Rush (Breathless #1)(7)

Never again had he entered a relationship without full disclosure and legal documents signed by all parties. It may be viewed as extreme—or even ridiculous—by some, but he had too much to lose to ever risk having another Lisa go after him.

“I thought you two were supposed to be on a plane to California,” Gabe said impatiently.

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “We’re leaving in half an hour. Our pilot called and there was a mechanical issue with the jet. Earliest we can take off is eleven when he can get a replacement fueled and flight plans filed.”

Gabe did a mental calculation. They should be gone well before Mia arrived. He just had to hope she wasn’t the superpunctual type who arrived early for everything. As fastidious as he was about time and hating people who weren’t punctual, this was one time he’d be forgiving of tardiness.

Under his desk, his fingers curled into fists and then relaxed as he flexed them back and forth. Mia had been all that had occupied his mind ever since she’d walked into the ballroom the night before. Now that he’d allowed himself to think of her as more than his best friend’s baby sister, he was consumed with an edginess that defied explanation.

He could only describe what he felt as…eagerness. Anticipation. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. She had shaken his carefully ordered world and tilted it on end. He could hardly wait to have her under his hand, his direction. His blood heated just thinking about it.

Christ, he had a hard-on just thinking about her, and he was sitting in front of his two best friends. Awkward didn’t even begin to cover it. He just hoped like hell they stayed where they were and didn’t take notice.

And then because he knew if he didn’t mention it, Jace would only raise more questions about why Gabe hadn’t mentioned it to him, he looked at Jace and said, “You missed Mia at the grand opening celebration last night.”

Jace straightened in his chair, a frown marring his face. “She was there?”

Gabe nodded. “She wanted to surprise you. She arrived shortly after you disappeared with the brunette.”

Jace let out a curse and blew out his breath in disgust. “Damn it. I had no idea she was planning to come. I wished she would’ve let me know. I would have made damn sure I was there. What happened? Did you talk to her? Did she stay long?”

“I took care of her,” Gabe said casually. “Told her you were called away. Danced one dance with her and then sent her home in a car. You would have had a heart attack at what she was wearing anyway.”

One corner of Ash’s mouth twitched upward. “Our little Mia is growing up.”

Jace scowled at him. “Shut the hell up, man.” Then he looked back at Gabe. “Thanks for looking out for her. Not the scene I would have wanted her at, especially if you’re right about what she was wearing. Bunch of old farts all looking to step out on their wives, and Mia would have looked like the Holy Grail. I’ll be damned if she ends up another notch on their bedposts.”

Gabe should have felt guilty. But then he already knew he was consigned to hell for all he planned to do to Mia and for what he had planned for her. She sure as hell wouldn’t be just another notch on his bedpost, so he could put aside any discomfort caused by Jace’s heated retort.

Gabe’s intercom buzzed and then, “Mr. Hamilton, a Miss Houston is here for Mr. Crestwell and Mr. McIntyre.”

Gabe’s eyebrow rose. “Taking the brunette to California with you?”

Ash grinned. “Hell yeah. It’ll make the flight time a lot shorter with her along.”

Gabe shook his head. “Send her in, Eleanor.”

A moment later, the gorgeous brunette Gabe had seen Jace and Ash with the night before walked into his office. Her high heels tapped on the marble floor, then went silent when she stepped onto the carpet.

Ash held out his arm and the woman slid comfortably onto his lap, angling her legs in Jace’s direction. Jace laid his hand over one calf and slid it possessively up to her knee, never once glancing in her direction. It was as though he were simply reminding her that at least for the present, she was his.

Gabe couldn’t help but make comparisons between the woman on Ash’s lap and Mia, which was stupid, given that this woman was far out of Mia’s league. She was older, more experienced, and she damn well knew the score with Jace and Ash. Mia had no idea what Gabe had in mind for her, and he’d be lucky if she didn’t run screaming from his office.

In the past, Gabe wouldn’t have minded the scene in front of him. It wasn’t unusual for Jace and Ash to have a woman in the offices. But today he was anxious for them to leave. He didn’t want Mia to suffer any more discomfort than she had to and he damn well didn’t want Jace privy to what Gabe had in mind for his little sister.

He made a show of checking his watch and then glanced back at Ash, who had a possessive arm around the curvy woman. Hell, they hadn’t even bothered to introduce her, which was sign enough that they didn’t plan for her to be around long.

“Car picking you up here?” Gabe asked.

“Are we keeping you from something?” Jace inquired.

Gabe leaned back in his chair, forcing a bored look to his face. “Just have a lot of e-mails and messages to catch up on. I didn’t get a damn thing done yesterday with all the last-minute details of the reception to take care of.”

Ash snorted. “You sound like you’re trying to make a point that Jace and I were conspicuously absent and you were forced to take care of things all on your own, but we all know what a control freak you are. There was little point in Jace or me trying to step in because you have to have things just so or your universe is tilted.”