by J. L. Mac
“If your cold baby let me warm you.” His lips land on my shoulder as he takes us to the bed. He pulls back the comforter and we climb in. My back meets his chest. He wraps his naked body around mine and the heat between us warms me in no time at all. The goose-bumps go away and the chattering of my teeth ceases. I breathe in deep and snuggle closer into him. My eyelids become leaden and I feel sleep taking me over.
“I love this,” I mumble hazily. His arms tighten around me and his lips kiss the rim of my ear.
“I hope so,” he whispers and I relax into him further.
“Wake up, beautiful.”
“Uh-uh. Go away,” I whine into the pillow. Why is he waking me up this early on a Sunday? The surprise. I bolt upward in the bed. I catch sight of him in dress trousers and a button down shirt rolled up at the sleeves. His hair is styled in his signature dark mass of sloppy-ness that no other man could wear so flawlessly. I notice his clean shaven jaw and I grumble under my breath.
“You shaved.” He grins, no doubt amused with my mood.
“Come on. We have a busy morning. Lots of decisions to make, let’s go woman or I am going to tie you up and spank that beautiful ass of yours.”
“I don’t know. It’s tempting,” I confess aloud. His head shakes back and forth in disapproval.
“If you make us late for this meeting I promise, Josephine, you’re going to be a lot more sore than you already are.” Oh damn he has a way of making me hot in exactly two seconds flat.
“Okay, fine. What are we doing anyway?” I roll out of his lush bed and stagger on stiff legs to his closet. I can feel him following me. I walk to the rack of clothes and flick through each hanger.
“It’s a surprise,” he says simply. Great. A surprise. With Damon it could be anything. I sigh and pull sleeveless pale yellow summer dress over my head. Stooping to my new collection of heels I search for another pair of wedges. Damon notices.
“You need to learn how to walk in heels. You’re my woman. We will be going to parties and fundraisers all over this town. You will be expected to wear heels. Now. Put these on.” He bends over and snatches up a pair of heels that make my insides shudder. I look at him and I know I have revived a long lost tool of the past and that is my pleading smile. I used it on Papa. Now I am using it on Damon.
“Nope. Put them on.”
“I’ll slip and fall. Most girls learn how to walk in heels as teenagers. I never got those lessons.” Okay, I know. Low blow tossing out the dead parent’s card but I really don’t want to wear these. His jaw clenches and he is clearly losing patience with me.
“You’re going to learn now. Put. Them. On,” he grinds out through clenched teeth. I snatch them from him with as much reluctance and disdain as one person could muster up.
“Fine!” I snap. I sit on the floor without concern for lady-like manners and shove one foot and then the other into the strappy heels. They do look nice. I turn my feet from side to side and stand. Oh. Oh. I kind of feel like a total ass wipe. He quirks up and eyebrow and crosses his arms over his chest.
“I take it they are not as bad as you thought.” I give a coy smile for the first time in my entire screwed up life. I made a big ordeal over nothing. These don’t hurt and my balance is fine. Who in the hell told me high heels require a degree in lady-hood?
“I feel kind of dumb,” I mumble quietly.
“They aren’t bad at all. They are gorgeous and pretty comfortable.” Damon smiles triumphantly and I scoff on the inside at his brazen arrogance.
“Don’t rub it in big man!” He shakes his head as he chuckles and pulls me into hug him. He kisses my forehead. Close my eyes and breathe in his scent. It’s soapy and a little spicy. I like it.
“Come on. Finish getting ready so we can eat and get to the surprise.” I scurry off to the bathroom and comb out my waves then apply my makeup in a dash. I couldn’t help but notice that I took more care while putting on my makeup. Impressing Damon seems to be a priority these days. It’s absurd and unlike me, but of course everything that I have been doing is unlike me. I glare at myself in the mirror before traipsing off to meet big man at the front door.
“What are we doing here? The store is closed on Sundays.” I look at Damon’s handsome profile as he parks in front of the store.
“Exactly. Let’s go.” He smacks my thigh and hops out of his pickup. I still find it odd that this type of man would like driving a pickup truck. Whatever. He opens my door and grabs me around the waist to lift me out of the big truck. He sets me to my feet carefully and despite my nervousness over the heels, I seem to be fine in them. Go-fucking-figure that Josephine Geroux could wear heels just fine. He clasps my hand in his and we walk hand in hand into the store.
“Who-what…” I look around at the scene in front of me and I don’t know what the hell to think.
“It’s in your hands now. Everything is being renovated and updated. You’ll need to order inventory and speak with the decorator.” My jaw hangs wide open as I look around me. I watch a half a dozen men toting out the whole damn store through the back door.
“Wha-I…” Damon grins and pats me on the back. I am speechless. I can hardly believe what I am seeing. I have begged Sutton for years to figure out a way for us to renovate the store. It needs everything updated in the worst way. Our flooring is shitty, our ceiling is shitty, our furniture around here. Everything.
“We get new stuff?” I whisper as I lean in towards him.
“Yes.” I have to get out of here. I can’t do this. I do an about face in my heels as if I have done it a million times before. I make a bee line for the door and barrel through it. My lip quivers and I could choke on the lump in my throat.
“Josephine!” Damon shouts behind me. I feel him following me. It takes him no time to catch up with me as I walk down the sidewalk away from the store.
“Hey! If you want the old stuff I will have it all put back.” I shake my head no and keep fighting back tears. I hate fucking crying. I have only done it once a damn year for years and since I have met him I feel like I am a big baby crying every five minutes.
“Hey!” His big paw grips my arm and halts my speed walking.
“Talk to me,” he demands. The crease between his brows is deep and I suddenly feel like a jackass. Again. Dammit. I should be kissing his face off and confessing my eternal gratitude, but instead I have made him think I don’t like it.
“How did you do this? Those men? It’s a Sunday.” He releases my elbow and puts his hands on his hips when he sees I’m not going to run off.
“Overtime. They are a crew that works for me all the time. They get paid well for today. Trust me.”
“I-This is too good to be true. You’re too good to be true.” I mutter. His thumb and index finger lift my chin to look at him.
“You’re wrong, baby. You aren’t losing the store. I bought it so you can manage it. If you and Sutton work out something then he will stay on the pay roll too. And as far as me? I just want you to want and need me like I want and need you.”
“What if I can’t…make it work?”
“The store or us?”
“Both,” I admit. His amber eyes are luminescent in the sunlight and they take on a look I have yet to see. I am fully and irrevocably enthralled with him. His thumb brushes across my chin softly. Making one pass after another. I relax under his touch.
“The store is your passion and I have faith that your ideas to bring in business are great ones. As for us? I know we can work because failing isn’t an option.”
“How are you so damn confident all the time?” His hand falls away from my chin. I step into his space and wrap my arms around his middle. His arms encase me and I feel like I can breathe past the lump in my throat.
“I am only confident when I know I’m right and I’m right about you.”
“You’re the best thing that has ever happened in my shitty life.” His arms tighten almost painfully. I can feel his heart speed. I peek through my lashes at him a
nd he looks like he may be ill. Oh shit, I’ve given the only boyfriend I have ever had some type of food poisoning.
“Are you going to be sick?” I ask as I peel myself from his grip. He shakes his head.
“No, no I’m fine. You just scared me when you took off. I thought I upset you. Come on, the decorator is waiting.” He laces our fingers together and tugs me forward. We walk back into the chaos inside the store.
“Excuse me one minute. I have to talk to the project manager.” Damon leans in and kisses me sweetly then strides off to the back of the store where a gruff looking man is standing with a few other men.
“Holy shit, Jo,” mumble to myself as I look around. The store looks huge with nothing in it. I have so many great ideas to vamp up the place and make it more appealing to the younger generation of readers. I will admit that I am damn shocked over all of this, but I am over the moon happy. I love this store. Damon was right when he said he figured the way to my heart would be through this store because right now I downright love that man for what he has done! I could spend the rest of my life trying to express my gratitude and I fear I would fall short. There simply is no way to thank him enough for accepting me and my shitty little world. I still don’t get why the hell he is so taken with me, but at this point I don’t care to try and rationalize it. He is the first good thing that has happened to me in a very, very long time and dammit I intend on indulging in this happiness I feel. There is no telling how long it will last. The thought of he and I ending makes me want to curl up and hide from life, but I just have to set those worries aside. At least, for now.
He has been pretty quiet since we left the store. I feel awful for not being more vocal about how much I appreciate what he has done. Damn I want him to know. I need him to know. That spot in my chest that gets warm and gooey when he does certain things isn’t warm and gooey right now. Now it aches a little and I don’t like it. I feel as if I have upset him. He has closed up on me. I have to fix this. He said that on Sundays he visits his grandmother at the retirement home. I reluctantly agreed to come with him. I feel nervous to meet his grandmother. I have never been anyone’s girlfriend so meeting the family is unnerving. He told me that she is really wonderful, but somehow I just feel like a ball of nerves. He pulls us into the parking lot of a nice looking old folks home and parks. He shuts off the engine gets out and rounds the truck to get me. He swings open my door and I crook my finger at him to come closer. He steps forward and I grab a fist full of his shirt and tug him to me. I cup his angular jaw in my hands and lean in. My lips press against his and I try hard to convey what I feel.
“Thank you,” I murmur against his lips. One big hand travels up my neck and around to tangle into my hair. He groans into my mouth and deepens the kiss. His lips draw mine in deeper. I welcome his demanding kiss. His tongue slips over my moistened lips and into my mouth. I moan and savor the taste of him. He pulls away and I am left wanting and out of breath.
“Do we have to visit granny?” I whine like a child. He laughs and lifts me from the truck.
“It’s Grams. Just Grams.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” I smooth out my dress down my thighs and ass. He extends his arm to me and I take his hand.
“Grams?” We enter a room that would be better classified as a suite. This is the fanciest damn old home I have ever seen. I haven’t seen any, in truth. There are two fair sized windows on the far wall with floral curtains drawn open to allow in natural light. Photo frames are propped on every surface. I glance at each one as we walk further into her living suite. They appear to all be of Damon, some girl and another male. Who the hell are these people? There is a vase of pink roses on her side table. A frail looking older woman lay in the medical grade bed. She’s thin with soft white hair cut short. I feel like running away now. I don’t want to be here. She looks like death is a day away.
“Grams?” Damon calls softly which I assume is so she doesn’t startle. Her eyes crack open and I realize this woman is nowhere near death! Her body looks like it is failing, but there is light in her eyes. She looks young in the eyes. They open wide and sparkle a crystal blue as she takes in the sight of Damon.
“Boy get your rear over here and hug grammy!”
“Grammy huh?” I murmur. Her eyes land on me and I feel like panicking. Her brows prompting an introduction and on cue my big man obliges.
“Grams, this is my girlfriend, Josephine Geroux. Josephine this is my grandmother, Bernice Cole.” I extend my hand to her and shake her delicate, boney hand. She looks to Damon and scoffs.
“Don’t you repeat that awful name. Bernice! Can you believe my parents did that to me?” Her sparkling blue gaze lands on me and I swear to God I am smitten. This woman is like a senior version of me. I can see it. The minute I saw her eyes pop open I felt it. She is feisty and I love it. I feel at home already. It’s strange, but I am grateful that I feel comfortable. I laugh in response to her remark about her name.
“You’re right it is a shit name.” I admit. Her grin spreads wide and her oversized dentures make me laugh harder.
“I like this girl Damon. Where did you find her?” His smile is like heaven. He watches me and Grams hit it off like old friends and his mood has changed drastically.
“A book store. She was wrestling with a shoplifter.” He is exaggerating and I screw up my face in response. Drama king.
“Well?” Grams looks to me expectantly. I raise my brows and look around in confusion.
“What?” I question.
“Did you kick his thieving ass?” I clutch my gut and lean forward in a fit of laughter. Damon follows suit with a low rumbling belly laugh. I sigh and wipe the tears from the corners of my eyes.
“He is lying to you. I only chased the asshole from the store. I got the book back though,” I say proudly.
“Well good!” I am positively mad over this woman. I can see why Damon has a tolerance for my bullshit. His grams is like my far older twin. I feel a million times better about being the girlfriend who is meeting the family. I think I like this Sunday routine. I could hang out with Grams all day.
“Hey, could I maybe swing by to visit you tomorrow? I can make you some lunch and bring it with me?” My mouth moves of its own volition and the words have escaped before I can even think better of it. What the hell has gotten into me? Her face lights up and I don’t regret my offer.
“It’s a date, but only if you bring me a bag of those candy peanuts. You know the big fluffy orange candy peanuts. This grandson of mine doesn’t bring me a damned thing.” She pokes her tongue out at him and folds her boney hands in her lap. I smile wide.
“I’ll tell you what. I will bring you a whole damned box of them if you give me all the goods on big man here.” I jab my thumb out motioning towards Damon and he grunts.
“Uh-uh. Hell no. No plotting between you two.”
The rest of our visit with Grams goes by entirely too fast for my liking and I actually frown when he says we have to leave her to it. We say our goodbyes and I promise Grams that I will see her tomorrow. Damon and I walk hand in hand to his truck.
“Was it as bad as you thought?”
“No,” I admit reluctantly.
“So you mean I have been right twice today?”
“Yes,” I mumble. He sets toward his penthouse and I relax into my seat. I prepare myself for his cave-man ego stroking. He has been right twice in a row. I overreacted both times and felt like a giant ass.
“So what do I get for being right?” I look over at him like he has lost his damn mind and see his crooked smile. My pride is no match for that damn smile. Or his honey eyes. Or his sheepish look and especially that extraordinary cock of his. It would seem that I am at his complete mercy pretty much all the time and I can’t say I mind a damn bit. I am crazy over him. I can’t deny it not even to myself.
“It’s a surprise.” He smiles even brighter and desire to crawl across the console to him nags at me.
“Don’t tease me, woman.”
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“I’m not teasing you, baby. You deserve a lot after what you did today.” He glances over to me and his eyes are warm and tender. I want nothing more than to express my gratitude in the best way I know how. Sex. Long, hot, steamy, sensual sex, and I plan on doing just that.
We walk hand and hand into the lobby of the high rise building we make our way directly for the elevator, but Howard stops us.
“Boss?” Damon stops and turns to Howard a few feet away. Howard motions for him to come over to him. Damon drags me with him over to Howard’s security desk.
“What’s going on, Howard?” The middle aged man looks to me apprehensively and I feel like I should give the two men some privacy. I don’t necessarily need or want to know what he has to say. I pull away gently, but Damon’s grip tightens so I still.
“Uh, well, Edward came by earlier.” Damon jaw clenches and ticks. Who is Edward and why does his coming here piss Damon off?
“Boss, he was hammered again. Made a big scene. Took me half an hour to talk him into leaving.” Damon’s nods tightly.
“Thank you, Howard. I’ll take care of it.” Fucking great. His mood is back to quiet and tense. I need to find out who this Edward guy is, but I will wait until the opportunity presents itself. Now is not the time. Right now I am going to have to work doubly hard to bring back happy Damon because right now I have pissed off Damon. And though he is hot as hell, pissed off Damon has to go. We step into the elevator. He punches in the code and we ascend to the top. I know I shouldn’t even bother but I can’t help it.
“Are you okay?” I ask while my thumb strokes along his hand reassuringly. He glances over to me and the anger I see in his eyes frightens me. I am scared of very little. I have seen and done my fair share of screwed up shit, but the kind of anger I see in those amber eyes is the kind that makes a man want to kill someone. It scares me.
“I’m fine.” His answer is short and total bullshit, but I choose to let it fly. The elevator comes to a gliding stop and the doors slide open. He strides into the foyer with me in tow.