Waiting for Always

by Ava Claire

  I gave her another hug, holding tighter this time. "It was great to see you, Mom." The word sprung from my lips and when I realized what I'd said, a sob cut through me.

  She reached up and fixed my tie, her lips quivering. When she stepped back, she was beaming. "It's about time."

  Chapter Eight

  Melissa

  I'd given countless presentations before my colleagues and complete strangers, and I still got butterflies right before a pitch meeting. I threw back my bottle of water, running through the generic fact sheet about Kaleidoscope. We were far from the biggest firm in the Greater Sacramento area, but that gave us the flexibility to treat every client like a VIP. We'd helped clients weather all sorts of PR disasters, from product recalls to CEO gaffes. My team and I usually spent the days leading up to our first meeting with a new client researching and finding the right angle to help them see Kaleidoscope was the perfect fit. This client was a last-minute addition, a local CEO interested in media coaching.

  I polished off my water and rose from my chair, smoothing my hair back and running my hands over my skirt.

  "Ready to go?" Dad stood in the doorway, smiling from ear to ear.

  "We're going to knock 'em dead," I said brightly.

  "With you at the wheel, how could he not fall in love?"

  I frowned as I followed him toward the conference room. Since our dinner, Dad had been more approachable, less intense. But he never used pronouns to describe our clients. They were always Dietnem Motors. The Gale Brook Foundation. Roberts Cola. He was always the consummate professional.

  I shook it off as the marketing team filed into the room and I followed. I was just nervous. I'd get into the zone once the client sat at the end of the table and we got the ball rolling.

  I pulled out a chair in a neutral position and sat down, with paper to jot down notes that had a few talking points scrawled at the top. I scanned the room curiously, picking up on everyone seemingly in a great mood. They all flashed me toothy grins when they met my gaze.

  "Weird," I muttered, heat stirring in my cheeks.

  "He's here!"

  "Can't believe he's actually coming to this building."

  "This is like something straight out of a movie."

  When my father pulled out a chair beside mine instead of his usual spot at the head of the table, I knew something was up. He covered my hand with his.

  "I know the last time I tried to call in reinforcements, it was the wrong choice. But I talked to him." He stroked his chin. "It dawned on me that I never had such a conversation with Jason. That was remedied—this one will be the last one because I informed him if he breaks your heart again, I'll break his legs."

  Oh my God.

  The room spun and flipped upright.

  It couldn't be.

  I looked over Dad's shoulder and met the deep green eyes that always seemed to look right into my soul. To know everything about me. To hold all the passion, love, and hope that I thought had gone out of the world the minute I walked away.

  "Logan," I whispered. How was it possible that I felt faint and at the same time, I could run laps around the building? I wanted to leap for joy but stayed right where I was, just in case this was a trick. Just in case I was dreaming.

  But in my dreams, he didn't smile. And there it was, his thick delicious lips spreading, and anyone with a pulse let out a collective sigh, completely enthralled by him.

  I tracked him with my eyes. Black suit, crisp white shirt beneath, and a slender gray tie. His hair was cropped shorter than I remembered, but the wisps still spilt on his forehead, giving him a playful air. But his eyes were molten and the games we'd play weren't for children. They involved rope and blindfolds and paddles and moans that shattered me until he drove inside and put me back together again.

  I tore my eyes from him. Of course I was attracted to him. Lusted for him. That was never in question. But I needed more. I needed him to be playing for keeps.

  "Thank you for having me today." His voice was cool water washing over me, steam rising from my heated flesh. "I've been going through a bit of a PR nightmare."

  I bit the inside of my jaw, wringing my hands in my lap. So this was a business meeting then. I was going to have to excuse myself because there was no way I could sit here and be professional when I'd been longing for this moment.

  And then my father put a hand on my shoulder. I tugged my chin from my chest, and he gave me the strength to turn my attention back to the front.

  Back to Logan.

  He was looking right at me. No one else existed in the room.

  "I believe my issue was that I avoided the press. While silence is generally the best avenue to de-escalate the situation, I know now that I should have held press conferences and interviews of my own. I should have shouted from the rooftops that I found something more rare and precious than anything in this world."

  Excited whispers echoed around the room as people streamed in, all holding bouquets of red roses. Dozens of them. I stopped counting when I hit the fifteenth person and whirled back to face Logan.

  "A bouquet for every day that we were apart, Melissa,” he explained tenderly. “I said 'no comment', but I should have said that I found the love of my life. That she's the best part of living because she loves me despite my faults. She challenges me, sees the better man that I never knew existed. And without her, I am utterly lost."

  I shook relentlessly, trying to keep the cork on the bottle. Trying to not become a sobbing mess right here and now. "D-Delilah-"

  "Is no longer my concern," he finished. He glanced at the doorway, a final person entering the room with a single rose. He thanked her and took the rose, moving toward me. I knew I was in trouble. This display? He was forgiven for every sin he committed now and ever would.

  Probably.

  I wiped the tears from my cheek as he held the rose out to me. "This rose is for our future, along with a promise that my love for you is everlasting."

  I sniffled along with everyone else, feeling so overwhelmed by love and hope that I could barely keep my feet on the ground. I leapt into his arms, the rest of the room melting away as our lips met. That kiss was the start of something magical. Even when we were apart, he never left me, and I never left him.

  When we caught our breath, nose to nose, searching each other's soul as my coworkers whooped and whistled, I realized that we had something greater than forever. I was his, and he was mine.

  Always.

  *

  Epilogue

  Logan

  I plated the asparagus just so, the bright green stalks contrasting beautifully with the rich darkness of the filet mignon and purée. The candle flickered as I rushed to make sure everything was perfect.

  She was waiting in the car, blindfolded, and from the way she squirmed when I stroked her thigh, dripping wet.

  Tonight, I wanted all of her.

  Tonight, everything had to be perfect.

  I remembered the first time we came to this beach. She'd practically run away from me when she found out that I was the billionaire that broke Delilah James' heart. Things were already so intense with Melissa and I, even though we had only known each other for a number of days. I had loved her then, watching her look out at the ocean, struggling with her demons. I struggled with my own, and in that moment I let her in. It hadn't been easy, but we made it work.

  I moved through the sand toward the car where she waited for me. Months had passed since I went to Kaleidoscope and we started over again. The headlines grew more brutal, the board grew more restless.

  And then the truth broke out.

  Mackenzie went on the very show where Delilah had first shared her version of warped truth. She revealed that I wasn't the father of Delilah's baby. As quickly as they tried to ruin me, the photographers abandoned me in search for a juicier story.

  Then who is the baby's father?

  Mackenzie spoke of a Sacramento local, but I could care less. I could breathe again, love my woman
, without photographers hounding our every move.

  I opened Melissa’s door, stroking her cheek when she jolted in my direction. She clutched my hand excitedly. "I can smell the beach!"

  "But not just any beach," I grinned. I helped her to her feet and guided her to the sand. "Step out of your sandals."

  She obeyed, then gasped as the memory hit her. "But what if someone takes them?"

  I held her face in my hands. "Then I'll buy you another pair." I pressed my lips against hers, tasting her. Breathing her in. I reached around and untied the blindfold.

  Her cheeks were rosy in the amber glow of the lanterns that lined the street. "Candlelit dinner on the beach, eh?"

  "Among other things," I said, licking my lips. Still tasting her there. I felt the weight of the thing in my pocket. I had a whole plan. We were going to have dinner and a glass of wine. I was going to spread her out and have her for dessert, then I was going to pull her into my arms and ask her the most important question I'd ever ask. But I couldn't wait one more minute.

  "I have something to ask you."

  Melissa paused in the sand, whipping back to me with stars in her eyes. She followed my hand to my pocket and when I pulled out the square box, her eyes were as big as the moon.

  I kneeled in the sand before her, opening the box. "Will you mar-"

  "YES!" she squealed, dropping to her knees in front of me. She threw her arms around my neck and kissed all the air from my lungs.

  She slipped the ring on her finger and collapsed on the sand, laughing with tears streaming down her face. I slid next to her, propping my head on my hand.

  "You barely let me get it out,” I joked, happier than I ever thought was possible. “Maybe I was asking if you wanted to mark this occasion with a kiss."

  She shoved me playfully. "Who says we still can't? A kiss for your lips-" Her eyes danced to my crotch. "And a kiss somewhere lower."

  I kissed her a second time. This one hinted at all the things I wanted to do to her tonight, and all of the days and nights for the rest of our lives.

  I grazed her lips with my own. "You're sure you want to put up with me, ‘til death do us part?’"

  "And beyond,” she grinned, her face aglow.

  Lying with her beneath the stars, I knew forever wouldn't begin to be long enough—but it was a good start.

  ****

  Thank you for taking the time to read Waiting For Always. Please consider leaving a review. xoxo, Ava

  The Beautiful Surrender Series

  Waiting For You (Beautiful Surrender: Part One)

  Waiting For Me (Beautiful Surrender: Part Two)

  Waiting For Us ( Beautiful Surrender: Part Three)

  Waiting For Forever (Beautiful Surrender: Part Four)

  Waiting For Always (Beautiful Surrender: Part Five)

  Check out other works by Ava here.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Ava Claire is a sucker for Alpha males and happily ever afters. When not putting pen to paper or glued to her e-reader, Ava likes road tripping, karaoke, vintage fashion, and fantasizing about her favorite book boyfriends.

  Connect with Ava:

  Blog: http://avaclaireromantica.blogspot.com

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ava.claire.9

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  Twitter: @avaclairewrites

  Stay tuned to my blog for up to date information on my works in progress and release schedules!