Dare You by Ella Frank
Bash
THE VIEW FROM the Regent’s penthouse terrace was the best thing about my forced change of venue, and as I stretched out on the padded couch, I let out a long sigh. While the Royale had overlooked the hustle and bustle of the city center, all I could see now was the sprawling, dark depths of Lake Michigan. It reminded me so much of my own home on South Haven Island and sitting out on my patio late at night watching the moonlight hit the water.
Peaceful. Quiet.
I took a long sip of my champagne, allowing the stress of the day to melt away. As much as I savored the social scene, I had to admit that sometimes I needed the silence as a way to reset, especially after the interviews I’d had earlier. All perfectly capable candidates for the job, but no one that stood out as having what it took to be a leader in AnaVoge.
But deep down, I knew I wasn’t so much worried about finding someone as I was still thinking about last night, which was odd. I never let others’ opinions get to me. I knew my worth, and I embraced what others thought of as eccentricities, and keeping a positive mindset had gotten me far in life. So why had I let some random’s ignorant comments get in my head?
I finished off the champagne and closed my eyes as the warm breeze brushed over my bare skin where my new silk kimono robe had fallen open.
It was something akin to…embarrassment. That was the problem, and why I’d been feeling off all day. It wasn’t a feeling I was overly familiar with, but for some reason, being gay-bashed in front of Kieran had bothered me more than I was willing to admit. Ridiculous, since I’d probably never see the guy again, but knowing his last vision of me was walking away like I was ashamed chafed my insides.
I lifted the glass to my lips and groaned when I realized it was empty. Yeah, that wouldn’t do, not tonight.
As I headed inside to grab the ice bucket chilling the bottle of Dom Pérignon, the hotel phone rang.
“Mr. Vogel?” an all-business male voice said when I answered. “I apologize for the interruption to your evening, sir, but you have a visitor downstairs by the name of Kieran Bailey. Do I have your permission to send him up?”
Kieran? Kieran was here? Why?
Stunned, I didn’t answer right away, until the man began to speak again, and I finally interrupted.
“Yes, it’s fine,” I said. “Send him up.”
I set the phone back on the receiver and frowned—which was not the reaction I would’ve expected from getting the hot fireman alone in my penthouse, but I knew without a doubt it wasn’t a romantic visit, so no need to get my hopes up.
Kieran Bailey was here because he had a guilty conscience.
Though I knew he wouldn’t notice or appreciate the way I looked, I couldn’t help but glance in the mirror anyway. My black hair was still smoothed back off my face from my long workday, and while I’d washed my face of any makeup, my dark lashes still made it look like I had on mascara. Silk lavender paisley pants sat low on my slim hips, and my open robe exposed my chest and stomach. I briefly considered tying it closed, but Kieran was entering my territory, not the other way around. If he had a problem with it, he could leave.
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I cursed. I was lumping him into the category his friend Sanderson dominated, and while that wasn’t fair, I also knew you were the people you surrounded yourself with.
Before I could pour myself another glass of champagne, Kieran knocked on the door, and I squared my shoulders before answering.
Apparently somewhere in the last twenty-four hours, I’d forgotten how gorgeous the man was.
He didn’t even have to dress to impress, which was utterly unfair. Simple black slacks, a white t-shirt with a few buttons left undone at the top, and those bright blue eyes staring at you… It was enough to have me dropping my robe, but I didn’t want to scare him off just yet.
I put my hand up on the doorframe and cocked my head to the side. “I wasn’t aware there was another fire, lieutenant.”
Kieran’s lips tugged up at one side, and damn if that half-smile didn’t make him even sexier. Dark stubble emphasized his masculine jaw line, and the shadow covering his cheeks made those lips look more delicious than they had any right to be.
“No fire. But having met you, I’m not ruling out the possibility of one starting.”
I knew he meant that in a totally non-flirtatious way, but that didn’t stop my wayward cock from taking interest. Down, honey, he’s not here for you.
“Hmm…” I pursed my lips, not about to give up the opportunity to flirt shamelessly with anyone who looked as good as Kieran. Plus, I had a reputation to revive and uphold. I wasn’t about to leave Chicago feeling anything other than the fabulous human being I knew I was. “I’m trying to decide if that’s an insult or a compliment. Do you think I’m hot or do you think I’m trouble?”
To my surprise, Kieran chuckled. “I think I’ve already carried you out of a burning building once, and I don’t want to do it again. This one has even more floors.”
Sexy and funny. God was trying to test me—or drive me insane—but suddenly I didn’t care why Kieran Bailey was here. In fact, the idea of him begging for my forgiveness seemed much more palatable now that I had a clear visual of how he’d look while doing it.
“Well then, would you like to come in? You can check to make sure my fire alarms are up to code in case I decide to set the building aflame.”
I lowered my arm and stepped aside, and lo and behold, the lieutenant walked inside. As he made his way into the penthouse, I slowly shut the door and, I’m not ashamed to admit, stood there and ogled him like the red-hot hunk of man he was.
There was something so supremely attractive about a man who could walk into a room and command it, and my oh my could Kieran walk into a room. He had this kind of…swagger about him. It was cool, casual, and filled with so much confidence that you just knew this guy was the real deal. There was no need to talk himself up, no need to prove his worth; he knew what he had and how to use it, and I appreciated that—was appreciating that—as he came to a stop in the middle of the room.
Then he let out a long whistle and glanced over his shoulder at me. “This is some room.”
“Suite.”
“Huh?”
Done with standing by the door, I padded across the floor and gestured to the other rooms on the floor. “It’s the penthouse suite. It has several rooms.”
“My mistake.” Kieran laughed. “I forgot I was talking to a CEO. This is a little above my pay grade.”
“Which is a crime, given what you do.” I gestured to the champagne. “Would you like a drink? I was just about to get myself another when you came.”
Kieran looked to my empty glass and the bottle of Dom beside it, then back to me. “Is this how you usually spend a Saturday night? Sitting around in a penthouse sipping champagne?”
I located a second glass and picked up the bottle. “Sometimes, and if I’m lucky, I’m accompanied by a sexy someone to help me finish it.”
I held the glass out to him but, when Kieran reached for it, kept a tight grip on the glass. “Why are you here, lieutenant?”
He licked at his bottom lip, and that was the first sign that he was anything other than comfortable with where he was and why. “I came to apologize for what happened last night.”
Usually I loved being right, but in this case, I would’ve happily been wrong. The last thing I wanted to do with this man was rehash a night I’d rather forget. But since my idea of a good time was likely in a different stratosphere to his, perhaps this was the safest option.
“I already told you”—I reached for my own glass and took a sip—“you have nothing to apologize for.”
“I disagree.”
I let out a sigh, sensing there was no way I was going to get out of this until he’d said his piece, so I moved over to the couch and swept my robe out of the way so I could sit without crushing it.
I heard a low laugh, and when I looked over to where Kieran had perched his ass against one of the bureaus, I’d never been more jealous of a piece of furniture in my life.
“Is something amusing?”
“No, it’s just… You remind me of someone.”
I highly doubted that. I couldn’t imagine any of Kieran’s friends even remotely resembling me. But I wasn’t about to tell him that.
“Oh, and who might that handsome fellow be?”
“My soon-to-be brother-in-law.”
“Really?” I narrowed my eyes. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“You shouldn’t be. He’s one of the reasons I’m here tonight. You see, what Sanderson did last night was totally unacceptable.”
“Agreed. He was a—”
“Prick.”
I raised my glass and took another sip. “That’s one word for it.”
“Trust me, I could come with a whole list of words for him, but I’d rather not waste my breath.”
Kieran shoved away from the bureau and walked over to the couch. His muscular chest and broad shoulders made my view of him from this angle just as spectacular as when I was on my feet.
“I should’ve said more last night when Sanderson came after you.”
His heartfelt tone made confusion swirl in my head. I tried to work out why he felt so responsible. “You did more than enough. You—”
“No, I didn’t.” Kieran took the seat beside me, his forearms resting on his thighs as he stared at the half-empty champagne glass that dangled between his fingers. “You see, the guy who you remind me of, he’s engaged to my brother. Actually, both of my brothers are gay, and that’s why I feel like such a piece of shit for not saying more last night.”
