by Elsie James
We finish shooting the promotional photos with the kids on the playground. I stand next to the plaque that reads, “Dedicated to the work of Mr. Leonardo Romano.” Shane and the teenage boys flexing their biceps on the basketball court. Everyone on the playground equipment, even me. What we did here today matters. Shane was right. Daddy is going to love it.
As we leave, Shane makes a production of hugging, fist-bumping, and doing special handshakes with every single kid. He calls them each by name. Has Shane been here before?
We walk back into the parking lot. Shane passes his gray truck and walks to the SUV where Jeffery waits for me. He taps on the driver’s side window.
“Jeff, what’s up brother? How are things with the Mrs?” Shane asks. Jeffery mumbles in response. So, Shane knows everyone now huh?
“Listen, man, why don’t you take off? I’ll get her home.”
Jeffery looks at me, conflicted. “It’s alright, I…” Jeffery protests weakly.
Shane cuts him off, turning to me. “It’s his kid’s birthday and he’s sitting in a parking lot all day waiting for you. He needs to leave, Ainsley. I’ll drive you home.”
Shane opens the back door of the SUV and grabs my giant bag. He tosses it carelessly into the cab of his truck. “Get in.”
Jeffery pauses, waiting for my approval.
I hesitate, trying to choose my words carefully. “I...didn’t know you had children,” I say to Jeffery. I am absolutely not ok with Shane dismissing my staff, but I feel absolutely terrible. Jeffery is always so quiet around me. I haven’t made the effort to get to know him, and I really should have. If Jeffery has a child who has a birthday, then he should be there, celebrating the day with his son. Daughter? I don’t even know. “Okay then. Jeffery, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As Jeffery drives off, I stare at Shane. He unapologetically holds open the passenger door to his truck. Flustered by the speed of this interaction, I take a step toward him.
“I see why you did it, but never do that again. If you want to correct me on something, please don’t do it in front of the people I manage.”
“I’m proud of you today,” he replies. He catches me off guard. “You really made some connections with the children.”
“Well, they were adorable. You may have been right about this place.”
“Oh, I’m right? Say it again,” he shouts. Laughing, Shane wraps me in a bear hug so tight I couldn’t get out of it if I wanted to. Luckily, I don’t. In fact, there is nowhere else I’d rather be right now.
I let him hold me, my face buried against his rock hard pecs. I move my arms around his trunk and squeeze back. Shane’s hands wander to my ass and give it a squeeze. Shocked, I look up at him.
“Shane!”
“Oh please, you like it.” He’s not wrong. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
Shane places his hand on mine as we make the drive up the hill. I let him keep it there. Shane might not be a just gold-digger; he might also be really thoughtful when he wants to be. His irresistible, natural smile settles onto his face.
“You helped me today. Thank you. I didn’t know you could be so genuinely sweet. But it made all the difference.”
“Well, I learned something about you today too. You care about more than just yourself and Duchy.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I care about plenty.”
“I’m teasing you, Ainsley. But, honestly, every time I’m with you, I learn something else about you that impresses me.”
When we park in front of my townhouse, the tension that has been building between us for weeks erupts. He puts his truck in park and wordlessly his mouth lands on mine. Electricity courses through me as my tongue dances with his. Every part of my body vibrates with longing. I run my fingertips down the back of his neck, underneath his necklace, and around the collar of his shirt. His big hands roam my body assertively. He explores each curve with expert precision.
Taking my face in his hands, Shane slows down his kisses. Lingering by my lips, he inhales. He slowly releases me, and it takes me a minute to come out of the haze.
When I open my eyes, I see the real Shane looking back at me. A strong and sexy man with nothing to prove. A man who challenges me and carries me out of the mud. The Shane who organized a beautiful philanthropic event today in Daddy’s name.
Shane leans back in his seat removing his hat. He puts it on my head, claiming me. “See you tomorrow, babe.”
Chapter 4: Shane
All night, all I could think about was the memory of her mouth on mine. The way her body softened with my touch. Now it’s morning, and Ainsley walks into the ballroom like an absolute pro. She is all business and showing off her voluptuous body in a minidress as usual. Hungry for her, I devour the sight.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, beautiful.” I greet her and pull out my phone to finish writing an email to my team.
“Shane, are we ready to do this? What are you working on?”
“I’ve been thinking that I want to personally train some of the guys on my team. There’s no reason I have to keep them at arm's length, right? I want to start bringing them up, supporting their development at the company.”
“Of course not. You should be making time to work with as many of your employees as you can. It will be the best part of your day.”
We walk the ballroom one last time. Ainsley insists on rambling through every last detail of the event space again. But this time, I don’t mind. Watching her at Mary’s Daisy yesterday changed it for me. She is entitled but maybe she is as much a victim of her upbringing as the rest of us are.
Ainsley didn’t back away from the kids when she got uncomfortable. She heard their stories. She made them smile. It makes me think that there may be more to her than she lets on. She might be her father’s daughter, after all. Being with her is addictive. The closer I get to her, the more I want her.
“So you want the chairs on the stage, right?” I say deadpan when she stops to take a breath.
“Are you serious? No. I do not want chairs on the stage. Are you even listening?”
I exhale sharply. “Of course you don’t want the chairs on the stage. Ainsley, I got it. This isn’t my first event. I’ve been working here for a decade.”
“Great. Then, you should know that we will walk the event space as many times as I want to until I feel com—”
I cut her off. “My god, you’re so entitled. Do you really think that nobody else is qualified to line up chairs? Let me do the job your dad hired me to do. I have the layout. I’ll get a team out here in the morning and it will be done. Stop worrying.”
“I just need this event to be as good as he is.” Ainsley is a magnetic force, pulling out what she wants from every person she encounters. It must be exhausting.
“Your dad is a hell of a guy. You have no idea what he means to me. But you need to chill. Take it down a notch, babe.” I walk behind the bar and smile, provoking her. But only because I want to take care of her. She should enjoy this party she is putting so much effort into. With the ballroom completely empty, I seize my moment.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making you a drink. Helping you take the edge off. What will it be?”
Her eyes widen but I see a smile behind them. “You’re insane.” She sits on the barstool and smirks at me. As she leans across the bar, her dress reveals flashes of her ample cleavage.
I make her a fruity rum punch. She drinks it without protest.
“You wear this all the time, don’t you?” She trails her fingernail along my chest, playing with my gold necklace.
“I do.” I’m not sure I’m ready to go here with her so I stall, holding up the stainless steel shaker. “Are you ready for round two?”
Ainsley wraps both hands around her narrow glass, and runs her tongue along the rim. She stares at me, never breaking eye contact as she drains the entire glass. My heartbeat picks up. I feel a tingle that turns into a bulge between my legs.
Ainsley replies, “I’ll have you.”
She walks around the bar. Her forwardness is a confirmation that she’s been aching for me as badly as I have for her. I’m already aroused. I pull her into me, kissing her passionately. Our tongues dance together as my hands reach for her. Feeling her press her curves into my body, instinct takes over. Letting go of her full, gorgeous lips, I kiss my way to her ear and nibble at her lobe. I wrap my hands in her long black hair and pull her head back to expose her long neck, kissing the soft skin behind her ear down to her collarbone.
Ainsley’s nipples tighten under her dress. Unbuttoning the front of it, I run my hand across her breasts, wrapping my fingers around them. I grin to myself when I see that she’s wearing a bra that clasps in the front. I unhook it expertly with two fingers, making her giggle. I start kissing and licking at her massive boobs. They’re bigger than I had imagined and just as perfect. Her nipples are big and pointy. I slip them into my mouth, sucking eagerly. She bites her lip with arousal, making me desperate for more.
My hands roll over her body, feeling her plump figure beneath my fingers. She caresses my back and moans in delight, letting me explore every inch of her beautiful skin, over and under her clothes.
I lift Ainsley off her feet and sit her on the bar top. I pull up her skirt. Her ass presses against the bar’s glass surface. Placing my hands on her knees, I make Ainsley part her legs wide for me. I peel her panties off for her and throw them on the floor. I hug her from the hips and pull her toward the edge of the table. Sinking my head between her thighs, I lap at her folds. She grows moist almost right away. Her smell is intoxicating, as is her taste and her sensual little moans. I love everything about this woman.
I wrap my lips around her clit and press them hard, nibbling on it and making her squirm with pleasure. She is so wet and ready for me.
I slip away from her quivering pussy and stand up, unzipping my pants and fishing out my cock. It’s already stiff as a rock. How can it not be? I’m standing there, facing a half-naked Ainsley and all I can think about is finally having her.
“Oh, Shane.”
My name on her mouth ignites me. She moans, grinning up at me as I lean in to kiss her once again. I know she can taste herself in my lips and my tongue as I kiss her passionately.
Ainsely leans forward unbuttoning my pants with an eagerness I didn’t expect. My pants and boxers slide down my legs, catching on my erection. I pull a condom out of my wallet and unroll it over my hard length.
Pushing myself inside her, I feel she’s tight but opens up for me as I thrust forward. She spreads so sensually, keeping that enticing tightness while taking me in completely. It’s velvety, hot, and everything I’ve ever wanted. I groan against her lips as I begin to thrust back and forth eagerly.
She wraps her legs around my hips and pulls me closer. She is so eager for my touch. Her plump breasts bounce with every thrust, and I can’t help stare openly at her and enjoy the view.
“You are gorgeous, Ainsley. I can’t believe I didn’t do this before.” I grunt as my balls tense up. The pleasure is building, and she takes in every single inch of my length.
“Oh, Shane. I’m so close.” She moans, tightening her walls around me. Her legs tense around my hips. I feel her pussy massaging me, making me grow closer and closer to my own orgasm as well. I place my hand between our bodies and rub her clit to push her over the edge.
Her body convulses into orgasm while I’m still inside of her. It’s amazing. Her whole, curvaceous body is quivering. It drives me over as well. I groan as I thrust deep inside her tight pussy and empty myself.
We collapse in a pile on the floor, her chest heaving, my eyes stinging with sweat. I wrap her in my arms. I never imagined she could exceed my fantasy. Her body gets goosebumps as a chill runs across the room. I pull a nearby tablecloth, draping it over her.
“You are incredible.” Ainsley rests her head onto my chest and I cradle it protectively. The pendant from my necklace preses into her cheek.
Fingers running across my pendant she looks up at me. “I like it.”
I see my mom’s necklace in her hand and know it’s time to be transparent. Now is the time to find out whether Ainsley is the shallow daddy’s girl I always thought she was. I want to trust her with who I really am, and this is my moment.
I believe she is more. I feel it in her body. I see it in the way she looks at me, the way she becomes mine when I hold her. I see it in the way she loves her dad, in how she connected with the kids. I watched her send Jeff home on his kid’s birthday. She allows anyone to pop in her office. She is more.
“My mom…” The lock on the ballroom door clicks open. Ainsley scrambles to her feet pulling her dress back down and smoothing her hair. A look of horror crosses her face.
“It’s ok. We’re fine.” I pull up my pants quickly and gather the rest of my clothes.
Ainsley looks toward the door. “Oh my god! It’s my brother. Go. Get dressed. Quiet. Stay in there.” Ainsley points me toward an office door.
“Are you serious?” I ask her in disbelief. I couldn’t care less what Hunter thinks of me being with his sister, but I can tell it matters to her.
She shoves me with two hands towards the brown oak door. She reaches a hand behind me, opening it and throwing her underwear in after me. Ainsley walks into the main ballroom. She talks more loudly than required, drawing out her words in an awkward and unnecessary way.
“Hunter, heeeey. What are you up to? I was just walking the layout.”
Ainsley is a terrible liar. For someone who doesn’t take anyone’s opinion into consideration, she cares an awful lot about what Hunter thinks.
“Heeeyyyy.” Hunter mocks his sister’s tone. “I’m just grabbing my car keys, I think I left them in here.”
I look at the car keys on the solid oak desk across from me. Dammit. They have to be his. Nobody else can afford the car that belongs to those keys.
“Why don’t you just have Jeffery drive you?” Ainsley asks him.
I roll my eyes. A driver, of course.
She rambles on nervously. “I mean, that is his job. With Daddy retiring, we need to take more caution than usual with our image. We need to make sure people understand that things like driving are simply not logistics that a family of our status has to consider.”
Who the hell does she think she is?
“Hunter, do your part and keep poor Jeffery employed, would you?”
Poor Jeffery? Jeff is one of the best guys I know. A hardworking husband and good dad to his son. He does well for himself here. He has for years.
“I guess you’re right. I want to do my part to help the commoners.” Hunter laughs. I’m disgusted.
“It’s good for them.” She chuckles.
Hunter walks out of the ballroom closing the door behind him. I throw the door open, furious. These people are just as entitled as I expected.
“Poor Jeffrey? You’re too good to drive? You want to help the commoners like Jeffery who has been with your family for over a decade and makes six figures? You’re delusional.”
“Oh please, Shane. Get off of your soapbox. I had to get him out of here.” Her dismissive tone is infuriating.
“Why? So he wouldn’t discover you fraternizing with the help?”
“Shane.” Ainsley makes her eyes huge and stares at me. She wraps her arms around my waist. I know she thinks that this will put me back under her spell. And admittedly, I let her arms linger because even now her body on mine feels good. But I hate myself for that. I cannot believe that I thought we could actually work. She is exactly what she seems—spoiled and shallow.
“You need a dose of reality.” I unlock her arms from my waist and with them, her power over me. Pulling Hunter’s keys from my pocket, I walk toward the door.
“I’ll leave these here. I’d hate to put poor Jeffery out of a job.”
Chapter 5: Ainsley
Shane has been short with me since my comment about Jeffery. A
nd who can blame him? Truthfully, I feel terrible. When I saw Hunter walk unexpectedly into the ballroom, I panicked. I hadn’t even made sense of what happened between Shane and me yet. And I definitely wasn’t ready to explain it to Hunter. So, I just said whatever I could to get him out of there. I don’t actually pity Jeffery or any of our employees. Why would I? They lead incredible lives. And of course, I’m not above driving. I’m just a normal person who was born into a ton of money. But when people look at me, they don’t see that. So, Hunter, Amelia, and I have this thing we do when we feel uncomfortable. We say things that meet other people’s expectations of us and sometimes, they don’t expect much.
Amelia and I sit in the boardroom to compile the dozens of pictures that were submitted for Daddy’s retirement party slideshow.
“He truly is an incredible man.”
I look at Amelia with surprise. Not because I disagree, but because she rarely acknowledges all Daddy has done for us. Or at least, she rarely says anything out loud.
Of course, Daddy has a brilliant business sense. But after mom died, he became so much more to us. He even stepped away from the company for a few years to make sure the three of us had what we needed. She may not have been his favorite, but he was never bad to Amelia. It’s nice to hear her admit that he is something special.
“Look at this one!” Holding up an old picture in Amelia’s direction, I laugh. “He’s cutting the ribbon at the Conservation Canal. The only thing bigger than those scissors is his hair!” Even Amelia has to laugh out loud at the photo of our father’s cutting edge eighties fashion.
Evidence of Daddy’s philanthropy flows out of picture after picture. His efforts in art education and water conservation spread far and wide. He is a heavy hitter in social justice, and I am proud to be his daughter. Seeing all of Daddy’s good work makes Shane’s accusatory words flash through my mind. A small voice asks me what Daddy would think of my little comment about Jeffery the other night. Shane may have been right, again.