Just One Scandal (The Kingston Family 2)

Selfish as he was, he accepted what she offered. How could he not when it was given so freely?

On Wednesday morning, Chloe and Beck walked into his private office as her cell phone rang, and she answered immediately. “Hi. What’s up?”

Beck sat down behind the desk and waited for her to finish.

“Thanks, Amelia. Yes! I’ll see you at three. Text me the first address.” As usual, Chloe’s smile kicked him in the gut. She was so damned beautiful, and he was drawn to her no matter what else was happening in his life.

“Thanks!” She disconnected the call and glanced up, meeting Beck’s gaze.

“Amelia. That’s your Realtor friend, right?” As he asked, his stomach twisted, and he breathed through the uncomfortable sensation.

She nodded. “She was able to schedule three apartment viewings today. The ones I liked best. Two of the buildings are close to each other, so it’s not hard to see them all this afternoon.”

He studied her face but couldn’t get a read on her feelings about how fast things were potentially happening with her move. He, on the other hand, hated the building pressure in his gut.

He put his hand on the mouse, turning on his computer, and glanced at today’s schedule on the screen. “I’ll reschedule a call and I can go with you.” He wanted to make sure these were suitable places for her.

“I already told you that you don’t have to come with me.”

He narrowed his gaze. “I’m going.”

His tone had her widening her eyes. “Okay. Thank you.”

He nodded. “Where are the buildings located?” Hopefully downtown, somewhere close by so he could meet her for lunch on occasion.

“Two on the Upper East Side and one in Midtown,” she said. “Okay, I’m going to Natasha’s office. I’ll stop by at two thirty when I’m ready to leave.” With a wave, she walked out the door, leaving him staring at her sexy ass swaying as she walked.

Pushing away the locations that took her from him, Beck got to work, and anyone who called got the brunt of his mood. Until Ronnie, who’d been working for him for three years and wasn’t afraid of him, snapped back and let him know he was being a dick to the people he worked with. Not in those words.

But Beck knew she was right. Still, he had to deal with Chloe leaving soon, and deep down, he knew the separation was necessary for them both.

* * *

Chloe wished Beck hadn’t joined her. His mood was atrocious, and she understood he was anxious about his dad’s surgery tomorrow. Based on how often he’d holed up in his office this week, he had much better things to do than go apartment hunting with her. Leaving him would be hard enough, and she needed the space to evaluate these apartments without his negative energy infusing every unit and individual room they went into.

They started on the Upper East Side. The first apartment he deemed too small and, since it had no pets, something they hadn’t put in the listing, and one day she might want a dog, she didn’t argue.

The second one was two bedrooms and one and a half baths in a doorman building.

Beck stepped past Amelia, strode from bedroom to bedroom, and folded his arms across his chest. “This won’t work. If you have a guest, they’ll have to share your bathroom.” Beck waved a hand, dismissing the place, and she hadn’t even examined the kitchen or seen the view.

Ignoring him, she walked through the apartment and over to the window. “Look at this.” The unit was on the twenty-third floor and overlooked the East River.

Beck grunted from behind her.

She took in the kitchen next and loved the dark granite countertops, white cabinets, and stainless appliances. “This is pretty.”

“The whole place is too small,” he said.

Chloe turned to see Amelia glancing from Chloe to Beck, taking a step back when her gaze landed on his frown. “I’ll just leave you two to discuss things,” she murmured and walked out into the hall.

“You’re in a horrible mood and I understand why. You’re worried about tomorrow. I get it. But I’m the one who has to choose,” she reminded him.

He raised an eyebrow. “Did the last apartment or this one appeal to you?”

“Well, no, but I wanted to look at them and make a decision.”

He shook his head, a wry smile lifting those smoldering lips.

“Okay, fine. You’re right. But give me a chance to say it first,” she said, grinning back. “It’s my life and I need to be in control.”

He nodded in understanding. “Okay. I get it. But I hope the next one is much bigger or we’re going to have a problem,” he muttered.

Rolling her eyes, she stepped past him and headed to Amelia to give her the final verdict on apartment number two.