Welcome to Lake Ventures (New Haven Book 2)

by Dawn Doyle

  “Nothing to do with business.” She said, her expression not changing.

  “Ohhh Kayyy.” Emily said before walking to her desk, Nick walking to his office.

  Booting up her iMac, she glanced into is office, he’d left the door open, and he was taking off his jacket… slowly… just like Lee had.

  Emily’s eyed bulged and her mouth dropped.

  He looked so fucking sexy doing his jacket strip her mouth went dry and other places moistened.

  Nick held his tie and carefully loosened it a little.

  Emily swallowed the sudden gush of saliva.

  Nick stopped, winked and sat down. He picked up his phone and then hers beeped.

  N: I get the impression you liked that?

  E: I did.

  N: So you like it when I do it?

  E: Ohhh yes.

  N: Maybe I could give you a full length performance?

  E: You better!

  N: I’ll see what I can do. ;P

  “You ok, Honey?” Diane asked.

  Emily’s monitor had hidden her face, luckily, and Diane couldn’t see her ogling her boyfriend.

  My boyfriend. My ‘proper’ boyfriend.

  “Oh, um… yeah. I just need coffee.” Emily said as she stood.

  “I’ve made a fresh pot, sweetie. Would you like me to make you some?”

  Emily wanted an excuse to go into Nick’s office and coffee seemed the easiest way.

  “No, it’s ok, but thanks. I’m going to make one for Nick too.”

  “Nick? I thought you weren’t making coffee for him?”

  “Di, he bought me a car. The least I can do is make him some coffee every now and again.”

  “Well ok.”

  Seeing Di already had one, Emily made two coffees and placed one on her desk, taking the other to Nick.

  “Wow. Two coffees… I must be special.” He joked.

  “You are.” She whispered and stood between his legs, leaning down and kissing him.

  Nick reached up behind her, cupping her butt and gripping.

  “We could get caught.” He warned when she pulled back.

  “We’d hear Di coming.”

  “I think everybody heard you coming… last night.”

  “Nick!” She chastised, hitting his arm as he tried to stifle a laugh. “I better go.”

  “Thanks for the coffee, Emmy. You’re so… sweet.” Nick licked his lips and Emily understood exactly what he thought was sweet.

  Nick noticed her squeezing her knees together and he winked.

  “Behave.” She mouthed.

  Emily’s phone beeped on her desk.

  N: Maybe I don’t want to. ;)

  Emily ran her hand over her forehead, calming herself. She didn’t know how she was going to get through the day.

  *****

  It had been over a week since Emily had first stayed over at his apartment, and they’d spent every night together since.

  They had to sneak around in her place because Ryan and Riss would hear them.

  It was fun watching Emily trying to keep quiet when he made love to her, making her lose control. He’d barely held his own voice too. Emily had brought out the animal in him and he couldn’t get enough of her.

  Her with him too.

  She’d changed from the quiet, defensive, almost scared woman to a sexual vixen, since their first time together, and he was loving every minute of it.

  He still enjoyed making her squirm at work, but she’d gotten him back just as much. Caressing the buttons of her blouse over her breasts with her fingertips. Crossing and uncrossing her legs as her chair was turned to him. Lifting her legs and resting her ankles on her desk, letting her skirt ride up her thighs.

  Diane had been out of the office for lunch and had come back early, almost catching them kissing at her desk. They were about to move it to his office when they heard the lift coming to their floor. They’d pulled apart and frantically fixed themselves, getting back to work. That had left them both flustered and uncomfortable.

  Until they got home, that is.

  Staying with Emily had had a different effect on him too. He hadn’t had any pills since their first night together, after confessing his secret to her, and the nightmares hadn’t come back. The only dreams he had were of Emily and how much he loved her.

  There was something they hadn’t done and Emily hadn’t even tried to. She just, somehow, automatically knew that could be a problem for him, and by guessing by her past experience she’d never done that anyway.

  That just made him love her even more.

  Of course, he’d told her he did, she just didn’t know that he had.

  “Emmy!” He called out as she sat at her desk. She turned and smiled.

  “I need to go to LA again. It’d be best if you accompany me. I have a lot to do there, so we’ll need to stay overnight.”

  “When do you need to go?” She asked, like she was just booking an appointment.

  “As soon as possible. I also need to speak to Mr. Wilkinson on an urgent matter.”

  Her eyes snapped to his and softened. He smiled, letting her know that he was ok and there was nothing to worry about.

  Emily clicked a few things and turned back to him.

  “There’s a flight tomorrow morning, going to LAX. Two seats left.”

  “Great. I’ll book a meeting with Mr. Wilkinson. Thank you, Emmy.”

  Nick picked up his glasses and put them on, staring at the gorgeous creature sitting at her desk.

  My girlfriend. Mine.

  Emily pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and Nick decided to tease her a little more.

  He slowly pulled off his tie, like he’d done before, and unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt.

  Emily released her lip and swallowed. It was that easy to turn her on and he used it to his advantage.

  “I’ll… um… reschedule your meetings.” Emily scowled at him, for teasing her at work, and he grinned.

  His cell rang and he picked it up without checking the ID.

  “Hello?”

  “Nick! How are you son?”

  Mom, shit.

  “I’m great thanks, Mom, how are you?”

  “Great, honey. We haven’t seen you in a few days and we were worried about you.”

  More like, we haven’t pestered you about settling down for a few days.

  “I’ve been really busy, Mom. I’ve had my hands full with a lot of new business to deal with.”

  My hands have been full of Emily too.

  “That’s nice. I was wondering if you were free to come to dinner tonight?”

  Shit. Nick didn’t want to be without Emily, but he couldn’t let his Mom down again.

  Emily was watching him talk on his phone. She was holding her phone too.

  “Dinner? I don’t know. I have a lot to do.”

  Emily nodded. She wanted him to go?

  “We have guests too. Kim and Oli will be joining us. I know his firm does a lot of legal work for you and your father, and Kim and I have become good friends. I thought it would be nice to all get together. I’ve asked Kim to ask Emily also. I know it’s awkward because you work together, and don’t really get along, but I think it’ll be nice to get the two families together.”

  That’s why she agreed.

  “Ok sure. What time?”

  “Did your Mom text you?” He mouthed.

  Emily glanced to Diane and then nodded to him.

  It looked like they had a stressful night ahead of them.

  “What are we going to do?” She asked when they got in the elevator after work.

  What Nick wanted was to hold her tight, but Howard, the night security, would see on the monitor.

  “Just act like we usually do, just without the sexy stuff.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  “I don’t think it’s that simple.” Emily looked worried.

  “We don’t have to go, you know.”

  “If I said no, I would’ve gotten an ear-ful
l from my parents. They think I’m anti-social at the best of times. Anyway, you haven’t seen yours, or Cora, for a while and you should. With me going too, we’d still see each other.”

  “Good thinking. That way I won’t be trying to get out the door as soon as I get there.” He said, nodding.

  Nick understood completely. If Emily wasn’t there, he’d be making excuses to leave just to go to her.

  “My Mum has asked me to meet her at her house at half past seven. That doesn’t give me much time to change.”

  “You could always leave stuff at my apartment for the future, just in case we need to go places together. It would make it easier.” He said, not making eye contact.

  He was trying to tell her that he wanted more, but without rushing her into anything. He didn’t want her to feel pressured at all. They had left a few things at each other’s places, but only enough for one change.

  “They’d get suspicious if we show up together, but I see your point. Overnight bags are a pain. I’ll bring a few things with me tomorrow before we go.”

  “Tomorrow?” He asked, his eyes snapping to hers. He didn’t want to wait until tomorrow.

  “I won’t be able to wait to get to your place. You’re staying with me.”

  “Oh, is that so?” He asked playfully.

  “Yes.”

  “Whatever you say, madame.”

  Emily held back a laugh as she swiped at his arm.

  *****

  “Mum, I’m here!” Emily called as she walked through the front door of their house.

  She’d managed to quickly shower and change before driving over. Leaving without Nick had been hard. Now that they were a couple, she knew that she’d been suppressing all of her feelings for him and it’s what was making her moods erratic.

  She’d been scared to trust and even more afraid to let herself do something she never thought possible.

  Love.

  She felt like a different person. Like the old Emily, before Jeff.

  “In here, babes! I’m just grabbing my bag.” Her Mum, Kim, called from the kitchen.

  “Hey princess.” Oli said, welcoming her with a hug. “How are things going?”

  “Great.”

  Emily told Oli what had been happening with work, minus the relationship details.

  “That sounds like you’re really enjoying your job.”

  “I am.”

  You have no idea, Dad.

  “Ok, so Ryan and Riss are picking up Kyle and Kayla…” Said Kim.

  “What?” Emily was surprised.

  “Yes. Mia and David told Ryan to invite his friends over. With Holly and Alex with your Nan, it’ll just be Kyle and Kayla.”

  “Oh, ok.”

  Great. Just fucking great.

  Now she and Nick were going to be under the spotlight with the four of them there. It was bad enough with just Ryan, but getting double teamed with Kyle, Emily was having second thoughts.

  “Don’t you think it’s going to be a little crowded? Maybe I should leave it for today.”

  And call Nick to do the same.

  “No, Ems. Mia insisted on it. She wants you there. So do we.” Kim said, rubbing her hands up and down Emily’s arms. “It’ll be a great evening.”

  “Don’t worry honey, everything will be fine, I’m sure Nick won’t annoy you whilst his parents are there.” Oli assured her.

  He won’t annoy me because he’s my boyfriend!

  She felt it was still a little early to tell people about them. Even though it had been almost two weeks since they’d first slept together, she still felt a little insecure.

  “Ok, fine. But I can’t stay all night. I have to get up early.”

  “It’ll be fine, I promise.” Kim said as she hugged Emily, before turning to the door.

  “Mia and David live in Lower Queen Anne, just east of New Haven high school.” Oli said.

  Pulling up outside Mia and David Lake’s house, Emily saw that Nick was already there. Her stomach jumped and tumbled in excitement.

  “It’s going to be ok, Honey. Seeing him out of work isn’t so bad. He has to behave at work and he has to in his parents’ house. How difficult can it be?” Kim asked.

  Emily turned to her Mum.

  “Mum, you have no idea.”

  “Then tell me, Em.” Her Mum looked concerned for her and she felt guilty.

  “Let’s just go in. They’ll be waiting.”

  They walked up the path and rang the doorbell.

  Mia greeted them warmly, accepting the bottle of wine her parents had brought with them.

  “Emily! It’s so good to see you again.” She beamed, pulling her in for a hug.

  “You too, Mia.”

  Emily looked around and she couldn’t see Nick. The living room, to the left, was empty and the huge kitchen ahead looked empty too.

  “I don’t care, Nick, you can’t have any more!” Cora’s voice, filled with laughter came from somewhere near there.

  “Looks like Nick is stealing her candy… again.” Chuckled David as he greeted them also.

  Leading them through the house, Mia guided them to another sitting room. It was just as big, but looked to be used more than the other.

  “Look who’s here!” Mia said with a sing-song voice. “Please take a seat.”

  “Emily!” Cora squeaked in her high pitched voice and charged at her.

  Emily made eye contact with Nick and he smiled, making her heart skip a beat.

  “Hi, Cora, are you alright?”

  “Yes, why?” Cora lucked puzzled.

  “Sorry, I meant ‘how are you’?” She laughed.

  Emily had reverted back to her usual greeting after Nick had short circuited her brain.

  “Oh. Well, I’m fine thank you. Are you alright?”

  Cora’s imitation of her accent made her laugh.

  “I’m fine, thanks, princess.”

  Emily hugged Cora again and stroked her soft hair.

  Kim leant in to Emily’s ear and she wondered what she was doing.

  “Looks like someone is pleased to see you. He hasn’t stopped staring at you since you walked in.”

  Emily felt her face heat and she glanced towards Nick, who was still staring. She wanted to just go over to him and kiss him. She didn’t think she was going to last through dinner without touching him at least once.

  “Mum, don’t start.” Emily whispered.

  “Hi Emmy.” Nick’s smooth voice washed over her.

  Definitely not going to last!

  “Hi, Nick.” She replied as cooly as possible.

  “Emily, I have something for you. Wait right here.”

  Cora ran off and it sounded like she was leading a herd of elephants up the stairs.

  Nick continued to look at Emily and popped some stolen candy into his mouth.

  He got out his phone and tapped a few buttons. Her phone beeped immediately.

  N: You look beautiful.

  Emily was only wearing simple blue jeans and white vest with a flower patterned chiffon gypsy top over it. She didn’t think it was anything special. She’d even clipped her hair back away from her face in a twisted ponytail.

  E: Thank you. You look tasty.

  Nick’s jeans and black V-neck T-shirt were plain but they fitted him like he was modelling them.

  The bottom of his tattoo was peaking out too. She still hadn’t seen it. He’d gotten her attention other ways and when she tried to look, he was lying on it.

  Nick read his message and licked his bottom lip into his mouth. He was just as affected as she was.

  It was going to be a long evening.

  “Emily! Look!” Cora came running into the rom holding a shoe box. “Holly bought them for me to decorate for you. I hope you like them.”

  Emily opened the Converse box and inside was a white pair of Chuck Taylor’s, decorated with red and pink love hearts.

  “Wow, they’re cool!” Emily said, taking one out of the box to inspect it. She could tell C
ora had spent a while on them and she felt a little emotional that she’d taken the time to do that for her. “Thank you so much.”

  “Will you wear them?” Cora asked with uncertainty in her eyes.

  “Of course! I promise I’ll definitely wear them. I’ll save them for a special occasion.”

  Cora beamed a huge smile at Emily and sat down by Nick.

  “Ahem.” She said holding out her hand.

  “What?” Nick feigned innocence.

  “My candy. You can’t have anymore.” Cora said, shaking her head.

  “Here.” Nick pulled out the bag of red and white candy from behind his back.

  He looked so young next to his little sister, it was hard to believe he was a successful businessman.

  “Hey peeps!” Ryan said as he walked in, hand-in-hand with Riss, Kyle and Kayla behind.

  Swapping greetings, Ryan kept glancing between Emily and Nick. He looked like he was about to say something when Nick shook his head.

  “Dinner’s ready.” Mia said, walking in to the room.

  Emily was horrified, yet pleased at the same time when she’d been placed next to Nick. It was as if all couples had been paired up together.

  Cora was sat at the head of the table and it looked funny to see her there.

  Mia and David both served the dinner whilst there was plenty of chatter round the table.

  “How are you doing?” Nick whispered, causing Emily to break out in goosebumps.

  “Not good.” She answered, looking around the table.

  “I know what you mean. I want to kiss you so bad.”

  Emily nodded, letting him know she wanted the same thing.

  She felt his leg press against hers, under the table, and the warmth from his thigh travelled through the fabric to her own skin. The heat sending trickles of electricity through her.