by TC Matson
Nathan: Are you up?
I debate on replying. I really don’t want to in fear that I’ll be sucked right back into his grasp, but I really want to in hopes I will. I hate my heart right now.
Brooklyn: Yes.
Seconds later my phone rings and I answer. “It’s ten thirty at night. Kind of late for a big businessman like you to be up. Isn’t it?” Yep. Full on sarcasm.
“Not when I’m just leaving the office.”
He’s just leaving? It makes my heart hurt a little for him.
“Would you care for company?” he asks.
My head jerks back causing my face to pinch up.
“You’d sleep great,” he adds.
“Although I appreciate your worry for my sleep and well-being, I’m going to pass. The last thing I need is company to entertain. I don’t plan on staying up much longer,” I reply.
A hum, deep, throaty, and sexy as hell comes through the phone, reminding me of the look in his eyes as he pumped his fingers into me. Heat rushes my limbs, pooling at my core.
“I’m leaving town later this week and coming back Friday. Can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”
“No on that as well. I planned on going to Aimee’s.”
“We could go together,” he states.
“The last thing I want to do is rub her nose in your handsomeness when she’s heartbroken.”
I hear a soft rumble of a chuckle before he says, “Then have dinner with me this weekend.”
I shove my palm into my forehead. Why is he making this so hard? “You’re very persevering. I can understand why you’re so successful.”
“Once I have my mind set and my eyes on something, I can become very passionate about obtaining and creating it. I don’t wish on my dreams. I make them happen. I see my goals through and create my own success. Focus, passion, and patience. It’s all you need in life.”
I nearly voice the swoon his business-like tone just caused to surge through me. I’m certain if I had to work with him, I’d have daily orgasms.
“And I’m a very patient man,” he adds dropping his voice.
“Sometimes certain goals can’t be obtained,” I say casually, hiding the dreaminess in my tone.
“I know when to throw in the towel.”
“What’s your mind set on exactly?”
“You.”
One simple word. One deep voice. The desire throbbing in me startles me. I shift and swallow hard. “I’m not sure the feelings are reciprocated.”
It’s a lie. A bold face lie and I don’t know who I’m lying to more—him or me.
“Think about dinner this weekend. I’ll see you later. Sleep well, Brooklyn.”
He disconnects the call and I immediately sink into my chair, melting. The way he talked tonight—panties soaked.
“I’m screwed,” I say into the night. “Totally screwed.”
NINETEEN
I meant what I said. When my mind is set, I don’t back off. Brooklyn gives me something I haven’t felt in a while—a passion for passion and not for business. Not the need to develop, build, and jump through hoops to erect another towering hotel somewhere perfect. The need I have is for her. The attraction goes beyond skin deep. The heart that beats in her chest, I want it and I’m going to do everything I can to secure it. I want to be the only thing on her mind—the one who causes her to smile the largest. Our chemistry, our pull, is powerful and like none other.
And it’s awakened a determination in me.
Knowing she works today, I rearranged parts of my schedule, grabbed something to eat, and like a damn stalker, I’m sitting in the parking lot at her work waiting for her to sit at the picnic table in the back.
“Your flight leaves at ten Wednesday with your returning flight…” Patricia sighs her disappointment. “The only one I could get you on for Thursday was eight at night. Unless you want an early morning Friday?”
“Those work,” I reply just as Brooklyn appears, sitting at the table with her phone to her ear. “Thank you, Patricia. I need to go. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Brooklyn is animated with her hands while she talks and stills as she listens. She doesn’t see me coming. The sun is blaring down and I’m grateful I left my jacket in my car. I would have roasted out here.
I sit at the opposite end of the bench. Brooklyn’s head snaps and she jumps back, yelping.
“No. Nothing. It’s um…a pesky bee.” She scowls. “Yeah. I need to go and get some spray. I’ll call you later, okay? Love you.” Those round beautiful browns don’t unlatch from me as she ends the call. “What the hell are you doing here?”
I hold the bag up. “Brought lunch. Bruschetta chicken wraps.” I slide the bag across the metal table toward her, keeping my ass planted at the end.
She looks to her crackers for a long minute and when she peers to me, there’s no hint of her playful sexy smile. “Why are you here, Nathan?” Her tone softens.
“Want the truth? Can you handle it?” I ask.
She worries her bottom lip. “Yes.”
“I needed to see your gorgeous face before I left. I miss you.”
She stifles the gasp and quickly grabs the bag, pulling the wrap out. She looks back in the bag and then flattens it before separating the two halves, and putting one on the white bag. She slides it to me.
I tip my chin. “That’s your lunch.”
“I’m not eating in front of you when you don’t have anything. I’ll feel weird. So, eat,” she says, not looking at me.
The size of her heart gives me a smile.
We take a few bites in silence before she speaks.
“What’s this week’s business trip about?” she asks sounding genuinely interested.
My chest swells with pride. “Ground breaking.”
Swallowing her food, she glances at me. “Like where you use enormous scissors to cut a red ribbon and then pause for the pictures while you shovel dirt?”
I chuckle. “I loathe that. Those are normally put on by a proud city looking for more publicity. Not this time, thankfully. All the higher ups from the companies involved will be there and since it’s mine, I need to show face.”
“You don’t sound excited to go. Is everyone snooty, rich and boring?”
“Some take their jobs too seriously.”
“The owner of the hotel they’re building for…you,” she points, “will be there. You probably have everyone walking on egg shells and scared to crack a smile. They have to present themselves as upstanding, take no bullshit, know what the hell is going on businessmen.”
Dropping my head back, I bark a laugh. “You think that’s it?”
“You’re intimidating,” she says. “You’re the paycheck that feeds their family. I’m sure they kiss your ass and probably throw their bodies over mud puddles so you can cross cleanly,” she jokes.
“You have it pretty pegged, huh?”
She dusts off her shoulder, a playful gleam in her eyes. “I’d like to think of myself as a business expert.” She slides her water my way. “The boss was a little unprepared for lunch.”
“You were my main thought.”
Her beautiful pink lips pull up and it causes a prickle in my chest. I stretch my shoulders to alleviate the feeling and take a swallow of her water. Closing the cap, I shove it back. “Thank you. How’s Aimee doing?”
“Strangely, okay. She has her ups and downs, but she seems…lighter?” She shakes her head. “Maybe that’s not the right word. I know she’s heartbroken, but it’s not holding her down. She thought he was proposing that morning. Instead he told her he was screwing someone else and that he was moving to New York to be with her.” She blows a breath.
“Damn.”
“It came out of nowhere. He looked at her as if she was the precious air we breathe. He always did things to show her he loved her, even days before they split. He seemed like he cherished her. But then he went poking around.”
“How’d he meet the other woman?”
/> Her lips pull into a frown. “Out of town for business. Bad day led to a drink. A drink led to a woman into his bed. Pants don’t keep dicks in, apparently.”
“Happiness and love can keep dicks out of other things,” I reply.
“Sometimes it’s not enough,” she says, her tone melancholy.
“You should come with me on this trip.” The words tumble out of me so fast, it shocks me. I’ve never brought a woman with me.
She takes a sip of her water and closes it before giving me an apologetic smile. “I’m not your girlfriend, Nathan.”
“You could be. I’m working on it.”
She stands. “Thank you for lunch.” And walks away.
The walls she has around her heart are new, and they’re the ones I erected on my own. They’re sturdy by the pain I caused her. Slowly, I plan on proving to her she has nothing to fear. I screwed up once. It’s not happening again.
TWENTY
“You want to what?” I ask in disbelief, my eyes bugged out, staring at Aimee like she’s from another planet.
She lifts a shoulder, lolling her head to the side. “I want to start running and getting healthy again. Forty is knocking on my door and I need a healthy heart to live a long life.”
“You’re twenty-five, Aimee. Forty is years away.”
“It’ll be here faster than you think. I’d like to be prepared.”
Shyla’s looking at Aimee like she’s lost her mind too. “I’m not doing it. No amount of persuasion can make me run.”
I throw my thumb at Shyla. “I’m with her. If I’m running, there damn well better be a bear behind me.”
Aimee whines. “I don’t want to do this alone.” She looks to the ceiling and sighs. “I need new friends.”
Shyla and I share a look. She widens her eyes and spreads her hands to the side as if to say she’s just as confused as I am.
“What if we walk? No running. Just walk?” Aimee asks.
“In a shopping mall?” Shyla replies.
“Fine.” Aimee snaps. “You two are more than welcome to stay here, but I’m going to the park. I need fresh air, a tight ass, and new damn friends.” She shoves out the front door, the screen shutting behind her.
“I’m not going,” Shyla says. “I love her and love that she’s focusing her hurt on herself, but my exercising comes in the form of Brady and my bed.”
Dammit. I stretch my neck. “Fine. I’ll do it.” I chase after her. “Aimee, wait up. I’ll go.”
She pauses just as she’s about to get into her car. “Really?”
I flash her a grin. “If I die, tell everyone how perfect I was.”
* * *
Okay. I’ll admit. The day is beautiful, and this feels invigorating. As promised, she’s kept the pace slow and I’m not bent over begging for air. This is actually incredibly relaxing.
“Have you talked to William?” I ask.
“Once. I found some more of his things and had to call and see what he wanted me to do with them.”
“You seem okay?”
“Is it bad that I feel okay?” she responds languidly. “I thought when I called him it would destroy me, but hearing his voice didn’t hurt. Actually, I was pretty numb. Like I wasn’t talking to the guy I just invested six years of my life for him to toss away.”
“That’s good, right?”
“I guess the shock of what he did has worn off. I’ve gotten into a new routine with a life without him. I think the truth of our situation settled in.”
Confusion pulls my brows tight. “And that is?”
“We were done before we were over. Don’t get me wrong. I loved him, but more times than not I was just content. I wasn’t miserable, but I wasn’t over the moon for him anymore. He didn’t make my heart race like he used to. He didn’t brighten a room for me. He became my normal.”
“Why didn’t you ever talk to us about it? I hate to know you dealt with all these feelings alone.”
“Denial. I loved him and he was all I’ve ever known. I couldn’t picture a life without him, but I wasn’t in love anymore either.” Her lips turn down. “I was scared.”
“Should I not dream about nut punching him the next time I see him?”
She snorts. “Definitely do that. He cheated, therefore is a total douche. He better be glad I didn’t burn everything of his in the front yard.”
I laugh just as my phone chimes.
Nathan: What are you doing?
Seeing his name makes me smile. Ugh. I hate how he controls my lips.
“Gotta be the hunky Nathan.” Aimee grins. “Why do you fight him? Give the man a second chance to make it up to you.”
“Would you do it for William?”
“Cheating and omitting are two different things, B, and you know it.” She nods toward my phone. “Now text him back.”
Me: Hanging out with Aimee.
Nathan: It’s a beautiful day and the scenery is beautiful.
Me: It is.
Nathan: I can picture you walking in the park with your hair up and your ass looking good.
“What the hell?” I suck in a breath and show Aimee the text.
“Why can’t my ass look good too?” she teases with a whine.
Me: Aimee is upset you don’t think her ass would look good too.
Nathan: Her ass isn’t in my sights. You are.
Aimee presses her hand to her chest. “You are insane to not give him a second shot. Since he’s admitted fault, has he hidden anything else from you?”
Sinking my teeth into my lip, I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know.”
“Look at yourself. Look at the silly smile he gives you. Quit being so damn stubborn and get to know him better.”
Nathan: Can you do me a favor?
Me: Depends.
Nathan: Turn around.
I gasp, clutching my phone to my chest and spin around. Nathan and Cody are behind us, grinning like devils as they walk toward us. I’m locked onto Nathan. The gray shirt he wears is clinging against his hard body, showing off the chest I’d love to bury my face into, those strong arms I want wrapped around me.
“I’m beginning to believe you truly are stalking me,” I say, utterly breathless no thanks to my pounding heart.
“This has been our routine for years.” He sticks his hand out to Aimee. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Nathan. This is Cody.”
“How funny you show up just as we were talking about you?” she admits and in my mind, I picture choking her.
Nathan’s brows rise, happiness and mischief dancing in his eyes as they slide back to me. “Is that so? Presumably all good?”
“Spitfire.” Cody tips his chin. “How the heck are you? You never called me.”
“Um. Yeah. Sorry. I got really busy,” I say.
“Care if we join you?” Nathan asks, reigning back the conversation.
Aimee points to me. “Not if you’re jogging. She doesn’t run unless there’s a wooly mammoth behind her.”
“Not a problem,” Cody answers. “We don’t mind walking.” He moves beside Aimee, striking up a conversation, leaving Nathan to post beside me.
I swallow my nerves. “How was the meeting?”
He hasn’t stopped staring and smiling at me, and it’s doing fantastical things to my stomach. “It went well. My hotel is in good hands.”
God, his smooth voice could hypnotize the blind.
“That’s good,” I reply levelheaded and not sounding as if I’m swooning over him. “Will it take a long time for it to be finished?”
“Completion is about a year and a half.”
“Wow. Does it not drive you crazy to have to wait so long to see the final product?”
His brown eyes glow. “In the beginning it used to. Now it’s just part of it. You wouldn’t fair well. It’s one of those surprises you know is coming.” He looks over my head and back to me, leaning close. “Cody seems to be moving on without you.”
Aimee and Cody are completely enthralled with
each other. Eye contact. Grins. Breathy laughs.
I place my hand on my chest. “I guess we weren’t meant to be.”
Nathan’s view drops to my lips and he shakes his head. “Not you two, no.”
No words come to me. He has my senses scrambled…again.
“You two up for volleyball?” he asks.
Aimee and I share a devious glance. “I am,” she says.
Nonchalantly, I shrug. “Sure.”
“You can be on my team,” Cody tells Aimee.
“Actually…let’s do boys against girls,” Aimee replies. “I don’t know you and Brooklyn’s my best friend.”
Cody grins. “Are we making any bets?”
“Winner gets a dinner date?” Nathan smirks.
Aimee’s shaking her head adamantly. “No.” Her face is contrite. “How about winners get flowers?”
Cody barks a laugh. “As long as they’re pretty.”
“I can do that.” Nathan says. “The volleyball nets are just around the corner.
This will be interesting.
TWENTY-ONE
The volleyball court is also the tennis court and I’m grateful for it. Hard courts, not sandy ones, are easier and also where Aimee and I are the best. The guys strut to the other side, their egos causing them to think they have this in the bag.
Aimee turns her back to them and faces me. “They don’t look like anything outside of wing it beach ballers to me.”
Meaning, they’ve only played for recreation and never for sport.
“Agreed. Hustle til half?”
Wickedness splits her face. “Then we’ll kick their asses.”
“First to fifteen?” Nathan shouts.
“You mean points or minutes?” I call back…innocently.
“Points, sweetheart.”
“Oh. Yeah. That sounds good.”
They roll the ball over to us since “ladies first” and the game begins. I flub the first serve, swinging and missing it. The second try, it hits our side of the net and Aimee fumbles to catch it, failing. My third try, I hit it over the net. We bump it over the net several times, Aimee and I looking clumsy as ever. The guys are there to make sure we don’t score a point. We allow it.