Unexpectedly Yours

by Shea, Rebecca

  Jamie is still in a client meeting that should have ended almost an hour ago, so I scribble a quick message to her on a sticky note and leave it on her desk. I stop by the restroom to freshen up before heading downstairs. From the lobby, I can see the rain still falling heavily. I pull my shitty broken umbrella from my bag and wave to Cloyd on my way out.

  Just as Drew said, Tony and his Town Car wait on the corner of Forty-seventh Street. As I jog over to it, the back door opens and Drew steps out, allowing me to slide in.

  “That was quick,” he remarks.

  “I’m so over today,” I tell him, fighting to close my broken umbrella. He pulls it from my hands, and in one swift movement, gets the damn thing closed. Despite wanting to hug him, it makes me exasperated. There isn’t anything this man can’t do perfectly.

  “Then let’s get you home.”

  Home. I’ve known Drew for less than a week, but when he says that word, it resonates deep within me. He is my safe space right now. He is my comfort…he is my home. I swallow hard against my dry throat at this thought, but I allow it to comfort me instead of pushing it away.

  Even though we’re only going a few short blocks, it takes us over a half hour in rainy Manhattan rush hour traffic. Drew is sending emails from his phone, and I sink into the plush back seat of the Town Car, enjoying the silence. Something about the dark sky, the rain, and the quiet is soothing me.

  We arrive at the Four Seasons and Drew ushers us straight up to the room. Once inside, he takes my jacket and my bag and orders me to the couch, where he tosses me the remote control and a blanket. It’s like he’s figured me out in a few short days.

  “Dinner is on the way,” he says, kicking off his shoes before joining me on the couch. “What’s our poison tonight? HGTV? Chip and Johanna?”

  “God, I love you.” I chuckle, then my whole body stiffens as I realize what I’ve said. “Because you get me,” I say quickly. “I love that you know I need HGTV and food to make me feel better.”

  His mouth pulls into a smile and he lets me stumble over my words. He doesn’t try to correct me or coerce more out of me and I appreciate that, but it also doesn’t scare him away. He pulls me closer and I settle into his side. His arm falls over my shoulders and I feel safe here pressed against him.

  “Home,” I whisper to myself as I rest my head on his shoulder.

  Thirteen

  Gracie steps into the bedroom to change her clothes just as dinner arrives. Instead of eating at the dining table, I set up all the boxes of Chinese food and bottles of water on the large square sofa table in the living room. Tonight is all about comfort and casual. I threw a lot at her today and I know it’s weighing heavily on her. I can see the tired circles under her eyes and the way her shoulders hang heavily.

  “What did you do?” she gasps as she comes out of the bedroom wrapped in her silk robe. Her eyes are huge as she takes in the twelve boxes of Chinese food at the center of the table.

  “I wanted to make sure to get something you’d like.” I start opening the boxes and set a plate and chopsticks next to me, where I motion for her to sit.

  “You could’ve just asked me instead of ordering everything on the menu!” She laughs, tossing a throw pillow on the floor next to me where she sits on top of it. After reaching for a box of chow mein, she uses her chopsticks to pull some onto her plate.

  “There’s fried rice, egg rolls, some chicken entrees, beef entrees, and who knows what else,” I tell her, looking at the boxes. “I told the concierge to order us a variety and clearly she did.” I chuckle.

  “I’m taking some of this for lunch tomorrow,” she says, scooping some broccoli beef onto her plate. “This smells so delicious.”

  I can’t remember the last time I packed a lunch, I think to myself as I help myself to some fried rice.

  She takes a bite, and I can visibly see her mood change. The color comes back to her face and her eyes sparkle again. “Thank you,” she says softly, twirling her chopsticks around the noodles.

  “For what?”

  “Feeding me,” she pauses, “and helping me.” She sets the wooden sticks down on the side of her plate, wipes her mouth on her napkin, and then looks at me. “I’ve never had anyone offer me help before.”

  She’s talking about the financial paperwork and options I was able to compile for her. “Thank you for letting me help you,” I return. “I promise I won’t overstep, Gracie, but I want to help you. I want to ease this burden for you.”

  The corners of her mouth turn up slightly, but her eyes are touched. “You already have.” She twists her long hair and pulls it over her shoulder. “You’ve provided me everything I was too scared to do. Now I just need to sit down and put it into action.”

  I nod once and reach for my bottle of water. “I’d do anything for you.” It feels weird saying that, but I mean it. I would do anything for her.

  * * *

  We fall into an easy routine. We clean up our dinner, have sex, shower, then sleep. If I could do this every day with her, I’d die a happy man. I will never be bored of Gracie.

  I wake up at four in the morning, per usual. I’m an early riser and I know Gracie isn’t. She’s wrapped around me like a spider monkey, a death grip so tight, I can barely move. But I’m happy. She’s here with me and the sound of her breathing comforts me.

  I shift slowly, unwrapping her arms from my chest and unhitching her leg from around my waist. I decide to hit the gym and let her sleep. Only a few more days and my condo will be ready to move into. I’ve emailed my assistant back in San Francisco, who is on standby to send anything I need; however, I think it might be worth a trip back to California to manage it myself. Last thing I need is Tiffany sorting through my underwear drawer, not that I don’t trust her, but it’s weird.

  I hadn’t planned on staying in New York until I saw Gracie sitting at that conference room table the morning I walked into Williams Global Advertising. Seeing her face changed everything. After our night together, something inside me changed. I didn’t know I wanted anyone, or better yet, needed anyone until I met her in that bar. Her innocence, her kindness, her naivety drew me to her like a moth to a flame. Now she’s an addiction I don’t want to fight.

  I quietly collect my things and head to the hotel gym. I would’ve preferred a run outside, but I can still hear the heavy rain pinging against the windows. The gym is empty this early in the morning, so I grab a treadmill and turn the attached TV to CNN to catch up on world events. I’ve been so involved in the company transition and Gracie, I feel out of touch with what’s happening in the world.

  I get in a quick five miles and some weights before heading back to the room an hour later. I find Gracie still peacefully sleeping, a sheet wrapped around her and the light sounds of rain still hitting the windows.

  Grabbing my clothes, I head to the bathroom to quickly shower and then order us breakfast. She doesn’t eat much in the morning, so I keep it simple: muffins, fruit, and coffee. I arrange for my driver to meet us at seven-thirty and check my emails while I wait for Gracie to get up. I have ten emails from my designer, Shannon, providing me updates on the condo design. The furniture is almost done. I paid a pretty penny to expedite the custom furniture, but the space required it. There’s no way I could’ve gone into a store and picked furnishings that would fit the space properly.

  Shannon has measured the windows for coverings, which are scheduled to be installed before I move in, and she has also scheduled the delivery of all the remaining interior furniture she shopped for. She left no room untouched. She even designed and ordered all of the furniture and equipment for the outdoor space.

  Every single design board she’s sent me with links to what she’s picked out I’ve approved. She’s proved to me that she has the eye for detail I was looking for. Though how she’s managed to pull this off in a matter of days is beyond me. It’s clear she’s an expert and has the right connections in New York City.

  I also gave her a handsome budget, w
hich I’m sure helped with the expediting. However, if she can actually pull off what she said she can do, she’ll be rewarded with an excellent tip.

  This condo is important to me. I have this primal need to make sure Gracie is comfortable and isn’t living in that shit hole building in Red Hook. Just the idea of her going back there upsets me. I appreciate the work she’s putting into getting her place and calling it her own, however, my level of discomfort when she wants to stay there trumps my appreciation for her hard work.

  She’ll be at home with me. Our home in Chelsea.

  I hear the shower turn on and realize Gracie is awake. Finishing up with emails and approvals for Shannon, I email the concierge to get dinner reservations for Gracie and me tonight.

  I message Tiffany to book two first-class tickets from New York City to San Francisco for the following weekend and also ask her to arrange a car from the San Francisco airport to my apartment. If I’m taking Gracie to California, she’s going to see more than San Francisco. I plan to show her Napa too. We’ll have one week in our new condo before I sneak her away for the weekend so I can wrap up my loose ends in California.

  “Morning.” Gracie’s voice is raspy, but she looks refreshed. Her eyes are bright and her face is pink from the shower.

  “Morning,” I say in return and stand up. She walks right over to me and wraps her hands around my waist. I can smell the coconut scent of her shampoo in her damp hair and I wrap my arms tightly around her in return.

  “Sleep well?” I ask and she nods against my chest. “Good. Breakfast will be here soon. The car is coming at seven thirty.”

  That’s when I feel her tense. “I’m just going to take a cab,” she says. “I don’t want anyone to see us—”

  “No one will,” I interrupt her. “We’re dropping you off. I have a meeting with my lawyers first thing this morning and I need to sign paperwork for the house, so I won’t be in until later.” I feel her body tense and she inhales sharply. “But, Gracie,” I continue before she says anything, “you’re going to have to get used to riding in the car with me to and from the office. We’ll maintain a strictly professional relationship in the office, but people will eventually find out about us. The only thing we can control is how we act. We’ll be nothing but utterly professional in their presence and show them there is no favoritism, and they have nothing to worry about. Least of all, us riding in a car together. That is not unprofessional.” I say this as I lightly sway us back and forth.

  She doesn’t respond, but she also doesn’t argue. Baby steps. “I’m going to go finish getting ready,” she says, pulling out of my embrace. Fifteen minutes later, she comes out in black dress pants and a white blouse with ruffled sleeves. Her long legs look even longer in the black pants and black high heels. Her hair is down and she’s brushed through her waves so her hair is almost straight. Her make-up is simple, but damn if she isn’t the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  A knock on the door tells me our breakfast has arrived. I have them set up everything on the dining room table. Gracie checks her phone and packs up the large shoulder bag she carries with her every day before sliding into her chair at the table. When I say “her chair,” I literally mean it. The woman is a creature of habit. I’ve learned a lot about her in the last week. She sits in the same spot at the table every day. She also sits in the same chair in the conference room at the office. She powers up her laptop first before she does anything else and checks that the ringer on her phone is off twice before she’s confident it really is.

  I love that about her. She has her quirks and I love all of them. “I got you a present,” I say before shoving a piece of croissant in my mouth. Her hand pauses, sending her coffee swirling around the mug mid-air.

  “Why?” she asks, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

  “Because I saw something you needed.” I shrug.

  She argues with me. “I don’t need anything, Drew.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  Now she’s annoyed. She sets her mug down on the table with a thud and sits back in her chair. I know she can take care of herself—she’s more than proven that—but I want to take care of her, and I hope she’ll let me.

  “Here.” I reach under the table to pull the bag off the empty chair next to me. I hand her the small bag and she takes it.

  I hear her sigh when she looks inside and pulls out the new umbrella.

  “Drew…” she says, twisting it in her hands.

  “I told you that you needed it,” I say smugly. On the inside, I feel all fucking warm watching her turn the thing over in her hands.

  Her eyes are full of gratitude as she sets it on the table. “Thank you,” she says, taking a sip of her coffee. “I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome,” I tell her. I mean it. I like helping her, even if it’s just the littlest of things. I want to be that person for her. Her person. If she’ll let me.

  * * *

  Two hours later, I’m sitting in my lawyer’s office, reviewing the final closing documents for my new condo. Thankfully, everything is perfect and there are no last-minute issues. Janet actually got this pulled off in four days instead of five. She’s definitely getting her extra three percent. Who would’ve thought that two weeks ago I’d be relocating my life from the West Coast to the East Coast? Certainly not me. If any one of my friends had considered relocating their life for a woman they met in a bar, I’d call them crazy. I guess I’m crazy.

  One quick stop by the bank to finalize the wire transfer and I’m all set. It was a long yet productive morning opening a new chapter here in New York and my heart thrums with excitement.

  Tony drops me off in front of my office and I jog inside, the rain still coming down in sheets. Something about the dark skies and rain reminds me of San Francisco and my stomach turns in eagerness as I think about bringing Grace there. I can’t wait to take her to the wharf and show her the Golden Gate Bridge. But Napa, wine country, will be exceptional.

  The elevator drops me in the main lobby of AM Global, and I greet the receptionist with a smile. I mentally make note of a few lobby improvements I’d like done, starting first with the name on the office suite. That needs to be updated as soon as tomorrow.

  The office is abuzz when I come through. I glance at my watch, which tells me it’s only two-thirty in the afternoon, far too early for happy hour or late afternoon office shenanigans. Then again, I’m not sure what the office is used to. Everyone has been working so hard since I purchased it, I realize I haven’t gotten to know the team on a personal level. Well, except for Gracie.

  A large group is gathered around Gracie’s and Jamie’s desks. I can’t see what’s happening, but everyone is laughing and the air is buzzing with energy. “Are we celebrating something exciting?” I ask, shouldering my way through the group. I like that everyone is happy and cheerful; it makes for a great work environment when people get along and have fun together.

  The crowd grows silent before parting when they realize it’s me who is asking, but it’s what I see that causes the blood to drain from my face. There is Gracie pressed against Aaron Maxwell.

  Aaron. Fucking. Maxwell.

  He whispers something in her ear and twirls her away from him in some sort of fancy dance move before pulling her back and wrapping his arm around her waist.

  “And that’s how it’s done, ladies and gentlemen!” Aaron announces. Everyone laughs and claps while I stand back, seeing fucking red. Aaron smirks when he finally sees me and Gracie’s smile falls when her eyes meet mine.

  “To my office, NOW!” I bark at Aaron. I notice Gracie flinch at my tone, but I can’t explain now. With that, the fun is turned off like a switch. Everyone scatters like mice.

  Gracie narrows her eyes and tilts her head in confusion. “He was showing everyone a dance move one of his clients in L.A. just perfected on that show where they get judged—” Gracie starts.

  I simply hold out my hand to silence her. It’s a dick move, but I’ll
explain later. I need to deal with Aaron right now.

  “To my office,” I grumble under my breath to Aaron, who stands with his arms crossed, an evil grin on his face.

  “I don’t know where your office is,” he says in a cocky tone, taking a step toward me. He’s about an inch taller than me, with lighter brown hair. He looks every part the bastardly Southern California publicist that he is.

  I simply point to the only office with an open door and he nods before shoving me hard with his shoulder when he passes me by. Asshole.

  “Nice to see you too, brother,” he mumbles.

  Gracie’s eyes widen in surprise when she hears him and I can see her connecting all the dots.

  She pulls her hands over her face to hide behind them, before whispering, “I didn’t know.”

  I’m so angry with Aaron right now that I don’t even bother trying to explain all of this to Gracie. I simply walk away and try to convince myself not to murder my brother in my new office.

  Fourteen

  “What the hell just happened?” Jamie asks as the entire office falls into an eerie silence. You can barely hear the sounds of keyboards clicking as people get back to work. I slide into my desk chair and sink real low, resting my head on the high back as I let out a deep sigh.

  “Aaron is Drew’s brother,” I say quietly, processing the last five minutes.

  “Aaron Maxwell is Drew’s brother?” Jamie blinks.

  I nod my head and close my eyes, recalling our dinner where Drew shared very limited information about his brother with me. I didn’t make the connection with the different last names and a sudden wave of nausea hits me.