myself and wish I had a little nip of something to take the edge off.
I pull up to her place and send her a text. She sweeps down the front steps and I hurry out of the car to get the door for her.
This time her dress is gold and slinky, clinging to her in all the right places. Her hair loops in big curls down her back. Her eyes are smoky as usual, and her lips are red. She’s stunningly perfect.
“Look at you. I would have invited you to one of these things sooner if I knew you looked this good in a tux.” She walks around me, as if she’s admiring the merchandise. And then she reaches out and squeezes my ass.
“Mmmm. Yes. I like this very much. Men don’t seem to understand the power a well-cut suit can have.” She gets me again and my dick goes hard instantly.
“If you keep doing that we’re never going to make it to the damn event.”
She laughs softly and steps back around to face me. God she’s beautiful.
“I wouldn’t mind,” she says, her tone flirtatious. “But I think my father wouldn’t be very happy.” I already know Mr. Beaumont will be there because Cash hacked the country club database and got the guest list. At least I’m not wholly unprepared. Still, I would have liked to wait a while before meeting him, but it would have happened sooner or later.
I help her in the car and go to get in the driver’s side.
“Are you nervous about meeting my father?” she asks as I pull away from the curb.
“Are you kidding? Of course.” I’d decided it would be best not to reveal that I already know him. Not until I see if he wants Saige to know that we’ve already met. This whole situation is delicate and I have to be careful. One rip and everything is destroyed.
“You look stunning, Saige,” I say to shift her attention.
“Thank you. You look very nice yourself, as I said before.”
“I just have one question.”
She turns in her seat to face me, a little bit of a smile on her face.
“And that is?”
“Where’s the zipper? It would be a shame to destroy such a pretty dress when I take it off you later.”