International Guy_Paris, New York, Copenhagen Read online

  Her lip quivers. “I hate running.”

  “Then stop doing it, Sky. Find a different option for exercise you do like. Or maybe, try running through the park.”

  She shakes her head, and her voice cracks. “Can’t do that. The paparazzi follow me everywhere I go. They’re relentless.”

  I ease one arm up her back and the other around her waist before I pull her against my chest. She rests her sweaty head against my bare skin, and although it should be uncomfortable, having her plastered to my form is exactly what feels right. I dip my head, kiss her forehead, and whisper against it, “We’ll figure something out. You can’t live like a princess locked in her castle.”

  Her body jolts and the tears fall. With them come huge, body-racking sobs. I hold her through it until I’m seated on the floor, my legs crossed, her thighs over mine, and her legs and arms wrapped around me. Her face is planted in the crook of my neck and shoulder.

  Jesus. This woman really is a prisoner in her own home. Except I’m here now. I decide, right then and there, that I’m going to find a way to give her a more normal life.

  When Sky is all cried out, I lift her up and walk her back to her bedroom. There I bring her into the bathroom and sit her ass on the vanity, which reminds me a little of my Sophie. She was very fond of vanities and thoroughly enjoyed fucking on them.

  I smirk to myself at the memory.

  “What?”

  I crack a smile and shake my head. “Just thinking of a friend I need to get in touch with.”

  Opening the shower door, I get the shower going and test the water, making sure it’s not too hot. I turn around and focus on Skyler’s puffy face from her crying jag. I place both of my hands on the outside of her thighs and bring my body closer to hers. “This is what you’re going to do. You shower, clean up, come eat breakfast, and then you’re going to spend some time telling me more about you and your career.”

  Sky shifts her gaze to the side.

  I curl a hand around her nape and use my thumb to move her chin back to mine. “I want to know everything about you. Same rules apply. I’ll answer if you answer. No booze this time.” I grin. “However, it was fun as fuck drinking with you last night.” I wink and give her my best sexy grin.

  Skyler offers me a timid smile. It’s not a full-blown, happy, and free one, but I’ll take what I can get.

  Being a dumbass, I lean forward and kiss her pretty pink lips. She tastes of toothpaste and a tinge of salt, probably from licking her lips while sweating on the treadmill. I make the kiss light but with a hint of more by nibbling on her bottom lip. She lifts her hands to my biceps, closes her eyes, and presses her mouth more firmly to mine. With her acceptance, I open my mouth and lick the seam of hers. She opens willingly, giving as good as she gets.

  Before I know it, we’ve both got our hands in each other’s hair, lips fused together, and our bodies plastered to one another. I push back to catch my breath. With our foreheads touching, I stare at her toned thighs, my heart beating rapidly. Zaps of pleasure bounce all over my body as if they’re playing connect the dots with my nerve endings.

  “It’s never been like this. Kisses that turn wild in a nanosecond. Sky, you’re so hot you’re lighting me on fire.” I whisper the words, but she mewls and nods within the little cubby of space between our bent heads. The steam from the shower billows around us, filling the room and making my skin feel clammy and more sensitized.

  I curl my hands into fists so I don’t do something I’ll regret, like strip both of us naked and wash her sinfully sweet body myself. “I’m going to go . . .”

  “You sure?” She runs her nails down my bare back. The sensitive space at my lower back tingles, and my dick stirs to life.

  “Jesus, Sky, stop making me offers I need to refuse.” I ease back so she can see I want what she’s offering, but there has to be more. I’m not just her “muse guru” or a convenient half-naked man with a willing dick she’s attracted to.

  Surprising the fuck out of me, she’s making me want more than a quick fuck. And like the guys say, I can’t screw this up. I recognize that not only is Skyler’s overall frame of mind not in the right place, mine isn’t either.

  Whatever’s happening between Skyler and me is moving at the speed of light, and I’m barely holding on to my bearings. If she weren’t a client and I’d met her at a party, sure, I’d bang her in a hot minute. The fact that she is a client, and I already feel a bit responsible for her mental wellness since I was hired to help her ease out of her funk and find her way back to herself, means it’s wrong of me to jump right into bed with her.

  Even if the two of us hooking up is a foregone conclusion—because seriously, this is my dream woman, my every wet fantasy come to life—there has to be something more than a wham, bam, thank you, ma’am. For the first time in my almost thirty years, I want more.

  Fuckin’ A.

  “Being a gentleman, I’m going to go take a shower in the guest bathroom.”

  She moves to speak, but I press my index finger against her lips, keeping her silent.

  “In the guest bathroom,” I repeat, and she smiles around my finger, opens her mouth, and playfully bites the tip.

  “Ouch!” I pull it back, waving it in the air.

  “I was going to say . . . get out already!” She shoves at my chest and starts to slowly open the buttons on my shirt.

  My gaze locks on the space between her breasts while her fingers work. It’s as if I’m suddenly in a trance. When the curve of one rounded breast makes an appearance, I burst out of my haze, spin on a heel, and head out of the bathroom and her bedroom to the foyer, where I’ve left my suitcase.

  Bringing it with me, I find the spare bedroom, plop it on the bed, and pull out a pair of jeans and a Sox T-shirt.

  Rushing through the cleaning process, I’m just running my comb through my wet hair when I hear my phone buzzing on the countertop.

  The display says “Ma Chérie.”

  I grin and pick up the phone. “Sophie,” I whisper seductively, just to mess with her.

  “Don’t you try to make it with me,” she fires off instantly.

  A chuckle bursts through my chest as I plop onto the cushy-looking bed and lean against the headboard. “SoSo, it’s ‘mess with me,’ not ‘make it with me.’ I’ve already made it with you. Plenty of times,” I tease.

  “Mon Dieu, I see you have not changed in the two weeks since we have seen one another.”

  “Not much changes with me.”

  “Oh? When I called the office, a delightful woman answered the phone. It seems a lot has changed.”

  “Wendy? Yeah, sweet. I’m glad she’s answering the phones.”

  “I assume that particular task is included in the job description of an assistant. Non?”

  Another laugh leaves my lungs. “Man, I miss your face, SoSo.”

  “Why just my face?” Her tone is teasing.

  “Good one! You’re learning.”

  “That I am. Ms. Bannerman, or Wendy as you called her, said you are out of town for an undetermined amount of time.”

  I sigh and glance at the door leading to the main area. I’m sure Skyler is still getting ready for the day. Celebrities, actually women in general, usually take an age to primp. “Yeah, I’m in New York.”

  “Magnifique! I adore New York City. It’s always so busy. And all of the yellow taxis are a sight to see.”

  I chuckle, enjoying Sophie’s familiar French accent. “I’m working with a celebrity client.”

  She guesses instantly. “Oh, is it Ms. Paige? Poor dear has lost her way. I have extended her contract with us to next year’s campaign so she can have some time to herself. Ms. Wilson, a new business associate of mine, sounded so very lost when she had to extend Ms. Paige’s desire to cancel her time with us. That’s when I gave her your information.”

  “Yeah.” I rub at my still-sore temples and down behind my head, digging my thumb and fingers into the tender spots. I need some water and a b
ig breakfast ASAP. “This is confidential, though. You’re my friend, SoSo, my only female friend I can open up to, so anything we talk about has to go into the vault.”

  “The vault?” Her tongue rolls around the word, seemingly uncomfortable.

  “Meaning, the place where secrets go to die. Feel me?”

  “Of course I do not ‘feel you,’ mon cher. You are in New York City, and I am in Paris.” The last word sounds like she says “pair-ree.” God, I love her accent.

  “It’s a figure of speech. Basically, I need you to keep anything I tell you about my clients confidential.”

  “Why did you not just say this?” She chuckles, and it’s so good to hear her laughter.

  “How’s things at Rolland Group? Royce says you’ve been running some of the financial stuff through him and it’s looking good.”

  “Yes, and that is the reason for my call. I wanted to inform you that I will continue to need Mr. Sterling’s services on a consultancy basis through this transition of staff, marketing, product changes, and our financials. I will pay whatever is required . . .”

  “SoSo, you’ve already paid us a few hundred thousand. I think Roy can look at some docs for you.”

  “Non. I want his signature on consult as proof to the board.”

  “Like I said, we can help without charging you more.”

  “Do not be ridiculous, Parker. I will pay what the going rate for financial consulting is, and that is the end of this discussion. Now tell me, how is it working with you and Skyler Paige? Have you bedded the pretty blonde yet?”

  “Sophie!” I jolt out of the bed and press the phone hard to my ear. “Not only is that not your business, it’s rude to ask. Heck, it’s rude to assume I would.”

  She hums through the connection. “You are very defensive for someone who is making an effort to sound as if he is offended. Since I know you very well, I know you are reacting this way because you have done something with the woman. I am eager to find out. Bo tells me Ms. Paige is your . . . comment dis-tu . . . dream girl, oui?”

  I run my hand through my hair and tug at the tips. “Fuck.” I suck a breath through my teeth. “Yeah, she is. And no, I haven’t bedded her. Christ almighty.”

  “Hmm. You are moving slowly, oui? You must really like her.” She clucks her tongue as if she’s proud of her astute assessment.

  “I waited with you,” I growl back, a tad perturbed at the slant this conversation is taking.

  “Oui. And you like me very much. That is how I know you must like this woman.”

  Turning my face to the ceiling, I groan loudly, sending up a silent prayer to the Big Guy to help me deal with meddling women who aren’t my own mother.

  “Everything okay?” I hear Sky’s sultry voice from behind me and spin around, phone pressed to my ear.

  “Oooh. Is that her? You better say au revoir to me and get to tackling your dream girl. I want regular reposts.”

  “It’s reports, SoSo. This isn’t over. I still want to know what’s going on with you back in Paris. Call you later, yeah?”

  I shake my head and smile, holding up a hand to Skyler, who’s standing at the open door in a pair of tight skinny jeans, which mold to every inch of her legs like a second skin, and a form-fitting tank top. Around her neck is a mess of necklaces in and out of her top, and a heap of bracelets run up one arm.

  Skyler leans against the doorjamb, waiting for me to finish my call.

  “Oui, oui. I am excited about this new client for you. Au revoir, mon cher.”

  “Au revoir, Sophie.” I press the button and toss the phone on the bed.

  “Sophie?” Skyler’s eyes widen, taking on a horrified expression.

  I lift my hands in a gesture of surrender. “No, no. Sophie is a friend. My last client. Sophie Rolland.”

  Skyler crinkles up her nose. “Rolland. She’s the perfume heiress. I have a contract with them to be a model for one of their campaigns. Actually, I just canceled that one.” She frowns, and her shoulders slump right before my eyes.

  “It’s okay. Sophie is the one who told Tracey about International Guy. She’s the reason I’m here.”

  Skyler tips her head. “You sounded pretty informal with her. Very friendly for someone who’s a client.”

  I lick my lips and shrug. This is one of those moments where I can tell her about Sophie and the relationship we had, or lie through my teeth. Stupidly I choose door number two.

  “We became really good friends.” Not a lie. Perhaps a lie of omission by not telling the whole truth, but so far, I’m skirting the truth by the skin of my teeth. I clap my hands loudly. “Okay, so breakfast and storytelling. I’m starved. And you must be hungry after working off all those calories this morning.” I grin and nudge her side.

  She huffs, but I can see her trying to hide her smile. I hook an arm over her shoulder. “Come on. I make a mean omelet.”

  “I was going to have fruit,” she mutters rather stubbornly.

  “I make a mean omelet that tastes great with a side of fruit.” I squeeze her shoulder, and she finally blesses me with a little chuckle. “There it is!”

  “What?”

  “Your smile. Sky, you’re beautiful all the time, but when you’re smiling . . .” I punch my arm out into the air, mimicking a rocket ship exploding into space. “Out-of-this-stratosphere gorgeous.”

  She grins, and her reply drips with a cockiness I haven’t yet experienced from her. “You just want to get into my pants.”

  “Fuck yes, I do,” I admit instantly.

  This comment has us both laughing out loud. Fantastic. Job well done.

  Now to dig into her psyche and pull out all the garbage that’s twisting her into knots.

  5

  Day three, and I wake to the smell of peaches all over me. And warmth. Fucking scalding. I attempt to move and find I’m being pinned down by a heavy weight. I blink, then fully open my eyes, and I’m greeted by golden waves and a dream girl sprawled all over my body.

  For a single moment, panic takes over my mind before I realize I went to bed alone last night. Forced myself to say goodnight to my crush who’s turning into far more than a crush, and hightailed it to the guest room. Sky’s truly an amazing woman I’m enjoying spending time with. However, when I put my head down on the pillow last night, there was no hot blonde sharing my bed. She must have crawled in with me after I fell asleep.

  As I shift my arm around her body, Skyler nuzzles my chest and blinks her eyes open. For a moment, she stiffens as if trying to recall where she is and who she’s with, then smiles and lifts her head. Her endless brown depths meet my gaze. “Hi,” she whispers timidly.

  I rub a hand around her back, thanking the good Lord above that she seems to have on a camisole and a pair of shorts. At least she didn’t crawl into bed with me naked. If she had, there would be no way I could avoid fucking her. I’m already clinging to my last shred of honor as it is.

  My dick perks up, hardening even more than the normal morning wood I generally battle.

  I palm Skyler’s face. It fits like a puzzle piece locking into place. Just right.

  “Hey, Peaches. I know I went to bed alone last night, and now I wake up with my very own Skyler blanket. How did this fortunate turn of events take place?” I make a point to show her I’m not mad she came into bed with me, more curious as to why.

  Skyler kisses my bare pec and shrugs. “Couldn’t sleep. When I came to see if you were still awake, you looked so warm and cuddly, and I slept so good the other night . . .” She takes a breath, seeming to lose her nerve. “And um, you didn’t seem to mind . . .”

  “I don’t,” I assure her.

  She clamps her lips closed and nods, scrunching up her nose. “Peaches?” she questions with a tiny smile.

  I hum. “You smell like peaches and cream.” I tuck my nose into her hair and inhale her sweetness. “I’ve got some things planned for us today. Outside of the penthouse. Yesterday when we chatted, you mentioned you haven’t actual
ly seen much of New York City, even though you’ve lived here on and off for a couple of years. While I’m here, I’m going to change that.”

  The small hint of a smile falls from her face. “Parker, I can’t go outside. Not without a team of bodyguards and my publicist on speed dial. Not to mention we’d need a whole host of car changes in order to ensure we’re not followed. It’s a nightmare. Hence the reason I don’t leave much unless I’m going to work.”

  I grin and curl my fingers into her silky tresses. “I’m going to ask you to trust me. I know we just met, but not only is my job to see to your problem, it’s also to keep you safe and happy. Being holed up in this tower is not freeing your mind or doing anything for your lost muse.”

  Skyler sighs and flops backward onto her side of the bed.

  Her side.

  Since when did a woman have her own side in my bed, or any bed I sleep in for that matter? Usually I sleep in the middle and they sleep wherever I’m not, if they sleep with me at all. Sophie had a side to her bed, which I respected because it was her bed. If it were mine, she’d be sleeping wherever her little body fit. Seems as though Sky finagles herself into whatever side she wants at the time, which happens to be the left side of her bed and this bed. Ergo, her side.

  My thoughts of being a right-side-of-the-bed sleeper are dashed when she sits up abruptly.

  “I don’t know. We can call the security firm I use. Put them into play if you give me a rundown of what you want to do.”

  Sitting up next to her, I slide a hand down her back. Her spine straightens, and gooseflesh breaks out on her skin. Seems she appreciates my touch as much as I like touching her.

  “This is not for you to concern yourself with. Each day we’re going to do something different. I’m going to plan it all, and yeah, you may end up being recognized around town. You’re Skyler freakin’ Paige. You have a recognizable face. Even so, what you don’t realize is they are not going to be looking for you around town out by yourself or with a man. Namely me. That’s gonna work to our advantage.”