by Whitney G.
“Kate, please.” He looked into my eyes. “Please come back with me so we can start over, right where we left off.”
“You mean, the past when you pushed me away the other night?”
“I’m talking about nine and a half years ago.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” I choked over my own words. “I’ve changed.”
“No, you’re the same.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “So am I... And I know that because year after year, I can honestly say that I’ve thought about you more than anyone else.”
“First class is boarding right now, James. That’s my group.”
“Kate...” His lips nearly brushed against mine. “I love you, and I always have.”
“I believe you always will,” I said, slowly moving my head away from him. I picked up my bag and sighed. “You’ll just have to do it from afar now.” I felt my heart begging me to stay grounded, to resist the urge to fly away, but logic won the fight. “Goodbye and good luck, James. Thank you for finally apologizing.”
He looked devastated, and a part of me hated myself for making him feel that way. I had to move on, though. This time, for good. This time, forever.
I turned away and fought every urge to look over my shoulder as I headed to the line. I handed over my boarding pass and stepped onto the jet bridge.
Ignoring the tears that refused to stop falling, I pulled out my phone and turned it off. I didn’t want James to say or send any more of those heart-wrenching words that might influence me to change my mind.
As I settled into my seat, I looked through the window and my heart immediately dropped. James was standing by the windows in the gate area, staring right at me.
I couldn’t handle seeing the look on his gorgeous face, so I took a deep breath and pulled the shade shut.
“Miss?” A flight attendant stepped next to me, a packet of Kleenex in hand. “Miss, would you like something to drink before takeoff?”
“Vodka. Keep them coming while we’re in the air, please.”
I cried the rest of the flight.
Forever
One week later
James
“YOU REALLY ARE OUT to sabotage this company from the top, aren’t you? Why would you ever let Miss Kennedy resign?”
“She was the best marketing director we’d ever had, and she was just getting started!”
“We’re holding a vote to oust you from this company at the end of the month. We can’t take this shit anymore.”
I deleted the remaining voicemails and leaned back in my chair. Today was definitely my worst day on the job to date, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the board pushed up their ousting meeting to this weekend. I’d fumbled my way through the morning conference calls, forgotten to show up to an important brewing presentation, and worst of all, I’d forgotten to wear a damn suit.
Dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt, I was sitting in my boardroom instead of my office. I needed a place to escape and think about Kate.
Since I was now incapable of getting more than three hours of sleep a night, I was spending all my mental energy replaying episodes of “When Kate Was Here” whenever I could. Her interview, her laughter, her sex.
Her bent over her desk.
She dominated my thoughts so much that I didn’t even have the energy to fire people anymore. (Which was quite an issue because there were three people in the Customer Service department who definitely deserved it right now.)
I wasn’t being myself at all, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be the same. For now, I honestly wanted to be left the hell alone.
Opening my inbox, I sent Shannon a quick email.
SUBJECT: THIS WEEK.
Don’t allow anyone to come into my office or the board room, and cancel all of my appointments.
Also: Can you let me know if Kate received my flowers at her NYC apartment?
Sean Holmes
CEO of Pier Autumn Coffee
HER RESPONSE WAS INSTANT.
SUBJECT: RE: THIS WEEK.
Consider everything officially cancelled. I’ll make sure that no one gets into your office or your boardroom.
Also: They were delivered, but she sent them back to the store, sir. Would you like me to send them again?
Shannon
I SIGHED, DIDN’T BOTHER writing back.
Instead, I started drafting a new apology letter to Kate.
Maybe that will make her come back to me.
When I was in the middle of writing, ‘I’m willing to make this up to you physically and emotionally—but especially physically since I think I’ve stressed you out more often lately,” the door to the boardroom opened and I damn near lost it.
“Shannon,” I said, adding a new clause to my letter. “I specifically said that I didn’t want any interruptions this week. These interruptions include you.”
“What about me?” The soft sound of Kate’s voice made me look up.
Looking stunning as ever in a low cut, and completely unprofessional red dress, Kate stepped into the room and took my breath away. Her dark hair was hanging in loose curls that fell over her shoulders, and she was wearing silver stilettos that showed off her long legs.
We stared at each other, not saying a word.
“Did you leave something behind?” I shattered the silence.
“Yes.” She stepped closer, her gaze locked on mine. “There were some numbers that I meant to give you, and I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t give them to you sooner rather than later.”
“I’m listening.”
“Eight, Twenty, and one.” She let out a breath as she stepped right in front of me. “I’m not as good at this as you are, so you may have to help me here or there.”
“Fair enough.” I swallowed. “Eight.”
“Eight is exactly how many minutes I lasted in New York City before I realized that I needed to come back.”
I smiled and stood up, quickly closing the gap between us.
“Twenty is the number of times I’ve thought about suing you over the years, for ruining every male relationship I’ve had without even trying,” Her voice cracked. “I’ve always compared every guy I ever dated to you and it’s always a losing game. And, even though me and Grant weren’t really married, I’m well aware that he was only half of the man that you were.”
“That’s still being too generous.”
“Speaking of Grant, Sarah Kay said he was brutally beaten at a gas station last week. They say he’ll be in the hospital for months. Did you have anything to do with that?”
“Of course not.” I smiled. “I’ll be sure to send him a card.”
“Really?”
“Fuck no.” I ran my fingers through her hair. “Tell me about one.”
“One is a lot of things.” She leaned in closer to me, and I couldn’t help but taste her lips before she finished. Couldn’t help but own her mouth with mine until she was breathless—to make her have second thoughts about leaving Seattle again.
When she finally caught her breath, she smiled. “One is the number of number of nights it took for me to realize that I’d just met the love of my life. It may have taken me nine and half years to get him back, but I just want him to know that I’m not going anywhere.”
“You did a good job with your numbers,” I said, rubbing my hands against the back of her dress. “I’m highly impressed. I’d probably say the same thing for number one right now.”
“It only took you one night to see that you’d eventually fall for me, too?”
“Of course not,” I said, pulling down her zipper. “Even you admit that I’m much better at this numbers game than you.” I pressed my lips against hers and bit down hard on her bottom lip. “It only took me one hour.”
THE END
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On a Tuesday, a steamy, second chance romance.
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Sincerely, Carter, a swoon-worthy friends to lovers romance.
Carter and Arizona have been best friends since fourth grade until one night changes everything...
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Lifelong enemies, Ethan and Rachel, have vowed to never talk to each other, until one night in college changes everything.
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WHITNEY G. NEWSLETTER
ALSO BY WHITNEY G.
SERIES & STANDALONES:
THE STEAMY COFFEE READS Collection
Naughty Boss
Dirty Doctor
Cocky Client
REASONABLE DOUBT SERIES
Reasonable Doubt #1
Reasonable Doubt #2
Reasonable Doubt #3
FALLING FOR MR. STATHAM Series
Resisting the Boss
Loving the Boss
THE ONE WEEK SERIES
On a Tuesday
On a Wednesday
On a Thursday
On a Friday
On a Saturday
On a Sunday
On a Monday
STANDALONE NOVELS
Sincerely, Carter
Forget You, Ethan
Mister Weston (Turbulence)
Over Us, Over You
Two Weeks’ Notice
Never Got Over You
Break up with Him, for Me
The Fine Print
Filthy Lawyer
We Could’ve Been
Tell No One Else
Definitely Not Him
Good Kisser
STANDALONE NOVELLAS
The Layover
Late Night Kisses
NOVEL COLLECTIONS
NEW YORK NIGHTS
Come Fly with Me
Sincerely, Yours