by M. S. Parker
“Well, anyway, I’m sure Henry will love this house. It’s big enough for three.”
“Oh, no. He is definitely not staying here. I’ll bet you a hundred bucks that April will hound him across continents before she’s done being a woman scorned. And I don’t want her anywhere near me, or my movie. No, Henry is stuck with April. He can stay away. Even continents don’t provide enough distance for my comfort.”
Jamison smiled, and let the escapades of April drop to a silent lull in the conversation. I waited patiently, hoping he’d bring up Chelsea next. Her name practically hung in the air as we both sipped on our coffee. Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to say something, though I tried to sound nonchalant.
“So how was closing up the house? Did Chelsea stay to help?” I asked.
Jamison’s nose tipped a little higher and he sniffed. “Our head housekeeper was indispensable. I was sad to see her go.”
“So you sent her off safe? She’s home?”
“You can find out for yourself. Portland State University is only a few miles from here,” Jamison said.
“I can’t do that. I don’t want Chelsea to get the wrong idea,” I said even though it killed me to do it.
“Yes, yes, it’s much better leaving her to assume you used her and then left,” Jamison said as he stood. “Excuse me, sir, but I have a new household to bring up to standards.”
“Hey, wait, Jamison…wait,” I jumped to my feet and reached out a hand, but he stalked out the door, clearly annoyed with me.
Jamison was rubbing it in to make a point. I’d been an ass and the thought that Chelsea was a stone’s throw away was killing me. Just the thought of her proximity was enough to start my nerves buzzing. But I wasn’t sure how to proceed without botching things up.
Again.
I wanted her to get back to her real life and put her summer maid work behind her. Maybe then, when we met again, we’d be on equal ground. I’d always seen her as an equal even though I'd acted like an entitled son of a bitch.
One thing I knew for sure. This time, I wouldn't hesitate. I’d find a way to tell her exactly how I feel about her.
My phone rang and I grabbed it. “Yeah, Matthew…”
“Mr. Silverhaus, it’s Matthew, your secretary.”
“Yes, Matthew, I know. Your name comes up on my screen when you call. You can call me Alex. Remember?” I asked, trying not to smile at his eager nerves. “Anyway, am I late?”
“No, but a few of the new team members are here early so you can meet them before the meeting starts.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I said.
I poured the rest of my coffee into a travel mug, found an umbrella, and headed out the door. Half way down the block my heart stopped two steps before my feet. A woman with long black hair stood on the corner in front of me. I couldn’t see her face under her red umbrella, but my heart started to pound anyway.
I swore I’d tell Chelsea that I loved her the minute I saw her. For a second, I imagined it really was her, that I’d be telling her right here on this street corner. Could it be a coincidence? Fate?
The crosswalk light changed and the woman tipped her umbrella back as she stepped off the curb. It wasn’t Chelsea. I was so thrown off that I missed the walk light and had to wait in the pouring rain for the next one.
I looked at my watch and scowled. If I didn’t have to meet the new team members, I could detour closer to campus. There I’d have a better chance of running into Chelsea. The light changed and I shook myself. So much for my idea of being patient and letting her get settled. I needed to stop this. I was acting like a crazed stalker, ready to jump out at her on the street and probably give her a horrible shock. I couldn’t be sidetracked now. I had a meeting, but my mind was already buzzing with plans for a campus tour later.
I reached the office and rushed inside. Matthew leapt up to take my umbrella.
“I set up the new team members in the back conference room with coffee and a plate of bagels and Danish,” he said, handing me a list. “Who would you like to see first?”
I nodded and said, “How about the production assistant?”
Matthew disappeared to call in the person for the first interview as I opened the door to my office. I walked around the wide desk checking my cell phone for any new messages. I settled into my leather chair. Just as I swiveled around to face the door, my eyes popped wide and my jaw dropped as Chelsea walked through the door.
* * *
Chelsea
I rubbed my sweaty palms down the fabric of my skirt and looked up to see Alex looking as shocked as I was.
“I had nothing to do with this!” he blurted out.
I quickly spun around to close the door. When I turned back around my head was spinning and my heart was leaping out of my chest. I leaned against the door unable to speak. What the hell was going on?
“Chelsea, seriously, I didn’t have anything to do with this.” Alex stood and pinched a finger and thumb to the bridge of his nose as if to clear his head. “Wait. That didn’t sound right. It wasn’t the first thing I wanted to say if I ever saw you again.”
“Looks like Jamison set us up,” I said, still with my back glued to the door. I tried to laugh it off, but I wasn't finding this funny at all.
Alex stepped out from behind his desk and took a tentative step in my direction, then apparently changed his mind and came to the center of the room. “If you knew Next Generation Cinema was my production company you probably never would’ve come, right?”
“Well…no, I wouldn’t have. Let’s just say, you and I don’t have the best track record of working together,” I said.
My cheeks heated as I thought of what we did do well together. Despite everything, my body still sizzled at the sight of Alex. I'd thought I’d never see him again, and here he was, like there’d been no time lapse between us.
Tearing my eyes away from him I looked around the room, desperate to find something, anything else to focus on. Then an enchanting photograph hanging on the wall behind his desk caught my eye. It’d been enlarged to the size of a painting. It was all soft greens and bright blue sky, just how I remembered the secret grove. The tall ring of trees, the long, soft grass, and the dome of sky above us. Without any preparation at all, I was facing a stunning photograph of the first place we ever made love.
I wondered if he thought about that as much as I did. When I'd been in in Holland, I’d been so worried about the way he viewed me, so worried that I was being naive, or letting myself be taken advantage of that I'd let it overshadow how good we were together. But after hours on the long plane ride with nothing to do but think, and Clara’s unstoppable questions when I got home, now all the good things between us seemed so obvious, and the rest was unimportant.
Oh, god. I was still in love with him. The realization hit with a flutter in my stomach and another wave of dizziness.
I blinked and swallowed hard. “Um…what did you want to say to me?”
As if lost in a fog himself, Alex ran a hand through his hair, and then turned to look at me. “What?” he asked.
“You said you had something you wanted to say when you saw me again, and you haven’t said it yet.”
Alex moved back and leaned against his desk, crossing his arms with a smile. His eyes didn’t leave my face, and it seemed for a moment that he was lost in staring at me. Then he snapped out of it, and said, “Ah, yes. How’s Karl?”
Yeah, I doubted that was the question. His deflection somehow made me feel steadier, and I made it across the office to stand behind one of the chairs facing his wide desk.
“Karl’s fine. Actually he’s great.” I relaxed and smiled back.
“So he got into Rainbow Roads?” Alex asked. “I Googled it when I got to Portland. It looks like a great program, but wow, the price…pretty expensive.”
I smiled. “Yes, it is but I got lucky.”
Alex gave me a hopeful smile, one eyebrow quirked up suggestive
ly.
“They helped me find a scholarship for Karl because of his interest in working with the National Parks. All the money I earned in Holland is now in a fund to pay for his future in the program.”
“What do you know? So you didn’t need the job after all,” he said, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile. “But hey, I’m glad it worked out.”
The job. Right. I stood there gripping the leather back of the chair. I remembered the first day of the job. Alex had ignited a spark when I'd stepped through the door, and now, it was happening all over again. One minute in the same room with him, and I was right back to where I'd been when we'd first met. His infectious smile turned the temperature higher and I had to look away to get control again. But when I did, I noticed a framed photograph of Carrie and Emily on his desk.
Right. Just the dose of reality I needed to cool me down. Why would their photograph be so prominent on his desk unless, Alex was back together with his family? If he and Carrie weren't together, wouldn't he have just had a picture of Emily?
I pushed away from the chair and edged back toward the door. I tried to sound casual, but I stammered, “H…how’s Carrie and Emily?”
“Good,” Alex said with a wide smile. “They’ll be coming to visit in a few weeks.”
“That’s good…I mean, great!” I said, waving a hand in the air. “I’m sure Emily’s glad her parents are back together.”
Alex’s jaw dropped and he couldn’t manage a sound for at least twenty seconds. “Parents? As in, me and Carrie?” He let out a short laugh. “You thought I was married?”
I glared at him. “Well I don’t see what’s so funny about that. But yeah, divorced, I assumed, and reconciled now.” I hoped I didn't sound as stupid as I thought I did.
Alex let out a huge breath and said, “Carrie's my sister-in-law, Chelsea. She was married to my brother. Emily’s my niece.”
All the air went out of me. What?
“So you’re not getting back together with your ex…a wife, a girlfriend or anything like that?” I asked, fumbling to grab the back of the chair again.
“Hell no, I’ve never been married,” Alex said, standing up with a wide smile. He looked down at me. “You mean all this time you thought I was married to Carrie? What on earth made you think that?”
I bit my lip, then said, “Well, the way you two acted around each other, always hugging, and so glad to see each other…and Emily, she drew that picture of you guys, and you played with her so well, like a really good dad…oh, geez, a really good uncle.”
It was all clear to me now. My preconceived notions had colored everything I’d seen. All the times Alex played with Emily in the pool, tossing her into the water, it looked like what a dad would do with his daughter. But it was nothing more than what a loving sibling would do for his deceased brother’s family.
My heart was bursting. Alex was even more amazing than I’d thought. He was the most wonderful man I’d ever met, and I’d blown it. I lowered my head, blinking hard to keep back the tears. I was such an idiot.
Alex stepped close, took my hands and tipped his head down to catch my eyes. His voice was soft as he spoke, “Can I tell you what I wanted to say to you now?”
Afraid to speak for fear of making an even bigger fool of myself, I just kept my eyes on his and nodded.
“I love you, Chelsea,” he said. His fingers tightened around mine. “I love you.”
My lips parted, my entire body warming as my heart melted. Finally, I managed to get the words out, “I love you too, Alex. I have right from the start.”
Alex’s grin widened as he beamed. “So do you still want the job?”
“Job?” I asked. I shook my head. “All I want is you.”
I threw my arms around his neck as he pulled me into a deep kiss. If I hadn't known better, I would’ve thought my feet had left the ground. Being in Alex’s arms was where I was supposed to be. My world was complete. My brother was living in Rainbow Roads. I was starting my last year of college, and I had a killer job lined up as a PA. Zach was being less of an asshole. But most importantly, Alex was mine.
Who’d have ever thought that one indecent encounter, arranged through a dubious website, would result in me finding love, happiness, and Alex Silverhaus, the man of my dreams. I couldn’t have written a movie script about this if I’d tried. What Shakespeare had written years ago was still true today, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players…” Put in modern terminology, my life was like a movie...
A movie with a happy ending––for now.
- La Fin -
Note from the author: Many readers have asked me what happens next to Alex and Chelsea, so I’ve decided to write an exclusive free bonus novella for my subscribers, called “After Indecent Encounter.” Be sure you are on my email list so I can send it to you as soon as I’m done writing it. CLICK HERE to sign up.
Also by M. S. Parker
Dom X Box Set
Unlawful Attraction Box Set
Chasing Perfection Box Set
Blindfold Box Set
Club Prive Box Set
The Pleasure Series Box Set
Exotic Desires Box Set
Pure Lust Box Set
Casual Encounter Box Set
Sinful Desires Box Set
Twisted Affair Box Set
Serving HIM Box Set
Dom X - Volume One
Dom X
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 Belmonte Publishing LLC
Published by Belmonte Publishing LLC.
Chapter One
Xavier
March in San Antonio wasn't as hot as July, but it was hot enough in the damn sun that I'd soaked clean through my t-shirt before we were half-way through. I was used to it though. Even Texas heat couldn't compare to some of the sandboxes I'd been sent to. As for the exercises, today's weren't any more strenuous than anything else I'd done in my nine-year military career.
Hell, they weren't really that much crazier than the shit I'd grown up with, and these were a lot safer. The places the army sent me were sometimes safer than where I'd grown up.
I pushed the thoughts aside, raking my hand through my short, dark blond hair. I'd never kept it very long to begin with, but the day I'd enlisted, it'd been buzzed short and I'd kept it that way ever since. It was clean and efficient. I liked that.
In fact, that was why I liked the military, and why, after the chaos of my childhood, I'd thrived. I supposed, in some subconscious way, I'd craved the sort of order this life demanded. The stability that came even in chaotic circumstances.
Speaking of which...
I rolled across the short open space and stopped behind a large rock. I glanced over at the pair of young soldiers I'd left a few feet away. Both were watching me with wide, intelligent eyes. I gestured with my left hand, letting them know what I wanted them to do next.
This particular training exercise wasn’t particularly strenuous in the physical department, but it was definitely more mentally demanding. Our goal was up ahead and, so far, my team had been doing exceptionally well. Just a few more minutes and we should be gold.
Then I saw it. Movement out of the corner of my eye.
I flipped onto my back, raising my rifle as I went. I took the shot even as I yelled at the other two to go. Sacrificing myself was the best tactical move here, and I had no problem doing it.
Except my shot was accurate...and the other guy's wasn't.
As he went down, I rolled again and scrambled to my feet. Up ahead, another firefight was breaking out, and I headed straight into the thick of it without a second thought.
Less than two minutes later, it was all over, and we'd done what we'd set out to do. There
were shouts and congratulations, but I didn't join in other than to tell my people they'd done well. I wasn't exactly a quiet person, but boisterous wasn't really a word I usually used to describe myself.
“So, Sergeant, is it true?” The youngest of the soldiers came toward me, his outstretched hand holding a bottle of water.
“Woodley, right?” I asked, taking the bottle.
The kid nodded, and I noticed that his skin was red and peeling underneath the sand and grime. He’d need to remember sunscreen or he’d get cooked if he was sent to the Middle East.
Or any place with more than five minutes of sun.
“Is what true?” I drained half of the water in two gulps and let it cool me as I swallowed.
“That you're from Philly?”
I nodded, not saying anything, but rather waited for him to continue. I learned that at a young age. It was always better to remain quiet; keep anyone from noticing me. It'd served me well before I'd enlisted and then almost as much after. Despite my background, I hadn't been the sort who smarted off, so I'd rarely gotten myself in trouble. And I'd also learned a lot more than I probably should have because I listened more than I talked. More than once, it'd given me knowledge I'd found useful.
“I'm from Philly too,” he said. He had one of those baby faces that made him look like he was barely fifteen. “Chestnut Hill. Where are you from?”
I finished my water. “West.”
“X!”
A shout came from behind me and I turned. A tall, lean soldier with bronze hair and crystal blue eyes trotted toward me. He was all smiles, but that didn't tell me anything. Zed Ray was always smiling. I'd watched the fool grinning like an idiot while we were taking fire, his face streaked with sweat and dirt, those damn teeth gleaming. More than once I thought he'd end up getting himself shot because of those teeth.