Bidding On The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 8) (18 page)

She glanced at the limo once again before she spoke. “Have you been down here long?”

“Nah.” He took her hand and led her over to the waiting car. “Maybe ten minutes. Fifteen tops. I wanted to make sure I got here before you left.”

“And you’re now getting driven to and from the courthouse in a limo? Isn’t that a little over the top even for you?”

“I walked over to court. This is waiting here for you, not me.”

“Were you afraid I’d get lost driving home?”

“You never pamper yourself, so I booked you an appointment at Magnolia Day Spa. The limo is here to take you over. Afterward, it will bring you home.”

She’d never visited the popular spa, but she’d heard a lot about it. “That’s not possible. You need to book an appointment there several weeks in advance.”

Derek pulled her close and smiled. “There are some perks to having the last name Sherbrooke.”

“Derek, you didn’t need to do this.”

“I wanted to, so please go, relax, and enjoy yourself. And unless you’d rather I didn’t, I thought I’d stop by and see you when you get home.”

“Okay, but I’m warning you. I might enjoy myself so much I never leave.”

“Then I’ll come in and drag you out.” He brushed his hand down her cheek and she leaned more into him, her eyes closing as she enjoyed his touch. “I’m going to visit Gray and Kiera while you’re at the spa. Call me when you get home, and I’ll come down.”

When he moved his hand, she opened her eyes and met his. The tenderness and love reflected there created a tennis-ball-sized lump in her throat. She swallowed a few times before she answered. “I will. Promise.”

With a single nod, he escorted her to the limo. “See you soon. Have fun.”

Derek closed the door, leaving her nothing else to do but sit back, relax, and enjoy her favorite white wine, which had been left inside.

She’d considered booking an appointment at the spa several times since it opened. For one reason or another, she never managed to find the time. She couldn’t wait to see if all the hype about the facility was true.

She managed to drink one glass of wine before the limo stopped and the driver pulled open the door. From inside she noticed people on the sidewalk stop and look, curious to see who would emerge from the vehicle.
They’re going to be disappointed.

“I’ll be here when you are ready to return home, Miss Novak,” the driver said once she exited the limo.

“Thank you.” She ignored the stares and crossed to the spa’s tinted double doors.

Soft music greeted her when she entered. Two women sat in the waiting room, both focused on their smartphones. Behind a pale pink desk, a dark-haired woman sat studying her computer screen, but when Brooklyn approached she glanced over.

“Welcome to Magnolia Day Spa. Who is your appointment with this evening?”

He’d failed to give her that information. “I’m not sure. My….” She paused. She guessed calling him her boyfriend was correct, yet the word stuck in her throat. She’d never referred to anyone as her boyfriend. And she’d never imagined attaching the title to Derek. “My friend arranged everything as a surprise. My name’s Brooklyn Novak.”

“Oh, yes. I spoke with Mr. Sherbrooke when he called this morning.”

Across the room, both women looked up, more interested in her than whatever was on their phones.

“You’ll be seeing Melody tonight. Please have a seat, and I’ll let her know you’re here.” The receptionist didn’t wait for an answer before walking away.

Brooklyn glanced at where the other women sat. Neither had stopped staring at her yet. Sitting near them was out. Thankfully, she didn’t need to sit at all.

“Miss Novak, welcome. I’m Melody.” A pencil-thin woman approached her. “Please follow me.”

Melody led her past several closed doors before stopping in front of one. “This evening we’ll begin with your Magnolia Massage. It’s a ninety-minute-long Swedish-based massage that begins with a dry brushing.” She opened the door and gestured for Brooklyn to enter. “It’s our most popular treatment.”

She’d heard of a lot of things, but not dry brushing. “I’m not familiar with dry brushing. Could you explain it to me?”

“Of course. Please have a seat. This is the brush we use. You can also purchase one to take home with you if you want to continue the practice.” Melody picked up a brush from near the massage table and handed it to her. “Dry brushing is an ancient practice. I’ll brush your entire body using rapid strokes. By doing this, I’ll stimulate your lymphatic system and exfoliate your skin. Once I’m through, we’ll begin the actual massage.”

She’d never had a massage before. Did they all begin with a brushing? Brooklyn handed the brush back and waited for Melody to continue.

“Since this is meant to be a tailored experience, I’ll need you to tell me how much pressure to apply. Once the massage is finished, you should be relaxed and revitalized.”

“You said we’d start with a massage. What other treatments will I be receiving today?”

“Afterward you’ll receive an eighty-minute double exfoliation pedicure and a hand facial, which is similar to our Magnolia manicure.”

A ninety-minute massage followed by an eighty-minute pedicure as well as manicure; she’d be here a while. Maybe she should call and tell Derek not to wait for her. He probably had no idea how long any of these things took.

“Unless you have more questions, I’ll step out so you can change. I’ve left a robe here for you to slip on. Please remove everything, including your bra. You may leave on your underwear if you choose.”

“Thank you.”

Once alone, Brooklyn went for her smartphone rather than undressing. Judging by everything Melody listed, it would be well after nine before she got home. She needed to at least give Derek a heads-up in case he didn’t want to stay in the city quite so long.

He answered on the first ring. “You’re supposed to be getting pampered, not using the phone,” he said after greeting her. “Is something wrong?”

“No, I wasn’t sure you knew how long everything you booked would take. I’ll be here almost four hours. If you want to go home, I understand.” She heard other voices in the background and assumed they belonged to Gray and Kiera.

“When I called the spa, they gave me an estimate of how long you’d be there. Don’t worry about it. Enjoy your time and call me when you get home. I’ll come down.”

Arguing with him was a waste of breath. If he wanted to wait, she’d let him. “You went a little overboard here.”

“Not possible where you’re concerned. See you soon.”

***

Derek accepted the wine Gray handed him. He’d rather spend the evening with Brooklyn, but for now his older brother and his fiancée would do.

“New girlfriend?” Gray asked, taking a seat across the table from him.

“Yes and no.”

“Too bad you didn’t meet her sooner, maybe she would’ve saved you from Aunt Marilyn and the auction.” His brother chuckled. “Although you managed to save your own ass regardless. I can’t believe Brooklyn went along with your plan. And don’t say you two didn’t arrange what happened at the fundraiser. We both know you put her up to it.”

“Do you blame me?” There was no point in denying his brother’s allegations.

“Not in the least. Courtney told me Tasha believed she had you in the bag. Said she was almost on the stage before Brooklyn made her final bid. Courtney overheard Tasha later. She was beyond furious. She wouldn’t even repeat what Tasha said about Brooklyn.”

He’d expected as much. “She’ll get over it and find someone else.”

Gray raised his wineglass in a toast. “To Tasha finding her next victim.”

“Knock it off, you two,” Kiera said as she placed a platter of beef Wellington down. “She’s not always that bad.”

Gray shot Derek a look as his fiancée walked away. One he understood and agreed with.

“So what’s the new girlfriend’s name?” Gray asked. “Why didn’t you take her to Sara’s wedding?”

“It’s Brooklyn,” Derek answered.

“Seriously. I’ve never met another woman named Brooklyn other than your friend and you’re dating one. What are the odds?”

Kiera entered the room again with a garden salad and sat. “Wow, can you be dense sometimes. He meant his friend Brooklyn.”

“No, he doesn’t, Kiera. Derek looks at Brooklyn Novak sort of like a cousin.” Gray faced him again. “Is that a good way to describe your relationship with her?”

“It was. But Kiera’s right. We’re together.” Derek helped himself to dinner while his brother processed his statement. “How did you know?” They’d told no one, and except for their short shopping trip, they’d not gone out in public together.

“A picture of you kissing at the Brick Market Place and another of you holding hands coming out of a store popped up on a social media feed. A friend of mine sent it to me when she saw it.”

Hell
. Who else had seen it? If Donovan Novak spotted it, he’d be harassing his daughter again.

“Why didn’t you take her to the wedding? Brooklyn’s comfortable with the family. She goes to most of the New Year’s Eve parties,” Kiera asked.

“We weren’t together then. It’s a new development.” Although he’d been a fool not to realize his feelings long before now.

“You and her together?” Gray asked. “Have you thought this one through? Are you sure it’s a good idea?”

“Why, because we were friends first? You two were friends long before you reconnected in January.”

“It’s better you were friends first. Means she already knows you’re an idiot and is willing to look past the fact.” Gray’s teasing smile faded. “Her father doesn’t like you. Or did you forget?”

“I don’t care if he likes me or not.” He did wish he knew why the man disliked him.

“She might,” Gray said.

He’d rather not consider her family getting between them. “It’ll be fine.”

“Whatever you say. So why are you here then and not with her?”

“I surprised her with a visit to the Magnolia Day Spa. She’s there now. I’ll go visit her when she comes home.”

“Wow, you have great taste.” Kiera jumped into the conversation again. “I had one of their deep tissue massages a few weeks ago. Amazing. If you’re trying to convince her you love her, it’s a good start.”

When had Kiera added mind reading to her list of skills? “She already knows how I feel. But she needed a day of pampering. She doesn’t do those kinds of things for herself.”

“Brooklyn may have heard your words, but she didn’t fully accept them.”

“How do you know?” Derek asked, baffled by Kiera’s correct assessment.

“I kind of experienced the same thing with Gray. When you’ve been friends with someone for a long time, it’s hard to let the relationship change. Scary too. If things don’t work out, you’ve damaged or perhaps even ended the friendship you did have.” Kiera looked at Gray and then him again. “Maybe it’s different for a guy.”

Brooklyn had made a similar statement. Coming from someone else somehow made the words even more profound. And he realized just how much harder he might have to work to drive away her fears.

***

A few hours later, he rode the elevator down, annoyed with himself. Since she’d left him the previous night, he craved her company again. Wanted her wrapped in his arms and her lips near his. He could’ve spent several hours with her tonight. Instead, he’d sent her off to the spa and visited with his brother and his fiancée. Not necessarily the smartest idea he’d ever had. Now he’d get maybe an hour with her if he was lucky. Then tomorrow he’d be in court all day again while she was at the office. Spending any time with her tomorrow night was out too. He’d promised to meet Colton for a round of golf after work. They’d already rescheduled twice. He didn’t want to cancel on the guy again.

Yep, not your brightest moment
. If it made her happy though, it’d be worth it. Especially if it left her receptive to the proposition he had for her.

She greeted him at the door in shorts and a snug-fitting tank top, letting him know she’d changed the moment she walked in. Before he uttered a word, she hugged him and he noticed her usual citrus scent was missing. Instead, she smelled a bit like coconut oil. Then he no longer noticed her scent as she pressed her open mouth against his.

He took advantage of the situation. Using his foot, he nudged the door shut and walked them toward the living room, never letting his lips leave hers. When they reached the sofa, he sat, bringing her down on his lap.

“I can handle a greeting like this every time I come by,” he said, pulling away so he could see her. “I missed you.” He worked to pull the messy bun from her hair. When he got it undone, he ran his fingers through the soft strands and spread them over her shoulders.

“Missed you too.” She kissed him again. “I considered skipping the manicure so I could get home sooner.”

It didn’t escape him that tonight was the first time she’d kissed him rather than the other way around.

“I know you don’t love me quite enough to skip a manicure,” he teased, hoping she’d finally tell him she loved him too. She’d hinted at it, but not spoken the words.

“I couldn’t get myself to leave. The whole evening was wonderful. I’ve never been so relaxed. I’m going to make another appointment. Maybe for next month.”

He ignored the sting in his chest when she still held back the words he wanted. “Glad you enjoyed it. I noticed on their website they do a couples’ massage. Maybe we should schedule one.”

“Would you want to? I think it would be fun.”

“Make us an appointment. Or I can. Either works.” He pictured her lying facedown, her skin glistening with oil, only in his vision a stranger wasn’t the one with their hands on her body. He was. “I’m always willing to give you a full body massage too.” He ran his hand up her thigh and just under the hem of her shorts. “You might be surprised how good I am at it.”

Her tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip. At the same time, her hand came down on top of his, making it difficult for him to move it any higher. “I’ll take you up on your offer soon. But not tonight.”

He sensed she wasn’t talking about massaging. Still he asked, “Will you return the favor?”