Rise - Part Two (Rise #2)(12)

I watch as a faint blush takes over her cheeks. "Gabriel said that Liore is going to put out a catalogue. He wants to commission a few pieces for that. He'll give me full credit and he'll link to the Whispers of Grace website from the Liore site."

It's a match made in business heaven. It's also another opportunity for me to work for Gabriel. Launching a catalogue is something the man has more than ample experience with. He's run both a men's and a women's fashion line for years.

I'm not going to let that deter me though. I know I can convince him that an event featuring the models in the catalogue will only amp up the interest in it. I pick up my smartphone and make a note in it to mention Ivy's work the next time I see him.

"Tell me what's going on with you and the pilot." She picks up the teacup that has sat untouched in front of her for more than thirty minutes. I know she likes her tea tepid, but I'm certain it's going to be bordering on chilled by now.

I look towards where I last saw the waiter but he's nowhere to be found. Saturday morning brunch at Axel NY is one of the places to be in Manhattan. When Ivy called me an hour ago to ask me to meet her here I teased her about not having a reservation. It didn't take her more than a scant second to remind me that the owner, Hunter Reynolds, is Jax's best friend.

"I like it this way." She takes a sip before pulling the linen napkin over her mouth. "I asked about the pilot. His name is Landon, right?"

"Right." I nod. "I saw him last night."

"You saw him." She rests her elbows on the table so she can lean closer to where I'm sitting across from her. "Or you saw him."

I can't differentiate between the two so I repeat what I just said. "I saw him last night."

"You said that already." She darts her eyes to the door of the restaurant before she looks back at me. "I asked if you saw him or if you saw him."

I heard the difference this time. The second repetition of the words was followed by a growl. Is she actually asking me if I had sex with Landon last night? If she is, it's beyond coy. It's actually bordering on ridiculous. "You didn't just ask me if I slept with him, did you?"

She winks. That's it. She doesn't follow it up with anything else.

"Did you have sex with Jax last night?" I ask as sarcastically as I can.

"Twice." She waves two fingers in the air. "We did it twice."

"Oh my God," I say through laughter. "I didn't actually want to know that."

"You asked." She takes another bite of the bagel as she shrugs her shoulders. "He's insatiable. He never stops touching me."

I rest my head in my hands. I had every intention of confiding in Ivy about Landon's father when I accepted her invitation to brunch. I'd left his apartment at the same time he did. He helped me into a taxi before he got into another to head to the airport. Every thought I've had since that moment has been about him and his family.

"Did you do it or not?"

I suddenly feel as protective about my intimacy with Landon as I do about his family. I know Ivy is only trying to have fun, but right at this moment, I know that Landon is dealing with issues that far outweigh anything I've had to face in my life.

Just the thought of telling anyone, including Ivy, about what I shared with Landon last night and this morning makes me uncomfortable. I don't want to feel that exposed right now. He confided in me and in the moments of tenderness that followed, we gave ourselves to one another in a way that was shameless and raw.

"I'm going back up to get more food." I gesture towards the ample buffet that Axel provides to every patron who steps in for brunch. It's literally enough food to fuel me for a week. "Are you coming?"

"I want to try some of the desserts." Ivy pushes her hands against the edge of the table as she stands. "You'll split some with me, right?"

"I will." I smile. "We can try one of everything."





Chapter 11


––––––––

"Have you spoken to Landon recently?"

I look up from where I'm sitting in front of Gabriel's desk. "I saw him on Friday."

"Friday," he repeats quietly. "He left a message for me on Saturday evening."

I don't pry. It's not my place to ask what details the message contained. I'd waited all weekend with baited breath hoping to hear from Landon but I didn't. It's Monday morning now and as soon as Gabriel's assistant called asking me to come to his office, I'd showered, dressed and sprinted across town in record time.

Work has been my solace the last forty-eight hours. I'd spent much of Saturday afternoon working on a game plan for the gala that I'm organizing for Corteck. It's an important event for me and if I can impress Clive the same way I've impressed Gabriel, I might just have two major corporations as clients.

I had focused completely on the Liore event in Los Angeles yesterday. I'm set to fly there this week and I want to have everything in order before I meet with my contact there.

"Did you and Landon have a falling out?"

A falling out?

Is Gabriel actually asking me if Landon and I broke up? Or maybe he's wondering if we had a lover's quarrel.