I reached for the shampoo, and put some in the palm of my hand before I reached for her hair. Crimson strands danced over my fingers as I washed her hair, sensing that she was offering more than her body to me now. She was offering her heart.
20
Adriana
It had been a few days since the incident in the pantry, and I felt like things were finally cooling down. I’d agreed to keep seeing Landon while I tried to get my thoughts together.
Nolan, however, had been eerily quiet and stiff. His jokes were few and far between, though sometimes he still let them slip. Those little moments made me think that there was still something between us and that he, like Landon, wasn’t ready to let go of it completely.
I’d noticed tense looks between them whenever they were in the same room, though. Glares here and there, and tight conversations whenever they spoke.
Bryant had gone off somewhere, but he was due to return that afternoon. I still wasn’t sure what had happened between us. At the time, I had a desperate need to let off some steam and channel my anxiety. I wasn’t sure what his reasoning was for going along with all of it.
I didn’t know if it was a one-time thing, either. Some part of me hoped that it wasn’t, but my rational mind was quick to remind me that I was already stuck between two guys, and adding a third definitely wasn’t smart.
“Ah, that’s… something,” I muttered as I read through my schedule on my tablet while I got ready for the day. “Hope things don’t explode in the middle of this.”
I was due to accompany a few VIPs to an art exhibition in Big Sur, one that I knew Sierra would be at, too. What made it terrifying—and, somehow, incredibly exciting—was that Nolan and Landon were both slotted to join me. Nolan must have decided that he trusted his sous chef to run the kitchen while he was gone. But I had no idea that he’d had any interest in art; unless, of course, there was some other reason that he’d decided to go along.
I’d dressed up for the occasion in a little black number. It covered everything with a high neckline, long sleeves, and a seam that reached just about a hand’s length above my knee.
Simultaneously, it managed to hug every curve in the perfect way. With a silver necklace and matching earrings, I had to admit that this particular outfit would turn heads. Especially Nolan and Landon’s, and in some sneaky way, that’s exactly what I wanted.
Eventually, I was sure they would try to make me choose again. Until then, however, I was planning on milking the situation for all it was worth.
I was the first to the lobby, and was waiting for the VIPs by the door when Nolan appeared from the elevator. His eyes widened slightly as he approached me, and I knew my outfit had the desired effect on him. My plan was to pretend I hadn’t noticed.
“Morning, Chef,” I said with a smile and a wink. “I hope you slept well.”
“Better than ever,” he answered, less blunt than he had been the last few days. “You look… nice.”
“Why, thank you.” I did a little playful curtsy. “And you, Sir, are very handsome.”
He looked away, but I noticed the slight redness in his cheeks.
Landon arrived only a few minutes later. He and Nolan shared a glare, before Landon came to stand beside me. He was a few inches closer than Nolan, almost as if he were challenging him.
“Do you have the guest list ready?” Landon asked me, ever the professional. “And the transport?”
“I do,” I replied with a quick nod and a sly smile. “Parked right out front. You both ready to go?”
“Mm,” Nolan grunted.
“Yeah,” Landon said, throwing a warning glance over my shoulder at the chef.
Oh, this is going to be fun,I thought.
The guests didn’t seem to notice the tension between them, and I did most of the talking as we led the group to the long limousine they’d requested for the ride to Big Sur. Landon, Nolan, and I sat opposite the guests inside, with the two of them on either side of me.
They stared pointedly out the windows while I spoke to the guests, pretending that absolutely nothing was going on at all.
When we arrived at the gallery, the VIPs walked the red carpet to get their pictures snapped. The rest of us followed silently, focused on our job of accompanying them inside. I reminded them of their schedules once inside, before they walked off to do their own thing.
“Good work.” Landon had leaned down to whisper in my ear, and I noticed the jealous look that Nolan threw his way.
I knew that I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help but play into it. “Mm, that’s not the only thing I’m good at.”
I winked at him and walked off, making sure to put a little extra sway in my hips as I moved. Teasing the two of them was surprisingly fun, and I didn’t think that I’d be able to stop doing it.
