She pulled me into her arms and gave me an affectionate hug, embracing me like an aunt who adored her niece, a mother hugging her daughter. She was such a warm person. She could make you feel like a million bucks even on the worst day of your life. She patted my back gently before she pulled away. “You want some wine?”
“Please.”
She pulled away and smiled. “Good. Because I got a bottle for the table and four glasses.”
“Perfect.”
Deacon came next, handsome just like his son, but with weathered signs of aging. But he looked like someone on the most expensive skincare regimen in the world because he didn’t look like a man who could possibly be in his fifties. He was too youthful, his body too lean and toned. If this was what Derek was going to look like when he was that age, I definitely couldn’t let him go. “Nice to see you again, Emerson.” He extended his hand to shake mine.
“You too, Mr. Hamilton.”
He smiled. “Call me Deacon.” He gave my wrist a gentle squeeze before he dropped his hand. “Take a seat. I just ordered an appetizer.”
“I hope it’s not salmon burgers,” I teased.
His grin widened, like he appreciated the way I joked with him just like his son. “No. Cleo and I have a rule when we go out—no salmon and no salads. I subject her to that torture enough at home.”
I chuckled. “Good. Because I’m probably going to order a steak.”
“That makes two of us.” He winked and walked back to his seat.
Derek pulled out the chair for me. “Baby, sit down.”
I was surprised he called me that in front of his parents, but I did my best to hide my reaction. I took a seat and let him push me in to the table.
Derek sat beside me and poured the wine into our glasses.
Deacon smiled as his eyes glanced back and forth between us.
Cleo’s grin was even wider.
Derek gave a loud sigh. “Could you guys be normal, please?” His arm automatically moved over the back of my chair, even though he’d never done it before, never even had the opportunity because we’d only gone out to dinner once—and we didn’t get through the meal before we ran back to his penthouse to get our clothes off.
Cleo grabbed her menu and took a look. “I think I’m getting the chicken francese. I love their potatoes here. What about you?” She glanced at her husband.
“Emerson and I are both getting the steak.” Deacon picked up his menu with one hand to keep his other arm over the back of the chair. “But whether it’s the New York strip or the filet mignon is a mystery.”
I looked at the menu. “That’s easy. I’m getting the filet.”
Derek looked at his menu before he took a drink. “How’s work been?”
“Who are you asking?” Deacon raised his gaze from the menu and looked at his son.
“Both,” Derek said.
“Well, I’m doing my patient care right now,” Deacon said. “So, my hours are all over the place. Your mother has a new client in the building, a celebrity who draws the paparazzi every single day.”
“It’s a pain,” Cleo said. “Because the other clients are really annoyed with the photographers. They have a petition going around to eject this person from the building.”
“They can do that?” I asked in surprise.
“Not legally,” Cleo said. “But having a petition signed by every single client is a pretty powerful way to make someone feel unwanted. I treat this client like a regular person. I’m used to seeing famous people, but it really is an inconvenience to the other people living there, the men who come and go with their mistresses…that sort of thing.”
“Yeah, that is rough,” I said. “But I feel really bad for this person…since they have to live that way.”
“Yeah,” Cleo said with a nod. “It makes me grateful that I’m just a nobody.”
“You are not a nobody.” Deacon looked at his wife, his fingers resting against the back of her neck.
“You know what I mean.” She drank from her glass. “So, Emerson. Derek tells us you have a daughter.”
I was surprised they asked me about her. “Yes…her name is Lizzie.” Most parents would be really uncomfortable if their son were dating a woman who already had kids, but neither one of them seemed to care, probably because Deacon had Derek from a previous marriage. “She’s twelve.”
“So, she’s in seventh grade?” Cleo asked.
I nodded. “But she tries to act like an adult.” I rolled my eyes. “Wants to grow up so fast, when I want her to stay this young forever. I’ve been a full-time parent for twelve years now, so I’m looking forward to having my own life again, but I’m going to miss having her around when she moves out.”
“We understand that so well,” Cleo said. “When Daisy moved out, it was rough.”
Deacon nodded. “It was nice for it to just be us again, but we miss having a family.”
“If I weren’t so old, we would do it again,” Cleo said. “But that’s just not possible at this point.”
“We’ll have grandchildren, baby.” Deacon looked at her. “And then we’ll take them to the cabin and do it all over again.”
“True,” Cleo said, smiling at the thought.
Derek was quiet, watching his parents.
The appetizer was brought, and then our orders were taken. We all helped ourselves to the appetizer and the bread at the center of the table, washing it down with our wine.
“I really loved your TED Talk, Derek,” Cleo said.
“Thanks.” Derek cast me a look of accusation.
“Sorry,” I said with a smile. “But I don’t feel bad about it, so I guess I’m not that sorry.”
Derek gave a slight smile as he looked at me.
“Are you going to do more appearances?” Deacon asked.
Derek drank from his wine and took his time responding. “Not sure.”
“Well…” I turned to him. “We do have to do a book tour, so that’s coming up.”
Derek turned back to me, his eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I already told you about it,” I said. “Remember?”
“You expect me to do all these interviews for my book and book promotion?” he asked incredulously. “When am I supposed to actually work? I’m an engineer, not a TV personality.” He started to get worked up because he was afraid he was going to lose time doing what he wanted most.
My hand went to his wrist to calm him down. “The book stuff is on the weekends, so no worries there. And we don’t have to accept any interviews you don’t want to do. I just thought the TED Talk was appropriate because it’s geared toward innovation, which is something you believe in.” I pulled my hand away once I saw him relax.
Derek turned back to his plate, his eyes slightly down.
Cleo smiled at me. “You’re good.”
“I just know him really well.” I knew him better than I knew myself, understood him down to a cellular level.
She turned to Derek. “So, that book will be released soon?”
“I’m not exactly sure when,” Derek said. “But I think sooner rather than later. I took a long time writing it, and they’re eager to get it out.”
“Are you working on the next one?” Deacon asked.
“No.” Derek grabbed his glass again. “I just finished the last one, and I want a break.”
“Not too long, though,” I said. “Got to keep those ideas fresh.”
Deacon grinned at Derek. “It’s nice to be with the woman who runs your life. Much easier that way.” He exchanged a look with his wife as he squeezed the back of her neck.
That was when I realized how similar Derek and I were to his parents, that Cleo was her husband’s assistant, and that was how they met. They probably hadn’t anticipated a romance developing between us, but it did. It was pretty difficult not to fall for the gorgeous man I saw every single day. “So, you’ve won a Nobel Prize… That’s pretty incredible.”
Deacon shrugged. �
�It was a long time ago.”
“So?” I asked with a laugh. “That’s such an incredible honor.”
“It is,” Cleo said. “But like his son, Deacon is very humble—to a fault.”
“Yeah, I can tell.” Without thinking twice about it, my hand moved to Derek’s thigh under the table, and I gave him an affectionate look, admiring the man beside me, the man I worshiped from head to toe.
His hand joined mine under the table, and he exchanged a quick look with me, one that matched my affection.
After we said goodnight to his parents, we walked back to his penthouse a few blocks away.
His hand held mine. “What did I tell you?”
“What did you tell me, what?”
“That it wouldn’t be awkward.”
“Well, your mom is really sweet. She’s the warmest person I’ve ever met. She knows how to make everyone comfortable in any situation. Before I knew she was your mother, I really liked her. We went out for a drink once, and a guy my age bought her a drink. He was a good-looking guy too.”
“So, you like my mom because she’s attractive?”
“No,” I said with a chuckle. “I like her because she’s inspiring. She’s smart, hard-working, youthful like your father… I want to be like her when I’m her age.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“And your dad is sweet too.”
“Yeah.” His voice dropped for a moment. “He’s a good guy.”
“When am I going to meet your brother and sister?”
“Not sure. Dex is busier than all of us right now. Daisy is busy too.”
“What does your brother do?”
“He’s in residency right now.”
“Residency?” I asked.
“He’s a surgeon.”
“Oh wow.”
“Heart surgeon, to be specific.”
“You guys are close in age, then?”
“Not really. We’re six years apart.”
“And he’s already in residency?” I asked blankly, unsure how that added up.
“He graduated college at eighteen.” He looked down at me with a smirk. “You think I’m smart? Dex is something else…”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s a good guy. A little stiff. But I think that’s just because he’s been so focused on his education.”
“And you aren’t stiff?” I teased.
He chuckled.
“What’s Daisy like?”
“She looks just like my mom. She’s sweet…but stings like a scorpion.”
I chuckled. “I can’t see her being anything less than warm like her mother.”
“She’s got an edge to her. But I’m glad she’s like that. She’s always been headstrong and ambitious, and since she’s always competing with the boys, she’s kinda a tomboy.”
“Then she and I will get along just fine.”
“Well, anyone can get along with you because you’re perfect.”
“I don’t know about perfect…”
“I do.” He opened the door to the lobby for me, giving me an affectionate look as he did. Then we got into the elevator and headed to his penthouse.
My mom was watching Lizzie for the night, so there was no rush to head home. I had a few hours before I had to run back to my responsibilities. It would be easier if I took Derek to my apartment so we could sleep together in my bedroom. I could take care of my daughter and have him at the same time. But I couldn’t even imagine how that would go… Lizzie watching me bring a man into my bedroom when she’d never witnessed anything like that. Despite my single status, I’d given her a really stable life, full of love from me and her grandparents. She never asked about her father, probably because she never felt like there was anyone missing.
That was how I knew I’d done my job right.
The moment we were in his penthouse, his hand slid into my hair, and he brought me close, like he’d been thinking of this moment since we’d left the restaurant. He finally had me behind closed doors, just the two of us, his eyes on my lips.
One of the things I liked most about his parents was their reaction to Lizzie. Most parents would not approve of their perfect son dating a woman who’d made a stupid mistake and got knocked up at sixteen, but they didn’t care at all. They seemed truly interested in her, like they were hopeful they would meet her someday, that Derek would meet her.
That made me want this to work out even more.
I wanted this man.
I wanted his family.
I wanted everything.
He studied my face, his powerful arms around me. “What is it?” He could read me better and better as time passed, as he became more acquainted with my intimate reactions, the vulnerability I showed.
“I just…really like your family.”
“They really like you too…as do I.”
Twenty
Derek
I stepped inside the sports bar and found Ryan sitting alone at a table in the back. I walked over to him and fell into the chair across from him, ordering a beer from the waitress the second she appeared.
Ryan stared at me, his eyebrow slightly cocked.
“What?” I turned to the waitress when she came back and grabbed the beer from her hand, immediately taking a drink and washing away the taste of the coffee that I’d been drinking all day at the lab.
“You just…I dunno…look different.”
“I got a haircut.”
“No…”
I shrugged. “This is a new sweater.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Not that either.”
“Then I have no idea. So, what’s your news?”
“I know what it is.” He snapped his fingers. “You’re happy.”
“I’m always happy.”
“Ha.” He rolled his eyes. “You’ve always had that sexy, brooding, miserable vibe going. Now, you’re sunshine on a clear day. What’s the deal?”
I knew exactly what the deal was. “I wanted you to tell me your news first, but since you’re putting me on the spot… I’m seeing someone.” I wasn’t just seeing someone, but I’d found a woman who’d changed my life. I found someone who gave me life, gave me meaning. I could be myself completely, trust her implicitly, so yeah, I was fucking happy.
“Yeah?” Ryan grinned. “Like, seeing-seeing someone?”
“As in, a monogamous, committed, meaningful relationship.”
“So, you’re her boyfriend?”
I shrugged. “I feel like that’s a really lame term at thirty. But fine, if that’s easier for you.”
“Wow.” He nodded, still grinning. “That’s awesome, man. Is she a model or…?”
“No. I mean, she looks like one, but no. And she’s my age.”
His eyes widened. “No way.”
I nodded. “A few years younger than me, but close enough. And she’s…amazing.”
“I’m so happy to hear that, man. Camille will be thrilled. When can we meet her?”
“Whenever you want.”
“Great.” He continued to stare at me, his eyes wide. “This is great, really great.”
“What?”
“I just…wasn’t expecting that. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”
“What do you mean?”
He ignored the question. “Where did you meet her?”
“She’s my assistant, actually.”
“Yeah?” he said with a laugh. “Wait, the woman on a date that one night? The one you were staring at?”
“Yeah, that’s her.”
He whistled quietly. “I approve, man.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, she’s beautiful. She’s got these little freckles underneath her eyes that I love. She’s so smart too. She’s completely turned my company around, got the smell out of my penthouse, and she’s got this really cute laugh. She’s just…really cool.”
Ryan watched me speak, a grin on his face.
“What?”
“You’re really into her.”
&n
bsp; “You think I’d be in a relationship unless I wasn’t hooked—hard?” I was obsessed. When I wasn’t with her, I missed her. My weekends were the worst part of the week because I didn’t get to see her. I hated it when my sheets were washed because it took away her smell.
“True. The sex is good?”
I narrowed my eyes at the question.
“What?” he asked innocently. “I ask you that question all the time.”
“About women who don’t matter. But she does matter, so I’m not going to answer that.”
“Daaaaaaamn.” He set down his beer. “You’ve got it bad, man.”
“I do.” I wasn’t ashamed of it. I was happy to finally be in a relationship I truly wanted to be in.
“Then your days of going out are over, huh?”
“They’ve been over for a long time.” I’d tried to force myself to be the man I used to be, but once Emerson was in my heart, I just couldn’t do it. That was my past. Now she was my future.
“Sounds like you’re going to marry this woman.”
I shrugged, thinking about the daughter she had in the background.
“Do I sense hesitation?”
I took a deep drink of my beer before I addressed the biggest problem we had. “She has a daughter.”
Ryan stilled at the announcement. “Shit, really?” He shook his head, as if he were grossed out by the idea. “Man, that’s…rough. I don’t think I could be with a woman who had a kid with another guy. That’s just…too much for me.”
“The guy isn’t in the picture.”
“But still. Is that something you really want to get caught up in? You don’t know anything about kids.”
“She’s not really a kid—she’s twelve.”
“Damn. That would mean…” He rubbed the back of his neck as he did the math. “Shit, she had her young, like high school young.”
“Yeah.” I didn’t judge her for it. Shit happened. I admired her for not taking the easy way out and for raising that baby entirely on her own, while still getting an education and becoming a professional adult and role model to her daughter. That took guts—and she had a lot of them.
Ryan cringed. “Dude, that’s heavy.”
The Boy Who Has No Hope (Soulless Book 6) Page 21