He ran his hands down her back and cupped her ass, and she moaned as her sex rubbed hard against his erection. So much for work. He’d much rather make time for this, he thought, when the ring of her cell interrupted them.
She lifted her head. “Ignore it.”
She didn’t have to say so twice. He dipped his head and recaptured her lips. Their teeth clashed and their tongues tangled … and her damned phone rang again.
“Ugh. I’d better see who’s looking for me.” She pushed herself away from him and turned toward her cell. “It’s Linc.”
Shooting Beck an apologetic glance, she answered the call. “Is everything okay?” she asked in place of the standard hello.
Beck drew a deep breath and adjusted himself in his pants, but he definitely listened to her end of the conversation.
“No, I didn’t see Page Six. Why?” she asked.
Beck narrowed his gaze, immediately taking out his phone and looking up the site online.
“We were going for dinner, and I didn’t see anyone take a picture of us.” Chloe met Beck’s gaze, but he’d already found the photo and headline.
Jilted Bride Moves On? The photo below was a picture of Beck helping Chloe out of the limousine outside the hotel, but they were definitely staring into each other’s eyes. And though he hadn’t seen anyone using their phones to take a photo either, obviously someone had. Since the club was located on the top floor of a hotel, of course there had been people walking around outside.
“Hang on. I’ll look,” she said.
Knowing he had no choice, Beck turned the screen toward her.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “I just saw it,” she said to Linc. “Ignore it. I plan to.” She listened and her eyes opened wide. “What? I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, and I can’t believe you care what people think!” she said, raising her voice.
What the fuck was Linc’s problem now? Beck wondered.
“Well, that’s what it sounded like. It’s my life and I’ll see who I want, when I want, and live where I want.”
Beck wanted to applaud her for standing her ground.
“You want me to meet you for lunch?” Chloe asked her brother. “After you just gave me a hard time?” She rolled her eyes. “Okay, yes. Fine. Where?” She paused. “Ocean Prime? Are you trying to wine and dine me, big brother?”
Beck waited not so patiently to hear why Linc was giving his sister shit now, ignoring the pit in his stomach from wishing he had a sister to care for, take for lunch, and worry about the way Linc did Chloe.
She grinned. “One o’clock is fine. And yes, I know you love me, but can you take a step back before you come at me? I can handle things.” She must have liked what she heard because she said, “Love you, too, and see you later,” before disconnecting the call.
She glanced at him with a wary expression on her face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She dampened her lower lip. “Well, the article mentions you by name, for one thing. It talks about how I’m moving onward and upward to bigger and better things.” She winced at that. “I can’t imagine you’re happy with the publicity.”
“I appreciate you worrying about me but it’s fine. I’ve been mentioned a time or two before.” It came with his fast rise to the top of the New York real estate market and the money he made. “But that wasn’t what had your brother worked up, was it?”
He folded his arms across his chest, defensive without even knowing what Linc had said.
“He was upset about the photo,” she admitted. “He said that I just got out of one relationship and I was jumping into another and what did I think I was doing? I needed time … blah, blah, blah.” She made a hand motion with her fingers, imitating her brother’s mouth moving.
Beck narrowed his gaze. “That wasn’t all he said. He has to be pissed that it was me you were photographed with.”
She nodded slowly. “He thought we were just friends and asked how could I think it was a good idea to be with you when I knew you two had issues. Even if I don’t know what they are,” she muttered under her breath. “But you’d better believe I’m going to find out at lunch today.”
“Is that why you let him off the hook so easily and agreed to meet him?” Beck asked.
She nodded. “I want to understand this crazy dynamic and you’re not talking.” She waited a beat, obviously hoping he’d clue her in.
“Sorry, princess.” It really wasn’t his place to air Linc’s dirty laundry and change how she thought of her brother. It remained to be seen what Linc would say and how much truth he’d tell.
“Are you ready to go to the office?” he asked.
She nodded. “Just let me grab my bag and laptop.”
As much as he’d like to pick up where they’d left off when they’d been interrupted, the mood had been broken. But he’d learned something last night, and he wasn’t going to waste another night alone in his bed when he could take advantage of whatever time they had left until she moved out.
* * *
Chloe waited for Linc at the restaurant. The hostess had seated her at his favorite table, and she settled in, ordering a club soda with lime while she waited. The space was huge and not solely a seafood restaurant as the name implied. Also known for its steaks, Ocean Prime boasted a chic atmosphere with brass circular overhead fixtures and a dark motif inside. Chloe couldn’t help analyzing the décor. It was second nature for her to study a place’s interior design.
She’d had a couple of hours at Beck’s office, meeting his friend and in-house designer, Natasha Banks, who had been thrilled to have Chloe around. They knew of one another through the industry and had talked shop for the better part of the morning.
When she’d gone to Beck’s office to let him know she was leaving for lunch, she’d noticed immediately his mood had turned. He’d informed her that his mother had called and his father’s surgery was scheduled for Thursday morning. Chloe had let Beck know she’d be there holding his hand, whether he wanted her there or not. He’d been there for her and she intended to repay the favor.
“Sorry I’m late.” Linc interrupted her thoughts, joining her at the table. He walked over and kissed her cheek before taking a chair across from her.
“It’s fine. I haven’t been here long.” She took in her brother’s relaxed face and smiled. “Almost-married life agrees with you,” she said. “So when will you and Jordan tie the knot?”
He shrugged, putting the menu aside. No doubt he already knew what he wanted. “We have to figure out timing. Neither one of us wants a big event, but Mom will kill me if we elope. Not to mention Jordan’s mother.” He semi-fake shuddered.
Jordan’s mother was a strong woman who’d been their housekeeper for years. She was no-nonsense, loving, and Linc was right. She wouldn’t tolerate not being there for her daughter’s wedding.
Chloe leaned forward in her chair. “I know you held off because my wedding was planned. Please don’t do it again because you’re worried about my feelings. I’m fine,” she assured him. “So get yourselves married before the baby is born.”