Page 67 of Theirs

Chapter 19

After one of my showers in the middle of the week, I startle to the sound of a construction crew. It sounds like there’s a demolition going on in the house. Which isn’t possible. Colin would have warned me. Colin left the house about two hours ago for work after giving me a mind numbing kiss. I pull a random shirt that I find on the ground over my head, it could belong to any of my boyfriends, and pull on a pair of my leggings that someone pulled off as we got into bed last night, and head out the room in the direction of the commotion.

There’s an entire work crew at the end of the hall, but I can’t see much through all of the sawdust being kicked up and the plastic partition they put up to contain some of their construction.

I go into the kitchen, searching for Ben, but I only find Gwen.

“What’s going on?” I yell to her over the noise of jigsaws and nail guns.

“Mr. Gatsby is remodeling,” Gwen says with a smile, handing me a coffee. As if she’s not at all bothered by the noise in the house.

I shake my head but smile back. “Well obviously, but why? He didn’t tell me.”

Not that he needs to, this is his house. Not mine, I’m just living here.

“It’s a surprise,” she says. “He said to pack a bag for at least two weeks. The three of you will be staying at Mr. MacKenna’s penthouse. I’ve packed up Mr. Snuffy’s food and litter for you as well. His carrier is in the guest room.”

“Is Colin always this spontaneous?” I ask Gwen, even though it’s one of my favorite personality traits of his.

She grins. “Always.”

***

I pack my bag as quickly as possible, wanting to get out of the construction chaos. Gwen’s at the garage door with a set of keys to Colin’s Aston Martin and an address to Mac’s place since I’ve only been there once for a few hours. The guys are still working when I arrive at Mac’s building and pull up to the front to have Colin’s car valet parked. The doorman welcomes me and Mr. Snuffy in, like he was expecting me. He offers to take my suitcase, but I tell him I’ll manage as I head for the elevators that will take me to the top floor.

I use the key to let myself in, the one Mac gave me about a week ago so I could hang out here if I ever had a break in my day of dog walking. I pull my suitcase over the threshold and head into the penthouse, finding it spotless. I set Mr. Snuffy’s carrier on the floor, and unzip it so he can run around and explore while I settle in. There’s a bouquet of flowers sitting on his island with a card and my name on it.

Inside is a handwritten note.

Kitten, make yourself at home. Your guys will get to you as soon as we can. My credit card is in the system if you want to go to the spa downstairs. Feel free to pamper yourself. The five of us are going out for dinner tonight. I bought you a dress I’d like you to wear, it’s hanging in my closet.

Yours, Mac (and the guys.)

I still feel guilty about the stuff the guys do and buy for me, but I really could use a mani and pedi, and possibly a professional hair and makeup day because my brown roots are starting to show. I’m sure the guys are planning on getting dinner somewhere fancy, and I don’t want to show up not looking the part. I pull my suitcase down the hall, following the empty grey walls to Mac’s room, leaving my suitcase at the foot of the bed and going to check out the dress Mac picked for me.

It’s hanging on the door to his walk-in closet, the bathroom lights making the black dress sparkle. I walk over to the floor length dress, noticing it has a slit that will go up the front of one of my thighs. Very on point with my style. I love that Mac always knows what I’m willing to wear, and never tries to dress me up like the Stepford wife type that most people would assume him to be with. I can’t wait to wear this dress for my guys tonight.

I head down to the spa, and am surprised to find that Mac booked out one of their employees to take care of me for the whole day, even though it was possible to turn down the offer. Jamie introduces herself, and walks me down the hall, setting me up in a massage chair for my pedicure, and getting me a glass of champagne to enjoy while she does her magic.

Jamie pampers me for four hours straight, massaging my feet, painting my nails, giving me a facial, doing my hair and makeup, and sending me on my way. I feel refreshed. By the time she finishes, I look at myself in the mirror and smile at my reflection. She didn’t cake on the makeup, she just heightened my best features, and played off of the winged eyeliner I came in wearing. She freshened up my purple hair as well, which was nice because I haven’t been able to box dye it in quite some time. She hands me a goodie bag of touch up supplies for tonight that include the lipstick she used, some makeup wipe removers, and a special shampoo that she said will brighten up my purple hair.

Heading back upstairs with an air of confidence that I haven’t had in a while, I take the elevator up and key in the code to Mac’s place. The guys are standing outside on the private balcony that overlooks lake Michigan, they’ve got the door open, so I can hear their laughter when I close the door to the apartment behind me. They’re all dressed up for our fancy dinner in suit jackets, and pristine pants, solid-colored ties. I decide I’m going to sneak down the hall, and get into my dress and heels so they can see the completely finished product.

Darting down the hall, I quickly close the door behind me and lock it so none of them try to sneak in here and ruin the makeover reveal. I go to the bathroom to grab the dress off the hanger, thankful when I find that it’s a low back and not a zipper. I step into the dress, pulling it up over my hips and sliding my arms through the holes with ease. Easy enough to get on, I wonder if that’s what Mac planned, that way it’s also easy to get off.

I grab a pair of black heels that are sitting on the vanity, and sit down on the edge of the jacuzzi tub to buckle them to my ankles.

The guys are coming back inside as I walk down the hall toward the living room, and Alex is the first one to see me. He stops dead in his tracks, causing Ben to bump into him, but Alex doesn’t take his eyes off of me.

I hear one of the others let out a low whistle of approval as Alex’s eyes trail from my polished toes peeping out of my heels, all the way up my thighs and to my face, the curls hanging over one of my shoulders.

“Holy fuck,” Colin mutters. “How about we skip dinner? I don’t know if I can keep it in my pants tonight.”

“Hell, no!” I say, just as my stomach rumbles. “I’m starving. And I did not get this fancy to not leave the apartment.”

“Kitten, I think we’re all hungry too,” Mac almost growls. “Just in a different way.”

I walk over to Alex, who still hasn’t moved since he saw me, and place my hands on the lapels of his suit jacket.

---