“This is all infuriating to hear,” he said. “What I’d do to that jackass…”
He grit his teeth, and I could tell he was genuinely mad.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Thanks for having my back, of course, but it’s done. And it’s not like I’d want him back anyway. When he left me like that, he showed me who he really was. Even if he’d stuck around and done the right thing, this all would’ve come out at some point, somehow. Better I found out about it earlier.”
“That’s one way to look at it, I suppose,” Justin said. But I could tell he was still angry thinking about Brad and what he’d done.
I sipped my drink, but only ice fell into my mouth.
“Make me another?” I asked, hoping to take both of our minds off the subject.
“Sure,” he said, seeming to have calmed down. “Food should be about ready, too. Go ahead and have a seat inside. I’ll get everything ready.”
“You need some help?” I asked.
“Nah,” he said with a smile. “What kind of host makes his guest do any of the work? No, your job tonight is to relax and enjoy.”
So, that’s what I did. Fresh drink in hand, I took a seat at the kitchen bar and watched Justin finish cooking. We chatted as he worked, the conversation about lighter, more fun topics. Before too long the meals were ready, and he brought everything to the table.
The dinner was excellent, of course, and paired with a delicious bottle of wine from the case Justin had brought back from the vineyard. Dessert was some lovely custard tarts that he’d had delivered from a local bakery. By the time the meal was done, I was happy and satisfied.
I insisted on helping Justin clean up, and when that was all taken care of, the two of us cuddled together on the couch.
“Is this…something you’re cool with?” I asked “You and me? I know it’s only been a week, but I was to make sure we’re on the same page.”
I could sense my insecurity creeping into my words. Justin was the first man that I’d even gone out on a date with since Brad. And I was only now beginning to see the effects of the wounds that Brad had left me with. I half-expected Justin to change his mind on a dime and decide he was done with me.
“Of course, it is,” he said. “I’m not a man who makes decisions lightly.”
He leaned in and kissed me softly. It wasn’t long before the kiss turned to something more, which led to us taking it to the bedroom.
In the naked, hazy, post-coital bliss, I curled up close to Justin. Whatever he wanted to do, it was out of my hands. I was going to have to trust him, as hard as that sounded.
In the morning, he made me a delicious breakfast of French omelets, hash browns, bacon, and coffee.
“I would’ve cooked,” I said. “Breakfast is something I actually like making.”
He flashed me a warm grin over his meal.
“I seem to remember promising you a French omelet the morning after the first night we spent together. Least I can do is make you one now.”
His words warmed me. He seemed to want to do right by what had happened before—it was a good sign.
“You…want to stay another night?” he asked. “I’ve got a little work to do this afternoon, but then I have the rest of the day free.”
The idea sounded tempting, but it wouldn’t work.
“Sorry,” I said. “Got to get back to the little lady. I don’t feel right about leaving her alone two nights in a row so soon after our weekend away.”
He nodded and took another bite of his hash browns.
The thought occurred to me that I could invite him over to my place, but that would mean not only spending the evening with me, but with Faye.
Sure, Justin did take a shine to her during the show, but that very well could’ve been for the cameras.
I realized at that moment that I now had two different lives, one of being a mother, the other that of a lover. And fear began to grip me as I realized just how hard these two worlds were going to be to reconcile.
Chapter 22
Heather
October
A brisk, early fall breeze swirled around me as I stood on the dock in front of Justin’s gleaming yacht. The two of us were on the docks at one of the marinas down on the southern half of Queens, the ocean stretching out into the distance.
“It’s so…big,” I said, taking in the sight of the massive vessel.
Justin stepped up next to me, dressed in a pair of white pants with the ankles rolled up over his handsome boating shoes and a white-and-blue striped button-up. He put his hands on his hips and assessed the ship.
“Too big, I think,” he said. “But I’d always told myself when I hit my first billion that I’d buy a yacht, and I’m a man of my word. Haven’t taken the thing out in over a year, though.”
“What’s her name?” I asked.
He smirked. “Odyssey.”
“Classy,” I said.
The deck was huge, and I imagined Justin and his wealthy friends partying on it, surrounded by gorgeous women in skimpy bikinis. I shook my head to banish the image.
“But now, I’m thinking our one-month anniversary is the perfect occasion to take her for a spin,” he said with a smile. “How about you?”
“Sounds perfect.”
The last few weeks had gone by wonderfully. Justin and I were like two kids who couldn’t keep our hands off each other. By the time we realized we’d nearly hit a month of dating, we both wondered where the time had gone.
There was one issue, however: Faye hadn’t really been a part of our lives. She was still a part of mine, of course—the most important part. But anytime we went out it was for grown-up activities, and Justin was always on the ball with making sure she had a babysitter to look after her.
I was beginning to wonder if he didn’t want to have her around, if he was happy to date me but keep the little detail of me having a daughter as off to the side as he could. Faye was with her grandparents for the weekend, but part of me wished we could all be together out on the boat.
“Come on,” he said. “The coast isn’t going to explore itself.”
He picked up my bags and started up the ramp leading to the deck. I followed him through the ship, which was so big that I could’ve easily gotten lost if he hadn’t been there to guide me. The interior was two stories, with a huge living room, a full kitchen, and multiple bedrooms.
We eventually arrived at the master bedroom, an enormous room with a big round bed in the middle, a long window looking out over the ocean behind us.
“Wait until you wake up in the morning to the sun pouring in through that,” he said, nodding toward the window. “Seeing the sunrise over an open ocean…it’s something else.”
“I can’t wait,” I said with a smile.
Despite my hesitations, I was happy to be spending the weekend with Justin. The plan was to head down the eastern coast, stopping at little towns here and there, maybe even finding an island or two where we could pass the hours on some beautiful, forgotten beach.
It was an offer that no girl could turn down.
“I’ve still got a few things to take care of before we ship out,” he said. “Go ahead and get comfortable. Kitchen’s fully stocked if you want a snack.”
With that, he planted a kiss on my cheek and left me alone in the bedroom. After taking a moment to stash my things, I went to the kitchen where, just as he said, there was all sorts of delicious food stored in the fridge and pantry. I made myself a small salad and took it, along with a big bottle of sparkling water, up to the deck.
Right at the moment I put the last bite of salad into my mouth, the ship began to lurch out of the dock. A few crew members hurried here and there, making sure that all was taken care of for our departure.
And that was the start of what I knew would be an amazing weekend.
Once we were at sea, New York disappearing in the distance behind us, Justin joined me on the deck. A bottle of delicious-looking champagne was in his hand, along with two
glasses.
“Here’s the plan,” he said. “There’s this amazing little town on the Virginia coast where I’m thinking we can grab dinner. Then, after that, we’ll keep going south until we find some nice beaches perfect for lounging in the morning. Maybe a little deep-ocean swimming after that, and then…who knows?”
It sounded perfect—a little structure, a little adventure. What wasn’t to like?
He opened the bottle and poured us two glasses. After handing one to me, he raised his glass into the air.
“What do you think?” he asked. “To one perfect month, and many more perfect months to come?”
“I’ll drink to that,” I said with a smile.
We tapped our glasses and sipped. I put my head on Justin’s shoulder, feeling cozy and happy sitting next to him as we went further out into the ocean.
After a couple hours of sailing, we arrived at the dock of a picturesque little coastal town that looked out of another time.
“Come on,” he said. “I’m so hungry I might start spearing fish out of the water and eating them raw.”
We changed our clothes and headed into town, the sun beginning to dip low in the western sky. Justin led the way to a cute little restaurant on the waterfront, and we were soon seated. The dock was visible just beyond the windows, and I watched the bustle of crew members attend to the ships moored there.
“Okay,” he said. “I’m not one to order for my dates, but you have to get the crab. They’re delicious—fresh from the Chesapeake Bay.”
“Sounds amazing,” I said. “I could eat a million pounds of crab.”
“You’ll get the chance,” he said. “Then for dessert, they have the best peach cobbler you’ll eat in your life. They make the vanilla ice cream themselves, in-house.”
“I’ll trust your judgment,” I said, already eager for some delicious food.
We started off with some warm cheddar biscuits, the crab brought soon after. Justin and I eagerly started in on our feast, the crab fresh and utterly delectable—especially dipped in butter.
As our meal progressed, though, I noticed that there seemed to be something on Justin’s mind. He had a faraway look to him, as if he wasn’t all there.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“Oh,” he said, his eyes widening for a brief moment as if I’d snapped him back to reality. “Just lost in my own head.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“Nah,” he said. “Nothing really.”
But I could tell something was up.
“Hey,” I said, reaching across the table and taking his hand. “I know you’re the kind of guy to keep things wrapped up, but we’re a couple now—you can share what’s on your mind with me.”
Justin nodded, and I could sense that he was working up the strength to do something that he didn’t often do: reveal his feelings.
I wondered if it was about Faye. Was he going to tell me that he didn’t know how close he could get with a woman who had a child? Tension built in my gut as I waited for his response.
“It’s work,” he said.
“Not going well?” I asked.
“No, it’s not that,” he said. “All my lines are doing great, and all that remains to be seen is if our reality show can boost the baby line like we’re hoping. It’s not the money at all.”
“Then…what is it?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “And that’s what’s worrying. It’d be one thing if I had something concrete to point to like an underperforming employee or a difficult client or something like that. But it’s…different. It’s like the excitement of work is fading. I don’t get the same thrills I used to.”
I was curious and let him go on.
“It’s like I’m not connected to my product anymore. I’m going through the motions, not really invested in my own business.”
“Maybe you need some time to recharge,” I suggested.
“Maybe,” he said. “I’m hoping that’s what it is. But whatever’s the problem, I need to get to the bottom of it fast. A little burn-out is fine, but if I keep feeling the way I do, it’s going to affect my bottom line—you can’t have a CEO who’s jaded and bored.” He shook his head. “Sorry to burden you with all that crap.”
I gave his hand a squeeze. “No,” I said. “It’s good. I like that you can share this stuff with me.”
He nodded slowly, as if considering what I’d told him. “Anyway,” he said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some peach cobbler.”
We finished up our entrees and ordered dessert. Just as Justin said, the cobbler was delicious—fresh and warm and rich, the ice cream possibly the best I’d had in my life.
Once done, we took a gentle stroll through the town before going back to the boat. The ship started off further down the coast, and Justin and I turned in for the night.
We had some fun once we were under the covers, and the sleep that followed was restful and lovely. Sure enough, the sun streaming into the bedroom woke me up better than any alarm clock, and without the jarring noise.
The rest of the weekend was beyond memorable. We sailed further down the coast, stopping at beaches here and there to frolic in the sand and water. I was more than happy to see Justin in nothing more than a pair of very tight-fitting trunks, and I was sure he felt the same way about me in a bikini.
One of the beaches we found was very secluded—so secluded, in fact, that we were the only ones there. Justin, with a boyish grin on his face, went into full outdoorsman mode, building us a fire and letting me pretend like we were on some desert island, just the two of us.
The two of us and a massive yacht, of course.
It was fun to watch him do his outdoorsman thing, and actually pretty impressive. I could tell that he wasn’t some average pampered urbanite like so many other men I’d met in the city—he knew how to get his hands dirty.
Another incredible dinner followed, this time in Norfolk, Virginia. After a fun night out of dinner and drinking and dancing, we started our trip back to the city.
Sunday, the final day of our weekend, was smooth sailing. The weather was nice and warm, perfect for sunning myself on the deck. As I watched the towers of New York grow in the distance, however, all I could think about was how much I wanted to be with Faye again.
She would’ve made the weekend perfect. But deep down, a fear roiled in me that Justin didn’t feel the same way.
And I began to wonder if it would pull us apart.
Chapter 23
Justin
“Okay, you ready for this?” asked Heather.
The two of us stood in front of a handsome brownstone in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. Through the windows, I could see the outlines of the partygoers and hear the low tones of the lively music bleeding through the window out onto the lawn.
The block was as charming as they came. Townhomes lined the road, each with their own small, well-kept lawn. It was mid-October, and the leaves of the thick-trunked trees that shaded the street were beginning their autumn change into brilliant oranges and red that looked very nice in the early evening sun.
“You kidding?” I asked. “I can handle meeting some new people.”
“Yeah, but these are all my friends,” she said.
“All of them?” I asked, teasing her, my eyebrow raised. “Someone’s popular.”
She playfully rolled her eyes and gave me a swat on the arm.
“Okay, not all of them,” she said. “It’s my best friend Julia’s birthday party, and she’s friends with a bunch of people from my old job, where she and I met. And she met a bunch of my current coworkers through me, and now they’re all best buds. So, I know most of the people here. And you don’t know a one.”
“That’s not true,” I said. “I know you.”
“That doesn’t count,” she said with a smile.
“And I know the most important guest there,” I added.
“Yeah?” Heather said, eyebrows raised in anticip
ation of my response.
“Yeah—Faye!”
A big smile broke out across Heather’s face and she tapped herself on the forehead in a “duh” gesture.
“You should see her,” she said, grabbing onto my arm in excitement. “Julia sent me a picture of her and Melanie—that’s Julia’s kid—earlier today. She has them done up in the most adorable little dresses.”
I loved watching Heather talk about Faye, even if the idea of her being a mother was something I was admittedly still…getting used to. Even months into our relationship, it was still hard. And I didn’t know why.
“I can’t wait to see her,” I said honestly.
Heather gave a warm look to my response, but I could sense that she was still curious about what I really thought about Faye.
It was difficult. Faye was wonderful and adorable, but there was something there, something preventing me from feeling totally comfortable around her, and comfortable knowing Heather was a mom.
I put it out of my head as best I could, ready to focus on the party. I took a look at Heather, who looked beyond sexy in her tight party dress.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Ready.”
She approached the door and gave it a quick knock. Moments later the door opened, revealing a cute brunette about the same height as Heather. The two women let out an excited scream at the sight of one another, each rushing in for a tight hug.
“There you are!” the brunette cried as she let Heather out of her hug.
“It’s so good to see you!” Heather replied.
The brunette turned her big brown eyes to me, giving me a quick, appraising once-over.
“And there he is,” she said. “Mr. Justin Donovan, in the flesh.”
Over her shoulder, I could spot a few partygoers letting their eyes linger on me. I was used to it. While I wasn’t a movie star or someone else whose face people would instantly recognize, plenty of people knew who I was.
“And you must be Julia?” I asked. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you. And happy birthday.”
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