He dropped the hand touching my face, put them both in his pockets and cleared his throat. "Mostly, I hope you'll be my girlfriend. I love you. I know long-distance romance isn't ideal, but I think we can do it. I can make more time in my schedule and if you'll let me, I'd like to help free up yours. By doing whatever you need for Michelle."
Tears clogged my throat and swam in my eyes. He loved me. This wasn't just a fling, a diversion to occupy his time. He wanted to be with me and had taken the first step. A big one. How could I not follow?
"Was this the urgent issue you had to take care of?"
"That, and this."
He pulled out a box from his desk drawer. "You had one angel bring you sorrow, I'm counting on this one to bring you joy."
I opened the box, trying not to let the tears fall into it. Nestled in a swath of blue silk sat a necklace, a gold angel, with a bow and arrow, and a tiny diamond on the end of the arrow.
"She's a fighter, like you. The minute I saw it, I thought of you. I want to spend time with you. Start delegating areas of my work to others. I plan to enjoy my life more and I want you to be there with me while I do. I'm ready to trust someone, see what happens. How about you? Care to join me?"
He said the last words almost casually, but I heard the intensity beneath the surface.
"I, I want to. I do. You really want me, to date me? Out in public?"
"Yes, I want to date you, to show you off, to take you everywhere with me. I told you, you're beautiful, you're perfect, and I plan to parade you down the street on my arm. Hope you don't have a problem with that."
I couldn't speak over the lump in my throat, and then I couldn't talk because Nathan's lips were back on mine, sending streaks of ecstasy running through me. I responded, like I had since the first time we touched, leaning into him and returning the kiss with abandon. Time stopped, and we wrapped around each other, lost in our own world. Through the haze of pleasure radiating in my mind, I heard a sound. I pulled away slightly.
"Your phone is ringing."
"Let it ring. This is our time."
I looked into his eyes where raw desire glittered.
He smoothed my hair behind my ear, running his thumb along my cheek. "I don't usually do quickies, but I've got to have you. Now."
"Now? Here? There isn't room."
"There is if we get real close. Like I intend to."
"Someone might hear us." But he'd already unbuttoned several buttons on my uniform shirt and by the feel of his erection pressing against my leg, planned to remove more clothing.
"Are we ever going to stop going crazy every time we touch?" I fumbled with his belt buckle, caught up in his passion. Moisture formed between my thighs and my pulse sped up.
"I hope not, for a long time."
He managed to get my shirt off and my pants undone. I shimmied my hips and let them drop to the floor.
"Turn around. Lean over."
I did, bracing myself on his desk. I heard the snick of his zipper being undone. Already, the heat pouring from him enveloped me and made my body hum. He reached around, cupped my breasts, and fondled the nipples through my bra. He'd figured out I like to have them pinched gently to tease, then harder. One of his hands slid down my stomach, into my panties, right to my clit. He'd learned how I liked that touched, too. He flicked it lightly, then with more pressure, then moved his finger in a circular motion, driving me out-of-my-mind crazy.
I rubbed my ass against him, smiling at his sharp intake of breath. He moved away.
"Hold on a second. Don't move."
I didn't. I heard clothes rustling and the sound of paper tearing. So he had a condom with him? I'd have to ask him about that. Later. Right now, I needed him to finish what he started.
He pulled my panties down to my knees. "I'm not going to last long." Remorse sounded in his voice.
"That's okay, neither am I." I swiveled my head around and grinned at him.
His answering smile, full of lust, made my pussy clench. I had to have him inside me. Like he knew, he gripped my hips and with a grunt, filled me up.
Perfect. How could he fit so perfectly? I took him, tightened around him, smiled at the moan my grip produced. I loved making this strong man hunger. He reached around me and found my clit again, rubbing it, teasing it, until, my hands formed fists on his desk and I came with a groan. He followed right behind me, burying his face in my neck to muffle his shout.
He rested his cheek on my shoulder, leaning his chest on my back. Once again, I closed my eyes, drifting to that special place, delighting in the way we molded together, the way our hearts pounded in unison.
And once again, the sound of a buzz pulled me back to reality.
"Does your phone ever stop ringing?"
"Rarely." He straightened for a moment, then bent and kissed my cheek. "What would you like to do right now? If we didn't have to take care of business and could be anywhere in the world?"
"Hmmm. Anywhere? Doing anything?"
"Yep." He moved lower, with slow, lingering kisses on my throat.
I slid my arms down the desk and dropped my head on my hands. My body shook, from the sheer intensity of our lovemaking. He adjusted to accommodate my new position, still inside me.
"I'd like to be on a tropical island with you, one where you didn't own any property and had no responsibilities. We'd get dressed…"
"Oh, damn. We have to get dressed?" Now his lips blazed a trail along my neck, down my shoulder blade.
"For a short while. We go out to dinner, slow dance together, then come back to our suite, one with a two-person Jacuzzi, and drink champagne in the tub."
"Now you're talking. That will be our first vacation. Soon." His words came out muffled as he nuzzled my neck.
His fingers traced my spine, and I felt him attempting to undo the bra I still had on. I also felt his cock stiffen. Holy crap, was he ready for another round?
A chime sounded, my phone this time. We both sighed.
"I suppose we need to get back to work. For now. I'll come to your room, as soon as everything is taken care of with the wedding reception. Anywhere particular you'd like to go for dinner tonight?" He eased out of me and I missed his warmth already.
"No place particular. As long as you're there."
We dressed, he planted a kiss on my lips, and we left. He headed to the reception, and I started back to my room. I checked my phone and found a picture from Jen, of a wind-whipped tree, with most of the leaves dropped. Dark clouds filled the background.
What's going on today here. How about a picture of there to warm me up?
I grinned, and reversed my direction to take me to the deck where I took a few photos. Jen would like all the wedding décor and the sky was particularly beautiful. Like Key Largo was always posing for pictures. I wanted to take a selfie, but knowing Jen, she'd see that I was ecstatically happy and figure out what I'd been up to. I'd snap a few of those later, after my post-lovemaking glow wore off.
+++
Back in my room, I lay on my bed, head leaned back, still in a state of total bliss. Ready to fall into a snooze, actually. That Irish lullaby Dad used to sing floated through my mind. He knew the words, but would make up his own and create an extra verse, often in Gaelic. Sleep, dream, he used to sing, to start the verse. Codladh, taibhreamh. Then he'd come up with some silly nonsense to make us laugh. He'd always chant those musical words, whenever he wanted us girls to go to sleep.
I bolted upright. That was it! The password. I jumped out of bed, snatched the flash drive from my purse, and hopped from foot to foot as I waited for my laptop to boot up. When it did, I opened the drive and plugged in those two Gaelic words.
Hot damn! The document opened, but as it did, I covered my eyes. Did I want to see this? Did I want to find out what my dad was doing? What if he committed some heinous act? Did I want to know?
Yes. I had to face the truth. I pulled my hand away and read the document.
If you've opened this file, I'm probab
ly dead. Most likely, it's you reading this, Amber. You were always good at solving mysteries and puzzles. I'm sure no one else can figure out this password and I hope Michelle will keep this little angel like I asked her to.
What you were originally going to find here was directions to a lot of cash. Enough to keep you, your mom and Michelle comfortable for many years if anything happened to me. How I got it is a long story, one I'm ashamed to repeat. So I won't.
I couldn't keep the money. It weighed on my soul. I gave it to several worthy causes, anonymously. I'm sorry I took it in the first place, and I don't want you to remember your old man as a thief.
What I am going to give you is, the names of all four of us involved, and the case number from the arrest where my pals and I got the cash. You hang onto this, and if you ever have problems, with any of the guys, you tell them, you'll turn over the file number. There are also pictures at the end of this document, of us stashing the loot in a car. I got license plates, faces, enough to get them all in deep shit. They didn't know I snapped photos. See? Your dad is pretty smart too.
Since you remembered that part of the lullaby, that I came up with especially for you girls, I hope you'll also remember me in a good way. You couldn't understand why I left your mother, and maybe I made a mistake, but at the time, it's what I needed to do. I did plenty of bad things, but I made two wonderful daughters. I always loved you and Michelle, more than anything in this whole, wide world. Take care of yourself, A stór.
Tears streaked down my cheeks and I sobbed out loud. I loved you too, Dad. A small piece of my heart that had withered away, beat again, and a warm feeling suffused me, like when he used to pick me up and hug me. He'd always be a wonderful father, in my memories.
A knock on my door drew me away from my laptop. I wiped my cheeks with the heel of my hand, peeked out the window, and then let Nathan in.
"What's wrong?" He studied my face closely.
"Nothing. I opened the flash drive and found a message from my father. It's sad, kind of, but sweet. Here, take a look."
Nathan sat at the table and read Dad's note. "He sounds like a great guy."
"He was. Not perfect, but…"
"Who is?" Nathan squeezed my shoulder. "Now you know. You okay with what he did?"
"I am. It's closure. But about Turski."
"Don't worry about him." Nathan's hand tightened. "I've got my people on it. They'll find him, pass along this info from your dad. He won't bother you again."
"Turski has probably kept in touch with these guys, the ones that took the money. I want them all to know, I've got the drive, in a safe place where no one can get to it except me. If anyone messes with me or my family, I'll bring it out. Can you do that? Can you get the message to him?"
"I can and I will. You have a place to keep it? Not at your home?"
"A safe deposit box. Tell him that. And if anything suspicious happens to any of us, the flash drive is going straight to… I don't know, make something up. I'll figure it out later."
"I'll tell him. And you know I'll do everything in my power to take care of you. Starting with this." He put the photo of the townhouse on the table. "Don't. I know what you're going to say."
"You do not." But the corners of my mouth lifted slightly. He probably did.
"You're going to say you don't want to move. You don't want to be obligated to me. I promise you, no strings attached. You'll be working with my property management company and treated like any other tenant. When you get home, go by, take a look. The utilities are on, so you can see it after dark, if you need to. Your half is the larger one, with the bay window."
"Nathan…"
He touched a finger to my lips. "Please. Just look. Then send me a picture. Of you, naked, in front of the fireplace."
"Fireplace?"
"Two. One upstairs, one down. Or maybe a photo of you in the whirlpool garden tub. The one in the master bedroom. With a skylight over it."
Garden tub. Skylight. "You sure know how to tempt a girl."
"In more ways than one, I hope."
I laid my hand on his cheek. "In many ways. And I suspect there are more I haven't even seen."
"Oh, yeah, I've just got started." He caressed my cheek and my toes curled. "Dinner. We should get ready and go."
He removed his hand but the feel of his touch remained. Dinner would be nice, but I knew where we'd have dessert, and it would be better.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"This is the last box in my car. You got any more in yours?"
I padded down the wooden stairs of the townhouse. "No, that's it. Thanks, Jen. You're a lifesaver. I'd ask you to have a seat but…" I waved my arm around the living room, empty except for a pile of moving boxes along the wall.
"That's okay, I need to pick up the kiddos soon anyway. Give me a quick tour."
"Take off your shoes. I don't have a broom yet and I don't want to grind dirt into these hardwood floors. We'll start upstairs." I grabbed her hand, and we trotted up, clomping our stocking feet like silly teenagers. "Did I tell you there are three bedrooms up here? And one of them has a fireplace and two walls of shelves? I can get my books out of storage."
"And read by firelight. Sweet!"
I'd come home from Key Largo late Monday afternoon, turned the heat up and my microwave on, and blown a fuse. I flipped the breaker but nothing happened, and a call to the landlord resulted in more nothing. A message on his machine, telling me he'd return my call shortly. From experience, "shortly" could be anywhere from six hours to three days.
My phone chirped, reminding me of the text Nathan had sent me earlier.
Key is in a fake rock in planter. Alarm code 579841. Take a look. Just a look.
An empty apartment, with working heat. Pumpkin meowed, curled into a tighter ball on the couch and burrowed under a blanket.
Screw it. I'd deflated my air-bed and threw the mattress, along with pillows and bedding, into a bag. Next, I repacked my suitcase with work clothes, then grabbed Pumpkin, and her food and bowls. I drove the two miles to the address Nathan had given me and found the townhouse. It was just as gorgeous in real life as it looked in the picture.
Clean red brick made up most of the building. The curved bay window on the bottom and the balcony on the top were painted black for an interesting contrast. The building didn't appear huge from the front but went deep down the side street. Nicely trimmed shrubs lined the small yard.
"Stay put. I'll be back in a minute," I'd told Pumpkin. I found the rock with the key, entered the building, and shut off the alarm.
When I flipped the thermostat, heat blew out, toasty and hot. No furniture, but new appliances gleamed in the kitchen. I hauled in my bags and cat, and while Pumpkin acquainted herself with the place, I dashed to a grocery store for a microwave meal. We'd spent a warm, cozy night there and the next day, I called and left another message with my landlord, letting him know I wouldn't be staying past November. My lease ran month-to-month, so the worst he could do was refuse to refund my deposit. Big deal.
"This is amazeballs." Jen ducked into another bedroom. "Look at all this space. You have got to let me help you decorate. I have ideas. For furniture, floor coverings…you must get an oriental rug for that living room."
Amazeballs, for sure. "You know I will call you the minute I'm ready to shop. You have great taste."
"And Nathan's going to let you furnish it any way you want? And pay for it?"
"That's what he said. The women's shelter is coming to pick up my old stuff tomorrow from the Shit Heap apartment."
Jen stopped running her hand over the real stone of the fireplace mantle to turn and look at me. "You're okay with all this? Living in Nathan's place?"
I'd told Jen the whole story of my stay at Key Largo and Nathan. Well, most of it. She didn't get to hear the more intimate parts, no matter how much she begged for details.
"Heck no, I'm freaking out. But I'm going to roll with it anyway. I have to. I have to take a chance. Nathan sure is, and
it's time for me to move forward."
Jen hugged me. "I couldn't agree more. I'm right here if you need me, anytime. But I have a feeling, you guys will work out. Really well."
Me too. Nathan gave me the name of a therapist who made house calls, and Michelle agreed to speak with the woman. Talk about a huge step in the right direction. And I decided a few months of therapy wouldn't hurt me either. I'd done some serious soul searching and realized, I was angrier about my parent's divorce and my dad's death than I thought, and had other issues to work on. I wanted to open up, to be all I could for Nathan. I'd taken the first step towards trusting a man and I wanted to make sure I would continue.
But now, time to move my butt. I had a week to find a holiday sweater, then pack for another trip, to Sacramento to meet Nathan's family for Thanksgiving dinner. He needed to get back to Bay Paradise the day after the holiday, so we'd only spend the one day in California. That Friday, I'd join him in Key Largo, for two days of fun, not work, this time. Having a fast, private jet came in handy for quick travel.
A short visit at his sister's house would be fine with me. I'd be nervous as hell around his family, though he assured me they would fall in love, just like he did.
I told Michelle we'd celebrate on that Sunday when I got home and gauged her reaction. She was perfectly fine with that, though the promise of a new, super-fast computer helped, I'm sure. Nathan had talked to her on the phone on Tuesday after I'd called him and told him I was moving in. He asked what type of system she wanted, then told her to expect delivery by the weekend. I thought Michelle would hyperventilate she was so excited.
I told her about him, a little, and I showed her a picture of us together in Key Largo. We took it right before I left and we looked adorable, both of us with our hair blowing in the wind and the water in the background. All she said was, he was cute. But I saw her studying the picture when she thought I wasn't looking, and she smiled. I think she's happy I found a boyfriend.
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