I briefly smile and nod instead, glancing at the door.
His cue to leave.
Checking my own watch, I realize that time has flown. Most office workers a few days out from Christmas don’t want to work past the whistle.
And as much as I used to hate Christmas.
I have this sudden, warm fuzzy feeling inside when I think about the gift of giving when I pair it with the mental image of Avery.
She’s got me.
I don’t know if she knows it yet, or even if she’s done it on purpose, it doesn’t matter.
I only know one thing for sure now, I have to have her. And for far longer than just a romp on a stuffy old leather couch.
I think I have just enough time to make a few calls of my own before I go back up to Avery.
Maybe a little Christmas shopping over the phone?
Chapter Eleven
Avery
He hasn’t sent me away, I mean he just bent over backward to make sure I didn’t leave.
But I can’t help but feel a little odd being sent back up to the top floor, supposedly to arrange everything.
So arrange stuff, ya dummy.
The thought of never having to answer to Angela again is enough to make me squeal out loud and taking in the whole view, the feel of the top floor, and Jack of course makes me feel like I’ve won the lottery.
By the time I get the courage to pick up the phone to even begin, I have to sit down.
“Yes, Ms. Patterson?” A polite voice answers. “We’ve been expecting your call,” she explains. “Anything you need, just ask and we’ll get right on it,” she adds, leaving an equally polite silence.
Waiting for my instructions.
My instructions.
“Uh, yeah, Well… I was thinking maybe a cleaning team up on the top floor… And some extra phones, computers…” I stammer.
“Mr. Riggs is heading up the office transfer. The extra equipment and furniture are scheduled for… tomorrow,” she announces, sounding like she’s checking a screen of her own.
“I see. And the cleaners?” I ask, trying to sound like I know something.
“We’ll have a team up there within the hour, Ms. Patterson. Is there anything else?” she asks, really meaning it too. Not just doing her job.
“I’d really love a black coffee, no sugar,” I confess. “And a roast beef sandwich?”
“On its way,” she chirps cheerfully, sounding like an old friend as I hear the tippy tap of her keystrokes.
“And your name?” I ask, definitely putting whoever she is on the star list of my mind.
“Amanda. Amanda Cummings, Ms. Patterson, and very pleased to meet you,” she adds before I hang up after thanking her.
Is this how Jack lives? Is this what it feels like?
I write Amanda’s name on a legal pad I found in a drawer and taking the pad with me, I start to snoop.
Professionally.
Making notes and sketching ideas I have, even though I know someone else has been assigned the task, I know Jack’s gonna want my input.
I just know he is.
A short while later the ping of the elevator makes me look up as I move from room to room, office to office,
My heart leaps, expecting to see Jack, but it’s a delivery guy. He waits by the elevator until I come over.
“Ms. Patterson?” he asks nervously, looking around like he’s stepped into a museum after hours.
I smile and nod, my mouth watering at the smell of the food and fresh coffee he’s holding.
Realizing I don’t have a tip handy, I make a face that sets him at ease.
“It’s alright. Ms. Patterson. Mr. Cole’s account is just fine,” he says with a little wink before turning on his heel and heading back down the elevator after handing me a cup and a paper sack that makes me think of Jack first and my stomach second.
I don’t even look up when the elevator pings again, absorbed by the fact they even added cheese to my sandwich without me having to ask.
A tall. Deli-style sandwich too, with about a half a pound of roast beef in it.
I’m in heaven.
“I was gonna ask if you wanted to get out of here, maybe catch a bite?” he asks.
I almost drop said sandwich as I take in Jack’s bulge and then his huge frame, filling the air in front of me.
The one thing I could truly eat right now, as well as roast beef and cheese.
Taking a sip from my coffee, he nods like he has a secret, then eyeing the other half of my sandwich I motion him to go ahead.
Taking my hands in his again, he leans over and takes a large bite from my own handful.
And that’s it.
I know I’m done.
If I can share my pussy, coffee, and a hot sandwich so easily with the man, he may as well just put a freaking ring on my finger.
Even watching him eat turns me on. And he’s watching me chew with the same expression I know I have as he takes a seat opposite me.
“I thought this could be the new reception area?” I suggest, swiping my lower lip with a finger as I watch him nod, hearing the low sound of satisfaction he makes.
Hard to explain, but when someone actually just wants you for you, It’s pretty amazing.
“We’ll eat, then maybe I can take you home?” he suggests, making me frown.
“Maybe have something more to eat?” he smiles.
The sudden and shocking realization of Jack Cole actually seeing where I live is too much.
Worse than dying.
“I thought you wanted to take things slow?” he adds, noting my expression. “I can be Jack Cole and you can be Avery, my new assistant. Nothing wrong in me dropping you home is there?” he asks again, and I have to concentrate to swallow three stories of roast beef and cheese on rye.
“I guess not,” I finally manage to say, not wanting to hurt his feelings either.
I feel like I might have done enough of that for one day.
“Then it’s settled,” he announces, helping me up after we’ve both cleaned up with napkins.
“I should warn you though,” I try to caution him, but he’s not having any of it.
Pulling me close, he whispers how perfect I am before kissing the top of my head again. Right on that magic spot.
“Then let’s get you home,” he says quietly, not letting go of me until we reach the ground floor.
But I already am home.
Chapter Twelve
Jack
I’ve got a car waiting, and avoiding the office altogether, I feel nothing but relief once we’re inside and on our way to her place.
“I lifted your address from your employee file,” I confess, drawing her closer once we start moving.
I feel her tense up, and have a fair idea why. New boss, new man. Doesn’t want me to see her place.
Embarrassed.
“I don’t have to come in,” I assure her, reminding her I really am just dropping her home, giving her all the space she needs.
But there’s no way I’m leaving the street if she doesn’t want me up there. I’ll keep the car there all night if I have to, call a security team to watch her building too.
Like I said, I’m in deep with Avery, whether she knows it or not.
I know the city’s real estate, own a fair chunk of it myself. So I know where we’re headed isn’t the high end of town.
But I have to say, I feel for Avery more and more, each second we draw closer to her building. I can just feel the shame pouring off her as we pull up.
Something that I know she’ll never have to feel ever again soon if I have my way.
It’s a dark building, even in the failing light.
In a neighborhood, I wouldn’t walk alone in, let alone have Avery anywhere near, given the chance.
“Here we are,” she says, sucking a breath between her cheeks.
I move my hand to touch hers, but she’s already halfway out the car door.
Not needing to motion the driver to w
ait, I go after her.
I have to.
“The elevator doesn’t work,” she mumbles, leading me instead to a dank stairwell.
“Only one floor up,” she adds.
It’s a mess the building I mean. But I can’t help but study her shape as she walks up those stairs ahead of me, feeling my own heat and thickness rise again with each of her steps.
“It’s not so bad,” I lie once we come up to her floor.
I’ve already decided she’s only staying here long enough to pack a bag.
Before I even see inside her place, which is nice enough given the situation once we get in, I feel guilty that any one of my employees, let alone Avery lives in a place like this.
“This is me,” she announces, holding out her hands as I stoop a little to squeeze into the small space.
“Is it?” I ask her, holding out both hands.
“Oh, Jack. I know it isn’t much, but this is who I am, it’s where I live at least,” she tells me, almost pleading with her eyes.
Knowing I won’t have her in this place one more night.
One more damned minute.
“Do you want a coffee, or maybe something stronger?” I hear her chime, setting her keys down, and trying to act natural.
I take her in my arms again, shaking my head. I don’t want her here one more second.
“You’ll pack a bag, whatever you need. And we leave, now,” I tell her.
I’m not asking.
I’m telling.
“From today, right now Avery, you’re mine. I won’t let you out of my sight again, and I sure as hell won’t see you in this place again.”
Her jaw drops a little, and then a flash of fire is in her eyes.
But her hands gripping mine tells me I’m right.
“You haven’t done wrong, Avery. I just want to take you away from this. Forever,” I tell her.
“But this is me. It’s who I am,” she says defiantly.
“I know it is, Avery. But that’s the old you. I want to show you a new life if you’ll let me?” I suggest, feeling her hurt.
I’m not judging her, just wanting the very best for her.
Turning quickly, she brings her hands to her chest.
“I suppose you’d rather have me in one of your towers, like some maiden you call on whenever you feel like it?” she murmurs.
I feel her shiver as my hands grip her shoulders, turning her to face me.
“I want you with me, all the time, Avery. No towers, no prisons. Just here,” I tell her, pulling her hands over my heart.
“Then why can’t you accept me if I’m here, in my own place?” she asks, her voice breaking.
“Because I know you deserve better, a thousand times more. I can give you-”
But she’s looked away.
I’ve done it again. Said too much too soon, or just the wrong thing.
“Everything I have, Jack. Where I am. I got myself here. All by myself. I don’t need someone to wave a magic wand to fix any of it,” she says calmly, her hands dropping from mine.
She’s clutching her elbows again as she faces a window that looks out to a dark alley.
I’m getting to know her, and it hurts. I can’t be the one to make all her problems disappear, but I know I can give her the best start.
More than I ever had at her age.
Or is that it? A young woman with her whole life ahead of her, not wanting to be tied to-
I don’t have time to indulge the thought.
Her hands claw at my neck, pulling me down to her. Her warm mouth pressed to mine with such intensity I feel like she might burst.
“Oh, Jack. I’m sorry. Take me away from all this if you want, just take me away from all of it. Just don’t leave me when you’re done…Don’t leave me with-”
But my lips are on hers in answer.
I am taking her away from this, all of it. And I’ll make sure she never has to see any of it again. Only blue skies and whatever she wants from her window, not dark alleys and uncertainty.
Not her being so alone.
Never again.
Not one more night.
“Come home with me, Avery,” I tell her. “Just say you’ll come home with me, and we can work everything out from there.”
Chapter Thirteen
Avery
Jack’s not asking. He’s telling.
He doesn’t want to see me in my apartment another minute let alone another day, I can see it in his eyes.
Truth is, I couldn’t agree with him more. I hate the place.
I pack a bag as Jack watches me from my bedroom doorway, taking interest in the few things I have laying around.
“No pictures?” he asks suddenly, making me jump after I feel how close he is behind me.
“Pictures of what?” I ask him, creasing my brow.
“Family, friends… a pet rock?” he jokes, and I laugh.
“Like I told you, it’s just me. Always has been,” I tell him once I stop giggling.
Nobody’s ever made me laugh the way Jack does. Or made me feel so edgy at the same time.
Racy.
“Until now, I hope?” he asks again, taking my free hand into his and leaning down to kiss it.
“Will you give me a signed portrait?” I ask, half-joking but deadly serious at the same time.
“If you’ll let me, we can have a whole wall of photos, just us if you’d like,” he promises, and I can already see it in my mind.
It makes me relax into him as he hugs me.
“As slow or as fast as you want Avery,” he reminds me, kissing the top of my head and taking my bag for me.
“Am I keeping you up?” Jack asks once we’re back in the car as I stifle a yawn.
“It’s been a big day is all,” I tell him suddenly aware that I really have no idea where we’re going either. Only that I trust Jack and his judgment.
I feel lighter as the apartment building disappears behind us, as the whole neighborhood gives way to a more pleasing side of the city.
As it gets darker, the street lights tracing over us both make me sleepy. I close my eyes and nuzzling up to Jack in the back seat, I feel him stroking my hair and humming softly.
Permitting me to fall asleep right on him, which I can’t help.
I’m vaguely aware of Jack carrying me at some point, up some stairs, and into a place that smells like him.
I want to wake up, but he tells me to sleep, and the last moment of the first best day of my life ends with him kissing me softly on the lips as he tucks me into a huge bed that not only smells like him too, it feels like him.
And I don’t think I’ve ever slept deeper or sounder my whole life.
* * *
The gray light of morning is coming in through the huge windows when I open my eyes, along with the smell of fresh bacon, coffee, and a whole bunch of other things that make me smile.
Jack.
I just know he’s up and has made us both breakfast.
Feeling the space next to me in the bed, I know he hasn’t slept in it.
The huge chair opposite with a blanket over it tells me Jack sat and watched me most of the night before getting some sleep himself.
Hearing Jack coming with a rattling breakfast tray, I close my eyes again and smiling like an idiot, I can hear him chuckling once he sees me.
“Awake now? I thought we’d almost lost you there,” he says, setting the domed tray down beside me on the nightstand.
“Where am I?” I ask him, not really minding the answer as long as he’s here with me.
“Home, I guess. My favorite one anyway. Not too far from the office either,” he adds with a grin, checking his watch.
“Is that a hurry up?” I ask him, hoping it isn’t.
“No, it means we have plenty of time to enjoy breakfast. I always get up early, so I got a few things done before it was time to make us something,” he adds, lifting the lid on what looks like a gourmet’s delight.
Fresh bagels, eggs d
one three different ways, ham, and cheese, bacon, and stake, and the best smelling coffee I think I’ve ever seen.
Pulling a table tray from under the bed, he sets out our meal before sliding onto the bed next to me.
I’ve never eaten in bed before, nor so close to someone watching me.
But Jack doesn’t share any of my hang-ups, fishing around under the bacon for a huge piece of steak, making him groan loudly as he offers me half.
“I don’t think I can manage so much food first thing,” I announce hesitantly, noting Jack’s frown as he chews his food with gusto.
“You skipped dinner last night and I only saw you eat a sandwich yesterday,” he cautions me, wagging a finger before licking the tip and smacking his lips.
Even the way he eats is amazing to watch. It’s not a turnoff, it’s sensual, satisfying.
Like looking at the man himself any other time of the day.
He’s already dressed for work, his three piece suit and clean shaved face seeming out of place next to me on the bed.
“I have a few calls to make, things to do,” he manages between mouthfuls.
“Will you find your way around to get ready when you feel like it of course,” he says with assurance.
“Bathroom’s through there, tons of towels and everything you should need. I’ll be back in time to take us to work, though,” he adds.
“Secret Santa today, big surprise Christmas party,” he says, trying to sound enthusiastic.
“You hate Christmas, don’t you?” I ask him, seeing myself in his eyes.
“I used to,” he confesses, leaning over to peck my lips, leaving a salty, greasy taste I want more of straight away.
“But let’s eat up first, okay? Most important meal of the day,” he says, spoon feeding me some of his steak and so much more of everything until I feel like I’ll burst.
Chapter Fourteen
Jack
She doesn’t have to go to work, never again a day in her life. But I’ll let her work that out. Plus, today of all days, I’m gonna need her close by to help me through something unusual for me: Christmas stuff.
All I Want For Christmas is You( Man Who Knows What He Wants, 218) Page 5