Page 63 of Five
Mission accomplished.
“And what about you?” Reaching over I tug gently on one of her vivid locks. “Is the purple a prerequisite for a prim schoolmarm?”
Neve sticks out her bottom lips in a pretend pout. “You think I’m a prim schoolmarm?”
Leaning forward, I whisper in her ear. “Only in the context of a sexy librarian. And I can’t wait to see you let loose.”
She flushes and clears her throat, hastily changing the subject. “It was my brother’s favorite color,” she explains, wriggling in her seat. “I wear it like this in remembrance of him.”
God, she’s so damn sweet. I can’t help dipping my head and stealing a kiss. Nothing heavy, but her lips cling to mine like she wouldn’t mind deepening it. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted, my cock already sporting a semi just from this innocent contact. But I promised her we’d work so she felt like she had time to play this afternoon, and I don’t want her to ever think I’m the type who will let her down or renege on my promises, so it’s with great reluctance that I lean back.
Neve bites her lip, looking at me from beneath her lashes, and I have a feeling her mind is exactly where mine is as she casts around for something to say that will break the tension building between us.
“What about your family? Parents? Siblings?”
Her voice is husky, but the question certainly works as well as a bucket of cold water.
I sit back, sucking in a breath. Neve gives me an uncertain look, and I force myself to relax. The guys have often told me I get a certain stony expression when my family is brought up.
“There’s not much of a relationship there, I’m afraid.” I try not to grit my teeth as I say it, and I have to rub my chest to try and ease the pressure there. “My sister’s okay, but I rarely see her.”
With everything that’s happened, neither of us can afford the risk of meeting up, which is sad, because actually, my sister is amazing. She’s the one who risked our father’s wrath and tracked me down when I had no way of supporting myself and was basically just living on Remi’s goodwill, coming up with the plan to pay me a monthly stipend so I was no longer destitute. All I had to do was change my name, so my dad didn’t catch on, since he’s a control freak who insists on overseeing everything, even now Evangeline is the official CEO. I have no doubt he would cut me off again if he ever discovered what she did. It’s one of the reasons I’ve worked so hard to invest that money and make it work for me. And thus Gabriel Ascopt died, and Gabe Copeland was born.
Evangeline got what she wanted, which was to run the family business, and God knows she does a far better job than I ever would have. Pity that our father, with his staunch traditional, outdated, values could never see that.
I’ve always found it ironic that he named us both after angels, when he’s the devil incarnate, but I don’t want to spoil this time between Neve and me with my fucked-up family. Not that it’s any big secret—well, not all of it, anyway—but I’d like her to get to know the man I am now before I have to tell her that I’m really Gabriel Ascopt, disowned son of corporate tycoon, Richard Ascopt.
Thankfully, she doesn’t push, perhaps sensing my desire for privacy. Either that or the look on my face was enough to make her think twice.
“How do you feel about investing some of your reserve fund in some higher yield stocks or bonds?” I ask, trying to get us back on track.
Neve bites her lip, looking unsure. “That’s my emergency money,” she says cautiously. “I need to be able to utilize it if I don’t have any income…like right now.”
I nod but remain firm. This is one thing I know well, and I’m good at. “What if you could invest, say, two thirds of those savings into investments which are assured to provide you with a return that will actually cover all the essential outgoings we’ve highlighted today? That way your reserves will never decrease, but you’ll still have some capital immediately available to give you peace of mind.”
She looks at me with wide eyes. “You can do that?”
“I can guarantee it.” Hell, if they fail—which they won’t—I’ll cover the shortfall myself. God knows I can afford it. I’ve used my MBA to build myself an impressive portfolio, reinvesting the stipend I get from my sister, so I won’t ever be at my father’s mercy again. Even if he somehow finds out about the arrangement I have with Evangeline and puts a stop to it.
Neve’s quiet for a moment; considering. She looks at the work we’ve already done and how I’ve managed to streamline things, then finally nods. “I trust you,” she says, and that simple affirmation makes me feel ten feet tall. More so because of how recently we met.
It shows great promise for our potential in a polyamorous relationship where trust is the cornerstone.
We work for another hour, and I’m pleased to be able to make some suggestions I think will greatly benefit the financial situation of the daycare.
“Okay. We’re done. I’ll meet you at the dock in thirty minutes.” I throw her a lecherous look and waggle my eyebrows. “I can’t wait to ogle you in your bathing suit.”
She laughs as she walks away, looking so much less stressed than when she arrived, and it’s a great feeling knowing I’ve played a part in that.
I smile, watching the sultry sway of her hips as she leaves, unable to drag my eyes away until she’s out of sight. It’s not until then that I text the guys.
Me:All done. Spirits are high and bathing suits are on the horizon. ETA minus thirty minutes.
I don’t bother waiting for a reply. I’m too keen to get changed myself. If they don’t watch their phones, that’s their issue.
Of course, it figures I’m the last to arrive down at the dock. Clearly, they were all ready to go while I was slaving over Neve’s accounts. In fact, the way Jesse’s slicked up with suntan lotion and sipping on a bottle of water while reclined on a lounger, I figure he’s been here for a while.
“What’s the matter with you?” I ask Oliver as he taps his foot and checks his diving watch, a scowl crinkling his forehead.
