“Please, like Gabriel would care.”
“He’s your brother, of course, he’s going to care. What’s his name?” Claire asked.
The smile on Rhianna’s face broke her heart. “Louis. He’s really nice.”
“I bet he is. Is that the guy who took you home from the nightclub?”
“No, that was Drake. He’s an asshole but Louis has been working for Gabriel for a couple of months. He’s really sweet. He’s always nice and whenever I want to go somewhere, he takes me, no questions asked.”
“Sweetie, that’s his job.”
“I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
“I do.” She reached across the table, taking her friend’s hands. “Please, I do. I think you need to be careful is all.”
“Careful?”
“You don’t know what he’s like. He works for your brother.”
Rhianna rolled her eyes. “I’ve accepted what my brother does. I don’t like it. I don’t have to like it and it’s why I always make time to help others. I work at several shelters, volunteer when I can.”
“I know, but you’d do that anyway.”
Her friend sighed. “Gabriel doesn’t want me to work and so I do what I must. He’s worried I’ll be taken advantage of.”
“You do have a good heart,” Claire said.
The waitress brought them their breakfast and Claire said her thanks. Picking up her knife and fork, she dug into the pancakes. Work had been getting busier at the private strip club that she still didn’t know the name of, not that she wanted too many details. She kept her head down, a smile on her face, and Rhianna was none the wiser.
“Anyway, enough about me. You’ve been spending a lot of time away. What have you been doing?”
“Not a lot. Hunting for apartments.”
“Come on, I see the smile on your face. You cannot tell me that’s all about apartment hunting. You’ve met a man, haven’t you?”
“No man,” she said, a little too quickly. Picking up her coffee, she took a generous sip. “I’m just trying to find a place but every time I do, I get a call with a ridiculous offer or that someone else was willing to pay double. I tell you, times are tough.”
“At least you have a job,” Rhianna said.
“Hey, don’t be sad. Your brother takes care of you. There are a lot of people who would love to have someone take care of them.”
“You wouldn’t. It’s why you want to get out of the apartment so fast.”
“I’m used to taking care of myself. Don’t you worry about me.” She ate her breakfast and afterward, they went shopping. Saving up for an apartment, she only watched as Rhianna shopped, while she gave her opinion on the outfits she wanted.
As they were leaving a shoe shop, Rhianna smiled. “You’re so not getting away with not buying something.” Rhianna looked up from her cell phone.
“Come again?”
“Gabriel has sent me a personal request to buy you and myself each a ball gown. There’s an event this weekend, he wants us both to go.”
“Both of us?”
“Yep.” Rhianna frowned. “That’s strange. I normally have to order him around to include you.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want the hassle.”
“Or maybe my brother has found the error of his ways and realizes how awesome it is to have you around. You do cook so much, and the food’s amazing.” Rhianna draped her arm across her shoulder. “We need to find you a guy.”
“I don’t need a guy.”
“Then you could always date my brother,” Rhianna said.
“Yeah, right.” It wasn’t like they were actually dating now. They were … having fun. Private fun.
“Come on, we can fight about this later.”
For the rest of the day, she was taken from shop to shop, forced to try on over a dozen gowns that were way overpriced. She’d never felt so uncomfortable in her life and she was thankful when Rhianna seemed content with another white gown showing off a great expanse of thigh and chest. Claire was past caring and was more than content to just cook.
Rhianna left to make the necessary arrangements for their hair and makeup. She got stuck making meatballs with some pasta. The pasta came from the grocery store, and there was no way she was even attempting homemade today.
Her nerves were shot.
She was finishing up the sauce when Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist. “I messaged you,” he said.
She frowned. “You did?” She pulled the cell phone out of her pocket and groaned. “Sorry.”
He kissed her temple. “I’ll have to punish you later.” He let her go just as his sister entered the kitchen.
“You’re back early.”
“Business is slow.”
“Please, as if it is ever slow. I remember a time I could go weeks without seeing you. I wonder what changed.”
“You exaggerate.” Gabriel took a seat at the counter, picking up a carrot stick and taking a bite.
“Whatever. Anyway, I got her a kick-ass dress. It’s going to help her pick up a man.”
“I’m standing right here and I’ve told you, I don’t need a man.”
“For all you know, she might have a man, Rhianna. Someone who doesn’t want to be known, who is quite possessive,” Gabriel said.
Rhianna laughed. “I know Claire and she wouldn’t be with someone who wants to keep everything private.”
“I think we should eat now. I’ll serve up at the dinner table.” She carried the sauce to the table, followed by the pasta.
While she sat on one side of Gabriel, Rhianna sat on the other. She’d hoped the conversation would change topics, but clearly no one who would listen to her, as Rhianna continued about her need for her to be with a man.
Gabriel wasn’t helping matters as he played along.
“You think she’ll find someone at this society event?” Gabriel asked.
“Why are you going?” Claire asked. “How did you get an invite?”
“I’m a businessman with plenty of … contacts.”
“And how does this help you?”
“It’s all business,” Rhianna said. “Stop changing the subject. Yes, she’s gorgeous.”
“I’m sitting right here.”
“And what kind of men does she usually go for?” Gabriel asked.
“The bad ones,” Claire said, glaring at Gabriel. “The kind you don’t take home to a parent or brag about having.”
“It’s good you don’t have any family then.”
Gritting her teeth, Rhianna laughed. “Come on, Tony, and what’s-his-name back in high school don’t count. She likes men who are sweet, caring, or at least appear that way. It’s how Tony lasted so long. He must have had a sweet bone in his body to bring back her stuff.”
“Don’t, Rhianna,” she said.
“What about her other boyfriends?” Gabriel asked.
“That’s it. No more. Not even one-night stands. She’s not into those. Claire has always been the one looking for love.”
She’d heard enough. Pushing her chair back, she left the table without a word. She stormed into the kitchen, scraped her food into a bowl, and left it to cool down before she put it in the fridge. Staring at the dishes, she was tempted to wash them but decided they could do it.