Unwanted Heat

I couldn’t just stand there; I knew the next words out of his mouth would have been an apology. I didn’t need to hear him tell me he was sorry for kissing me. Not when for the first time in years, I felt alive. No one has ever kissed me like Nicholas just did. No one has ever made me lose myself in a kiss; I’ve never felt like I did a few minutes ago and I couldn’t stand there and let him apologize for that. I didn’t want to hear that he regretted what just happened because of the stupid rules of the contract. I reread the contract the other week after I had kissed him, and it does not say that we can’t kiss. The only thing it exclusively prohibits is sex, so we have done nothing wrong. I’m sure Nicholas, being the knowledgeable business man that he is, would know this. If he regretted kissing me, it wouldn’t be because he was worried we violated some part of the contract.

I give up trying to figure out his motives and get ready for bed. Unfortunately sleep doesn’t find me easily and I’m in the pool by three thirty, desperately trying to swim the memories of the nightmare away. I keep looking for Nicholas, expecting to see him by the pool like he was the other morning but he never comes. Part of me is disappointed but part of me is also relieved, as I’m not sure what I would say to him if he were here this morning.

Since I won’t be seeing Nicholas again until the charity dinner on Saturday, I figure I have two days to figure out if I should say something to him or just forget that it happened or wait for him to bring it up. Vowing not to think about the kiss again today, I spend the morning doing laundry and getting ready for my shopping trip with Cara.

Knock Knock

“Are you ready, Kenzie?” it took weeks, but I’ve finally convinced Hunter to stop calling me Ms. Rose.

“All ready,” I confirm. “Are we picking up Cara?”

“We’re meeting her at Neiman’s; Ben is picking her up.”

When we arrive at the department store, Cara is there waiting for us and immediately engulfs me in a huge hug when she sees me approaching. I’m surprised that Nicholas has arranged for us to have a private dressing room for the entire day along with a personal shopper. Cara doesn’t bat an eye at the arrangements. I assume this is pretty typical for her when she goes shopping.

“Kenzie, you have to try this on!” Cara holds up what can only be described as gaudy… I desperately try to come up with the words to tell her that there is no way in hell I would be wearing that to the dinner on Saturday night without hurting her feelings.

“Oh my God! You should see the look on your face!”

“I thought you were serious!” I can’t help but join in her laughing.

“I hate trying on dresses, so I like to mix it up and try on silly ones. It helps pass the time and makes the trip more enjoyable.”

“Ah, makes sense. In that case you should try on this,” I hold up a neon pink beaded dress that looks like something out of the 50’s.

Over the next hour, we have managed to hand the personal shopper dozens of dresses that she has arranged to be hung up for us in the dressing room. The dressing room is a large room with two areas closed off with curtains to provide privacy while we change. The entire room is reserved for us so as Cara and I try on outfits, we take turns modeling them. I’m trying on the third dress when I hear my phone buzzing with a text. Cara apparently decided to send Nicholas and me pictures of the dresses we have tried on so far.

Sorry for the texts while you’re at work. I hadn’t realized Cara was going to send you the pictures Kenzie

Up until now I haven’t had Nicholas’s cell phone number, so I hope he doesn’t mind me texting him. I’m sure he is swamped at work and the last thing he needs or wants is to receive texts from Cara as we play dress up. When he doesn’t respond I stick the phone back in my purse and continue on with our modeling show.

A couple of hours later, Cara and I have both found dresses for the charity dinner on Saturday. As Nicholas predicted, Cara doesn’t bat an eye when I hand the personal shopper his credit card as a payment for my dress. Hunter arranges the delivery of the dresses while Cara and I discuss lunch plans. We settle on a small bistro a few blocks from the department store, but the minute we step out of the dressing room we are blinded by the flashes of cameras.

“Right this way ladies,” Hunter leads Cara and me through the crowd while Ben follows closely behind us.

“Where’s Nicholas Parker?”

“Is he aware that you two are out shopping?”

“What event are you shopping for?”

“Mackenzie, what do you say to the rumors that Nicholas Parker can’t keep a woman happy?”

“Cara, why do you think all the women in your brother’s life run away from him? Is he hiding something?”

“Why don’t you all just leave my brother alone? It’s none of your business what he does with his personal life!” Cara exclaims just before we split up to head towards our cars.

Thankfully only a few minutes later, I’m safe inside the SUV, although a couple reporters continue to snap pictures of the car. Honestly, I don’t understand what the big deal is: I went shopping with Nicholas’ sister; this is news? With everything else going on in the world, reporters decide they need to focus on what we bought for a charity dinner?

Lunch another time? Cara

Definitely KenzieNôvelDrama.Org content.

“How did they know where we were, Hunter?”

“We suspect one of the employees tipped off the press after recognizing you. We are trying to determine who notified the press so it can be addressed.”

I shake my head in disbelief; while I worked as a personal shopper I never would have dreamed of calling the press if a client was there. Granted, I never worked with anyone I think the press would care about but still, I wouldn’t have invaded someone’s privacy like that. When we reach The Accord, I’m once again thankful for the security in the building as we pull into the private underground parking garage that can only be accessed by a key card.

If the paparazzi were following us, they wouldn’t have been able to make it into the garage. This week has forced me to realize I need to accept Nicholas’s offer to stay here through the duration of our arrangement. I realize I could never afford to live in an apartment with this level of security which means I would be dealing with the press on my own every time I left my apartment or tried to come home.

When I get home, I change into a pair of comfy yoga pants and a fitted T-shirt, seeing as how I am not planning on leaving the apartment again today. I curl up on the loveseat and start a book that I’ve read before but one that I could read many times without losing interest. Unfortunately, the lack of sleep from the previous night catches up with me and I soon fall asleep. I must have slept for a couple of hours because when I wake up the room has darkened, as I l didn’t leave any lights on. I grab my phone to check the time and realize I have a text message from Nicholas which is surprising because I haven’t heard from him all day.

I need to talk to you. Are you free tonight? Nicholas

Yes, I’m free. Home now. Kenzie

Do you want to come to my apartment? Nicholas

Or, if you would rather, I can reserve a private room somewhere? Nicholas

No, I’ll come up. Kenzie

I know why he offered the private room, but at this point it’s unnecessary. I spent the weekend at his apartment and then we spent an entire day on his boat in the middle of nowhere. I no longer have any worries about spending time alone with him. Plus, I know we’re not truly alone in his apartment since both Julie and Carter live there. I quickly use the bathroom, throw my hair into a messy bun and slip on a pair of shoes before setting the alarm to head upstairs.

“Good evening Ms. Rose,” Carter startles me as soon as I open my door.

“Oh! I wasn’t expecting you, Carter.”

“The security codes have been changed since you last used them; the one you had is no longer active,” he explains.

“Oh.”

A few minutes later, the elevator doors open to Nicholas’s expansive foyer.

“Mr. Parker is in his office,” Carter ushers me down the hallway to Nicholas’s office.

“Mr. Parker, Ms. Rose has arrived,” Carter announces.

“Thank you, please come in, Kenzie,” Nicholas gestures for me to sit in the chair across from this desk. I’m immediately reminded of the last time I was in here. If Nicholas tries to give me money again, I swear I’m going to scream. I really hope he doesn’t think he needs to pay me for today

–

“Kenzie… we need to talk.”

“Okay…” Well this wasn’t what I was expecting and Nicholas’s uneasiness is alarming.

“I…. I….” he runs his hands through his hair and takes a deep breath before continuing. “I think we need to end our contract with Bridget.”