His Rules: Ludlow Nights - Book1 (A Ludlow Nights Romance) by CC MacKenzie Page B

and T.C., an evil little smile played around her mouth.
    It appeared the cavalry had arrived and just in the nick of time.
    She didn't have a moment to take in the awesome sitting room of the penthouse before Danni, wearing skinny white cropped jeans and a mint-green tee and carrying a couple of garment bags, was making a beeline for her.
    "Turn right around, Missy. We're gonna run you a bath, do your hair to make you look like a human being and get you dressed."
    Anastacia spread her legs, folded her arms and didn't budge.
    "Is there a good reason why we can't do all of the above in my place?"
    "Oooooh," said T.C. as she turned to Olivier. "We have cranky beeitch. Has she had her morning coffee yet?"
    "Nope," said Olivier in a tone that screamed he was a tormented man at the end of his tether.
    And that tone was like a soothing ointment on Anastacia's own tortured arousal.
    "Then that explains it," said a T.C. apparently totally oblivious to the sexual tension sparking in the atmosphere. "You need to get with the programme, Olivier. Ana Banana without her coffee is not pretty. Plus, she is not, and let me stress the word not , good in the morning."
    Olivier didn't answer.
    Instead he sent a scorching look to Anastacia. A look that made her jerk her chin in response.
    A move that made T.C. and Danni give her a very wide berth.
    What was his problem?
    How was it her fault that her friends had arrived without notice?
     
    "Move," Danni told her and waved her towards the bedroom. After a final look at Olivier, Anastacia permitted her bestie to herd her back into the bedroom, to run her a bath, gently wash and condition her hair and wrap her head in a fluffy white towel.
    By the time she was squeaky clean and wearing lightweight yoga pants the color of vanilla ice-cream and a matching vest, Anastacia felt nearly back to normal.
    Almost.
    "Did you really think we were gonna leave you here all alone with the Italian stallion?" asked Danni as she very gently brushed her hair.
    "Thanks. I appreciate it." She might be secretly panting to get Olivier into bed, but she did appreciate it. To prove it to herself as much as to a doubtful looking Danni, Anastacia turned to give her friend a hug. "Who was that on the phone last night, at the restaurant? I couldn't work out if you were upset or scared and you switched off your phone."
    Danni rolled her eyes, shook her head.
    "You don't miss much, do you? It was Mr. Growler."
    Ahh, that explained it.
    Mr. Growler, aka Pascale Wolfe, was CEO of the French luxury brand Aqua di Redo, and Danni Pebbles' arch nemesis. He'd been chasing her for almost ten months and thus far his dominant and controlling behaviour had Danni running as fast as her Manolos would carry her in the opposite direction. However, Anastacia found the heat of annoyance burning her best friend's neck and cheeks very interesting.
    Very interesting indeed.
    Usually, Danni was a sweetheart, a woman who was a lover not a fighter.
    Thanks to her parent's appalling behaviour, she hated scenes and she hated dramas.
    And thanks to her past, she was very scared of big, over controlling men.
    She'd always been nervy around Pascale, although it had to be said that she didn't look particularly nervous at the moment. No. At the moment she looked almost infuriated.
    "I get paid to notice. What does he want now?"
    "He wants me in Paris, today, to give me an exclusive preview of the new winter collection. I said I was too busy."
    Whoa.
    Anastacia's eyes went wide as she stared at the belligerent and stubborn look in her friend's hazel eyes.
    There was not one style guru or blogger or fashion journalist in the entire world who would even dream of turning down an exclusive from Pascale Wolfe. And the man was indeed like a wolf, all tall and dark with broody grey eyes and growly, hence his moniker thought up by T.C.
    "Wow, you're living dangerously."
    "No I'm not. I said that my friend had been attacked and she needed me. And for the first time he