Free The Guest by Kelsie Belle Page A

displeasure.
    He sighed, slumping back in his chair wearily. “I was tired and went
straight to bed as soon as I got to the penthouse. I was working all weekend,
you know. It wasn’t exactly a vacation.” He grimaced as he said the words,
knowing full well he’d done very little work all weekend. But that was
something he could never say to Chelsea. She was under the impression that he
belonged to her, although the two of them had only dated casually, and
certainly not exclusively, over the past couple of months.
    “I know, I just miss you, that’s all.” she said, sighing as well. “Will
you be at Mother’s luncheon next weekend?”
    Not if he could help it, Cole thought.   Anita Caldwell’s charity luncheon, with all
the pretense that went along with it, was certainly something he could do
without. But instead, he said, “I plan to be there, yes.”
    “Terrific!” Chelsea cried and he could almost see her beaming and
clapping her hands together in delight like a small child. “Guests should begin
arriving at eleven, but I want to get there a little early so you can pick me
up at around ten thirty.”
    Her assumption that he would be escorting her rankled and Cole had to bite
his tongue sharply to remain calm. When he was certain he had himself under
control he said as gently as he could, “Actually I may run a bit late, Chelsea.
Previous engagement. Why don’t you have Garfield take you there and if anything,
I can give you a ride home if you like.”
    “Previous engagement? But you’ve known about this for over a month!”
The pouting had returned, along with a little of her fiery temper Cole knew all
too well.
    He injected a thick dose of charm into his voice as he replied. “Yes, I
did, but you know how my job is set up. I have to cater to the clients’ needs
above all else. Surely you understand that?”
    Her tone was overly flippant when she responded, but he could tell she
was still upset. “Yes, I understand. Fine, I’ll see you there then.”
    “I’ll do my best,” he told her, ensuring that he didn’t make any
promises.
    “Alright, you do sound quite busy indeed. I’ll let you get back to your
work. Give me a call when you’re free though, okay?”
    “Sure thing, Chelsea. Later.”
    “Yes, catch you later, handso—”
    Cole returned the receiver to its cradle before she could finish the
term of endearment. “Fuck!” he said under his breath, pinching the bridge of
his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Fuck, fuck, fucking hell!”
      Chelsea was the eldest daughter
of Audley Caldwell, one of the senior partners in the company. She was also the
woman earmarked by Cole’s mother, as well as hers, to be his future wife. She
was truly something to look at, blessed with a beauty that was almost
unnaturally faultless. Graceful, strategically even-tempered and polished to
the tee, she was always impeccably dressed, with well-manicured nails and never
a hair out of place. She would make a perfect, honest-to-goodness, modern
Stepford Wife. Yet she was everything Cole didn’t want in a woman.
    He wanted a woman who wasn’t afraid to laugh out loud, to let her hair
blow in the wind or scream like a banshee at a Rock concert. He wanted a woman
who wasn’t afraid to test the boundaries of her sexuality or didn’t care that
people might find her in an uncompromising position in a public place with not
just one but two men. No, Cole didn’t
want Chelsea Caldwell, he wanted Julianne Matthews.
    However, the impossibility of it all was driving him crazy. Julie was
married to Jared, there was no way he could be with her and there was certainly
no way they could ever have a permanent three way relationship. What the hell
was wrong with him anyway? Why couldn’t he just condition his mind to his
situation and appreciate the perfectly good woman who was right in front of
him? Their parents would be thrilled at the pairing and she would fit right
into his world with very little