Marry Me Page 10

  women.”

  “Naomi, you’re killing me.”

  “Hey, if he’s back on women, can you fix me up? I’d fuck

  him and run.”

  Hearing her laugh, Fabian did as well. “I know. Right? What

  is it about him? I can totally see how he gets every person he sets his sights on. The guy really has some kind of charismatic charm

  to go with those damn good looks of his. Why is he such a

  dick?”

  “Is he? Is he a dick? Is he treating you like shit?”

  “No.” Fabian looked down at his socks. “He’s treating me

  like gold.”

  “No! The bastard!” She roared with laughter.

  “He is. Damn him. I swear, I fantasize about him constantly.”

  “Oh? Do tell!”

  “Well, we were in the elevator after work heading to the

  parking garage, Braxton, myself, and his assistant Brianna, and

  as people got on, I was pushed back against him. I felt his cock

  on my ass.”

  “Oooohh!” she crooned.

  “Now what do you think I keep imagining?”

  “His cock in your ass!”

  “Damn. We have so much in common. I mean, we’re the

  same type of personality. Though, he’s so highly strung I swear

  he must whistle in the wind.”

  Naomi cracked up again. “Oh, babe. Stay the hell away from

  him. You will never please a man like that. He’s probably such a

  perfectionist, you’ll be forever doubting yourself and wishing

  you’d never met.”

  “I know! Right?” Fabian rested his head on the counter and

  closed his eyes. “I want him, Naomi.”

  “I know, baby. I know.”

  ~

  Even though Braxton declined dessert, Dack had his

  chocolate layered cake, still rambling on about…Braxton had no

  clue. Something about modeling? Being chosen for a reality

  show?

  He checked his watch. It had only been an hour and he was

  worn out.

  “Can I get you anything else?” the waiter asked sweetly.

  “No!” Braxton lowered his voice. “No, thank you.”

  “Very nice to have you both for dinner. Have a good night.”

  Since the bill was prepaid, Braxton put his napkin on the

  table and said, “Well, it was fun. I have to go.”

  Dack ate a few more bites of his cake and put the fork down.

  “Me too. This place blows.”

  “No, this place is amazing.” You blow. Braxton stood,

  buttoned his jacket and without looking back, began leaving the

  restaurant. He made it outside and hunted inside his pocket for

  the parking valet stub when Dack grabbed his ass in a tight grip

  and marched him to the side of the restaurant.

  Oh no! No way!

  Braxton spun around and politely nudged Dack’s groping

  hands away. “I really have to go.”

  Dack went for Braxton’s mouth and the lunge shoved

  Braxton into the wall behind him, nearly knocking the wind out

  of him. Before Dack could get at his lips, Braxton turned his

  head and said, “I can’t. I really have to go.” He wriggled out of

  the trap between Dack and the wall and tried to be nice, but he

  could tell with a guy like Dack, no was not going to be easy.

  “Hang on,” Dack said, grabbing Braxton’s elbow. “Everyone

  said you’re a slut. What am I not getting here?”

  A slut? “Me! That’s what you’re not getting!” Braxton

  stormed off and handed the valet his ticket and a twenty. “My

  car, now. Please.”

  “Yes sir!” the young man sprinted off.

  Dack closed in on Braxton. “No way! You don’t want me to

  suck you? Really? I heard you’d do anyone, male or female.”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear.” He snarled in fury and

  tapped his toe.

  “You have to be kidding me! I spent three grand on this and

  you’re not even going to kiss me?”

  “You spent? You?” Braxton tried not to explode. “First of all

  you said your sugar daddy paid, and secondly, it was a dinner,

  not a hookup!” He spotted his car being brought to him.

  “You asshole!” Dack sneered.

  “Yeah. I am. Sorry.” He walked around to the driver’s side of

  his car and thanked the young man for being so quick. He sped

  away, fed up, furious he had one more night of this nonsense and

  about to kill someone.

  ~

  Fabian had once again caught up on emails for the office. It

  was nearing eight and he sipped a high power omega-3 fruit juice

  drink while watching a movie on the television. Slouched low on

  the soft sofa, he felt tired but in a good way. The workout, the

  new job…the…crush.

  Well, that’s what it was. Just harmless infatuation. He knew

  the reality of what would happen to him if he fell for the

  seduction of Braxton Todd. He’d lose everything he had worked

  for—a full time job in a great PR firm. That beat anything he did

  temping by a long shot. It was as if he had won the lottery.

  His phone hummed and he picked it up to see Braxton had

  texted him, ‘ Thanks again. You’re becoming the most reliable

  individual I have ever met.’

  Fabian’s relaxed pose changed to being upright, his heart

  raced and his cock swelled. All from a text message.

  He texted back excitedly, ‘ no problem. Heck, that’s why you

  pay me.’

  ‘ Do I pay you enough? Don’t go anywhere.’

  Fabian laughed and then thought about Braxton’s date. ‘ Are

  you being rude and texting during your dinner? ’

  ‘ No. Done. Completely.’

  “Ohhh.” Fabian raised his eyebrows curiously. “Already

  fucked and home?” He didn’t know what to say back, and

  though he had no idea what Braxton’s date was like, he felt

  slightly jealous it wasn’t with him.

  Braxton texted, without Fabian answering, ‘ Dack the dick.

  Complete self-absorbed ass. I’ve had enough of those.’

  Fabian was relieved. He typed, ‘ ditto, they’re everywhere.

  Why is a good man so hard to find? ’

  ‘ Been asking myself that same question. Wiped out. Thanks

  again for keeping up on the workload, you have no idea how

  much its appreciated. C U tomorrow.’

  ‘ C U.’ Fabian reread the conversation and smiled. “A good

  man. Are you a good man hiding behind the façade of a jerk?

  You don’t seem mean to me.”

  Fabian set his phone down and sipped his drink. “Hmm.”

  Chapter 9

  Wednesday morning, Braxton was slightly less tense because

  Fabian had lessened his work load substantially. But, he still had

  one more date tonight—hopefully not a date with disaster—and

  promised himself he would never allow himself to be auctioned

  off again.

  Control. Being in a situation where he was forced to dine

  with people he would never care to dine with, caused Braxton to

  give up control. And yes, he was a self-admitted control freak. It

  was all part of his genetic make-up. And the major reason why

  he failed at relationships. He was impatient, demanding, a

  perfectionist, and picky. He certainly wouldn’t want to date a

  man like
himself and at the moment, he had given up on looking

  for a partner completely.

  It was a fun game in his twenties to fuck and leave. Now? It

  was a frustrating mess.

  He came through the office door to find his usual coffee and

  breakfast of fruit and yogurt. Brianna was smiling, as if she were

  finally not overworked and behind on all her calls.

  “Good morning, Braxton!”

  He was slightly surprised at her energetic greeting. “Good

  morning.” He picked up the cardboard tray to take to his office,

  inspecting her grin and sly smile. Down the hall he could hear

  Fabian on the phone, already immersed in his work and doing an

  outstanding job.

  Braxton placed the tray down, took off his suit jacket and sat

  behind his desk.

  Brianna stood at his doorway. “Sophia already called. Date

  number three…she wants to make sure you remember.”

  “How can I forget? Three days in hell.” He took the cup out

  of the holder and sipped the latte. “How’s Fabian doing today?”

  After a smirk she asked, “Why don’t you go see for

  yourself?”

  Braxton raised his eyebrow. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Just because you want to be polite and say hi.”

  The slight upturn to Brianna’s smile on one side of her lips

  had Braxton suspecting she was matchmaking. Something

  Brianna never did.

  He set his cup down and walked towards her, looking down

  at her petite frame as he did. She giggled like a kid and he could

  feel her eyes on him as he walked down the hall. Before he

  looked in on Fabian he glanced back at her. She gave him a

  wicked smile and crossed her arms, smug.

  Braxton stood at Fabian’s opened door while Fabian spoke on

  the phone and typed simultaneously.

  The man was to die for, dressed in a tight black crew neck top

  and black jacket, his chiseled jaw clean shaven and a slight scent

  of aftershave or cologne in the room that made Braxton’s cock

  move in his slacks. Fabian noticed him and met his gaze.

  The shock of bright blue nearly made Braxton swoon. Okay,

  the guy is great…gorgeous…oh Christ, shoot me.

  “Hang on,” Fabian said into the phone and cupped the

  receiver. “Need me?”

  I think I fucking do.

  “Just wanted to say good morning.”

  Fabian’s smile lit up his handsome face. “Good morning.”

  Braxton spotted the coffee on his desk. “Do you have

  everything you desire? Urr, I mean, need for the day?”

  Fabian glance down at Braxton’s crotch for just a brief

  second. But that second made Braxton’s groin tingle and his

  cock go stiff.

  “I do.” Fabian gave him an adoring smile that set the hairs

  standing on Braxton’s forearms.

  “Good.” Braxton gave him a grin back and nodded, walking

  away, trying to figure out what was really going on here. As he

  made his way down the hall, Brianna was at her desk, sipping

  her coffee. She said, “He looks fucking hot today, doesn’t he?”

  “Stop instigating. You know my track record. And I can’t

  lose him.”

  “I have a feeling he feels the same way about you.”

  Braxton opened his mouth to ask why, but reconsidered when

  her phone rang. He returned to his desk and sat down, picking up

  the yogurt while his computer booted up, and hearing Brianna

  say, “Sophia, line one!”

  Braxton put his earpiece in and connected to her call. “Hey.”

  “Darling! Last date tonight. I wanted to make sure you knew

  all the details.”

  “Go ahead. I can’t wait.” He tried not to sound too negative.

  “It is a woman this time. What do you know?” She laughed.

  “Her name is Virginia Steinman and she is twenty-three! Her

  parents buy you for her!”

  Braxton rubbed his forehead in exhaustion.

  “You will meet at the Café La Boheme. Don’t be late. It’s a

  young woman with stars in her eyes.”

  “Okay.” He noticed his second line light up and instant

  messages appear on the computer from his clients.

  “I will call you again in the afternoon so you won’t forget. I

  know how busy you can be, Braxton.”

  “Sure. Fine.” He began reading his instant messages.

  “Ciao!”

  “Bye.” He hung up and held his yogurt cup in his hand,

  quickly eating since his morning workout left him starving. As

  he did he thought about what Brianna has said. About Fabian

  having feelings for him.

  Angry at himself for even thinking about the idea of

  propositioning him, Braxton knew finding Fabian to help him

  out was a twist of good luck he had no intention of ruining.

  Braxton threw out the empty cup and immersed himself in his

  work.

  ~

  Fabian picked up a flashing line on the phone, seeing no one

  was available to answer it. “Braxton Todd PR, Fabian Rhys

  speaking, can I help you?”

  “I need to speak to Mr Todd.”

  “He’s on another line right now, can I help you?” Fabian held

  a pen over his pad.

  “This is Drew Persely.”

  Fabian reacted and sat up, knowing how Braxton felt about

  this man and the gross out ‘date’. “Yes, Mr Persely, what can I

  do for you?”

  “I’d prefer speaking to Braxton. Not you.”

  “I understand.” Fabian wanted to shield Braxton from this

  creep and knew Braxton did not want to deal with him. “Can I at

  least give Braxton the details of your call so he can be prepared

  when he calls you back?”

  After a grunt of annoyance, Drew said, “Tell him I want him

  to help me out with PR for my firm. With the new ad campaign,

  I want to get Mark Richfield doing interviews about the ads

  we’re doing with him.”

  Fabian tried to determine if this was truly about work, or

  simply a ploy using the model’s name to get Braxton to return

  his calls.

  “I can let him know, Mr Persely. Of course.”

  “Good.” The line disconnected.

  Fabian hung up and thought about the conversation, sensing a

  ruse. He knew enough about that model to know he did not do

  interviews, or at least he’d never seen him sitting for any on TV

  or read one in a magazine. While he had a minute, Fabian looked

  online for just that—an interview with Mark Richfield. His

  assumptions were correct. Alexander, Mark’s son, on the other

  hand, had done several, but the young man was an actor, so it

  made sense.

  Fabian checked the time and stood, seeing it was getting close

  to noon and he had been working since he’d sat at his desk at

  eight-thirty. He buttoned his suit jacket, ran his hand over his

  hair and headed down the hall. Brianna was on the phone, hands

  free, tapping away at her computer.

  She peeked at Fabian and gave him a sweet smile. He

  returned it and used one knuckle to tap Braxton’s door.

  He could hear Braxton on the phone and stood patiently,

  finally getting his ‘It ain’t locked!’

  Upon opening the door,
Braxton appeared to be done with his

  call and his expression changed drastically from exhaustion to a

  nice smile. “What can I do for you, sir?” Braxton interlaced his

  fingers on his lap and rocked in his leather chair gently.

  Everything.

  Fabian wanted to dig his hands through that dark mop of hair

  and lick Braxton’s lips with the tip of his tongue, and that was

  just for starters. “I got a call I wanted to discuss with you.”

  Braxton gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

  Fabian unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down. The phone

  rang and Braxton called out to Brianna, “Can you hold the calls

  for five!”

  “I can!” she answered and she shut Braxton’s office door,

  giving him privacy he had not requested.

  Fabian stared at Braxton for a moment, lost on the craving to

  do something insane with him and holding back with everything

  he had.

  Braxton stared back, waiting for what Fabian had to say.

  “Uh,” Fabian kick-started his brain trying to remember why

  he had come in, since Braxton’s good looks had made him lose

  his thought. “I got a call from Drew Persely.”

  Instantly Braxton’s expression contorted in disgust.

  “Yeah. I know.” Fabian could read his mind without Braxton

  speaking a word. “First of all, he didn’t want to deal with me,

  though I tried to deflect it off of you.”

  Braxton’s expression did not change as he listened.

  Fabian continued, “He said he wants to hire you to see if you

  can get his new top male model to do interviews. I think it’s a

  pretext, but who knows? I looked on the net to see if Richfield

  did any PR, and let me tell you, Braxton, that man does not do

  interviews in any media.”

  “I know.”

  “But…” Fabian shrugged. “If you get hired by Drew’s luxury

  car company, and you do manage to get some exposure for them,

  it could be a big account.”

  “No.”

  Fabian took his turn to wait to see what Braxton had to say in

  way of explanation.

  Braxton leaned his elbows on the desk and spoke softly.

  “Sometimes it’s not about money. It’s about self-respect. And

  although there would be nothing better than to get that model

  onto a talk show, I want nothing to do with that disgusting pig.”

  Fabian nodded, respecting Braxton’s choice completely.

  “You wanna know my guess?”

  “Yeah. I already do. Pretext. Not only that, he’d probably