Persuading Perfection

by TC Matson

  Jade

  The alarm startles the hell out of me, blaring its horrendous scream that it does every morning. Except this morning, I didn’t want to hear it. I slap the shit out of it and groan, stretching out. The emptiness of the bed jolts me right back into reality, and I jerk to see the empty spot where Zach slept. A sad titter strangles my throat. “Surprise. Surprise.”

  I slip out of the bed and, like a zombie, head for the shower. Steam billows out when I open the door, blessed with the sexiest sight of Zach. He’s naked, wet, and in my shower. A giddiness takes over my body and I all but want to clap out of excitement that he’s still here.

  A tan silhouette of a muscular wall, blurry from the steam built on the shower door, notices me. He wipes a circle in the glass and moves to take a peek. A smile erupts, all toothy and happy. “Morning. Hope you don’t mind, but I needed a shower before work.”

  “You don’t have any clean clothes here.” That is the first thing I say? Like a damn teenage girl seeing a sexy man for the first time. I want to hide my face from embarrassment.

  He splashes water underneath his neck. “I know.” He turns off the water, opens the door, and sniffs his flexing bicep. “And I’m going to smell like a hot ass chick all day too.”

  My eyes roam over the glorious naked sight. He’s always been built—not too big, not too small. His chest is defined, his stomach flat with dips outlining his six-pack. His perfect, smooth, sexy skin bears no scars, no marks except for the tattoo on his right forearm. The whole gang of boys went the same day to get their tattoos. My mother was livid at all of them when they came home and showed off their work. Zach tatted up his entire right forearm—an eye of providence is surrounded by relaxed leaves and melts into a skull. He’s always told me the eye was mine, but I say the resemblance is just coincidence.

  “You gonna stand there and ogle me, or are you going to toss me that towel?” His tone is low, sexy, and deliberate.

  I throw the towel, keeping distance between us. He smirks while wiping off his face, and before my arousal gets the best of me and I jump him, I walk away. He has that effect on me—spontaneously combustible. If I don’t walk away, the both of us will be naked and having wild sex. And more sex means one of us will be late, if not both. It also means more feelings for him to rustle up.

  I grab the toaster and two pieces of bread, slamming them into it. The past two weeks, everything has made me want to puke except for toast and just a little bit of butter. I just have to get past the horrible smell of it as it cooks. The aroma does not match the glorious taste of it.

  Zach struts his sexy ass into the kitchen and leans his hip on the corner of the counter, watching me set everything up. “I’m going to be busy for the rest of the week, so I’m not going to make it back here.”

  “I didn’t expect you to,” I say with a whole lot of attitude.

  “I know, but there’s nothing wrong with telling you how my week will be.”

  Frustrated, I sigh, slamming down the butter and knife. “Don’t mess us up. You keep doing your thing and I do mine. We’ve done this for years and it’s been perfect.”

  But has it really? Broken hearted each time one of us walks away from our passionate fucks…

  Stepping in behind me, he splays his hands over my stomach. “That’s before I knocked you up.”

  “This baby isn’t going to change a thing between us,” I scathe, twisting out from under his hands. “Nothing is going to change between us. Anyway, it’ll help you out. I’ve heard women love men with babies.” That hurt to say and it surprises me.

  His eyebrows dig deep. “You keep telling yourself that and you’ll be highly disappointed. It changes everything between us.”

  “No, Zach. It doesn’t,” I challenge him with an annoyed stare.

  The corner of his mouth quirks up, and he grabs a water out of the fridge. “I’ll call you later.”

  I all but want to stomp my foot. “No. You won’t,” I blast. “You think just because I’m pregnant it gives you the right to barge into my life and make yourself at home?” God, that sounded ridiculous, but I can’t control my mouth. “One you didn’t want before? You and I,” I point between us. “We’re nothing but parents. There won’t be a relationship.”

  The argument is in his eyes, darkness and disagreement clouding the brown. He blinks, abandoning it, kisses my forehead, and offers a small, tired smile. “We’ll see about that.”

  The moment the door shuts behind him, I do stomp my foot and grit my scream with my fists at my side.

  “Is it safe now?” Freya whispers from the hallway.

  “Yes,” I snap.

  “Man, you two are heated as always.” She strides into the kitchen and grabs a bottle of orange juice.

  The toaster scares the ever-living fuck out of me when it spits out the bread. I yelp and slap it across the counter, but it stops short from falling off the counter, saved by its cord. I drop my elbows to the cold laminate counter top and my head follows into my hands.

  “You alright?” Freya asks carefully.

  I jerk my head up, mad as hell. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to fall for Zachary Calloway’s callous ways again. Ever! He’s broken me once. Never again, dammit. I’m only a fool once.”

  Her eyes are wide, mouth gaped open. “He only said he’d call you.”

  I scowl. “He’s sweet, but for how long? I know how he is. I fucking know him!” I scream and then stomp off to my bedroom, abandoning my food and everything else.

  I know him…and it hurts because I know how bad a heartbreak labeled by him feels. I’ve been there…and I’m not planning on going back.

  Zach

  Jade: Thank you.

  I steal a quick glance at my phone before sliding it back in my pants, indiscreetly. I sent her five cases of root beer and a few bags of chocolate balls that Valorie said were to die for. They sure the hell looked it and with a price tag like that, they damn well better be. I figured I’d do something nice since my first reaction was bullshit.

  Not my proudest moment.

  Shocked. Stunned. And a wave of panic. That was the last thing I ever thought I’d hear her say and when I did…my wires got crossed.

  I took a few days to gather my scattered thoughts. They were more about Max than Jade. I know what I want to do with her, but Max…my best friend, brother even, well, he’s about to learn the blanket of deception he’s been under for years. Blind to the fact his best friend has been fucking his little sister for years. He’s been in the pitch black about her and me, and that I’ve broken her heart…more than once.

  “I’ll send you our final price this week,” Mr. Austin, CEO of the high-end Fairmont hotels, says and then stands.

  I shake his hand. “Looking forward to it. I’ll talk to you then.”

  After I leave my meeting, I go back to my office and push the door shut before calling her. When I left her two days ago, she was mad, scathing mad…

  “Hey,” she answers quietly.

  “You alright today?” I ask.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” I can already hear the aggravation in her tone.

  Such a hardheaded and stubborn woman.

  “I had a moment between meetings and wanted to check on you.”

  Her sigh is mad too. “Please quit making this awkward and hard.”

  I can’t help the smile her words pull from me. “You’ve never been awkward when I’m hard.”

  “Is that your inner dog barking?”

  I drop my head back and laugh. “Have you been staying off your feet?”

  She groans. “I’m at work. I’ve got a stool. I’ve worn good shoes. My hair isn’t too tight. I had a grilled chicken salad for lunch. And I’m drinking water. Anything else you may possibly need to know?”

  “Do you miss me?”

  “Goodbye, Zach,” she says and then hangs up on me.

  I rest back in my leather chair, grinning to my empty office. She’s so hard on the outside, and although it�
��s my fault, it’ll be me breaking it back down and getting into her good graces.

  “Mr. Calloway?” Valorie sticks her head in. “Your next appointment, Mr. Prosser, is here.”

  I nod. This one is important. If all goes well, we’ll have another multimillion-dollar business deal this year.

  I step out of the shower, wrap a towel around my waist, and head to my phone.

  “Hello?” Jade sounds off in the distance.

  “We’re you sleeping?”

  “Yes.”

  I glance to the clock. “At seven in the evening?”

  She groans and I picture her rolling over on her back in the bed that incidentally should smell of me now.

  “Yes, Zach. At seven. And I’ll possibly go back to sleep right after I eat. I’m growing a being inside of me and newsflash, it’s taking every ounce of my energy.”

  “You smell me?”

  She grumbles. “Yes. You’ve ruined my bed.”

  “I’ve bettered it. Now you can snuggle to the pillow and pretend it’s me.”

  “I’m not so sure soft and squishy is anything remotely close to your hardness.”

  My brows rise. “Jade handed me a compliment. I think you have me blushing.”

  “Zach…shut up,” she breathes a giggle.

  And we’re back to our fun banter. I sit on the edge of my bed with the heavy weight of the world evaporating off my shoulders. I like her light and in a good mood. “Next time you use your dildo, grab that pillow and scream my name. You know it’s me you think of anyway.”

  “I wouldn’t want to disrespect Stefano.”

  Sheer jealousy lacerates my cognitive thoughts. “Who?” I snap.

  And she fucking laughs. “Stefano. My dildo.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “Are you upset I didn’t name it Zach? You’re narcissistic.”

  “Would it make you feel guilty if I said it’s you I call out for when I’m jacking off?”

  “Zach…” Her voice cynical. “You don’t jack off. You have no need to. Women are at your disposal.” The bitterness in her tone does not go unnoticed. “Any particular reason you’ve called?”

  “Now to find out why you’ve named your dildo Stefano. I need to fix that.”

  Playfully annoyed, she groans. “He’s my foreign lover from Italy. He makes me feel good and no worries about being insufficient. He does a fine job.”

  I’m unfazed by her jab. “I’ll take you to Italy and have you forget all about it. I’m all you’ll ever need.”

  “Oh my god. Do you hear yourself?”

  “I do. I also love to hear you as I satisfy all your dreams.”

  “Why did you call me?” I hear the anger forming in her words.

  Deciding to let it go and not poke a pregnant bear, I relent. “To check in on you and see if you need anything.”

  “This. Again?”

  “And to talk to you about Max. I have a plan, but I’ll need you here and the picture of our pumpkin seed.” I smile at the thought of my baby.

  “What’s the plan?”

  “A cluster fuck with high hopes. I’m heading to Easton’s tonight to fill him in. I’m going to plan a cookout and I’ll tell him there. It’ll be privately, but having Easton there to lend some extra protection.”

  The line falls silent for several seconds and it makes me pull my phone from my ear to make sure we haven’t been disconnected.

  “I’m staying with Max. I don’t need to throw him into a tailspin.”

  And as much as it kills me to say… “That’s probably for the best.”

  “I’ve got Saturday and of course Sunday off. Plan it then. I’m going to go and eat. I’m barely keeping my eyes open.”

  “Sleep well, Jade,” I sing as I hang up.

  I step into Easton’s penthouse and see Zoey in the kitchen with Easton nowhere in sight.

  Zoey smiles widely when she sees me. “Hey, Zachary.”

  The woman refuses to call me anything but my full name. Me, on the other hand… “Z,” I greet her, kissing her cheek. “Where’s your worthless boyfriend?”

  “He’s taking a shower. He should be out any moment. Want a beer?”

  “Gives me enough time to convince you to leave him,” I tease and she knows I am. I’ve given her a hard time since she ran into me one night at a bar. I played my moves and invited her back to our table, except halfway there, her name struck me. Easton had a thing for her—a serious as hell thing. He was crazy about her but pussyfooted around. Of course, I enjoy lighting a fire under his ass, so after a bit of convincing Zoey, we ended up running a scheme on Easton. It worked. They’ve been together for far too long, sickeningly happy too.

  Her cheeks flare up and it’s the reason why I fuck with her.

  I chuckle. “Please on the beer,” I respond and make myself right at home, dropping onto the couch and kicking my feet up on the coffee table. I’ve done it since the day we met and I’m not about to change now.

  Zoey hands me a beer and I grin to her. “My offer still stands, Z. You’ll look good in my office.”

  “You’re flirting with my girlfriend again?” Easton calls out coming down the hallway.

  I take a sip of my beer and smirk like the smug bastard I am. “I am.”

  He slaps me on my shoulder. “What do I have to do to keep you from doing it?”

  “I’d say let me hire her, but we all know that will only ramp me up.” I wink.

  “You two realize I’m in the same room, right?” Zoey interrupts our brotherly banter. Her cheeks are ignited on fire. “My answer will remain the same. I have your number, Zachary. If it gets weird I’ll call you.”

  Easton tugs her against his body and kisses her like he’s about to blaze off to save the world. “You’re not going anywhere,” he growls with a hint of seduction. Disgusting.

  “You don’t think keeping her against her will is weird?” I tease. “Or kissing the boss?”

  Easton barks a laugh and joins me in the living room, sitting in his recliner. Don’t you dare think about sitting there either. The man has an obsession with it. He’s so fucking odd.

  “What brings you by?”

  Instantly my nerves kick into high gear. I lean forward, placing my beer on the table, and rub my hands together. “Look. I’m in a situation and I’m going to need your help.”

  The humor in his eyes diminishes. He sobers up and glances to Zoey as he slides to the end of the cushion. “You don’t ask for help often…”

  I give an empty nod. He’s right. I don’t.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Depends on who you ask. Me? Yeah. Everything will be fine.”

  “Do you need me to leave?” Z asks quietly.

  “No, but you’ll want to sit,” I say. Easton regards me with worry as only a brother can. Zoey parks her ass beside him on a stool. “Jade’s pregnant…by me.”

  Easton’s bright ass green eyes go wide and his face slacks. “Oh fuck.”

  Zoey’s mouth is open, but she says nothing.

  “I plan on telling Max this weekend. I’ll need you there.”

  As the reality settles in his mind, he laughs. “How far do you want me to play referee? Wait until you’re out cold? Before he buries your body? You tell me.”

  I scratch the back of my neck. “No doubt it’s going to get ugly. I figured having a little backup would be beneficial.”

  “How’s Jade doing?” Zoey chimes in.

  The thought of her makes me smile. “Beautiful as ever. Scared. And pregnant.”

  “You two going to…” Easton leaves the question hanging.

  “I’m working on that. I’ve got plans,” I tell him.

  He nods and then smirks. “Don’t light them on fire like you did the last time.”

  “Don’t you worry your pretty little head off. It’s my second chance. I’m not fucking it up this time.”

  He arches his brow. “Dude, let’s be real. Sixth or seventh.”

  “Second,
” I counter.

  “What time do you want us there?” he asks, changing the subject.

  “Two.”

  “Funeral at five then?” Easton quips and Zoey back hands his arm. He laughs before sobering up. “How do you feel about her being pregnant?”

  I swallow, not liking the sentimental taste. “I’m excited. A little scared that I’m going to be a dad. But I’m happy.”

  Easton rises to his feet and slaps my shoulder. “Well, congratulations.”

  It feels so damn good to finally tell someone. I’m sure my cheesy ass grin reflects that too.

  Zach

  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. My palms have been a sweaty mess since this morning. Easton and Zoey got here before Max came strolling in with Jade and a woman I’ve seen him with before. So much for the “privately.” She’s about to see a spectacle, a side of Max not many have seen. Matter of fact, I’ve only seen it once. It was back in high school when some punk dared to put his hands on Jade at a party. Drunk bastard had cornered her, trying to shove his damn tongue down her throat. Max got to him before Easton or I did and beat the kid into a bloody pulp.

  We’ve made small talk, chatting about business, the fucking weather, and every damn thing else. I’m distracted, unable to really pay attention to what’s being said, and I’m downright miserable. Looking Max in the eyes, knowing I’ve knocked up his little sister, is proving to be a difficult task.

  Easton bores holes into my head, probing me to just get it over with. And he’s right. I’ve put it off long enough, stalling like a pro. I stride to where Jade and Zoey are lounging by the pool and bend to whisper in her ear.

  “I need the picture.”

  Worried eyes fall on me. “I don’t want to do this.”

  “Better now than delivery. Get the picture, Jade.” I’m stern and she gets up, scurrying into the house where her purse is.

  I inhale, turning back to the guys and Max’s date as I wait for Jade.

  She looks terrified, her color drained from her face when she hands me the picture.

  “He’ll be mad at me. Not you,” I remind her, trying to calm her down. Stress isn’t good for the baby…so those stupid books have told me.