by Marie Skye
Tyler finally broke the silence. "You look happy.” She nodded. "Is he treating you right?"
She turned toward him. "He's perfect. It's almost scary."
"Well, he hates me."
She laughed. "He doesn't." She was wrong, I did hate him. I remembered wanting to bludgeon his head in. That feeling never went away. "He feels threatened by you."
"Right, I call that being overly protective, which could be harmful to you, don't you think?"
She sighed. "Perhaps. We all have demons. You know that. That's his flaw. He's working on it."
"You're defending his character, Emmalin. That's not you."
She stood up. "I'm not defending his character, Tyler. Does he have issues? Yes, I'm fully aware of that. I know he's overbearing, and he knows that. He's not a psychopath. He just needs a chance. You, of all people, should know what that's like."
He held his hands up in surrender. "I'm not trying to argue. I'm just looking out for you. I still do that, remember?”
She sat back down, and they went back to staring at the fire.
"When did the dreams start back up?” he asked, and her head shot up. "Don't think I didn't notice the bags under your eyes. You haven't been sleeping. You look like shit."
Throwing her head back, she laughed. "Leave it to you to never sugarcoat anything.” She laid her head on his shoulder. "He was witness to one. It was embarrassing. I was expecting him to run, or at least for him to tell me to run. But he didn't. He took care of me. He even stocked the nightstand with a glucose machine and snacks, as well as throughout his house for ‘just in case’ moments. Things became so clear after that, Tyler. I don't know. Maybe this is all a dream, and maybe tomorrow he'll wake up and everything will go back to how it was before we met. He means a lot to me. I want to tell him. I'm just too scared to."
"Does he know what happened?"
"No."
"Don't let it consume you, Willow. It's been long enough.” He stood up and stretched. "I'm going to get some rest. I have to be up early."
"Will you be here when I wake up?"
He shrugged. "We'll see.” He pulled her in for a hug. “I mean it. Don’t let it consume you. He’s not here anymore.”
She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. “I just wish I could believe that. I feel like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, and I know I shouldn’t have to, but sometimes…” She turned back toward the fire. “I don’t know. I think it’s just my mind. I’m glad you were here tonight. Thanks for coming, Tyler."
I turned off the equipment and headed into the bedroom before she came in, all the while thinking of what she said. She was clearly running from someone, but who?
I woke a few hours later with notification of movement from the living room, through the alarm system. Tyler was walking around.
“You weren’t planning on telling her good-bye?”
Tyler looked up from the note he was writing. “I was leaving her a note.”
I rolled my eyes. “She’s worth more than the sorry-ass note you’re leaving.”
“She needs to sleep. No matter what she says, she’s exhausted.” I watched as he folded the note and placed it next to the coffee maker before grabbing his bag and heading for the door. He stopped and turned toward me. “This isn’t my story to tell, but she’ll never talk about it. Emmalin doesn’t celebrate her birthday. It’s not even her birthday month, but you already know that. The last birthday she had, she was five years old. The birthday I was just here for was her mother’s birthday. Emmalin’s mom died on Emmalin’s birthday. That’s why she doesn’t celebrate it, and she won’t talk about it. Don’t hurt her, Grayson. You have no idea what she’s been through, and I doubt you ever will. She’ll leave before you do.” I watched him turn and walk out the door down to a waiting cab.
I molded myself closer to his body, and inhaled his masculine scent. Man, I could bathe in him. “Morning,” I mumbled into his chest.
He kissed my forehead. “Morning, beautiful.”
“He left, didn’t he?” I sighed.
I felt him nod against my head. “Shortly after you fell asleep.”
I sat up. “I figured he would.” Grabbing a robe, I headed for the shower. “It’s my last day training my replacement at Tea Lites. She’s done well, and I think she’ll fit in nicely.” As I turned on the shower, I was immediately grabbed.
“Say that again.” His enthusiasm made me smile. “Are you serious? You’re joining my team?”
I nodded. “With stipulations, Grayson, but yeah. I put in my notice with Tea Lites, and I’ve been training the new hire ever since.”
He picked me up and sat me on the counter. “All to myself, whatever shall I do with you?” He began untying my robe, and I moaned as he took a nipple in his mouth. Stepping back, he stripped off his shirt. “Come here. I want to thank you.”
Six hours later, I was having lunch with Edith in the library. "So do you know what you're wearing to the charity ball?"
Edith paused midchew. "Interns normally aren't invited to those, unless they're invited by someone from corporate, or another company. I mean, I know you're technically not an intern, but… wait… were you invited?"
I looked down at my soup. Shit. "I just figured everyone was going. I didn't know the protocol for it.” She narrowed her eyes at me. "You were invited. Who are you going with? Is it Derek from legal? He's hot. Or Chace? He's always around.” I shook my head, definitely not them. I laughed.
"Then who?” She eyed me warily.
I didn't know what to say. I knew Grayson was ready to go public, but I wasn’t. It worried me. I took a deep breath. "Grayson."
I watched as her eyes grew wide before she smiled. "Yeah, we all knew it. We've just been waiting for you to say it."
Now it was my turn for my mouth to drop to the floor. "You all knew?"
She wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Of course. The way you guys look at each other, you’re practically having sex without actually having it. He's in love with you."
I paused at the absurdity that came out of her mouth. He wasn’t in love with me. He couldn’t be. He wouldn't be. Yet, I was thinking about how I was in love with him. My phone beeped to an incoming text.
Grayson: What are you doing?
Me: Talking about you.
Grayson: Is that so?
Me: Apparently, people figured us out. Not my doing.
A minute went by before he replied.
Grayson: Good.
I smiled. No turning back.
Me: Will you be free soon?
Grayson: My tailor just left after making the final adjustments on my tux. I'm all yours.
My smile faded. I tried thinking if I even had anything to wear. I had one formal dress, that purple bridesmaid’s dress with the rhinestone belt. I was so lame. I waved to Edith as she left the room, and I sat there thinking. I could get a new belt for it. Spruce it up a bit.
"You must be truly deep in thought."
I jumped as arms circled me. "Ah, you found me."
Grayson smiled as he stood me up, sat down, and pulled me onto his lap. "It's not hard. Employee library, you're always the only one in here.” He nuzzled my neck.
"That's because it's peaceful in here. Books are peaceful.” We sat there relishing the quiet. "How did your fitting go?"
"Fine. Clyde knows what he's doing. He's been my tailor for a long time."
"I'm going to run a few errands after work, so I'll meet you at your place later.”
His grip tightened around my waist. "Where are you off to?”
"I was going to run by my apartment, grab my purple dress for the ball, and take it to the dry cleaners, and I wanted to get a new belt for it."
He shifted me so that I was facing him. "You know the purpose of them condemning your apartment is not to go in there at all, so they can fix it. And besides, you have a dress. Well, you will by tonight.” Retrieving his wallet, he pulled out a black card and handed it to me. "There's a store th
at's expecting you. Go wild.” I stared down at the black credit card in my hand. "And I would be very careful about saying anything relating to no, or you couldn't, or whatever you're thinking of in that beautiful head of yours.”
Two hours later, Alistair was dropping me off in front of a building. I looked back at him, and he nodded, urging me to go in. The place looked closed. I hesitated before walking up, and before I even reached the door, it opened and out walked an older lady, who couldn't be any more than sixty, with gray hair and white pearls, dressed in all black.
"You must be Emmalin!” I smiled and extended my hand. She pushed my hand away and engulfed me in a hug. "It's so good to finally meet you. I've heard of you, but didn't think we would ever get a chance to meet you.” I watched her in confusion as she ushered me in. "Grayson is so private about everything. When a birdie whispered about a girl, I about jumped for joy. About time!"
Smiling, I glanced around the store. "You have a beautiful store."
"Thank you. It's my treasure.” She looked me up and down. “I have several dresses I'm just dying for you to try on.” She started for the back.
I walked over to some of the dresses hanging up. Beautiful. I dared to turn the price tag. It was at that moment I knew I shouldn't have done that, even if it wasn't my money.
She came back out with a rack of dresses.
"That won't be necessary,” I informed her. She stopped and turned around. "I just needed a belt. Rhinestone if you have it."
She looked at me questioningly. "Are you sure?”
I nodded.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to Caliscades. I carried my very small bag into the house and met up with Grayson in his office; he was on a call. I waved and turned to leave, but he motioned for me to come in and frowned, noting my bag. I was laying his credit card on the desk when his call ended.
"Either that's a really small dress or there's another bag somewhere.” He reached for me, and I hesitantly stepped toward him, not missing the cocked eyebrow. He took the bag from me and peered inside.
Taking out his phone, he punched in some numbers. "Well, I didn't even buy the belt,” he said with a frown.
I sighed. "It was all overwhelming, Grayson, and the prices! Did you know I touched a pair of shoes that were four hundred and seventy-five dollars? That was one pair. That's almost what one bottle of insulin costs me with no insurance, and people freely spend that much money on a pair of shoes! Shoes they probably won't even wear more than once. Now I know why you had all the prices removed from all the tags in the closet.” I took my bag from him and walked out of his office and into the kitchen. Pulling up a chair, I laid my head on the kitchen island and shut my eyes. He sat down next to me and swept my hair out of my face, so I’d look at him.
"I can't apologize for having what I have. I’ve worked for it, and now that I have you, I want nice things for you, too. I would give you the moon if I could.” Seeing his eyes filled with emotion, I slowly sat up. "I do love your purple dress. You were in it the first time I ever saw you, and I admit I wanted it on my floor.”
I laughed. "It’s a shitty dress."
"You were so radiant that night."
I reached up and cupped his face. This was more than about a dress, and I was just fighting the inevitable. Tracing his lips, I sighed. "I'm lost in you," I whispered. "And I'm afraid I won't be able to find my way back out.” I felt a tear roll down my cheek.
With his hand on my nape, he pulled me to him until our foreheads touched.
"I love you, Emmalin." I gasped, definitely not expecting that. "I do. I said it before, but you wouldn't remember.” His grip around my nape grew firmer. "So you have me. All of me. I want you lost in me because I'm lost in you."
"Do you have your speech?”
I patted my front pocket. "I have it right here.”
Smiling, she continued getting ready. Ready as much as I allowed her until she finally threatened me, and kicked me out of the bedroom. Every time she tried putting something on, I started taking it off. Two days ago, I did something I never thought I would do again. I told a woman I loved her. I'd felt high ever since. She didn’t say it back, but I felt like she did in her own way. Now here we were, about to officially go out in the public eye. I was about to formally bring her into my world.
Hearing the bedroom door open, I turned and watched her descend the stairs. My breath stopped. It definitely wasn't the purple dress. She paused at the bottom of the stairs and watched my expression, looking shy.
"Come here,” I commanded, and she slowly paced the rest of the way toward me. Slowly circling her, I admitted, "I've always loved seeing you in lace underwear, but an all lace dress? You'll have me hard all night.” I nipped at her ear and caressed her belly.
"Hey, you're not supposed to ruin anything.” She fanned me away.
"I have something for you." I walked over to the drawer, opening a case.
She gasped. “Grayson, it’s beautiful.”
“Allow me.” She swept her hair to the side as I fastened the clasp to a single teardrop diamond necklace and then placed a kiss at the base of her neck. “We had better go, otherwise I’ll keep you here.”
She smiled and we headed to the limo. As we rode to the event, I made last-minute event changes with security, making sure no one who wasn’t invited would be on the list. When we arrived at the venue, I glanced over at Emmalin, who appeared extremely nervous. Cupping her face, I asked, “Hey, you okay?” She nodded. “We don’t have to go.”
“Are you crazy? This is your big event. Of course we have to. For the kids, remember?”
I kissed her. I loved this woman. I tapped on the partition, signaling we were ready. As soon as the door opened, we were blinded by flashes and cameras. I put on my best public smile and pulled Emmalin to me. She looked startled at first, but quickly relaxed and followed my lead.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would say you’ve done this before,” I whispered in her ear.
She smiled. “Lessons from Isabella.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Let’s go in. I’ve had enough out here.”
We walked into the venue, and it was breathtaking. The decor alone was astonishing. Athletes and celebrities surrounded us. I was glad I decided to get a real dress. We weren’t more than a few feet in before someone stopped us. I took off my starstruck face and put on my polite, smiling face.
“Emmalin, this is Francois Le Blanc. He heads our Paris division. Francois, this is Emmalin, my girlfriend. She’s been assisting on the Florida project.”
“Excellent. I’ve heard good things. I understand we’ll be seeing you next week.”
I nodded in agreement, but before I could respond, we were interrupted.
“Mr. Mandrake, my apologies, but you’re needed out back.”
He cursed under his breath. “I’ll be back.” He gave me a chaste kiss and walked away.
I took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and started walking around, looking at all the items up for bid at the silent auction and watching the people dancing on the floor.
“I always find you alone.”
I turned at the voice. Dale. “I’m not alone,” I corrected him.
He shifted closer. “No? Must be my mistake then.” I turned my attention back toward the dance floor. “You should be out there. I can’t believe your date hasn’t asked you to dance.”
I looked around the venue, not spotting Grayson at all. “It’s fine. He’s busy.”
He tsked. Next thing I knew, he gently placed his hand on my bicep and was leading me onto the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
He smiled. “Dancing with the most beautiful woman here.”
I glanced around, still not seeing Grayson. It was one dance. Fine. One dance, what was the big deal?
Dale turned out to be a pretty good dancer. He even made me roll my eyes by telling corny jokes. I briefly spotted Chace in the corner staring at us. Two second
s later, I almost screamed when I came out of a turn and came face to face with Grayson.
“I’m cutting in.” He took my hand from Dale’s, his eyes never leaving me, and walked me off the dance floor.
As we reached a corner, just out of view from the rest of the event, he let go of my hand and walked further away, hands clenched at his sides, taking deep breaths.
"Grayson.” He held his hand up, and I sighed. If he wanted to throw a tantrum, fine. "I didn't do anything wrong. You weren't even there."
"I know," he quietly spoke.
"What?”
He turned toward me.
"I said, I know. You didn't do anything wrong. I was watching you the entire time, and when I couldn't, I had eyes on you. I saw you step away from him, but he took your arm anyway and pulled you out on the dance floor. You were mesmerizing out there. It’s him I have a problem with.” He stepped closer and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear, then wrapped his arms around me. “You’re mine,” he whispered.
I pulled back. “Is everything okay?” When he nodded, I continued. "The charity ball seems to be doing well."
He smiled. "It is. Some of the kids are here. They're putting on a talent show, and this is like a huge party for them, getting their pictures taken with athletes and celebrities."
I laughed. "I see. Bringing in the children means bringing in more money."
He shrugged. "The children deserve it, and more. It's not just for the public schools, but for children's hospitals. They deserve the best. They are, after all, our future."
As we continued making rounds, I couldn't help but notice the evil eye a lot of the women were giving me when I was introduced as his girlfriend. The lovely Mrs. Stewart just looked at me and smirked. What the hell did I ever do to her?
Dinner was finally announced, and we all went into the adjoining room.