The Remingtons_Blush of Love Read online

  Gunner handed her the bottle of chilled champagne but held onto the bouquet of lilies. A quick look over her shoulder told him Safire was still at her own place. Mrs. Chu sat in a recliner holding a Chinese newspaper at arm’s length while the youngest sister, Gianna, who was studying fashion design at Parsons, was at the kitchen table video chatting with friends.

  Neither sister nor mother looked up as Gunner hung his coat on the coatrack.

  “Did Safire invite you?” Clarissa spoke in a voice barely above a whisper as she brought him a pair of guest slippers.

  “She mentioned the dinner.”

  “Then why are you here and not at her place?” Clarissa nailed him with a level gaze. “I told you my sister is emotionally vulnerable.”

  “I like her.”

  “Why, Gunner? When you can have any number of models and actresses?”

  “I don’t have to answer to you. You’re my publicist, and you work for me.”

  “You need me, too, Mr. Gibson. After that public blowup with Aida, no one in their right mind would risk working with you.” Clarissa hissed out of the side of her mouth.

  “Are you saying I’m not good enough for your sister?” Gunner got into her face. “Is the most eligible bachelor in ‘The City’ only a barbarian in your haughty eyes?”

  “You know that’s not it.” Clarissa folded her arms and didn’t back down. “It’s your rep with women. You slept with a lot of women. How do I know you won’t infect my sister with some disease?”

  “You know I tested clean last month.”

  “Fine, but what about emotionally? She gets all wrapped up in you and you tell her to take a hike.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” Gunner straightened his tie. “Have some confidence in your sister for a change.”

  Clarissa snarled at him, curling her lip. “My sister’s adorable, smart, and gorgeous. It’s you I’m worried about.”

  “You should be. That’s your job.”

  Knocking at the door interrupted Clarissa’s comeback. “That would be Safire. If she’s at all upset, you’re going to have to leave, client or not.”

  “And if she’s happy to see me?” Gunner followed her to the door.

  Before opening the door, Clarissa put a hand on Gunner’s forearm. “Don’t hurt her. This is not a joke. Safire feels everything deeply. She’s not like me.”

  “You’re not so tough yourself,” Gunner tipped Clarissa’s chin so he could pin her with his gaze. “When are you going to let your mother know you’re not marrying Alan Fong?”

  “I should never have told you,” Clarissa grumbled as the knocking on the door continued. Her face flushed pink at the reminder that Gunner knew the story.

  Which delighted him because it also meant he had her twisted around his finger. There would be no way she’d want her mother or even Safire to know the full extent of why her engagement to the billionaire bachelor was off.

  “That’s why you have to be nice to me,” he said in a sing-song voice, leaning close so that only Clarissa could hear.

  She opened the door and as soon as Gunner saw Safire, his tongue tied up into a knot. Heat bloomed under his collar, and his heart pounded so loud and hard, he was sure everyone could hear.

  There was a brief dilation of her eyes as she noticed him, but her face froze into a polite disdain as she kissed her sister and wished her a Happy New Year.

  “Hey, Safire, look who’s here,” Clarissa said. “I invited Gunner since his mother’s staying with his sister. She just had a baby.”

  “That’s awfully nice.” Safire put on a polite smile. “Gunner, you didn’t tell me you’re an uncle.”

  “I was too busy with my tongue to say anything else.” He presented her with the flowers. “You honored me with a wonderful date last night.”

  He was intensely aware of Clarissa watching them, and so was Safire, if her nervous blinking meant anything. Fortunately, her mother was still staring at the Chinese newspaper and the other sister was finishing up her video chat.

  “Thank you.” Safire put the flowers to her nose. “And Happy New Year. It was fun, wasn’t it?”

  So, she was playing to her sister that nothing had happened. That didn’t sit well with him, because he’d never met a woman who hadn’t wanted to show him off to all her friends and family.

  “Clarissa, can you get a vase for these flowers?” Safire handed the bouquet to her sister, and she walked off, but not before giving Gunner the gimlet eye.

  After Clarissa was safely in the kitchen, Gunner put his arm around Safire. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your mother?”

  “I have to warn you, she’s not a football fan. She won’t know who you are.”

  “Then she can judge me on my manners and how much I adore you.” He bent and kissed her on the cheek. “I deleted the video chat already.”

  On the way over, he’d figured out Safire’s reticence. The woman was a very private person, and she was probably mortified about the video chat. He respected her, so after watching her and etching it into his mind, he deleted the video.

  “Did you delete it on the cloud, too?” Safire asked, her cheeks reddening.

  Instead of moving toward her mother, she dragged him down the short hallway to the bathroom. She left the door partially open.

  “Cloud? What do you mean?” He couldn’t help running his finger over her smooth, dewy cheek.

  “Let me see your phone.”

  He gave her the phone, all the while hemming her in close to the sink. She smelled sultry and sexy, her perfume dark and delicious. And she was looking hot, wearing a black sweater, black pearl necklace and earrings, and blood red lipstick.

  “Password?”

  He told her. After all, he had to show her he trusted her. Wasn’t that how it usually worked in a relationship? At least that was what his therapist had told him.

  She made quick work, thumbing her way through his phone. “Everything these days is backed up on the cloud.”

  “Oh, because I delete everything from my phone. Don’t tell me—”

  “Gunner! I don’t believe this.” Her mouth dropped wide open. “Looks like I’m not the first woman you recorded in all her glory.”

  “Wait. Let me see. I thought I deleted everything.”

  “You obviously didn’t. Do you know what would happen if someone hacked into your cloud account?” She shoved him. “Never, ever record anything when I’m around. Ever.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He raised her chin. “I won’t do it again.”

  “Sure, fine.” She jerked her face away from him and turned toward the door. “Let’s just hope no one hacked into your account. Do you want me to delete everything?”

  “Yes, please. It’ll help my recovery, too.”

  “Recovery? From what?” Her cheeks blushed bright red as she selected all the videos and hit the trash icon.

  “Sexual addiction. I admit it, I was a man whore. But I’m working on changing. I’m seeing a therapist and everything.”

  Her thumbs stopped moving and she slowly turned toward him, her eyes probing and studying his face. “Why are you telling me? Am I part of the problem or the solution?”

  “Definitely the solution. Don’t let anyone know, but I haven’t been chasing women or going to strip clubs for six months. You’re my first date since going into therapy.”

  “But why? Weren’t you enjoying yourself before?” She waved the phone.

  “I thought I was enjoying myself, but it’s empty. At the end of the night, the person I slept with didn’t care about me one bit. Didn’t care if I had a good day or bad, or whether my knees hurt, or whether I’d be a good father or not. All they cared about was a good time, my bank account, and what position we’d try next.”

  “So, you just up and decided to change?” Her expression softened and she touched his jaw. “About last night. Would your therapist say you suffered a setback?”

  “No, she wouldn’t.” He bit his lower l
ip. “Not if we really care about each other. If this is a real relationship.”

  “Is it?” Her eyes sparkled with interest, and a shy smile graced her pert and pouty lips.

  “It is, if you want me as your boyfriend.” Gunner took both of Safire’s tiny hands into his. “I want to make this work. I feel things for you that I haven’t felt for anyone else before.”

  He was rushing it. He could tell, but it didn’t matter. Gunner wanted to start the New Year right.

  “Well, maybe.”

  “Maybe?” He lowered his lips to her forehead and kissed her. “Is that the best I can get?”

  “It’ll have to be.” She nodded slowly. “You’re my sister’s client. I can’t go public with this.”

  Oh! So she wasn’t turning him down. She was being careful of her sister’s business.

  “My lips are zipped,” he muttered as he picked her up and placed her on the marble counter. “Except when they’re all over you.”

  “I’d like that. I like you, Gunner, very much.”

  Chapter Ten

  Safire hardly paid attention to her mother and sisters through their New Year’s dinner. The food had been catered from a Chinese restaurant, and Clarissa had arranged everything on pretty china plates.

  Fortunately, their mother had believed Gunner was only Clarissa’s client and was more interested in how high profile clients like Gunner could help Clarissa’s business grow. She did warn Gunner that once Clarissa married her supposed billionaire, he’d have to find another publicist.

  Under the table, Gunner had his hand on Safire’s knee, heating her up dangerously. This was turning out to be more than she’d ever expected. Gunner Gibson had asked her to be his girlfriend. He’d opened up to her about his past and how unsatisfying it was to him, and now, he’d chosen her to be the only woman in his life.

  It was hard to answer her mother’s questions about her dating life, so she gave vague answers and fortunately, her mother moved on to drilling Gianna on a supposedly unsuitable artist she was hanging out with.

  As soon as the dishes were put in the dishwasher, Safire checked her cell phone and exclaimed, “I have a message from work. Happy New Year, Mom. I have to go.”

  She gave her mother the obligatory hug and went back to her apartment to wait for Gunner.

  A half hour passed before she heard a knock on the door. Safire rushed to open it and Gunner swept her into his arms. “Did you really have to work?”

  “Yes, I always have work. Why? What are you suggesting?”

  “How about taking the weekend off at my place? We can go ice skating, take walks through the woods with my dogs, and take a tour of all my bedrooms.”

  “Oh, I love the sound of that.” Safire snuggled into his warm chest. “But, I’ll have to bring my laptop.”

  “That’s fine with me, except fair warning.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m going to be working you harder than Dex Remington ever will.”

  Tingles danced over Safire’s skin, and she bounced on her toes. “Are we in a relationship? Is it exclusive? Boyfriend and girlfriend?”

  “Yes, we are. I don’t want you seeing anyone else, and I won’t go out with anyone other than you. How does that sound?”

  She hugged him tighter. “Awesome enough for me to forget my computer.”

  # # #

  Morning dawned at Gunner’s Scarsdale home, but he didn’t want to get out of bed—not when he was wrapped around a sweet, warm bundle of love named Safire.

  She breathed evenly, all tuckered out from the night of nonstop lovemaking. Gunner always thought he had a large appetite, but with this spitfire, he had been worried he couldn’t keep up.

  Fortunately, or unfortunately, she’d declared herself sore after the fifth bed they’d tested, which was why they’d ended up sleeping on the waterbed.

  He kissed her, unable to help running his hands all over her body as he pressed his morning wood against her back.

  That woke her with a smile. She stretched and purred, turning around. “Don’t tell me you’re not worn out.”

  “Only if you’re not sore anymore.” He splayed his palm on her belly and edged his fingers under the waistband of her panties.

  “I might have healed a bit in my sleep. I’m a Mage and have a healing spell.” She grinned, running her tongue over her upper lip.

  “Well, if you’re healed, then I’m all powered up. What are we waiting for?”

  She hooked a leg over his hip as he ripped a condom from his nightstand and sheathed himself. It was too early to wonder if she was on the Pill or to ask her to trust him, but now that they were exclusive, maybe, just maybe someday …

  All thought fled his brain as he expanded his way into her tight canal. She was where he belonged. His treasure. His beautiful, fiery Safire.

  # # #

  As wonderful as it was to have Safire in his bed all weekend, Gunner was eager to show her more of himself. After they finished exploring each other in the shower, he had his chef make a breakfast full of little treats: tiny quiches, breakfast tacos made with mini pancakes folded over ham, cheese, sweet pepper and pineapple, empanadas filled with ham and egg, and a tray of cubed fruit.

  Safire was as delighted about all the gadgets he had in his gourmet kitchen as she had been with his variety of beds and bedroom furniture.

  Usually, Gunner was wary of women who expressed too much interest in his things, but Safire’s interest was pure curiosity without a hint of wanting anything for herself. He tested her by offering things to her, and she turned everything down, including a limited edition Faberge jeweled egg.

  After breakfast, Gunner and Safire put on their winter clothes and boots.

  “I’ve a large hill on my property I want to show you.” He wrapped her scarf around her neck and zipped up her jacket. “It’s perfect for sliding down.”

  “I’ve never slid down a hill before.” Safire clamped a mittened hand over her mouth.

  “Seriously, never? Didn’t you grow up here?”

  “In ‘The City,’ yes, but we don’t go outdoors much. Mom likes to stay in her apartment.”

  “I don’t believe it. What about at Cornell? You had to have slid down the slope. Didn’t they used to do that on cafeteria trays?”

  “Only the brave ones,” Safire said. “I didn’t even like slipping and sliding on my feet over the icy steps.”

  “Then you missed out.” Gunner led her out and around to the carriage house. “I’ve got everything here. Sleds, toboggans, cross-country skis, snowshoes, snowboards, and if you want to go downhill skiing, we can fly up to Vermont.”

  Safire hugged her tiny body and shivered. “Let’s start with the easiest.”

  “Then let’s go tobogganing. I’ll sit in front and steer and all you have to do is hold onto me. Think you can do that?”

  He lifted a large, flat piece of maple curled in the shape of a “J”. It was braced with hardwood cross pieces lashed together by a long rope.

  “We’re going to sit on that?” Safire wrinkled her nose.

  “Yep, let’s go.” He grabbed two hockey helmets and dragged the toboggan up the slope.

  It was a high slope, but there was a straight path from the top down, a run he had cleared of trees and rocks.

  “I don’t know,” Safire said when they reached the top. Her breath came out in puffs. “It’s a long way down. I don’t know if I can do it.”

  “Jake comes up here with me.” Gunner set the toboggan down.

  “You bring Jake here?” Safire raised an admiring gaze at him. “I bet he really loves it.”

  “Yes, he does. He tires me out carrying him up and sliding down over and over.”

  “Well, I promise you I’m not going to tire you out. Is this thing really going to hold us?”

  “Seeing as how it’s flat on the snow, yes. Technically, you’re supposed to sit in front and steer because you’re smaller.”

  “I’d rather sit in back of you and hold on.”

&
nbsp; “Remember, don’t get off, no matter what. I’m not responsible if you go rolling off a ledge and hitting a tree.” He gave her a smacking kiss on her lips.

  He didn’t mention that the toboggan would go even faster if the larger person was in front, but instead, he let her think it was safer if she’d hold onto him.

  They strapped on their helmets and Gunner arranged the toboggan on a relatively flat section on the top of the hill. He got on first, anchoring his foot to keep the piece of wood from moving.

  “Ready?” he shouted and clasped Safire’s hands around his waist. “Don’t let go, and don’t jump off.”

  “Can I close my eyes?” She shivered behind him.

  “Sure, you can. Yee-haw!!!” He pushed off and held onto the rope lash.

  Safire’s arms tightened around him and she screamed as they picked up speed. Biting snow and wind stung their faces as the toboggan bounced and flew down the hill.

  Gunner steered them onto a flat section, but he didn’t see a bush that cropped up. They tumbled off, rolling. Gunner landed on his back and slid the rest of the way, heels first, but Safire belly flopped and crashed into a snowdrift.

  “Are you okay?” Gunner’s heart pounced to his throat as he ran toward her, sprawled on her face.

  He turned her over, and she packed a snowball into his face. Laughter tore from her mouth. “That was fun. I want to go in front.”

  “Okay, but you got to lean to steer.”

  “I think I can do better than you.” She gave him a playful shove and packed another ball of snow.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” Gunner ducked her snowball, and piled snow on her.

  Soon, they were rolling in the snowdrift, plastering each other with wet snow. Safire’s cheeks were pink, and her breath puffed like a steam engine, but her giggles were music to Gunner’s ears.

  By the end of the day, Gunner could barely move one foot in front of the other. Safire, like Jake, loved tobogganing once she got the hang of it, and Gunner was glad when the sun had finally set. It meant dinner and cuddling in front of the fireplace.

  And more. They ate, drank, and played Strip Scrabble, and Gunner couldn’t remember ever having so much fun.