Keeping Kiera (A MFM Menage Romance) Read online

  Caleb's recognized Kiera's voice too. He lifts his head. “What are you doing, Nolan?”

  My smile widens. “My hotel has a pool. I'm going to invite Kiera to join me for a swim tonight.” I turn toward him, my eyebrow raised. “You don't mind, do you? Like you said, you flirt with everyone.”

  Caleb shoots me a dark look. “You’re going to ask her out?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  If looks could incinerate, I'd be nothing but a pile of dust and ash on Xavier’s antique Persian rug. “Why are you doing this?” he grinds out through gritted teeth. “She's a good person, Nolan. Don’t play games with her. She deserves better than you and me.”

  “I’m not doing anything. It’s a hundred degrees outside, and I have access to a pool. Besides,” I add, my smile fading. “You shouldn't lump yourself in with me. You’re the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company. You take care of your niece. You’re loved by your family. If something were to happen to you, you'd be mourned.”

  Caleb's expression sharpens, and I clamp my mouth shut. Fuck. I’ve said too much. Yes, I’m lonely as fuck. Yes, I sometimes wonder if anyone would miss me if I were killed in a gunfight. Last year, I'd been wounded in Mogadishu. I'd laid in a hospital bed for six weeks, and I've been struck with a painful realization. I’ve made a difference in peoples' lives, but it’s not personal. People like me. People are grateful to me, but no one loves me.

  But I’ve made my choices. I’ve always held myself aloof. It's what I’ve needed to do. My life is too dangerous; I have no business dragging someone into it.

  Theo Reeves, Caleb’s brother, thought he could have it all, but when he was killed, his wife Joha had been so broken-hearted that she’d withdrawn into herself. She’d self-medicated with alcohol and drugs, and eventually, she’d overdosed. Their daughter Nala, who had just been two at the time, had been so traumatized that she hadn't talked for over a year.

  I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I need to keep my eyes on the prize. I've been hunting for Luis Fernando Martinez for three years, and I’ve never been closer to finding out who he is. All I have to do is locate Gregory Dratch and let the former IT guy of the Kitai Bratva take me right to his boss. I’ve no doubt Dratch will cooperate; the guy’s a fucking coward who’s already faked his death once to hide from the mafiya.

  Club Ménage can be a pleasant diversion, a way to blow off steam for a day or two. But it cannot be anything else.

  Caleb’s giving me a searching look. “Somalia was a shit show,” he says, accurately pinpointing the problem. “I came to see you in the hospital, but you weren’t accepting visitors. Alexander tried too; Ellie and Alexander flew all the way from Paris, and you pushed them away.”

  Damn it. I need to distract Caleb before he launches full force into psychoanalyzing me. “If you have a problem about me inviting Kiera to the pool, why don’t you do something about it?” I taunt.

  “Fuck you, Nolan.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  I’m almost at the door when Caleb jumps to his feet and cuts ahead of me, muttering a curse under his breath. Wrenching Xavier’s office door open, he steps out into the hallway. “Kiera,” he says. “Could you come in for a minute please?”

  5

  Kiera

  My first reaction is to almost jump out of my skin. I even yelp a little.

  Caleb’s lips tilt up. “Sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “You didn’t,” I lie. “I was just surprised. Mr. Leforte is away for a few days. I didn’t expect to see anyone in his office.” The stranger—Nolan Wolanski—is standing behind Caleb, and I study him with narrowed eyes. “Are you breaking and entering? Because if you are, I will call Security.”

  Nolan’s brown eyes laugh at me. “That’s very admirable of you.” He fishes a black keycard out of his wallet, and waves it in front of the lock. The light turns green. “I’m an old friend of Xavier’s. I have a standing invitation to use his office when I need privacy.” His smile widens. “I don’t always want to be on camera, and this is the only place in the club that isn’t on the security feeds.”

  My cheeks heat. “That’s good to know.” I feel like a fool. It’s not as if Farid didn’t warn me that Nolan and Xavier are old friends; he did. It’s just that, face to face with these two impossibly good-looking men, it totally slipped my mind.

  I don’t always want to be on camera. Just like that, my fantasies veer into X-rated territory. Caleb shrugging off his jacket. Loosening his tie. Ordering me to cross my wrists and tying them tight with the scrap of silk. Nolan taking off his t-shirt, those massive muscles flexing as he gets undressed. Stalking toward me, his dark eyes filled with heat. What’s your pleasure, Kiera?

  Caleb clears his throat, pulling my mind out of the gutter. I turn to him, pasting a polite smile on my face. The kind of smile that says I wasn’t imagining him naked. “What can I do for you, Mr. Reeves?”

  “You’re leaving early. Don’t you work late on Fridays?”

  “Not this week. Kellie’s got family visiting next week, so we switched shifts.” Yes, I know I’m babbling.

  Nolan shifts his weight from one foot to another. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Caleb, get to the point.”

  Caleb gives the taller man a withering look. “Nolan, you have all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. Shut up.” He turns back to me. “We overheard your conversation. Your air-conditioner is broken, and you’re planning to wake up early to use the community pool?”

  I lift my chin in the air. It’s not a crime to be poor. “Yes. What about it?”

  “I have a pool,” he says. “Nolan and I were headed over to my place for a swim and a beer. Want to join us? If you’d like, you can spend the night, and hang out by the pool all day tomorrow. You’ll have the house to yourself; I’ll be at work.”

  My mouth falls open. Is he inviting me to sleep with him? Is this how billionaires proposition the help? One beer, a couple of laps in the pool, and I’ll be ready to jump into Caleb Reeves’ bed?

  Be honest, Kiera. He wouldn’t even need to buy you a beer.

  Caleb sees my expression and winces. “Ah, I should have worded that better. I have four guest bedrooms. You’re welcome to use one of them.”

  Oh, okay. That’s good. I’m not disappointed. Not even a little.

  Behind Caleb, Nolan grins. “Don’t worry, Kiera. I’ll come along and play chaperone.”

  A giggle bursts out of me before I can help myself. “You’re a long-time member of a sex club, and you’re going to act as my chaperone?”

  “Is that a yes?” Caleb smiles at me, his eyes crinkling.

  I hesitate. Earlier tonight, I drew the line at calling Caleb by his first name. I have no business going to his place and swimming in his pool, even if the idea of a dip sounds like heaven. “I can’t,” I say reluctantly. “I should go home. I’m binge-watching every Bourne movie on Netflix.”

  Caleb smirks. “I’ve been told I have a massive…” He pauses for a second. “…TV.”

  Someone slap me. I feel the heat creep up my cheeks. When I’m working, I can let the double-entendres slide off me. Even better, I can give back as good as I get.

  But I’m not in my Club M uniform. The armor is gone, stripped bare. In my street clothes, I’m a blushing, stammering fool.

  “Do you want a dip?” Caleb asks directly.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you afraid I’ll make a pass at you?”

  I’m afraid I’ll want you to. “No.”

  “Are you worried that Xavier will disapprove of you socializing with me?”

  “A little.”

  Nolan shakes his head. “Kiera, I’ve known Xavier since college. I’ve been a member of this club since it was founded. I promise, you won’t get into trouble.”

  Caleb’s grey-green eyes rest on me. “Please join us.”

  I swallow. I’m tempted. So tempted. It’s so hot that even Xavier’s air-conditioning isn’t up to the task of coolin
g the club. My t-shirt is sticking to my back. A pool sounds like bliss.

  That’s not the only reason. For all his flirting, I don’t know a damn thing about Caleb. I know he owns a computer company, but that’s it. I don’t know where he lives. I don’t know if he works in New York or DC, and commutes to this part of the world on the weekend, or if his company is based in the area. Caleb hides it well, but he’s extremely private, and this is my one chance to learn something about him.

  Have I mentioned I’ve had a giant crush on him for the last six months?

  Guys get to think with their dicks, but women always have to be responsible. Fuck it. I want to cut loose for one night. Do something just because I want to, damn the consequences.

  I did all the right things in life, and so far, that’s backfired spectacularly on me. I tried to get Bianca out of Greg Dratch’s clutches, and it ended up with both of them dead. Greg’s boss, Vladimir Sirkovich killed two men in front of my eyes. The FBI convinced me to testify, but they forgot to mention that the mafia doesn’t like snitches. Now, I’m in hiding, in witness protection, always looking over one shoulder, always ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

  Screw doing the right thing for once. Call me superficial, but I want to ogle Caleb and Nolan in their swim trunks.

  I can take my own car. I don’t have to drink. Besides, I trust Caleb. For six months, I’ve noticed the way he behaves. Caleb treats everyone with respect. Not just the members. He treats the employees well too. The club monitors, the floor staff--they all like and respect Caleb. It’s part of the reason I’m attracted to him.

  Nolan’s a wild card, but hey, I grew up in a rough neighborhood. I can take care of myself. If it comes down to it, I have mace in my purse, and I’m not afraid to use it.

  I throw caution to the wind. “Thank you. I’d love to.”

  6

  Caleb

  I could happily strangle Nolan.

  Yes, it's true. I am attracted to Kiera. Who wouldn’t be? She’s a beautiful woman. The pink highlights in her hair, the dragon tattoos on her arms, her bright, cheerful smile—she stands out from everyone else. In a world of black and white, Kiera is a rainbow.

  But being attracted to her is one thing. Doing something about it is an entirely different matter.

  When Keira had first started working at the club, more than one member had taken note. Most guys flirted a little, but when their interest wasn’t returned, they got the message.

  Then there was Brett Fisher. He came on to her, constantly and unrelentingly. He sent gifts. He made pass after pass at her. He kept asking her out. He just wouldn’t give up.

  The thing about Kiera? She’s always pleasant. Always smiling. She's cheerful and talkative.

  But after watching her for a while, I've learned something. Her surface bubbliness hides a deep well of privacy. Whatever Kiera is really thinking or feeling, she keeps it well hidden.

  Had I thought that Fisher was seriously bothering Kiera, I would have intervened. But I hadn’t been able to read her. I didn't know if she welcomed the attention, but I didn't think she minded it too much.

  I was very, very wrong. She'd felt badly harassed by Brett Fisher. Worse, she felt that because she was just a bartender and Fisher was a long-time member, she had to stay quiet and tolerate the harassment.

  It finally got so bad that she walked into Xavier's office one day, four months after she started, and told him she was quitting.

  I still remember the look on Xavier's face when he told me about their conversation. His eyes were dead, and his voice was flat. “I should have realized what was going on,” he'd said. “This is my fault. This is my club. I approved Brett Fisher's membership.”

  He’d thrown a vase against the wall. The gesture had been shocking in its unexpected violence. Xavier Leforte never lost his cool. “It’s even worse than that,” he’d continued, his voice a monotone, as if shards of seventeenth-century pottery didn’t litter the floor. “I created an environment where Kiera didn't feel safe. Where she was afraid to approach me because she thought I would take Fisher’s side, not hers.”

  I’d moved the antique glass paperweight on his desk before it could meet the same fate as the vase. “Twelve years after Lina's death, and I'm still making the same mistakes.” He’d taken a deep breath. “The world hasn’t been kind to Kiera. It was my responsibility to be better, and I’ve failed.”

  Fisher’s membership had been swiftly revoked. New club policies had been drawn up.

  The incident is in the past, but Xavier's words have stayed with me.

  The three of us walk to the parking lot. Andrei is waiting for me, leaning against the car, his jacket off and his shirt sleeves rolled up. When he sees me, he snaps to attention and hurries to open the passenger door.

  Kiera stops dead in her tracks. An odd expression flashes over her face. “You have a driver. A driver who's waiting for you at one o'clock in the morning outside a sex club.”

  I can hear the judgment in her voice. “That Dempsey packed a punch,” I respond mildly. “And I don't like to drink and drive.”

  “Right.” She shuffles her feet. “Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…”

  Damn it. She’s pulling away.

  “Changing your mind?” Nolan drawls. “Afraid we might bite?”

  Her shoulders stiffen. “Where do you live? I'll follow you in my car.”

  She's thinking about her safety, and I can respect that. I give her my address. “Do you need directions?”

  She pulls out her phone and punches it in. “No, I'm okay.”

  She's as skittish as a colt, and I don't want to push. I don't want to be another Brett Fisher. “See you in a bit.”

  We wait for her to start her car, and then I slide into my own seat. “Kiera will be following us, Andrei. Can you keep her in sight?”

  “Of course, Mr. Reeves.”

  Nolan gets in as well. “You're so jumpy around her. What gives?”

  I give him a deeply exasperated look. It’s obvious what Nolan is doing. He's not the only person who thinks that Theo's death has changed me. They all think that the reason I'm not dating is because I'm still dealing with my brother’s untimely end.

  They’re wrong. Yes, it had been devastating to lose Theo, but his death was quick, and he'd gone out doing something that mattered to him.

  It's not his death I'm broken up by. It's Joha's. I didn't have to see my brother suffer, but for a year and a half after it happened, I watched Joha grieve, and there was not a damn thing I could do about it. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't help her.

  It's not loss I'm staying away from. It's the feeling of helplessness you get when someone you care about is hurting, and you are powerless to do anything about it.

  “Kiera’s been harassed at the club before,” I say shortly. “And she felt that she couldn't do anything about it. I would really like to avoid repeating that experience.”

  “Whoa.” Nolan raises his hands. “I'm not going to do anything that she is uncomfortable with. You know that.”

  I do. That's not who Nolan is. “Kiera is a bartender who probably lives paycheck to paycheck. You are not only enormously wealthy but also good friends with her boss, so much so that you have a key to his office. We’ve both been members of the club since it opened. Consider the optics.”

  Nolan's expression turns serious. “You're right. I wasn't thinking.” He lapses into thought. “She kept looking at you,” he says at last. “She's at least a little interested.”

  She did? “Brett Fisher probably thought the same thing.”

  Nolan makes an impatient noise in his throat. “In that case,” he says bluntly, “He wasn't paying enough attention to what she was and wasn’t saying. Unless you've changed dramatically since the last time I saw you, you're not going to do the same thing.”

  “Even so. Nothing's going to happen. I'm warning you, Nolan. I'm dead serious about this.”

  Nolan stares at me for a long time. “You’re a
good person, Caleb,” he says. “Your concern for Kiera is admirable. But you're so worried that you won’t hear her saying ‘no’ that you're going to miss it when she says ‘yes.’”

  I'm attracted to Kiera. I've been attracted to her for quite some time, yet I've had the sense to keep my interest in check. Then Nolan comes along, and in the space of one conversation, all my good intentions have gone flying out of the window.

  Outside, the car eats up the miles. It's a full moon night. The air shimmers with possibilities.

  Could Nolan be right?

  7

  Kiera

  I’m allowed to look, I tell myself as I drive through the quiet country roads. Just not touch.

  No matter how much I want to.

  The moon is big and silvery. Marvin Gaye is on the radio, his voice low and sexy, singing that he wants to get down with me.

  It’s been a while since a man touched me. Too long.

  Behave yourself, Kiera.

  Caleb lives forty-five minutes away. We pass a golf course and a country club on the way, and when I turn into his driveway, I brace myself for a mansion.

  It’s not a small house, by any means, but it’s also not obnoxiously large. If I were to channel my inner Goldilocks, I’d say it’s just right. I don't know anything about architecture, but Caleb’s house looks old. The walls are stone, and there’s a rounded turret on one side. Magical.

  Andrei, Caleb’s driver, parks to one side of the driveway. I pull up beside him, and Caleb opens my door. “Welcome.”

  I smile at him, butterflies dancing in my stomach. “Thank you. Your house is lovely.” I grab my backpack, the one with my swimsuit, from the backseat, and get out of the car. You’re just here for a swim. No need to freak out.

  “You haven’t seen the inside yet.” He switches his attention to his driver. “I’m done for the night. Thank you, Andrei.”