by Sandi Lynn
The bartender arrived and started to get things set up when I heard the elevator doors open and Emily’s voice calling my name.
“Mr. Caine, Emily Wade has arrived and needs your assistance.”
I chuckled as I walked into the kitchen and found her standing there holding a garment bag in one hand and a small suitcase in the other.
“Good afternoon, Miss Wade.” I stood and stared at her in her gray sweatpants, matching zip-up hoodie, her hair in a high ponytail and not a trace of makeup on her face. Fuck, she looked adorable.
“Would you mind taking this suitcase upstairs for me?” she asked.
“It would be my pleasure.” I grabbed it from her hand.
When we reached my bedroom, I set the heavy suitcase down on the bed.
“Are you moving in or something?” I smirked.
“No.” She laughed. “Since I’m getting ready here, I had to bring my makeup and my clothes for tomorrow.”
“You couldn’t just bring one of those small cosmetic bags for your makeup?”
“I need options, Jackson.” She smiled as she unzipped the suitcase and took out a large black trunk full of makeup.
I followed behind as she took it into the bathroom and opened it up.
“I still have to shower,” I spoke.
“Go ahead. I’m just going to be putting on my makeup.”
“You showered already?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied as she dabbed foundation all over her face.
“Damn. I was hoping you’d take one with me,” I spoke as I started the shower and stripped out of my clothes.
She didn’t say a word, but I caught her glancing at my naked body through the mirror. She pretended she wasn’t looking, but I knew she was. My cock was starting to get hard just knowing she was doing it. Stepping into the shower, I thought about when the right time was to tell her that I was her new landlord and that I approved of her expanding the shop.
When I stepped out of the shower, she glanced at me as I wrapped the towel around my waist.
“Were you just staring at my naked body?” I smirked.
“No.”
“Yes you were.” I slowly walked up behind and kissed her neck.
She let out a soft moan. “Okay, maybe I was. If you weren’t so sexy, I wouldn’t have to look.”
“You think I’m sexy?” My lips continued to graze her neck.
“Yes.” She moaned.
“Is this sexy?” I pushed myself against her, letting her feel the hardness of my cock on her back.
“Very sexy.”
I pulled down her sweatpants along with her panties and gripped her round beautiful ass as tight as I could. A low moan escaped her. My fingers slid across her slick spot, feeling the excitement that was already there. While my one hand focused on her lower half, my other reached around and unzipped her hoodie, revealing only a pink satin bra underneath.
“Fuck. I didn’t know you weren’t wearing a shirt under there.”
“Surprise.” She smiled.
I couldn’t wait any longer. My cock was throbbing and needed to be buried inside her. Turning her around, I lifted her up on the counter, slid her hoodie off her shoulders, and quickly unclasped her bra, tossing it on the bathroom floor. Her hands reached out and took off my towel and then softly stroked me to the point I thought I was going to already come. Bringing her to the edge, I grabbed her legs and forced them around my waist while I thrust inside her, moving in and out at a rapid pace. She leaned back, her hands planted firmly on the counter as the sounds that escaped both our lips intensified. My fingers gripped her ass as I lifted her from the counter and took her over to the wall. Our lips locked tightly together until she gasped, and her legs tightened around me while she came. The buildup for me was there and my cock was ready to explode. One more thrust and I buried myself deep inside and strained while I blew everything I had inside her.
“Wow.” She smiled brightly.
“Wow is right.” I kissed her lips.
I set her down, and she stood with her back to the wall and didn’t move.
“Are you okay?” I laughed.
“I’m fine. I just need a minute for my wobbly legs to catch up with the rest of my body.”
Chapter 25
Emily
Jules was in disbelief when she walked inside Jackson’s house and we all yelled “surprise.” The look on her face was pure shock until the tears formed in her eyes when she realized what her brother had done. She hugged him tight and the feeling of brother and sisterly love poured out of them. Wiping her eyes, she greeted her guests and Jackson looked at me and smiled, knowing he had made her happy.
“Emily, it’s so good to see you again,” Jules spoke as she grabbed my hands. “Can you believe he did this?”
The smile grew wide across my face as I replied, “Yes, I can believe it. He’s a good man.”
“He certainly is, and I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
As Jackson and I were talking over a glass of wine, he rolled his eyes as his mother and her husband walked over.
“Thanks for coming, Mom.” He kissed her cheek. “Stuart, good to see you as always. I would like you both to meet a friend of mine. This is Emily.”
“Very nice to meet you, Emily. How long have you and my son been dating?” she instantly asked.
“Oh, we aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”
“Oh.” She raised her eyebrow.
Jackson and Stuart walked away for a moment to grab another drink and I was left standing there in an awkward moment with his mother, Gwen.
“I was hoping you’d be dating,” she spoke.
“Why?” I cocked my head.
“I’m going to ask you a question and I want nothing but the truth from you.”
“Okay.” I sipped my wine.
“I believe Jackson is gay and I need you to confirm it for me. Is he?”
I wanted to bust out laughing, but I couldn’t. If she only knew how gay he wasn’t.
“Jackson is not gay, Gwen. Why do you think that?”
“Because he never brings any girls around. Not for holidays, visits, nothing. He’s always alone and I suspect that he doesn’t know how to tell his father and me that he’s gay.”
“Would you have a problem with it if he was?” I asked as I narrowed my eye.
She was silent for a few moments as she looked away from me.
“Well, I wouldn’t like it.”
“Jackson told me that you’re on your fourth marriage and his father is on his fifth. Did it ever occur to you that maybe Jackson doesn’t bring any women around because he doesn’t believe in relationships? I mean, look at the example you set for him.”
“Why I never!” She scowled. “That was uncalled for and very rude, young lady.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
Jackson and Stuart walked back over and, instantly, Gwen took his arm and led him away.
“What just happened?” Jackson asked.
I sighed. “Your mom officially hates me.” I pursed my lips.
“Why?” He chuckled.
“She thinks you’re gay.”
“WHAT?!” His voice raised.
“Shh.” I hooked my arm in his. “I told her you weren’t and maybe the reason you don’t believe in relationships is because of the example she and your father had set. Sorry.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
Laughter escaped him.
“Please, don’t apologize. What you said was perfect. And as for her hating you, she probably does after what you said. But that’s her problem.” He winked. “If she wants to think I’m gay, then fine. She can believe what she wants. I don’t really care.”
While Jackson and I were talking, Jules walked up and pulled us to the side.
“I wanted to tell you first before I made an announcement. I said yes to Carter. We’re engaged.” She smiled as she held out her hand and I admired the beautiful diamond that sat on it.
; Jackson wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him.
“That’s great, Jules. I’m happy for you.”
“Congratulations.” I gave her a big hug.
“Thanks. I’m going to make an announcement in a few minutes, since everyone is here.”
“Have you told Mom yet?” Jackson asked.
“No. Not yet. I wanted you to be the first to know. You’re happy for me, right?” she asked.
“Are you happy, Jules?”
“Very happy.”
“Then you made the right decision.” He kissed her forehead.
Not one, not two, but three orgasms later, I was wrapped up in Jackson’s arms. It was the perfect ending to a perfect party.
“Are you ready for your expansion of the shop?” Jackson asked.
“Ugh. I forgot to tell you. I called Leon and he told me that he sold the buildings. So now I have to wait until the new owners get in contact with me. Can he just sell them like that without telling me?”
“Yes. It’s his property. He can do whatever he wants with them. That just means that you’ll have to pay your rent to the new owners. Nothing should change, since you’re already in a lease.”
“What if they won’t allow me to expand?” I asked with concern.
His lips pressed against the top of my head. “I’m sure they will. I wouldn’t worry about it just yet.”
“I’m kind of anxious to get moving on it. What if they rent the other space out before I can talk to them about it?”
His chest heaved and a long sigh escaped him. Lifting my head from his chest, I sat up and looked at him.
“Am I irritating you?” I arched my brow.
“No. It’s just there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What?” I asked with nervousness.
“First thing Monday morning, I want you to get hold of a contractor and start planning your expansion.”
“Have you not been listening to me? I just can’t do that and I’m not getting my hopes up and then having the new owner shoot it down and tell me no.”
His finger reached out and traced my collarbone as I held the sheet against me.
“I am the new owner and I give you the okay to expand Emily’s Edge.”
“What?” I asked with a laugh. “You bought the buildings?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“For investment reasons and so you could expand. Leon said absolutely not, and I thought he was making a mistake, so I purchased the buildings from him and now you’re free to do whatever you want.”
“You’re serious?”
“Dead serious, Emily.”
“When did you do this?”
“Yesterday.”
“And you were going to tell me when?” I narrowed my eye at him.
“Tomorrow over breakfast.” He smirked. “But you wouldn’t stop talking about it.”
A feeling came over me in an instant. A mixture of—shit, I didn’t know. On one hand, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of him buying the buildings so I could expand, but on the other, I was a little frightened by what he had done.
“I don’t know what to say, Jackson. I can’t believe you did that.”
“Don’t read too much into it, Emily. I did it for investment reasons and because you’re my friend, and friends help each other out, right?”
“Yeah. I guess. But that had to cost you a lot of money.”
“What doesn’t cost a lot of money these days? If I didn’t think it was worth it, I wouldn’t have done it. So, actually, my purchase was in the best interest for both of us.”
Leaning over, I brushed my lips against his. “Thank you for letting me expand.”
“You’re welcome.” He pulled me on top of him. “One more round before we go to sleep?”
“Definitely.” I grinned.
Chapter 26
One Month Later
Emily
Life was good. Too good to be true, actually. Things with Jackson and me were phenomenal and our negotiation was working perfectly. He was busy with work, securing new deals and new properties every day, and I was busy with the expansion of Emily’s Edge. Jules popped into the shop every so often and the four of us went out at least once a week. Jackson told her about our arrangement, and she thought it was a little strange, but she wasn’t surprised.
I stood in the middle of the shop and watched as the carpenters worked on the espresso bar.
“This is going to be great,” Evelyn spoke as she stood next to me.
“What’s going to be great is that wall over there with your name displayed on it and your designs hanging underneath.” I smiled.
“That too.” She laughed. “By the way, Dylan and I said those three lovely words to each other last night.”
“Oh?” My brow raised as I stood there with my arms folded. “Isn’t it kind of soon to be saying those poisonous words?”
“Stop it. And no, it’s not too soon. I do love him. Hearing him say those words was magical.”
“You do know that magic isn’t real, right?”
Her eyes narrowed at me as she placed her hands on her hips.
“I think what you and Jackson have is incredible. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you two are no different from any other couple in the world. And don’t deny it. You two are a couple. I’ve seen the look on your face when he cancels a date because something came up at work and he has to switch the day you two see each other. I’ve seen you start to text him and then decide you better not, and I’ve seen the way the two of you are together. You both are crazy and head over heels for each other. You can deny it all you want, sister, but I know there’s more to this so-called companionship relationship than you’re willing to admit.”
I turned my nose up as I walked away.
“You’re wrong. We’re great friends with a little extra spice on the side. What Jackson and I have is perfect. In fact, if more people did what we did, they’d be a lot happier.”
As I was rearranging the display table in the front of the store, a man I recognized from a month ago walked in.
“Hello, Emily. I don’t know if you remember me.”
“Gregory, right?” I smiled.
“Yes. My wife and I just moved to the city and I thought I’d drop by and say hello.”
“So you did make the move. Welcome to New York.”
“Thank you. If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to have lunch or perhaps dinner with you one night.”
“Excuse me?” I asked in confusion.
“I would like to talk to you about your mother.”
“What about her?” A look of concern swept over my face.
He drew in a sharp breath. “We were very close at one time and—” He paused.
“And what?”
“I think you may be my daughter.”
I gulped and whipped my head around when I heard something hit the floor and Katie stood there staring at me as the jewelry rack she was holding fell from her hands.
“I know this may be a shock to you,” Gregory softly spoke.
“A shock is an understatement. Who do you think you are, coming into my shop and saying something like that? My mother didn’t know who my father was. She was a single woman who hooked up with a lot of guys. As horrible as that may make her sound, she was the best goddamn mother in the world,” I shouted. “Now please leave my shop.” I pointed to the door.
“Your mother was the love of my life. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card, and set it on the table. “I’m sure your mother never mentioned me, and I don’t blame her. I’ve lived with my decision for the last twenty-seven years. Have a good day, Emily.” He walked out the door.
I stood there, literally shaking at the news he had sprung on me. My heart was pounding out of my chest and the only person I could think of at that moment was Jackson.
“Emily, are you okay?” Katie asked as she walked up to me.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you think what he said was true?”
“I don’t know,” I spoke as I walked behind the counter and grabbed my purse. “I’m going out for a while. Noelle will be here in about thirty minutes.”
While I was in the back of the cab, I sent Jackson a text message.
“Are you at the office?”
“Hi, and yes, I’m here. Why?”
“I’m on my way. I need to talk to you.”
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
As soon as the cab driver pulled up to the fifty-six-story glass building, I threw some cash at him and took the elevator up to where Jackson’s office was on the thirtieth floor.
“Hi, Emily.” His secretary smiled. “Mr. Caine said to go right in when you got here.”
“Thank you.”
Opening the door to his office, I took one look at him sitting behind his desk and, instantly, my eyes filled with tears.
“Hey.” He got up from his chair and walked over to me.
The tears started to fall uncontrollably, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t stop them.
“What happened?” He clasped my shoulders and then pulled me into an embrace.
“This man came into the shop.”
Breaking our embrace, he looked at me with a seriousness in his eyes I had never seen before.
“What man? Did he hurt you?” he asked in a stern voice.
I looked down and shook my head and I was once again in the safety of his arms.
“Calm down, Emily, and tell me what happened.”
I swallowed hard and took in a deep breath.
“This man and his wife came into the shop about a month ago. They were visiting from Seattle. He kept staring at me the whole time they were there and when his wife was in the fitting room, he walked over and asked me if I knew Karen Wade. I told him that she was my mother and he said that he knew her, and I had her smile. He came back into the shop just a little bit ago and told me that I might be his daughter.”