No One to Hold Read online

  I move down to her neck, trailing kisses along my path. My hands have moved lower as well, and are cupping her luscious ass. As I knead her bottom cheeks, she moans softly. Her hands travel to my shoulders. Encouraged, I draw her to my erection so that only her panties and my underwear are keeping me from driving into her. She moans again, louder this time.

  I shift one of my hands from her ass, but only to move it up to her back and unhook her bra. Rose’s eyes are closed, but there’s a voluptuous smile on her face. My lips move down farther and trace her collarbone, which I find to be one of the sexiest parts of a woman’s body. I linger there a while removing her bra from her arms, then continue on to my prize. Her boob. Like I did before she woke, I weigh it in my hand. She’s the perfect size. And real. I haven’t found one fake thing on her body, which matches her personality.

  I lick around the areola, avoiding her nipple. Rose arches her back under me, whimpering. Her movement brings her pussy ever closer to my straining cock. I’m the one who lets out a moan this time.

  I look down at her flushed face and half-closed eyes. My gaze moves down to her nipples. They’re hard buds, begging for my attention. “Your nipples are almost as hard for me as my cock is for you, Ro.”

  In response, Rose grinds her pussy against my cock and grabs my ass—all without saying a word. I latch onto her nipple, giving it tiny bites that make her hips jerk against me in a matching rhythm.

  Not wanting her other boob to feel left out, I move over to her left nipple and give it the same treatment. At the same time, I strum her right nipple with my fingers. Rose is writhing against me. “Do you like that, Ro? You’re so responsive to me.”

  She murmurs something that sounds like “oh yeah,” but it’s so low I can barely make it out. She’s like a guitar hand-crafted only for me. Pinching her nipples lightly, I recapture her mouth in a ravenous kiss. Rose’s hands climb up to encircle my neck, and one threads into my hair. I love when a woman runs her hands through my hair.

  Rose applies just the right pressure on my scalp. “That feels so good, Ro. Don’t stop,” I direct her. She complies, and what little control I had left slips even further away. That earlier feeling of having all the time in the world is a distant memory.

  Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” breaks my concentration. What the hell? Only pleasure and Rose exist in my bedroom. Where is that music coming from?

  Under me, Rose stiffens. Fuck. She’s pushing against me, trying to scramble upright in my bed. “Where’s my purse, Cole?” she asks urgently.

  I shake my head to try to clear the passion from it. Is she seriously going to answer that phone?

  “Let it go to voicemail. We’re busy,” I respond, trying to recapture her.

  “No, I have to answer it! Where’s my phone?”

  Sighing, I roll over and land on my back. Rose manages to find her purse on the nightstand and pulls the phone out. I hear her say, “Good morning, Greta.”

  Of course. Gruesome. Who else would call at the ass crack of dawn on a Sunday? I glance over at the clock and realize it’s actually 11 a.m. Well, she’s still calling Rose before noon on the weekend. I smile when I realize that Rose must have purposefully assigned her boss that ringtone. I love her sense of humor.

  Rose is sitting up against the pillows, half naked. Well, I certainly appreciate the view, although I much preferred her grinding against me. Her voice sounds a bit breathless; I wonder if Gruesome picked up on anything? Sounds like she’s calling about our trip to the Planetarium last night. Apparently some photos of me with the employees have been posted on the Internet. It doesn’t seem that Rose was connected with me, so we’re still flying under the radar. Good.

  Rose catches my eye and mimes for a pen and paper. Damn. Grumbling, I sling my legs over the side of the bed and walk over to a table with a scratch notepad on its top. When I hand her the pen and paper, I catch her checking me out. My boxer-briefs are doing nothing to hide my excitement, although the call did diminish it somewhat. Smirking, I slowly turn around and make my way to the bathroom, making sure to flex my ass before I enter. I turn and look back at her. She’s staring at me like I’m the last piece of chocolate cake. I give her a wink and leave her to her conversation.

  I brush my teeth and take a cold shower, then wrap myself in a towel and re-enter my bedroom. Rose is still on the phone. Is this normal? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?

  Rose says, “And Jessie?”

  Taking the long way to my walk-in closet to give Rose a show, I ditch my towel and pull on a bathing suit. Ro probably won’t be in an amorous mood anymore after talking so long with Gruesome. Cockblocker. I might as well make breakfast. From the doorway, I nod downstairs, and she lifts her chin in response.

  Rose walks into the kitchen as I’m plating a batch of French toast that looks to be one of my best. She’s wearing her bathing suit and a cover-up, so she obviously took my lead. Good. Pulling out the leftover fruit that Jessie and Amanda brought over yesterday—was that really only yesterday?—I walk over to the table.

  “I hope you like French Toast.”

  “Thanks, it looks amazing.”

  Her response brings a smile to my lips. Before taking my seat, I indulge in a sweet kiss. Minty. She must feel better now that her teeth are brushed, given how concerned she was earlier.

  After the kiss ends, Rose leans into me, placing her forehead to mine. We stay like this for a minute, until her stomach rumbles.

  Laughing, I take my seat. She’s blushing. Damn, this woman is just too cute for words. “Eat, Ro. Let me know if you like it.”

  She takes a tentative bite from my proffered fork and looks at me. “Cole, this is really good. What other hidden talents do you have?”

  I laugh and say, “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. But eat, you’re going to need your strength to keep up.”

  She makes a big production out of stabbing a blueberry with her fork. Figuring that I should get it out of the way, I ask, “So, what did Gruesome want to talk about so early on a Sunday?”

  “Actually, we usually talk about this time on the weekends. We touch base about any um, problems our clients managed to get themselves into the night before. We do immediate damage control if need be, as you well know.”

  Yes, now that I think about it, I do know. It never dawned on me that my extracurricular escapades would force Rose to work over the weekends. I only knew that the messes I created were always cleaned up right away. “I’m sorry I was so selfish. Do you ever get a free weekend?”

  Rose looks at me and takes my hand. “Cole, don’t feel that way. I knew what I was signing up for when I became a publicist. Sometimes clients do stupid things and need somebody to fix it so that the general public doesn’t find out. That’s my job, and I love it.”

  Although skeptical, I let it go for now. “I heard you mention the Planetarium. Does Gruesome have a problem with our visit there last night?”

  “No, it’s all positive press. I’ll work up an angle for social media and maybe we’ll connect the trip with your upcoming world tour. Something like going global and seeing the universe. Obviously that’s a rough idea, but the visit wasn’t a problem at all.”

  “Was there a problem?”

  “I shouldn’t discuss it with you. It’s about another client.”

  “Is it about Jessie? Because she’s my friend too. If something’s wrong, I want to help.”

  Sighing, she responds, “Please don’t mention this to anyone, especially Jessie.” I nod in agreement and she continues. “Her co-star, you know the actor that she’s seeing publicly, got a DUI last night. His mug shot is going to be plastered all over the gossip sites by nightfall.”

  “So? Brandan is an ass.”

  “He was with someone.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah. Luckily, no one got hurt. . . that’s the good news. But now we’re going to have to deal with the fallout over this mystery woman who was with him, and how it might affect his public romance with Jessie
.”

  “What a clusterfuck.” She nods. “Have you decided how you’re going to handle it?” I deliberately leave Gruesome’s name out of it. I’m pretty sure her boss just dumped the facts on Rose and told her to figure it out.

  “Well, I’d already brought up the idea to have you, Jessie and Brandan form a love triangle. I think it just became a quadrangle.”

  If that’s the way they decide to go, I’m fine with it. I really like Jessie, so spending time with her won’t be a chore. Plus, she knows about Rose and me, and I love Amanda. “What was Gruesome’s response?”

  “She gave it the go ahead, and has officially added me to Brandan’s team. But we have to get the scoop on this mystery woman he was with in the car. I don’t know if she’s Brandan’s girlfriend or some random fan he picked up.”

  “I take it he didn’t spend the night in jail?”

  “No. It was his first DUI, so his license is suspended and he has to pay some fines and take classes. After breakfast, if it’s okay with you, I need to call him and get the details.”

  “No problem, Ro. I’ll meet you at the pool when you’re done. Now, eat before the French toast gets cold. I don’t want all my hard work to go for naught,” I tease.

  She smiles and picks up the maple syrup. It’s nice that she eats. All of the models and actresses I’ve dated weigh under one-hundred pounds sopping wet and refuse to eat anything more than a piece of lettuce.

  With breakfast done, I show Rose to my office where she can comfortably make that call to Brandan and figure out the next steps. I grab the book she sent me from the coffee table and head out back to the pool.

  I’m sitting on the side of the pool with my feet in the water, reading, when Rose walks out. She’s returned to her professional mode, all calm, cool and collected. I look forward to helping her shed that façade as well as her bathing suit. Smiling, I walk over to her. “All set?”

  “Yes. I think it’ll be fine. Turns out Brandan was with his older sister in the car, so we’re going to play it like the DUI was the last straw for Jessie. You’ll be waiting in the wings, ready to scoop her back up.”

  “Ha. As if. How was The Ass?”

  “Look, I know you don’t like Brandan much, and he and Jessie don’t get along that well, but he is Greta’s client. He actually isn’t a bad guy.” She ignores my raised eyebrow and continues. “I think he’s lost his way out here in Los Angeles. His sister was out trying to remind him of who he used to be. This arrest has shaken him up. I hope he can get it together.”

  Damn. She’s made him into a real human being instead of just some jackass who annoys Jessie. “Well, even if he isn’t so bad, he’s been an ass to Jessie. Maybe it’ll help him grow up when I steal her away.” She nudges me with her shoulder and gives me a small smile.

  Again, I’m hit with a feeling of déjà-vu, but her delectable body doesn’t let me linger on a mysterious past. “Now, let’s get you out of that cover-up and into the pool. The water’s great.”

  Not waiting for her to answer, I grab the bottom of her cover-up and pull it over her head. The way she quickly shrugs out of it tells me that we’re going to be crossing that professional line very soon. Who am I trying to kid? We left tire marks on that line a while ago.

  I toss her cover-up on a chair and grab her hands, stepping back to enjoy the sight of her body encased only in her bathing suit. Clearly the suit was her choice and not one purchased by Jessie and Amanda, as it’s a two-piece but not a bikini. What is that type of suit called? Oh yes, a tankini. It’s cute enough but doesn’t expose nearly enough skin for my taste.

  “Very cute bathing suit, Miss Morgan. I can’t wait to get you out of it.”

  She looks down, biting her lower lip. “Cole, I know I didn’t stop you this morning, but—”

  Placing my finger on her lips, I silence her. “It’s just us.”

  “You’re still my client.”

  “Actually, I’m Gruesome’s client. I’m like a client once removed or something.”

  She studies me for a long moment, then replies, “Well, since you put it like that.”

  Licking my lips, I step backward to thoroughly inspect her body. Something at her hip draws my attention. “What do we have here? Do you have a tattoo? That would register on my crazy-o-meter, you know.”

  Instead of laughing, she looks up at me wide-eyed. What’s that reaction about? Curious, I step closer and bend down, moving her bathing suit bottoms to the side slightly to get a better look. “This isn’t a tattoo, is it Ro? It’s a birthmark. It looks like . . .” I squint and cock my head from left to right. “It looks like a flower.”

  She steps back and puts her bathing suit back in place.

  Suddenly, a hazy memory of a back room and a college girl with this exact birthmark flashes behind my eyes. I remember saying something to the chick, but what was it? Concentrating, I remember something like, “It was a very good night, Rose Bloomer with the flower birthmark.”

  Rose Bloomer. Didn’t the cop call her Miss Bloomer that night her house was robbed? What the hell is going on?

  “Oh my God. I was your one-night stand.”

  Rose goes still. Her eyes dart everywhere but to my face. That’s all the confirmation I need.

  “What the fuck?” Red colors everything in sight.

  “I—”

  “What’s this all about?” I shout.

  “It’s—”

  “Have you been laughing at me behind my back all this time?”

  “What? No—”

  “Is this some sort of sick, twisted revenge plot? I can’t believe you didn’t say anything to me. You made such a big fucking deal about honesty . . . well, what the hell is this?”

  “But—”

  “You know what, I don’t care.”

  I ignore the stricken look on her face. “You hear me, Rose Morgan, Rose Bloomer, or whatever the fuck your real name is? I don’t care!”

  “Cole—”

  Turning to leave, I shout back at her, “I need some air.”

  She gasps and staggers toward a chair, but I don’t stop. Storming into the house, I grab my keys and head for the driveway. My tires squeal as I peel out onto the street.

  Rose, who I thought was so genuine and honest, is as fake as all the models and starlets I’ve dated, if not worse. They, at least, know that they are selling an illusion. Rose peddled honesty and sincerity, all while manipulating me. Well, she is a publicist, so she can’t be all that honest, can she? How could I be this gullible?

  I stomp harder on the gas pedal.

  AFTER AN HOUR of aimlessly driving, I find myself parked in Dan’s driveway. I’m still fuming, but if I don’t talk with someone, I’ll explode. Gathering myself as best as I can, I get out and ring the bell.

  Luckily, Dan answers. His smile slides off his face once he gets a good look at me. “Come in, buddy. I’d say it’s good to see you, but I can tell that something’s seriously wrong.”

  “You can say that again,” I respond, entering his house and making a beeline to his fridge. Taking out a beer, I drain it in one gulp.

  As I’m reaching for a second beer, he says, “Whoa there. What’s going on? I haven’t seen you like this since . . . I can’t remember when.”

  Opening another beer, I turn to him and sit down at the kitchen table. He grabs a beer for himself and sits down across from me.

  “Are Suzanne and Emma here?” Before I go off, I want to make sure that we’re alone.

  “No, they went to visit her parents. I was working,” he responds, motioning toward his home office.

  “Good.”

  “Cole, what’s up? Is there a problem with your dad?”

  I close my eyes and let out a huge sigh. I don’t want to worry him, but I need to unload all this shit. “No, it’s nothing like that. Thankfully.” He looks relieved.

  “That’s good, I’m glad. But what on earth has gotten your panties in such a bunch?”

  Biting the inside of my cheek,
I take another long sip of beer. “It’s Rose. I’ve slept with her.”

  “And that’s bad because?”

  “You don’t understand, Dan. It happened like ten years ago! And she didn’t tell me!”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, ‘oh.’ Can you believe it? I took her to a back room after one of my bar gigs at NYU.”

  “Okay. And?”

  “And. And. And, what? I never saw her again until I hired Gruesome, but she looked so different in her work clothes, I never put it together. We’ve been working together for the past five fucking years and she’s kept it to herself this whole damned time!”

  “I get that. But what’s the big deal?”

  “What’s the big deal?!” I shout and finish off my beer. “I thought we were starting something, you know—real—and I just figured this out. She never told me!” I push my chair back and stalk over to the fridge for another beer. “What kind of relationship is that?”

  “I think I’m getting the picture.”

  “Just what’s that supposed to mean, asshole?”

  “At the risk of making you even madder, I believe that you’re falling for Rose and you feel betrayed.”

  “Damn straight, I feel betrayed! Wouldn’t you?”

  “Well, since I wouldn’t forget someone after sleeping with them, I don’t think I would be in this particular situation.”

  “Screw you.”

  “Seems to me that’s what got you into this predicament in the first place,” Dan says with a smirk.

  “I don’t need this shit. I’m leaving.”

  I go to stand, but Dan puts his hand on my arm. “Cole, stay. I want to help, really I do. I’m trying to understand. Are you mad because you had sex with Rose and she didn’t remind you of it when you hired her firm?”

  “That’s part of it,” I admit as I return to my chair. Opening my new beer, I continue, “It’s also that she’s been playing this ‘I can’t sleep with a client’ bullshit, which makes no sense considering we’ve already had sex. Plus, she keeps harping on about how important honesty is to her, but she kept this from me. That’s a pretty big lie in my book.”