Especially this man. “Thank you,” I say, clasping his hand in mine. “I know I pushed you into letting me stay and I’m truly grateful.” Before I lose my nerve, I rise to my toes and press a lingering kiss to his cheek before spinning on my heels and walking away.
CHAPTER THREE
Maddox
Ispend thenext few hours at the bar, catching up on paperwork and doing my best not to think about my new houseguest and those kisses. The one in my kitchen nearly had me throwing my common sense out the window and hauling her into my bed, and the sweet brush against my cheek shouldn’t have impacted me the way it did. Both left me rock hard and wanting her, and appreciating her ability to be gracious even if she was right. She pushed me into the decision.
A knock sounds on the door, and I look up, grateful for the distraction. “Hey,” I say, leaning back in my seat.
Zach walks into the room followed by Remy. Zach was the first man to start an investigative agency as well as the first Back Door in New York City. Once Remy left the police force, he bought into both businesses, and they opened the bar in the Hamptons.
What few people know, because he doesn’t announce it, is that Remy, full name Remington Sterling, is one ofTheSterlings, a family who owns a financial equity firm going back two generations. The man is incredibly wealthy but never acts like he comes from money. He has ghosts in his past he never speaks of, and I won’t push. A man is entitled to his secrets. First a New York City detective, now a bar owner and P.I., Remy resides in Manhattan and keeps a low profile.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask my bosses.
It’s not unusual for the men to come to the bar, but Zach usually leaves me to run things unless there are issues, likewhen my younger brother was stealing from the liquor supply. I still cringe at the memory. Luckily, neither man held it against me, and thanks in part to Zach’s woman, Hadley, my brother got his life back on track. Remy and Zach go back and forth between the city and the Hamptons for business meetings with the Hamptons being the summer site of choice.
Zach settles into the chair in front of my desk. “Hadley wanted to go shopping and I figured I’d come see how you’re doing. Ran intohimas I was walking in.” He gestures to Remy, who is leaning against the wall beside him.
“Everything at the bar is quiet, as in no issues,” I assure them.
“Not here to check on you,” Zach says. “We’re both killing time until lunch.”
Though I nod as if I understand my boss’s life, I’ve given up on having a woman to share things with. While working in the city, making bank and mingling with the wealthy, women threw themselves at me. Even having a girlfriend didn’t deter the more determined female. But I learned fast. I never knew if a woman was interested in me as a person or my money in the bank. My ex merely put the last nail in the coffin of relationships.
Once I returned to my working-class roots, I discovered the same kind of woman in the Hamptons wants to slum with a hot bar manager—not my words—but would never consider a man like me as a life partner. I’m jaded and don’t want any woman for more than a night. Not everyone can have what my parents share.
I jolt with a start, realizing I drifted off in thought while Remy and Zach are discussing the New York Yankees and soon, all three of us segue into how football pre-season is starting soon.
“Knock knock,” a familiar voice says, as Hadley strides in, her hair in a casual ponytail. No makeup, like Gabby. Apparently,Zach and I have the same type.Wait. Fuck.I shouldn’t be thinking of Gabby as my type.
“Look who I found at the gallery.”
As if my thoughts conjured her, Gabby strides in behind Hadley, holding a handful of shopping bags. She mentioned going shopping, and I assumed she’d pick up a few things to get by while she stayed with me. Apparently, figuring out her life includes spending lots of Daddy’s money.
I narrow my gaze. “How do you know each other?” I stare at my houseguest, whose face is flushed and her eyes bright. Something has her excited, and I’m curious.
“We don’t. I was in the gallery to apply for a job and Rhonda, the owner, went into the back to get an application—” Gabby begins, taking me off guard.
A job? Maybe I underestimated her determination to make choices and be on her own.
“And…” Hadley grins, happy to pick up the story. “I walked in to ask about a painting in the window. Gabby started telling me about the artist I was interested in. Then Rhonda returned—”
“And I had no idea she’d been listening, but she walked out and offered me a job on the spot!” Gabby drops her bags on the floor in front of her, walks up to where I sit behind my desk and throws her arms around my neck, hugging me tight. “I got a job!”
Her excitement is infectious, her squeal adorable, and her desire to share the news with me causes a surprising rush of happiness for her. Over her shoulder, I meet Zach’s shocked stare.Shit.The last thing I want to do is answer questions about my relationship with Gabby. Hell, we don’t have a relationship, and I’ve only known her for a day. Before I can peel her off me, she steps back.
“Congratulations,” Remy says.
“Thank you!”
Hadley walks over to Zach, who has risen from his seat. He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her in for a kiss that’s awkward for everyone watching. These two are in love. After almost a decade apart and a lot of drama not long ago that brought Hadley back into his life, I understand their need to be close now.
After they end the kiss, Hadley glances from Gabby to Zach. “Gabby, this is my husband Zach, co-owner of this bar. And this is his partner, Remy Sterling.”
Gabby laughs, her cheeks still flushed pink. “I assumed he was your…something after that kiss.”
Hadley ducks her head. “We’re still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship.”
