Forbidden Love

“No.”

“It means someone is out for blood.”

“Why would they be after Barrett? He doesn’t care for tabloids. He just cares about his business and me.”

“His girlfriend, the media heiress.” Pepper rolled her eyes.

“True, but we never talk about that stuff, truly.”

“Why? Because you’re too busy fucking?”

“Possibly.” I let my mind wander to the shower this morning and the elevator last night. Heat shot up my spine.

“You slut, you’re thinking about his dick again, aren’t you?”

“I can’t help it,” I said, picking up a tube of mascara, and we all laughed.

“I think I’m going to wear this,” I said, picking up a canary yellow Yves Saint Laurent dress with a high slit and bustier.

“Very sexy,” Grace added.

“Well, it will be now. You’re no longer lobster red from your Hamptons sun-baking nap.”

“Oh, my God, thank fuck that’s over with, and I didn’t peel,” I added, remembering Barrett’s hands on my chest applying the special ointment.

“If you sneak off tonight, we know why!” Grace added.

“As if. Connor is going to be here!”

“Is he?” Pepper shot up a glance.

“Yes, and Ari and Magnus. I invited them all.”

“The hunkholes!” Grace exclaimed, using a phrase Pepper coined for the men eight years older than us—arrogant and sinfully good-looking—my brother excluded.

The truth was, Barrett wasn’t an asshole at all. Okay, maybe on the surface to get what he wanted, but deep down, he had a heart of gold. Albeit fractured, I hoped I could repair it.

“So you still haven’t told Conner yet?” Pepper asked.

“No. I mean, he’s got a lot of stuff going on with Dad and the business. I told him I’m working for Barrett.”

She shot up her eyebrows. “And how did he take that?”

“He wasn’t too bad. He was surprised, but yeah, it was all right.”

“How do you think it’s going to be when you tell him about Barrett being your orgasm-giver of a boyfriend who happens to also be his best friend?”

“I’m nervous about that. Barrett just wants to go public, though he wants to tell Connor so we can go out and not have to hide our relationship.”

“Well, why should you hide?” she joked.

I sucked in a breath.

“You love him, don’t you?” Grace added.

“I told him I do, but he didn’t say it back. Am I a fool to say that so soon? I feel like a fool when he doesn’t say it back.” I put my hair in my hands, balling it into fists.

“Hun, you’re not a fool. You always put your heart on the line, and that’s a noble quality. Maybe he wasn’t ready to say it.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Has he ever been in love? I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barrett with a girlfriend.”

“No, he’s never been in a relationship before. Maybe that’s why he is apprehensive, or maybe he just doesn’t love me.” I inhaled sharply, trying to fill my lungs as I breathed in the shallow breaths.

“Oh hun, come on, you’re jumping to conclusions,” Grace said.

“He declared he wanted to be with you.”

“He did kind of suggested we move into together, I guess,”

“Well, holy fuck, why didn’t you?”

“Because my family doesn’t even know yet!”

“Okay, let’s just be patient and not jump to any silly conclusions. Let’s enjoy tonight,” Grace chimes in.

“Yeah, you’re right, you’re right. He’s done nothing but make me feel special. Maybe he’s just not ready. I just can’t help but love him. Maybe I should stop saying it.”

“You could scare him off. You know what guys are like.”

“Okay,’’ I said, scratching my head. Anyway, the party can’t start without the party girl slash host. Any minute, we will have caterers and waitstaff arriving, and I’m in my freaking sweats.”

“I’m certainly not wearing what I had planned,” Pepper said.

“Wear the red dress. It’s yours. Be the devil tonight and forget about you.”

“Only if you promise me too. Forget about this I-love-you stuff with Barrett.

“Okay,” I said, pushing away the nervous thought that there may be another reason why he doesn’t love me.

* * *