Saving Us (The Billionaire Brothers of NY Duology #1)

4. Gage

CHAPTER 4

Gage

I decided to pay the floral shop a visit the following week to settle our first installment in person. There was no reason the check needed to be put in the mail when the shop wasn’t far from my brownstone. Besides, I should probably meet the infamous Fiona anyway. Considering how much our company paid hers each year, I should put a face to the name.

Their listed hours online indicated they were open until seven tonight. I left the office a little early so I could swing by the shop before they closed on my way home.

As I pushed the door open, the bell announced my arrival, just like last time. The music inside was inviting: some coffeehouse instrumental type stuff similar to what I’d listen to while working at home. No one was in the front room, so I looked around while I waited.

“Can I help you?” a familiar voice said.

Turning toward her, she was a vision as she stood behind the huge table. She had a bunch of flowers in her hands, as if she were in the middle of a project I interrupted. Her hair was in a one of those messy knots on top of her head again and a flush developed when she saw it was me.

“Hi,” I said.

I knew our first meeting didn’t go as she’d planned. Between our run-in beforehand, Chase’s comment and sudden exit, and me being my usual grumpy self, she probably wasn’t all that happy to see me.

But I have not been able to stop thinking about her.

And considering I didn’t want to be with anyone, that was a problem. So, coming to see her, and figuring out why, was in order.

“Mr. Parker,” she said. “Nice to see you again.”

“Gage, please.”

Her blush deepened. Interesting.

“What can I do for you, Gage?” She put the flowers on the butcher-block table and walked toward me while untying her apron. As she pulled it up and over her head, her hands snapped the apron into a ball and onto the table all in one graceful motion. I found myself staring at her every move.

And then I realized she was watching me watch her.

And I liked that.

But then another, younger girl, came out from the back room.

“Harper, what do you think should be added to the arrangements for the King account? They don’t look complete yet,” the girl said as she opened a cooler looking inside.

“Excuse me.” Harper motioned to me with her hand as she helped her coworker with the flowers in the case.

As I watched them, I questioned what I was really doing.

What were my motives for being here? I suddenly felt as though my visit was simply to piss off my brother.

And maybe cockblock him.

The envelope burned a hole in my pocket the longer it stayed there. Taking it out, I was tempted to place it on the table and leave.

“Sorry about that, she needed to finish up that account before leaving,” Harper said, looking at her watch.

And that was a perfect segue.

“You’re closing. I’m only here to pay our invoice.” Handing her the envelope, her eyes dropped to it as it landed in her hand.

“Oh,” she said slowly. Disappointment dripped from her words, which was surprising considering our last encounter. But she seemed to push it away, literally shaking her head. “Of course.”

But as she looked up, I was rendered speechless by her crystal blue eyes. I don’t think I really noticed them last time. They were striking. The color of the Caribbean Sea.

“I have some of the new arrangement ideas from our meeting prepped in my portfolio. Since you’re here, we could go over them.”

Her words were lost on me as I watched her move around the room, appearing to tidy up and prepare to close the shop. Her occasional glances told me she was still waiting on my answer.

Why was I so enthralled by this woman?

And as she waited for my answer, my dick wanted me to say yes.

But my brain and heart both begged me to say no.

She walked to the front door, locking it and turned the sign to say “Closed.”

A distant voice from the back of the store yelled, “Bye Harper, I’m heading out!”

“Bye Callie!” Harper yelled back.

And then we seemed to be alone.

And she was standing in front of me, hands on hips, an expectant look on her face.

“I have a few minutes,” I told her.

A curt nod was all she gave me as she walked into the back room, essentially leaving me alone. “Have a seat, I’ll be right back,” she called from the back.

Christ, what was I doing?

Walking out the front door was what I should be doing, that would be my smartest move. But apparently, I was going to listen to my dick, since I pulled out a stool and took a seat.

Talking myself into this being a business meeting as I sat waiting for her to return was the only thing keeping my ass on the cold metal stool. Finally, she came walking through the doorway carrying a large binder in her hands.

“Here we go,” she said as she plunked it down next to me. “It’s perfect timing you’re here. I’m not too far into the designs, so you can tell me if you like them.”

I wasn’t sure if this was the normal process Harper and Maryellen went through, we never discussed this in our Thursday meetings. All I ever did was sign off on the invoices to be paid. When Maryellen suggested that I come this month to see where the money goes, I agreed it was a good idea.

Now I wasn’t so sure. For a variety of reasons.

One being the dirty-blonde sitting next to me who smelled amazing. I mean, yeah, we were surrounded by flowers. But there was something about how she smelled that was different, yet floral at the same time.

And it was driving me fucking insane the closer she got to me with every page she turned.

“And see this one? This is for the main lobby…”

I couldn’t pay attention to what she was saying, not one word. Her gaze hopped back and forth between me and the pictures, and the little wisps of hair would float around her face. It would make her scent waft through the air even more, and it was intoxicating.

She was bent over the wooden table, engrossed in what she was telling me, yet all I could do was look at her neck. With her upswept hair, it left the smooth skin leading to her also exposed collarbone free to view.

I suddenly wanted to touch her.

I wanted to do more than touch her.

My hands had a mind of their own and continuously wanted to reach out and run my thumb along the vein in her neck, to feel her warmth.

Instead, I busied them with my pen as it clicked and clicked and clicked. Even I was annoyed with me.

“Can you see the pictures from where you are, Mr. Parker?” she asked.

We both knew I couldn’t. And I was sure she was confused by my sudden disinterest in the meeting. But I couldn’t think straight.

She wasn’t even my typical type. She was pretty, don’t get me wrong. Even more than pretty, beautiful.

But she seemed…nice.

And I wasn’t normally attracted to nice girls. I liked them a bit feisty, ones that gave me a run for my money.

“It’s Gage,” I reminded her, rather curtly.

“Oh, right, sorry.”

She spun on her heels as she apologized, her body now aligned with mine, literally standing between my bent knees as my feet were perched on the stool. She didn’t expect to end up so close to me, I could tell by her reaction.

Which was a sharp intake of breath as her eyes landed on mine.

But she remained frozen where she was, standing between my legs.

Neither of us quite knew what to do with our hands, though mine were aching to reach around and pull her even closer. Hers, I noticed, she kept rubbing along her jeans.

“No need for apologies, Harper.” I made sure to look at her, really look at her when I spoke.

The animated swallow in her throat as she held my gaze spoke volumes.

She was attracted to me.

Seeing that made me want to grab her, strip her of her clothes, push her onto the table, and hold her down by the throat while I pushed her legs apart with my other hand. Turn this innocent dove in front of me into something a little darker.

And thinking about that made my pants get tighter.

Instead, I stood, forcing her to back away. As she did, her eyes widened as she looked up at me.

“I need to go.” My words were firm as I moved toward the door. “I’m sure whatever you come up with will be fine.” Reaching the door, I turned the lock and pulled it open, harder than I intended to. The bell above rang loud in the silent room.

Walking out the door, leaving it open as I went, I knew I’d made the right decision.

And hearing her close and lock it behind me confirmed she agreed.