“Incredible,” I said when he pulled his mouth from mine.
“You like that huh?” I could feel myself literally melting.
“Yes I do.”
It was as if the world around us didn’t exist. I was unaware that we had developed an audience. My father, Mr. Crawford, Jake and Beth stood staring at us.
“Okay, love birds,” I heard Jake say, pulling us from our love drunk stupor and back into the moment.
“Whatever?” I said and rolled my eyes. I grabbed Josh’s hand and we walked over to greet our fathers.
“This place looks incredible, K.K.” My father said turning a full one eighty to take it all in.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? I, however, cannot take any of the credit. Beth did it all. She’s incredibly talented. It’s a pretty unbelievable transformation don’t you think?” Beth was smiling and I felt so proud of her. It was essentially an advertisement for just how good she was at her craft.
“It isn’t what I would have seen as your style, it’s rustic and chic, but that’s why we leave it to the professionals. Very nice, Beth. You’ve got a real eye for design,” my father said, now beaming a proud smile at Beth.
“I know someone with similar style,” Jake chimed in, looking at his brother.
“Me too,” Mr. Crawford agreed, now looking at Josh as well. And in unison, the rest of turned to look at Josh.
“I might have given her a few ideas, but this is all Beth’s work.” I looked at Beth.
“Well regardless, I absolutely love it,” I said, wondering if I’d missed some inside joke. Josh squeezed my hand and I winked up at him now more interested in seeing his house in Malibu and wondering if I’d find it similar in style to my newly decorated place.
The party was in full swing, and most of the guests had arrived. Board members and executive staff were all mingling and trying to make time to get to know all the Crawfords. My father, Mr. Crawford, and Josh shook hands and greeted everyone around them.
Jake and Beth had broken away to the opposite side of the room and were now in some deep discussion and flirtation. I stood back, taking in the scene and drinking my wine, proud of what the day’s accomplishments meant to me and everyone else in the room. The merger had taken up so much of the last year of our lives and now we stood at the steps of a new day, a new corporation, and new partnerships. Mine paramount.
“What are you brooding about over here?” Josh said, walking up and tapping my glass casually. “Nothing really. I was just taking in what this meant for all of us. We’ve all worked hard to make this happen and I was just thinking about the magnitude of it.” I looked up at him and then threw in “—partner.”
We both looked out over the crowd watching as everyone drank and ate, socialized with each other, and formed new friendships.
“It’s good,” he said, looking over to me.
“It is,” I said proudly.
“Two weeks, right? You’re coming to L.A. for two weeks?” It was more telling than asking.
“That’s the plan,” I answered. “When are we leaving?”
I’d enjoyed having Josh here where I was in my element and even though I was nervous, I was also excited about spending going to California with him. It was probably time to see him on his own turf.
“I thought we’d leave tomorrow, but if you want to leave Wednesday that fine too. Megan can reschedule my appointments. Just let me know when you want to leave.”
“Megan the house sitter? She is also your assistant?” I asked bewildered that I was just now learning this little tidbit.
“She is. She’s worked for me for almost four years now. She is very efficient and when I leave town she checks in on things and takes care of my dog. Why?”
“No biggie. I was just surprised when you said her name. I didn’t know that she worked at Crawford, as well. She’s pretty. I’ll make note to fire her when I get to L.A.,” I smirked and jokingly bumped him with my hip.
“You will not fire her, and have no reason to be jealous. She’s just my assistant and you are my girlfriend.” He reached out to tickle my sides. I laughed and tried to pull away, watching not to spill my wine all over myself or onto the floor.
“Stop,” I said laughing, trying to wiggle out of his tickling hands. “Just know this. I’m going to hire the hottest male assistant I can find and then we’ll see what you think about that.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my face to where we were eye to eye.
“Not happening,” he said then bent down to kiss me. I laughed into his warm lips. I kissed him back and knew I’d have to find a way to curtail my jealousy. He was too beautiful for his own good.
We broke our kiss only to find both of our fathers had moved across the room and were now standing in front of us.
“Hey you two,” Mr. Crawford was the first to speak.
“Hey, Dad,” Josh answered as we both turned to look at them.
“You obviously didn’t take my advice about the not getting involved. So we thought we’d address this together and then we can all move forward.”
Josh and I stood there waiting like to two teenagers caught necking. Then my father spoke up.
“You need to understand we aren’t against this, we just want you guys to consider everything. We are now the largest holding company in the U.S., maybe the world for that matter. You two are partners and we just want to make sure that you’ve thought this through.” They stood staring at us, waiting for an answer. I looked at Josh, but before he could speak, I stepped in and took the lead in a reply.
“We understand your concern. We’ve talked about it over and over for the past several days, and we understand what’s at stake. We’re committed to making it work in all aspects and you can both be assured we aren’t taking any of this lightly. We’ve never let you down in the past, and don’t intend to let you down in the future, but there is something here that neither of us can deny. We like each other,” I said, looking at Josh for confirmation.
“That’s apparent,” Mr. Crawford chuckled under his breath. I looked up at Josh again, who was smiling at his father and mine.
“We’ve got this,” he said. “You have my word sir that I will tread lightly where your daughter’s heart is concerned. I’m very enamored with K.K. She’s a great woman and an equally great business partner.”
“Yes, she is,” my father agreed, then reached his hand out to Josh, who reciprocated with a firm handshake.
Mr. Crawford put his hand on my shoulder, gave it a light knowing squeeze, then he and my father turned and walked away.
I looked across the room at Jake, who was moving his hand across his neck in a slicing motion and smiling from ear to ear. He knew that we had just been put under some test of wills against our fathers. I flipped him the middle finger and took a swig of my wine, wondering if we’d just passed some test. Jake started laughing and Josh pulled me into his side.
“Think we passed?” he whispered. I looked at him and smiled, hoping he would tread lightly with my heart because I was falling deeply in love with him.
“I hope,” I replied.
The party had come to an end. All the guests had left except Jake and Beth. It was almost nine when Jake asked Beth to come back to his hotel for a nightcap. She accepted the offer, slipping her strappy pumps back onto her feet and grabbing her purse. Beth and I hugged while Jake and Josh shook hands.
“Good luck,” I whispered into her ear.
“Thanks,” she whispered back.
I could tell she really liked Jake and the fact that he lived in California made me sad for her. I knew it would take a girl like Beth to bring the playboy, Jake Crawford, to his knees. Maybe they’d find a way to work it out. Hell, I was still trying to figure it all out myself.
Jake kissed me on the cheek. “Coming home with us tomorrow right?”
“That’s the plan.” He hugged me tightly.
“I’m glad,” he replied then turned, grabbed Beth’s hand and left.
“God, he’s such flirt,” Josh said wrapping me into a warm hug.
“Yes he is.” I said pulling him into a kiss. “I think Beth likes him.”
“Uh, yeah,” he said, like I’d just stated something so obvious it didn’t need stating.
“I just hate that you guys live in California. It’s hard to date from that distance,” I said.
“Why do you girls have to live in New York?”
“Touché,” I replied and squeezed him tighter.
“I tell ya what we’ll do. You can move to L.A. and we’ll send Jake to help run the New York office. Beth gets Jake and I get you. Win, win.” I looked astonished into his serious eyes. How simple it sounded and how quickly he’d put that idea together.
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” I said.
He put his forehead to mine, his breath warm against my face. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you mine.” My chest started to swell and my heart felt full. I put my hand to the nape of his neck and gently drew his bottom lip into my mouth. I needed to feel his mouth on mine. I wanted him to know I loved him, even though I’d tiptoed around directly saying it for days. He picked me up and pulled me close to his chest, my legs dangling and my body pressed against his as we kissed passionately. Please never let this end.
Chapter 20
Joshua
I stared at her sleeping next to me. The heat of her body felt warm next to mine, her hair messily lying across the pillow and her hands gently curled under her cheek. She looked peaceful and I felt my heart grow looking at her. I leaned closer to her and could smell her shampoo and the last remnants of her perfume. I’d spent the night making love to her, but could feel my cock start to thicken as I took in the scent of her. Today I’d be taking her home with me. I knew it was just two weeks and after that, I didn’t know what we’d do. I had planned to get a place in New York, but that was for the occasions I’d be in town. I hadn’t planned to make it a permanent situation. I loved my house in Malibu and I liked the feel and smell of the ocean just outside my door. I knew it would be hard to convince her to move, but I knew I didn’t want to spend another day without her.
I slid closer to her, nestling into her back, and sculpting my body to hers. I placed my arm over her waist and pulled her body into mine. She stirred next to me and laced her fingers with mine. She moved her feet over mine and I was trying to figure out if there was any way to get her closer. I was falling in love with everything about her. Who was I fooling? I was in love with her. At what point had it happened? If I was honest, it was right from the start. The minute I laid eyes on her, I knew something was different. Was this what it was really all about to be in love? I was lost in K.K. and I never wanted to be found.
She rolled over, her face close to mine and she wrapped her arms around my chest and under my arms.
“Good morning,” she said, kissing my chin, and moving her head to nestle it into my neck.
“Good morning,” I replied and kissed the top of her forehead. “So you ready to meet Daisy?”
“Daisy your dog? Or is this another hot personal assistant I’m going to have to fire?” I could feel her cheeks rise on my neck so I knew she was smiling. I slapped her ass and she reared her head back. “Don’t you spank me? I’m still hiring the hottest male assistant in the city. As a matter of fact, I’m going to put an ad in the paper today,” she said.
“Ha. Ha.” I said with sarcasm and pulled her back to me. “I spanked you because of that smart mouth of yours. Daisy’s my baby dog. I’m excited for you to meet her. If she likes you, you’re in.” She reached around and spanked me.
“You are kidding, right? If your dog doesn’t like me, I’m out? Lucky for you, animals and children love me.”
I rolled onto my back pulling her across my chest. “I bet. Now, let’s get up and get packed before I spread those sweet thighs of yours and have my way with you.” She slapped at my chest and I grabbed onto her, using my thigh to spread her legs, pushing my hardness against her. I rolled her over onto her back and settled between her legs. She swiped her tongue across her lips and I thought I was going to come on the spot.
“You are so fucking hot. I swear to God.” I grunted into her mouth and pushed myself harder against her. She reached down and stroked her hand over my briefs and I could feel myself grow tight. “Oh baby, you’ve got to stop or we’ll never make that plane.” I leaned down, grabbed her lower lip gently with my teeth, and playfully pulled her mouth to mine.
“Wait a minute,” she laughed. “Don’t we own that plane?”
“Yes we do, but if you want to call my Dad and tell him we’re not going to be ready at eleven that’s cool,” I said.
“Point taken,” she sighed.
I pulled the covers back and let her up, missing the warmth of her body instantly. “You start getting yourself packed up and I’ve got to run downstairs and get my bags packed. I’ll be back in about thirty minutes. I need to shut Brian’s place up.”
“Sure.” She bounced from the bed and walking to her closet.
I got up from the bed and slipped on my slacks from the previous night, pulling my shirt over my head and grabbing my shoes in my hand. The marble floor was cold on my feet, but I didn’t feel like slipping on my shoes for a short elevator ride down. I kissed K.K. on the back of the head and walked downstairs to find my phone. I heard it ringing on the counter and walked over to answer it. Jake’s face lit up the phone. I slid my thumb across the screen to answer it.
“Hey, what’s up?” I said, walking to the elevator.
“We’re leaving at eleven right?” he asked.
“Yes. You at the hotel?”
“Yes. Don’t tell K.K., but Beth just left. We had a drink in the hotel bar and one thing lead to another and let’s just say, redheads have red pubic hair as well.” He laughed into the phone.
“T.M.I., Jake. Whatever you do, don’t fuck around with K.K.’s best friend. She’ll have your balls for sure.”
I walked into Brian’s and headed to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.
“That’s why I don’t want you to mention it to her. Let Beth do that if she wants. But I’ll let you know this…I like her. I think I’m going to try to come back in a couple of weeks. She’s super cool.”
“I agree, just don’t be yourself if you know what I mean,” I said.
“I am not always the womanizer you make me out to be, Josh. Hell, give me a chance man.” His voice was a bit tenser at my accusation.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want Beth to get hurt. I’ll never hear the end of it.” I felt like a dick, but Jake was known to have an insatiable appetite for women and none of them lasted too long.
“What about me, man? What about me getting hurt? You’re a dick sometimes,” Jake said.
“Ya, well I’m sorry but you don’t have the best track record. I’m not trying to be a dick. Honestly, Jake, you have the potential to be a great guy. You just need to quit thinking with your dick all the time.”
I walked up the stairs and grabbed my garment bag, laying it across the bed. “I love you Jake, just don’t fuck us both up and that’s all I’ll say about it. We’re supposed to leave at eleven, and I’ve gotta get packed, so I’ll see you at the airport.”
“I get it about Beth, but really I like her, so don’t worry that pretty little head of yours. See you at the airport.”
I went to put the phone on the nightstand when it rang again. “Damn,” I said out loud, thinking I’d never get packed. I saw it was my Dad and answered, “Hey Dad. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I was just making sure you were going back with Jake and me. I know that you and K.K. are trying to date and I didn’t know if you’d stay here for a few more days or head back to L.A.”
“I’m coming home and she’s coming with me. She can work from the L.A. office for a couple of weeks and then we’ll see what we want to do from there.” I trailed off, hoping for his approval, and anxious to hear his reply.
; “Wow son. You really like her don’t you?”
“I’m crazy about her. She could be the one,” I replied. It felt like such weird thing to say, but if I was honest about my feelings, I could absolutely see my future when I looked at her.
“Well in that case I’m happy for you…both of you. I couldn’t have handpicked someone better. She’s an incredible woman. You’re a lucky man, son. I’ll see you both at the airport then. Flight leaves at eleven. Have you talked to your brother?”
“Yeah, he called right before you. He’s good. He knows when we’re supposed take off. Listen Dad, I hate to cut you off, but I’ve got to get packed up and get back upstairs to help K.K. get her place shut up and get her things. We’ll see you at the airport.”
“Sure, son. See you there.”
I’d laid everything out while I was talking and needed to put everything in my bags. I laid a pair of jeans out on the chair beside the bed, my blue Polo shirt, my converse tennis shoes, and a pair of clean boxers. I finished packing my suitcase and grabbed my garment bag and toiletries. I put my bags by the door and went to make sure there wasn’t any food that would go bad in the fridge. I hadn’t been home much over the last several days and found that there wasn’t actually that much in the fridge. I grabbed a pen and pad from the drawer under the counter and wrote Brian a short note thanking him for letting me stay and that I’d be back in New York soon and we’d have to make time to catch up. I did one more run through and then when I felt that everything was in place and I hadn’t forgotten anything, I grabbed my bags and got on the elevator. I’d probably been more than thirty minutes, but I was sure like most women, I’d find her still milling about her closet deciding on what to actually bring. Honestly, I’d buy here an entirely new wardrobe just to have her come home with me. I was thrilled thinking of her in my home, in my bed.
I put my bags by the door and announced I was back. She yelled from upstairs and I grabbed my clothes and made my way up the marble stairs that led me to the master bedroom. I walked in the room and saw two pieces of luggage and garment bag and at the end of her bed. She was already packed and stood naked in the doorway of the bathroom with a towel in her hand about to get in the shower.
Merger Page 19