by Lisa Suzanne
Sure, William and I have had our problems, but I think I may have exaggerated how bad things were between us. He doesn’t always treat me like I’m his little lady. He doesn’t always make me feel as if I’m beneath him. He doesn’t always annoy me or act like he’s better than me. I don’t even know if I would’ve noticed the issues if Carson hadn’t come along.
And yet I’m still somehow completely sure I did the right thing.
We had a lot of good times, but it’s over.
*
After my mom has set a lovely summer salad in front of me complete with pineapple and those cute little mandarin oranges, I feel like I should confess the real reason I’m here. The salad looks delicious, but I have no appetite at the moment.
My dad lifts a forkful of salad to his mouth, and his hand shakes uncontrollably.
“It’s moving to the right?” I ask.
He nods. “It started last week. Some days are better than others.”
“I have a…um…a friend who said his grandfather had Parkinson’s. He recommended joining a support group at the hospital.”
“That’s a great idea, Rob,” my mom says. “Didn’t your doctor recommend that too?”
He ignores us both and takes another bite of salad.
“So stubborn,” my mom mumbles.
“Can I talk to you both about something?”
They exchange a glance.
“Is this about the wedding fund?” my mom asks. “We’ve got plenty set aside for you.”
I blow out a breath. “Sort of. Um…I guess I should just say it.”
They both look at me with concern and I clear my throat.
“I’m not marrying William.”
“What?” they ask in unison.
“Honey, why not?” my mom asks. “What happened? You just said yes!”
I DIDN’T SAY YES! I push down my anger. “I gave him back the ring last night and then I broke up with him.”
They both stare at me, and I can feel their scrutiny. They both think I’ve made a mistake, and that’s fine if they want to think that. I know the truth.
“Did he hurt you? Did he cheat on you?” my mom asks, never shy about asking the personal questions.
I shake my head. “No. He was a perfect gentleman. He’s just not what I want.”
“What, exactly, do you want?” my dad asks. “What’s wrong with a good man who treats you right and will provide you with a secure future?”
“Nothing. Everything,” I mumble.
“Is there someone else?” my mom asks.
“Sort of.”
“Who?” my dad roars.
I jump. I forget how intimidating he can be sometimes.
“Rob, calm down. The stress isn’t good for you.”
He glares at my mom and then asks in a much calmer voice, “Who?”
“I don’t want to tell you,” I say.
“Why not?” he asks.
“Because you’re not gonna like it.”
“Rip off the bandage, sweetheart.” I love that my mom uses a metaphor in her show of support. She takes a sip of the fresh-squeezed lemonade she just made.
“Carson King.”
She spits her lemonade and it sprays all over the table as my dad’s fork clatters down to his plate.
“Carson King?” my dad asks. “As in the asshole stealing Baker Media?”
“One and the same,” I say, going for a light tone and a small smile.
“You have got to be kidding me,” he says.
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “No joke.”
“Dolores, get me a Xanax.”
“Dad, stop being dramatic.”
“What is this between you and the thief?” he asks.
“It’s nothing yet,” I say, because as I think about it, nothing really has happened yet even though everything has happened. I push my salad around my plate with my fork.
My dad takes a sip of water, and my mom is oddly quiet during this exchange. “And you still broke up with William because of it?”
“No. I broke up with William because I don’t want to marry him and it wouldn’t have been right to stay with someone I don’t see a future with.”
“But you see a future with King?” His voice is an angry hiss.
“Maybe. I want to give it a shot, at least.”
“He’s going to be your boss because he’s taking our family company out from under us.” My dad’s voice falls flat, which is almost scarier than the earlier roar.
“You don’t understand. It’s not his fault.”
“He came into my office, gave me a lowball offer, and walked out with his smug attitude. I don’t like that kid—not for Baker, and certainly not for you.”
“I’m sorry, Dad, but I didn’t come here today seeking your approval.”
He looks hurt by my comment, and my mom looks shocked. I’ve always, always been my daddy’s little girl, but I’m a twenty-eight-year-old adult and it’s time to step out from his shadow and assert my independence. They don’t have to like it.
“Can I just remind you of something? A few days ago in our executive meeting, you went on and on about how you know King will take care of our employees and has our best interest at heart. You said you’ve realized Baker deserves something bigger than you can give it. You even said that as hard as it is to admit, you think King can make us thrive again.”
“That’s different. He can take over the company. He can’t take over my daughter.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Dad. He’s not taking me over. I’m going willingly.”
“Do you have any idea the reputation he has?”
“I do.” I nod. “And if I’m okay with it, it shouldn’t matter to you.”
“She’s right, Rob,” my mom says.
This is a first. My mom always takes my dad’s side.
Both of our heads whip over to her.
“What?” my dad asks.
“She’s right. Honey, we only get one life. Shouldn’t we live it making ourselves happy instead of worrying about what everyone else thinks?”
I look at my mom gratefully.
“Dolores, you don’t know what this guy is like. He’s slept with half of New York.”
She shrugs. “So what? You weren’t exactly innocent when we met.”
“Oh my God. Stop.” I hold up my hands in surrender. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
My mom and dad have one of those silent discussions with only their eyes, and I’m pretty sure it ends with my mom saying something along the lines of Leave her alone and We’ll talk more about this later.
“Tell us more about him,” my mom says, and I launch into the few things I do know about him…starting with the very strong feelings that have bloomed inside me.
CHAPTER 37
CARSON
The executive team of King Communications is currently in a state of shock. Five sets of wide eyes stare me down, and I’m not even the one who made the announcement. I feel sick, like this is a confrontation—because it is.
I wish Sylvie were here. I wish I could seek her eyes out in this room for comfort. That’s what she’s become to me—just the sight of her turns everything right again. Just knowing she’s in the same room—even the same city—would help, but she’s in San Diego, and I haven’t heard from her in three days.
Maybe she decided not to break it off with William.
“This is highly confidential, so I appreciate your discretion,” my father says to the team after just announcing that I will not be taking over as the next CEO. “Who has questions?”
My father always ends his speeches in the same way: Who has questions?
I have a feeling there will be a lot more questions at this meeting than there’ve been at previous ones.
“When will you announce this publicly?” Paul asks. Even though he aimed that question at my father, his eyes are on me.
“After the final Baker shares have been transferred,” my father says. “We will need a San
Diego transition team. I’ve selected Carson to head up that project, and he has already agreed. We just need to draw up the contract, which I’ll get legal on today. I feel he’ll make a strong impression in our western quadrant.”
“Aren’t there plenty of people who could make a strong impression?” Paul asks. Of all the men sitting in this room, he’s also the one I’d most consider a friend. He’s the one who has the most to gain with me as the head of this company.
“So who will be the next CEO, then?” Gary, our chief operating officer, asks. I get the sudden feeling he’ll be vying for the position.
“We’ll have to go through the interview process. We’ll have a selection committee, and the board of directors will need to approve our choice.”
“Internal or external?” Gary asks.
“We’ll interview both and select the best fit for the position.”
“Family?” Cal asks.
“Not necessarily,” my father says. “Though, as a direct descendent of the founder, it would be hard for me to see this company go to someone outside the family. In the end, we will choose whoever is the best candidate for the position.” He gives Gary a meaningful look. He’s not part of the King family, while Paul and Cal are my second cousins on my dad’s side.
“Why don’t you want it?” Paul asks, looking at me.
I’m surprised someone had the balls to ask. I clear my throat and keep my answer vague. “I’m better suited to run the San Diego office.”
“Better suited than what?” he presses. We’ve worked together a long time, and he knows how to give it to me straight, even when it’s tough. I owe him the same courtesy, but not necessarily in front of the entire executive team.
“Better suited than I am for New York,” I say vaguely.
He just stares at me, as does everyone else at the table, and I have a feeling the conversation between the two of us isn’t over yet.
“Will this push your retirement to a later date?” Cal asks my father.
“I haven’t officially chosen a date yet. I originally intended it to be before the end of the year, but I don’t believe I’m quite ready to give all this up just yet.”
“Because of Carson?” Gary asks.
My father shakes his head. “While I’ll admit our discussion took me by surprise, it’s not entirely because of him. I have a vision for this company, and I won’t retire until I see it through.”
The men fire a few more questions and my father answers, but I’m basically off the hot seat. When the meeting ends, I practically run to the sanctuary of my office and shut the door behind me while everyone else scatters back to their own corners.
I’ve barely inhaled a breath to calm my nervous stomach when I hear a knock at my door. I’m certain it’s Paul, and I don’t want to face his grilling. He’s going to want the truth, and I just want to relish the fact that I’m officially in the clear. I don’t have to take on the responsibility of the King world. I don’t have to be the next CEO. It’s not just a fantasy in my head anymore.
I feel like I can finally breathe, like someone’s been holding me underwater for my entire life and I’m just now surfacing. I need a minute to myself to enjoy the fresh air up here.
“What?” I snap, hoping an intimidating tone will scare him off.
The door opens slowly, and the head that peeks in isn’t Paul’s.
To my utter shock, it’s Sylvie’s.
She moves to stand fully in my doorway, and yet again, she’s even more stunning than I remember. She wears a simple purple dress that’s modest and looks perfect on her. The vivid color sets off the golden tones in her dark eyes.
I’m speechless—literally—and that doesn’t happen to me.
My legs push up from my chair and I grip the edge of my desk for support. I’m shocked to see her here. My brain is lagging behind, still waiting for a text or a call from her telling me it’s over with William, yet here she stands.
“Are you busy?” she asks.
“I—uh…” I clear my throat and try again for words. “Come on in.”
I walk around the desk and past her to shut the door behind her. I want to pull her into my arms, to finally kiss her, to ease the ache in my dick by sliding it into her.
But I don’t do any of that, because the last time I saw her, she was engaged to another man.
Instead, I hang by the door, unsure in my own office.
I’m never unsure in my own office. This is my home away from home. This is where I boldly conquer, where I make deals and bark orders and sit confidently on top of the world.
But Sylvie has turned every other aspect of my life on its head, so it makes sense that she’d throw me off my game in my own office, too.
We gaze at each other across the span of a few feet for several quiet seconds that feel like agony.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Well, I won a luxury trip for two to New York at the Lindor-Hodge event.”
A small smile plays at her lips, and I can’t help when my eyes flick down to watch.
“Congratulations. Did you come all this way to brag?”
Her lips tip up, and the small smile widens. She nods. “Totally.” She takes two steps closer to me, closing the gap separating us so she’s just an arm’s length away. “Oh, and I also came all this way to tell you something.”
I push off the door and close the small remaining gap between us. “And what’s that?”
She licks her lips as her eyes flick down to my mouth before they move back up to my eyes. “I broke up with William. I gave him the ring back and told him I can’t marry him. Our house is already listed for sale and I’ve already started looking for—”
“Shut up,” I interrupt as I hook my arm around her waist and haul her to me. Her smile widens, but then I don’t see it anymore because my mouth finally, finally collides with hers.
It’s every bit as sweet as I imagined in the dark recesses of my bed late at night or in the middle of a meeting or just about every second of every minute of every day.
It starts as something sweet, a long-awaited union between two people who’ve never had this before, lip on lip, hands clinging and clutching. It moves quickly from that tentative start, though, into something deep and erotic. Our mouths open and our tongues clash together. One of her hands travels down to my ass and then up my back as the other hand grips my hair.
I’ve kissed plenty of women in my life, but I can’t say I’ve ever kissed like this. I’ve never given so much of myself to someone else through the simple act of mouths connecting. I’ve never had the types of feelings coursing through me that I have with Sylvie in my arms.
My dick hardens immediately and pushes painfully against my zipper. I buck my hips toward her, and she gasps into my mouth before a soft moan escapes her. I swallow the sound as I deepen the kiss. My hand trails up from her hip to her ribs, and I’m inches away from those luscious tits that’ve been making my mouth water for weeks when she starts to pull away.
I suppose it should be me stopping the kiss because it’s my workplace and it’s the middle of the day and there are people who will surely have questions for me after this morning’s meeting, but I can’t stop. Now that I’ve started, it’s like I broke the seal. I held it all in for so long, these feelings I have for her, and now that she’s given me a glimpse of what it will be like with her, the feelings are about to explode to bits all over my office—or my dick’s about to explode. Feelings and horniness seem like one and the same at the moment.
She’s winded, panting for air after our kiss, brief as it was. The fact that I made her pant like that just from a kiss makes me feel like a goddamn superhero.
I draw in a breath and do my best to retain my calm composure.
“Well.” She clears her throat. “That was…”
“Good.” I supply the word.
She narrows her eyes at me. “It was better than good, for me at least. Wasn’t it for you?”
I shrug. �
�I’ll need another sample to properly judge, cupcake.”
She giggles and shakes her head. “God, I hate you.”
I cock my head. “Do you, though?”
She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t be here if I did.”
“I know. You also wouldn’t be so affected by my kiss if you did.”
“So before you so rudely interrupted me, I was telling you that I’ve already started looking for places to live, and I’m not opposed to looking outside of San Diego.”
“You should live wherever you want.”
“I know. I just…I thought maybe…” She’s flailing, and while it’s adorable, I sort of want to help her out.
“We’ve been through a lot in a very short time. If we can’t be honest and say what we mean, I’m not sure what we’re starting.”
She nods as if she’s drawing strength from my statement, and then she steps away from me, as if the space will give her the courage to say what she needs to say. “It’s too soon and I hardly even know you but if you want to give this a try, I’m willing to move to New York. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, Carson.” She steps back toward me, and I’ve never seen her look so anxious before. “I want this. I want us.”
I immediately quell her fears. “I want this, too. I want us. In fact, I want us so much that I told my father I don’t want the CEO position. I told him I want to move to San Diego to oversee the Baker acquisition and transition.”
Her jaw drops open and she stumbles back a step in shock. “You…You what?”
“I told him. I confronted him. I faced what I had to face in order to put my own happiness first for once.”
“And you think San Diego is going to bring you happiness?”
I shake my head. “No, I think you are going to bring me happiness.”
She closes the gap between us again, but this time she jumps up and hooks both legs around my waist before taking my face between her hands. She gazes at me in wonder, and then her mouth presses to mine.
CHAPTER 38
SYLVIE
When he told me he was moving to San Diego, every last worry that was built up inside of me dissipated. I couldn’t help myself; I had to attack, had to feel him against me again, had to have his mouth on mine once more. I have this achy need bottled up inside, and I have a feeling only Carson can provide relief.