“Are you okay?”
“I should be the one asking you that question,” I replied.
“You know me. I’m alright.”
“I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I knew he was going to act like that.”
“You have no reason to apologize.”
“Yes, I do.”
“You defended me. You—”
“You could hear us?”
“I think everyone could hear you.”
“Perfect.”
Her hands caught around my face and drew my attention downward. “Look at me.” Lightly, she traced her thumbs over my lips. Her touch filled me with so much need, I never wanted it to end. “You stood up to your father for me, something my own brother and sister wouldn’t do.” Setting her forehead against mine, she sighed. “You can’t know what that means to me.”
“You can’t know what you mean to me.”
“Then tell me.”
And I wanted to tell her what she meant to me, how much I cherished every single thing about her.
A shiver crept down her spine. “We should get you inside. You’re freezing.”
“Are you offering to warm me up?”
Smiling down at her, I asked, “Is that all you want me to do?”
“No.”
When we returned to the house, I half expected to see my entire family gaping at me in horror, but the only person waiting for Vi and I was my mother.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, bending to kiss her cheek. “I didn’t intend to ruin everyone’s dinner.”
“You didn’t ruin anything, darling. Your father is a stubborn man. Just give him some time.”
My father didn’t need time. He would never change. But I couldn’t bear to relay that sentiment to her. “I’ll try,” I stated. “Violet and I will be upstairs if you need us.”
“Okay.”
Grabbing Vi’s hand, I led her upstairs.
“Hunter, come in my room for a minute. I want to give you your Christmas present.”
“Jesus,” I mumbled. “I hope it’s as dirty as it sounds.”
“You’re impossible!” She was trying to pretend like she was put off by my reply, but I caught the blush in her cheeks, despite her turning away from me. “Take a seat.” She motioned to the bench beneath the large bay window. I sat, watching her every movement as she perched across form me and held out the gift I’d picked up earlier. “Merry Christmas, Hunter.”
I accepted the gift she held out and ripped away the perfectly taped wrapping paper. I was right, it was a book. But as I turned over the leather bound exterior, I never expected to read the words The Fountainhead. Opening the cover, I read Ayn Rand’s name autographed onto the title page. “This is a signed copy of The Fountainhead.”
“I’m well aware. I did purchase it for you, after all.”
Contentment swelled inside my chest. God, this woman bought me a book I’ve been meaning to add to my collection. “I actually don’t have this one.”
“I know. I looked through the bookshelves at your apartment three different times to make sure.”
“It’s incredible.” My hands caressed the leather cover as I turned it over again. “Thank you so much.”
She returned my smiled, her gaze lingering on mine. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I got you a present too. Wait here,” I said, setting my book on the bench.
Heading into my room, I retrieved the small box I’d packed in my overnight bag. Removing the black velvet box, I made sure the ribbon was still tied around it before returning.
“That’s for me?” she asked, excitement creeping into her voice.
“Yeah, I hope you like it.” I handed the gift to her. “Merry Christmas, Vi.”
“I’m sure I will. You didn’t get me something dirty, did you?”
I coughed loudly, my body suddenly deciding to spontaneously choke on air. “Excuse me?”
“Have you seen the size of this box?” She grinned, her blue eyes shining with amusement. “I mean, you’re the one who said you hoped my gift to you was as dirty as it sounded.”
“It was a joke!”
“A thong would fit it here. You know, if you folded it right.”
I tugged at the collar of my shirt. “Maybe it’s a bracelet,” I suggested in an attempt to steer our conversation into less dangerous territory. Fuck. Now that she’d proposed it, I’d really wished I’d gotten her a thong too.
“I guess we’ll find out.” Sliding off the ribbon, she opened the lid of the box. Immediately, her eyes fixed on me. “Hunter, I can’t believe you remembered me telling you about these.”
“You said the pink ice earrings your mom gave you were the best birthday present you’d ever gotten.”
“They were.”
“And you wore them so much they fell out of your ears.”
A tear rolled down her cheek and I quickly brushed it away. “I did.”
“Are they a close resemblance? I did a lot of searching before I settled on a pair.”
“These are perfect. They look exactly like the ones my mom gave me.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I grabbed one of the earrings and fastened it in her ear. “The jeweler who helped me pick them out said the stone is mounted in platinum and the backs lock in place, so nothing is going to break or fall apart.” Picking up the other, I secured it in place.
“These are real . . .?” Her hands flew to each ear, touching the diamonds fastened in them.
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah. I’ve never owned real diamonds before.” She lifted her hair away from her face. “How do they look?”
“Beautiful,” I whispered.
The smile she wore faded as she suddenly began to cry.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned. “If you don’t like them, we can return the earrings and get something else.”
“I love the earrings.”
“Then why are you crying?”
Her arms flung around my neck as she hugged her body to mine. “You’ve given me back so many things.” She hiccupped loudly, her tears falling onto my shirt. “You made me feel safe again, you helped me cope with a burden that has been eating away at my soul for years, and now you’ve given me back the last present I ever got from my mother.” Vi pressed her lips to my cheek. “I never dreamed someone could know my secret and still see me as you do.”
“You told me once that you were broken, but you’re not,” I whispered. “You’re perfect, just as you are.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course.”
“Have you ever been in love before?”
Blood coursed through my veins at a rapid pace, my heart thumping inside my ribcage. “Yes.”
“What was she like?”
Exactly like you.
I stared at her, wondering how I lived my entire life without someone I’d come to need so much. “Kind, funny, intelligent, beautiful . . . there aren’t enough words to describe her.”
“She sounds lovely.”
“She is,” I agreed. “Have you ever been in love?”
“Once.”
“What was he like?”
“Warm, generous, smart, witty, basically everything you could ever want.”
“He sounds like a nice guy.”
“He is.”
Leaning forward, I inched closer until our mouths were almost touching. “Vi, what are we doing?”
“Finally admitting how we feel.”
“Are you saying—”
A sudden knock at the door broke the trance I’d been in. And just like that, we both came plummeting back to reality. “Violet, it’s Mattie. I just wanted to come check on you.”
Vi stood and opened the door. Wiping each cheek, she smiled at Mattie. “Thank you for coming to check on me. I’m fine.”
“Good,” Mattie replied. “Well, this little guy kept asking me where you were, so I figured I would let him say goodnight before I put hi
m down for bed.”
Vi bent over to talk to Devon. “Hi, sweetie.”
“Hi.”
“Are you sleepy?”
“No.”
“Well, you still might want to go to bed soon so Santa can come.”
“Mommy left out cookies for Santa.”
“I’m sure he’ll like that,” Vi replied. “I got him a little present. Is it okay if I give it to him now?” she asked Mattie.
“Yeah, of course.”
Vi grabbed another present from the bag she brought and handed it to Devon. “Here you go, Devon. Merry Christmas.”
Devon’s eyes lit up like a Fourth of July parade. He ripped through the wrapping paper and tossed it on the ground. Holding a toy fire truck, he stared up at Violet. “It’s a twuck!”
She bent next to him on the floor. “Is that okay?”
“A twuck!” he shouted again.
Even though the truck was still strapped inside the box, he began driving it over the hardwood and making loud siren noises.
I laughed as I watched my nephew play. “I think it’s safe to say that he likes it.”
“I think so too,” Mattie agreed. “He loves trucks.”
“Oh, I’m so glad! I was worried he might not like it.”
“Do you like your truck, Devon?” I asked.
He grinned up at me from the floor. “Yes. It’s a fire twuck.”
“That it is, buddy,” Mattie said. “What do you say to Violet?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She beamed at him. So, the woman was also great with kids. After half a day, my nephew was crazy about her. Because, as always, I needed one more reason to be crazy about her myself. “Can I have another hug before you go to sleep?”
With his new toy still in hand, he returned Vi’s hug. Running to me, he wrapped his arms around my leg.
I folded over to pat him on the back. “Good night, little man.”
“Night.”
“Alright, buddy. Time for bed.” Mattie scooped Devon up in her arms and waved to Vi and I. “Good night, and Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Vi and I replied in unison.
After Mattie and Devon left, an impenetrable silence fell over the room. The admissions we’d made had been interrupted so suddenly, I didn’t know how to revisit our earlier conversation.
“Do you want to go downstairs and spend some more time with your family?” Vi finally asked.
“I’d rather stay up here with you.”
“I’m sorry for everything that happened at dinner. I kind of feel like it’s my fault.”
“Don’t.” Taking her hand in mine, I led her back to the bench. “None of that was your fault.”
“When you think about it, though, our work relationship is a little unconventional.”
“That may be true, but who cares what anyone else thinks? People are going to form their own assumptions, regardless of what we say or do, and I’ve spent too much time caring about those opinions.” Rubbing my thumbs over her knuckles, I quickly planted my lips on her skin instead. “We’re the only two people who have the right to judge what this is.”
“I agree.”
“You won’t be my secretary forever,” I said.
“This is true.”
“I mean, I wish you could do that, because you’re incredible at your job, but you’re going back to school.”
“So, all we have to do is wait,” she breathed.
“Yes.”
Waiting was the last fucking thing I wanted to do, but I sucked in a deep breath to still the thoughts circling through my brain. I’d been waiting since our first kiss, and I didn’t know how much more my body could take. But I had to try.
“Then I guess you should read to me instead.”
I picked up the present she’d given me and opened to the first page. “Instead of what?”
“Instead of finishing what we started the first time we met.”
I nodded, pouring all of my concentration into quieting the urges tearing through my body. This is the longest I’d ever gone without sleeping with a woman I was interested in. But Vi wasn’t some random hook-up, she meant everything to me. And despite the way I felt about her, despite the fact I was about to implode at any given moment, I needed to keep it all under control . . . for her.
Chapter Twenty-One
After reluctantly saying goodnight to Hunter, I watched as he left in the direction of his room. What more could we say to one another? We admitted our feelings, and yet, he still wouldn’t touch me. I knew what was at risk. I’d seen how Hunter’s career was affected by the opinions of others, even those of his own family, but honestly, I didn’t care anymore.
I wanted him, and when I considered the significance of that desire, nothing else seemed to matter anymore.
Grabbing my phone, I checked to see if Nadine had called me back yet. She sent a text earlier, stating that she was at work and would call whenever things slowed down. But that had been an hour ago. I changed into a satin nightgown as I continued to stare at my phone. Pulling on a matching lavender robe, I slid my phone into the pocket and decided to head down to the kitchen for something to drink. Hunter and I had stayed up for hours reading, so as expected, everyone else was already in bed.
I poured myself a glass of milk and hurried back to my room, but just as my foot reached the bottom step, a voice startled me.
“Ms. Vaughn, would you mind stepping inside my office for a moment?” Hunter’s father asked. He was still dressed in his suit from earlier. Part of me wanted to run up the stairs and never look back, but after a long minute of silence, I acquiesced and cautiously entered his study. Bookshelves lined the walls behind him with thick texts and various accolades decorating the mahogany shelves.
“You wanted to see me?”
“I’m not an ignorant man.” I watched as he reached for a glass of scotch and took a long drink. “You’re a young woman working for my son, and Hunter has a reputation.”
Jesus, this man’s asshole tendencies knew no bounds. I’d heard most of the argument between Hunter and his father earlier, and yet, this man couldn’t let it go. “I’m sorry, but are you insinuating something?”
“Are you or are you not sleeping with my son?”
“If I were,” I spat. “I don’t see how it would be any of your business.”
“Hunter has never been able to control his impulses when it comes to women.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I think you’re an opportunist. You no doubt heard about the situation in Chicago. Then, when Hunter relocated, you used his weaknesses against him.”
“And what reasons would I have to do any of that?”
“Money, to advance your own career at any cost, the reasons are endless.”
“Your son is the most genuine person I’ve ever met, and the fact you refuse to treat him with even the smallest amount of respect is appalling.”
Anger welled behind his dark eyes. “How I treat my son is none of your business.”
“It is when you’re dragging my name through the mud,” I shouted. “Perhaps you should get your facts straight before you start throwing accusations around.”
“I’ll ask you to stay out of my family’s business.” He slammed the glass tumbler on his desk, the sound echoing all around us.
“You have a wonderful family, Mr. Desmond. And you should change the way you treat the ones you love before you lose them altogether.”
“What would you know?” he asked with a sneer. “From what I understand, you haven’t talked to your family in years.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Really? Don’t see eye to eye with your daddy?”
I glared at him, hatred coursing through my body. “My father is a monster who doesn’t deserve the air he breathes.”
“What? Did he call you out on using men for your own personal gain?” He smirked at me and took another sip of scotch.
&nb
sp; Fury lit inside me like a fire. Mr. Desmond could go to hell and rot. He treated his son, the best man I’d ever known, with nothing but disdain and contempt. Hunter deserved far better than this asshole. The nerve of this man to assume the worst about his own flesh and blood. My empty hand balled, fingernails digging into my flesh. This man deserved to be put in his place, and I didn’t care what it cost me, I’d see it done.
“No,” I replied with a slight laugh. I stared at Hunter’s father to ensure I had his complete and utter attention. “My father is a monster because he was a raging alcoholic who liked to get wasted every night. And after he’d had his fill of vodka, he’d wait until my brother and sister were sound asleep before making his way to my room.” Pausing for a deep breath, I willed myself to continue. “Once inside, he’d lock the door behind him and crawl into my bed. Then, he’d take off both of our clothes and lay on top of me, groping and kissing every inch of—”
“Stop!” Mr. Desmond called out. The anger in his glare distorted and transformed into horror. “Please, stop.”
Tears trickled down my cheeks. “My father did unspeakable things to me. That’s why he’s a monster.” My hands trembled slightly. “The family I had was destroyed beyond repair. But you still have a chance to make things right with yours.”
“I’m—”
“Your what?” I asked. “Sorry?”
“Yes,” he replied, unable to meet my gaze.
“I was thirteen the first time he visited me at night, and the day I turned eighteen, I ran away and never looked back.”
Water shone in the depths of his eyes. This man, this impenetrable force, was on the verge of tears. “I am truly sorry for everything you’ve suffered. If someone had done something like that to one of my boys . . . a father should do everything within his power to protect his children.”
I wanted to tell him to fuck off and walk away, but the sincerity lacing his voice prevented me. This was a man who refrained from showing much emotion, but here, in this moment, he was seconds from a breakdown.
“I’m glad you think so.” Grabbing my phone, I unlocked the screen and quickly pulled up the pictures I uncovered with the help of Joel’s hacking skills. Then, I placed the phone in front of him.
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