by Nella Tyler
We followed behind her as she made her way into the courthouse. Link smacked my bottom as we followed.
Chapter Eight
Link and I went inside while Gloria went to counsel Jared. I didn't like the idea of her being alone with him but there wasn't much I could do about it. If I wanted her to help I needed to let her handle it and I wasn't allowed in there. It seemed like it took forever to hear about what would happen to Jared. I was worried about Gloria, and it almost killed me that she was in control of my brother's future. She was the one that had put him there in the first place! I hated the fact that she was involved at all. But she was apparently a damn good lawyer and if anyone could get Jared off it would be her. I would just need to suck it up a little longer until things got straightened out.
Link looked over at me and smiled. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
“I'm sure everything is going to work out Gemma. We just have to have faith.”
“I know...I trust you.”
He looked down at his hands. Finally he said, “I'm not sure if my business is ever going to come back from this. It's been empty for days and even if all of this works out it doesn't mean that people will believe it. I may not get a second chance.”
My heart bled for Link, and although it wasn't my fault, I felt responsible for what Jared had done to his life. I wished that there was something that I could do, but I was completely helpless. I could only hope that whatever Gloria came up with would somehow bring about the truth about Link and Jared so that Link would survive through it all. It broke my heart that his business had been harmed when he had done nothing wrong but follow his own dreams. My brother had been the selfish one.
“You know what they say Link, any press is good press. Your restaurant has been all over the news and when the truth comes out, people are going to want to come and see you. I will be right by your side the whole way, helping you in any way that I can.”
“Thanks sweetheart, I appreciate that. I love knowing that you will always be by my side for this. I need you.”
“Well I need you too. Especially after that sex...we need to do that more often.”
He laughed.
Just then a brilliant thought came to mind.
“Let’s hold a press conference! That way Jared and you can be heard and the truth will come out!”
“That's a great idea! We'll have to talk to Gloria about it to see how it would work.”
Just then Gloria breezed out of the room and came to us. Link explained to her that he wanted to do a press conference to get the truth out, and she nodded her approval.
“That's perfect. I just need you to pay Jared's bail and he can join us.”
“Well I guess that's my cue,” I said as I got up to go pay his bail. I looked at Gloria and genuinely said, “Thank you for your help, you really have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
She just nodded and I turned from them.
Chapter Nine
We had finally got everyone together on the steps of the courthouse. Jared was out on bail and Gloria had arranged for a press conference. Looking down at all the reporters that arrived I felt nervous for Jared and Link. I was not part of things but both Link and Jared were in front of the cameras and Gloria was by my brother's side to make sure that things didn't get out of hand. Jared looked miserable and I knew it couldn't be easy for him to have to stand up there and make things right. I was proud of him for doing it though. The reporters were buzzing around and Jared stepped up to the microphones. Suddenly everyone went quiet.
“I just want to set the record straight. I made a mockery out of Link's business and he didn't do anything wrong. He didn't steal the recipe; the recipe was never mine in the first place.”
There were a few gasps and then questions started shooting out. Jared just kept talking and ignoring the questions.
“I was threatened by Link's business and I let my jealousy get the best of me, and that's how all this mess got started. I never meant for it to go this far and I'm truly sorry for all the hurt that I have caused everyone involved.” He looked to Link who nodded back at him with a smile.
“All is forgiven Jared,” Link said. They both shook hands and I couldn’t help but smile and feel good about the future for the first times in weeks.
“A lot of my issues have come about because I have a drug problem. I've been battling it for some time now and I know that I need some help. I can't do it alone. I'll be checking myself into rehab to get the help I need. I don't want to ruin another person's life by getting out of control again. This is what's best for me.”
Jared backed up and Gloria took the microphone to answer questions for her client. She announced that the drug charges have been dropped under the condition that Jared completes his time at rehab. With that announcement, the press conference was completed and thankfully had gone well. There should be no further need for reporters in the restaurant parking lot and Link's name had been redeemed!
Climbing down from the stage, Jared came over to me and grabbed me, hugging me hard. I hugged him back just as hard, tears welling up in my eyes. I’m so happy that he's going to get the help he needs to recover and get his life back on track.
“Thank you for not giving up on me Gemma. I know that I have treated you terribly and I want you to know that I didn't mean any of the things that I said to you. I'm so sorry.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I know you didn't. I love you and I'm happy things are going well. You don't need to worry about your restaurant. I will take care of it until you come back.”
Gloria approached us and said, “Come on Jared, we have to get you packed and ready to go. The judge insists that you leave for rehab right away.”
I smiled at him and said, “Things will be okay Jared.”
The two of them left and Link and I were alone. He brushed the hair out of my eyes and kissed me softly.
“So do you have any dinner plans?”
I giggled.
Chapter Ten
Three Months Later
The past few months have been a whirlwind of adventure. Jared was doing well in rehab and we had every reason to believe that he would come home fully recovered. Things have really been busy for Link and me. Link was currently doing menu planning for both his restaurant as well as Jared's while he was away in rehab. Juggling a restaurant between both of our schedules had been trying but we made it work. I handled Jared's bookkeeping and managed the place while he was away. It was stressful at times with a full time job, but I needed to make sure that Jared had something good to come home to.
Today had been a long day. I had spent the morning at Jared’s and was now back at Link's restaurant. I was thoroughly exhausted and needed a warm bed to go home to. Juggling all the different jobs I had going on now was taxing for me. The staff was gone for the day and I went about pouring myself a glass of wine. I sat at the bar, waiting for Link to finish up his tasks for the day.
I sipped at the wine, happy with my choice. I kicked off my shoes and curled my sore toes. It felt good to get out of my shoes.
Link came out from the back with a tired smile on his face.
“Hey sweetheart, how are you doing?”
He sat down at the bar with me and lifted one of my legs onto his lap. He began to rub my foot and it was absolutely the best feeling in the world. He kneaded out the knots that had formed throughout the day, and I closed my eyes briefly, feeling the tension leave my body.
“That feels really nice, thank you Link.”
“I’d do anything for you Gemma. Are you hungry? I made us a late night snack.”
“That sounds fabulous.”
He went back into the kitchen to retrieve the food and brought it back out to the bar. He had made duck drumsticks with an orange glaze, breaded cauliflower bites and a few small stir-fries. It looked and smelled delicious.
“Things are turning around aren't they?” I said with a smile.
“Absolutely. I couldn't be h
appier about the money coming in to both restaurants. I knew that we would both be able to stay alive. How is Jared doing?”
“I talked to him today actually and things seem to be moving along quite well. He has been very receptive to the treatments and the doctors believe that he will make a full recovery. I think he's going to be just fine. They say he should be able to come home soon. Which would be great because I'm exhausted,” I said with a laugh.
“Well the restaurant will be good for him. He's had a nice busy distraction.”
“Yeah, and it will be nice to have him back to doing what he loves.”
“Eat up baby.”
I picked up one of the cauliflower bites and underneath it was a diamond ring. I gasped when I saw it and totally forgot about the cauliflower. I picked up the beautiful solitaire ring and looked up at Link. He was smiling while I was still in shock. He bent down on one knee and looked up at me. Tears were streaming down my cheeks.
“Gemma, you have been a gift to me. I couldn't imagine life without you. Will you do the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”
I was almost too stunned to speak...almost.
“Oh my god Link, yes I will marry you. Of course I will.”
He got up and placed his lips on mine. I couldn't have been happier and our kisses grew passionate quickly. His tongue met mine and I was lost in him.
We giggled as we madly started removing our clothes. It wouldn't be Link and me if we didn't have sex on his bar after all. We became naked quickly and Link turned me around and pressed me up against the bar.
“Darling we are going to make a mess.” I said it like a gasp as his finger found my clit. He rubbed it slowly, drawing out my pleasure. His cock grew hard against my bottom.
“That’s not important. I want you now. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”
He slipped a finger inside me, fucking me slowly until I became wet. I moaned against him and I could swear he just got harder. Link turned me around and looked at my body: my small breasts were perky, my nipples hard, my body was primed and ready for him.
“I cannot wait to get inside of you.”
He bent down to me and claimed my mouth, sucking on my lip, his tongue searching out mine. His hands found my breasts and squeezed gently, thumbs flicking at the nubs of my nipples. I moaned in a way that made him a little crazy I think. I liked making Link crazy.
I lifted me up so that I was sitting on the bar.
“Spread your legs wide darling, I need to taste you.”
I did as I was told and he bent down. He spread my lips and my pussy was there before him and the sight of me caused him to give me a lusty smile.
“Honey, what are we doing?” I murmured. He shut me up by placing his mouth over my clit and sucked. I could feel myself grow swollen in his mouth. He sucked harder and inserted a finger inside me, feeling how wet he was making me. I wanted to be fucked badly.
“I'm going to make you forget your own name.”
I giggled as Link finger-fucked me a little harder until I started moaning his name repeatedly. He pulled his finger out and licked the opening of my pussy, licking up my juices. I was panting at that point, my lips and clit swollen from his touch. He pulled me down from the bar and turned me around once again. I bent over and placed my ass in the air for him.
He pushed his hard cock inside of me in one thrust. I gasped and I flexed around him cushioning him. I moaned his name.
“Oh darling you feel good.”
I was capable of becoming so wet that Link often felt out of control inside me and he had to focus on me achieving my orgasm first. We were in rhythm with one another, my ass coming up to meet his hips as he pounded me hard, just the way I liked it. Link liked going in, the deeper the better but he knew this was my favorite position and I’m sure he wanted to make me happy. My happiness was very important to him.
“Oh Link, oh baby, I'm coming.”
His excitement grew as he watched my orgasm building. His rhythm became faster as he pumped away inside me, gearing his own orgasm up to meet mine. I cried out his name and my passion and my excitement caused him to spill into me, releasing his own tension.
“Oh God, that felt good.”
He bent down to kiss my shoulder. I turned around to him and he kissed my jawline and my throat.
“I'm so happy that I get to do this for the rest of my life.”
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 Nella Tyler