by Bethany-Kris
Michelle’s gaze turned to August, and she smiled before waving a hand to invite her inside. Okay, here goes nothing ... She ignored the way her heart thundered in her chest, beating so deep and hard that she could feel it in her throat. Maybe she should have worked her way up into doing this, but here she was now.
“Just a minute, August, I’ll be done in a second.”
She nodded.
Michelle went back to her conversation on the phone. She could have listened in, but she wasn’t that interested, and had never been the type to spy. People who minded their own damn business got a hell of a lot more done than those who didn’t.
That was fact.
The phone clicked when it was placed back to the cradle, and Michell’s attention turned on August once more. “Ready for your long weekend?”
Yes.
The ticket in her bag for Chicago was burning a hole. Tomorrow morning, she would be on a flight back to see people she had missed more than she could explain. None of that was important right now, however.
“I am,” she said, “but before that ... I have to give you this. And I hope you’ll understand when I say that I am so grateful for what you and Bared Brands have done for me—from the internship, to this job. I learned a lot. About this business, about sacrifice, and even myself. I also learned what I did and didn’t want, which is why I have to make a different choice now.”
She waved the folded letter.
Michelle didn’t even glance at it. “That’s what I think it is, then?”
Her heart wasn’t beating as loudly now.
August shrugged. “My resignation, yeah.”
“I figured.”
“Why was that?”
Michelle sighed, leaning back in her chair, and folding her hands on her lap with grace and poise. “Because I thought you were wasting your time here, too. Except I couldn’t say that—not to you, or to the people upstairs.”
August stilled on the spot. “What?”
“This company is filled with gatekeepers, and sometimes, getting past them is a career achievement in itself, if you understand what I’m saying. The thing is, you never needed gatekeepers. You needed someone who believed in you and would let you do what you did best. You’re not going to find that here ... not with the new job they offered you, or otherwise.”
“I figured that out.”
“I appreciate the formal notice, though.”
“Well, it’s really only for the long weekend.”
Michelle laughed, and waved a hand. “That is fine for me. My new assistant will be here next week, and while I will miss you, I am sure I can whip her into shape in no time at all. Have you found something—somewhere—else to go?”
“I think I have.”
“Then, I wish you all the luck and success in the world, August. You deserve it. You have earned it. And I can’t wait to see what you produce with the right team behind you.”
“Thank you.”
August was still thinking about her conversation with Michelle and feeling better about her decision to do what she had done, long after she left the office. Somehow, she had even managed to forget about the fact that someone was waiting for her downstairs in the lobby.
She only remembered when she passed a slyly grinning Marney at the front desk, who pointed to the revolving doors of Bared Brand’s building, and said, “Can’t miss that man for a mile, girl.”
She found that someone.
Beni, actually.
And damn, Marney wasn’t lying. Not in the slightest. He looked like sin poured into the mold of a fucking man in black skinny jeans, leather loafers, and a beige cable-knit sweater. She was a little sad that he lost the usual leather jacket, but hell ... he looked good like this, too.
No lie.
No shame.
Leaning against a sleek, black car that she suspected was a rental, his feet were planted shoulder-width apart, and he’d stuffed his hands into his pockets. With his head turned to the side staring at something down the street, she had a perfect view of the line of his cut jaw, and the way his cheek jumped with each chew of his mouth.
Gum.
He was always chewing on gum when he waited.
August gave Marney a wink before heading for the revolving doors. As though Beni could feel her coming his way, his attention came back to the entrance, but she couldn’t see his eyes behind the aviators on his face. Not that it mattered, because she could absolutely feel his stare nailing into her, and that was more than enough.
She came out of those doors in a rush, asking, “What are you doing here?”
Beni grinned widely. “That’s your first question?”
She thought about it.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Cam helped me out with some details ... what time you got off, where you worked, and all. She didn’t think you would mind me showing up, but threatened if I did some weird shit, that she would pickle my balls for later use.”
August huh’d under her breath. “Sounds like something Cam would say.”
He pushed off the side of the beautiful car—a Benz, by the looks of it—and stepped one foot closer to her. It wasn’t nearly close enough, and yet it still had her heart racing out of control. She didn’t think this man knew what he did to her, but damn him, because she loved it all the same. Loved him, too. For reasons she understood, and many more that she didn’t. Soon, she was going to let him know exactly that, too.
“Truth is,” Beni said, rocking from foot to foot with his hands still stuffed in his pockets, “I’ve been thinking about you a hell of a lot more than I should lately.”
“Oh?”
“And I couldn’t wait to see you. So, if you’re busy or whatever, don’t feel like you have to entertain my ass, or anything. I’m a grown man, and I can take care of myself. But ... if you do have some time, I would be happy to do whatever you want for the night.”
August grinned. “Hmm.”
“Although, about that flight tomorrow ...”
“What about it?”
Beni brought his hand out of his pocket to flash a folded piece of paper. “I thought you might like to have someone to fly with, you know.”
Damn him.
She loved it.
“You would be right.”
His laughter spilled into the air as he crossed the distance between them in three long, confident strides. There was something about the sight of his strong form, made up of beautiful lines and the hardness of a man, coming for her that had a shiver racing through her body. His embrace found her like bars that planned to lock her away from the rest of the world, but she didn’t mind at all.
And when he was kissing her?
Drinking her up?
Taking the very taste of her right from her mouth?
God.
Life was perfect again.
August had decided not to tell Beni about the job thing, and her decision, until after she had settled things in Chicago. She wasn’t even going to tell her parents until she had every single last detail hammered out, so then she could feel like at least they wouldn’t think she was crazily jumping into something.
It was still a risk.
She felt way better about taking it, though.
Although, it took all of her willpower not to tell him her little secret as his thumbs stroked her cheekbones while he kissed her like it was the only thing he ever wanted to do. All too soon for her liking, he pulled away, but not too far.
“Do you like fried chicken?” she asked.
“Love it, why?”
“That’s what my mom is cooking tonight, and I promised to have dinner with them. I was also going to tell them about my trip to Chicago for the weekend while I was there because I hadn’t told them yet.”
He arched a brow. “Any reason for that?”
“They’re worried.”
“Ah.”
“I would love it, if you came, too.”
Beni flashed her a sexy smile. “I get to meet you
r parents?”
She poked him in the chest and laughed. “Don’t get in your feelings about it, or anything.”
“Kind of a big deal.”
“Ever done that before?”
“Not once.”
“They’ll love you.”
Of that, she was most sure.
• • •
August was right.
Of course.
She usually was.
Her parents loved Beni, no questions asked. She bet it was because really, she didn’t bring guys home to meet them—ever. He was the first man to ever walk over her parents’ threshold, holding her hand, with an almost shy smile—that was a sight, to be sure—as she introduced him to her mom and dad.
It was enough to say he was important.
Serious.
Something good.
So, her parents fell in line, welcomed him into their home, and tried not to ask too many questions. Except a few fell out here and there, like now.
She heard her father’s question from the dining room as she helped her mother plate the fried chicken, and gather the potato salad and greens.
“And when did you two meet?” Cameron asked.
Beni didn’t miss a beat. “When she came to Chicago.”
“Oh, that’s where you’re from.”
“Canada, actually. Toronto, but my mother grew up in Chicago, and I moved there a few months ago for work.”
“What kind of work?”
“Daddy!”
Ada gave August a look. “Hush, you.”
“Ma.”
Her mother just gave August that look again. One that said, child, you will quiet your mouth. Everyone’s mother had that goddamn look, and while it might vary from woman to woman, the meaning and intention was still the same. It didn’t matter at all that she was an adult.
“I do a lot of things,” Beni said, clearly careful about choosing his words before he added, “but mostly I answer to Tommas Rossi at the end of the day.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes.”
“And does that make you connected to the business Tommas has in Chicago?”
God.
“Ma, tell him to knock it off.”
Ada shook her head, and took her time pulling sliced cucumbers from the fridge. “I will not. You brought a man home, and didn’t think he was going to ask questions? Come on now, I know you to be a smarter girl than that, August.”
“But—”
“That’s dangerous business,” her father said.
Beni cleared his throat. “Only if we let it be, yeah.”
“I trust that my daughter isn’t getting mixed up in any of it, right?”
“On my life,” Beni returned.
“I’ll hold you to that, young man.”
“I would hope so, Mr. Rivera.”
“Call me Cameron, Beni. I only like being addressed as Mr. in court.”
“You got it.”
“Good.”
Her father chuckled, a warm sound, really. It surprised August because she had been so sure that this conversation was going nowhere good. And yet, just like that, it seemed to change entirely without warning.
That was her parents, though.
In a damn nutshell.
Ada passed her daughter a wink, and smile. “See ... although, this Chicago business. Your father is going to worry, whether you like it or not. You know he didn’t want you going back there until things calmed down.”
Yeah.
So, her dad hadn’t been too happy about that.
Win some, lose some.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, “and you can keep telling him that. It’s only for the weekend.”
For now, she added silently. She had other plans about when she was going back permanently, and hopefully that would be soon. Until then, she was just going to ease her parents into that idea slowly. Fingers crossed that it worked.
Ada shook her head, nodding her head toward the plated chicken. “Grab a couple plates, and help me serve, please.”
“Sure, Ma.”
Beni’s gaze was already turned on August the second she entered the dining room. He didn’t hesitate to get up from his chair, and help her handle the plates with chicken, either. His hand found the small of her back, helping her into a chair while pressing a quick kiss to the side of her temple and murmuring, “Do they like me, you think?”
She laughed under her breath.
“I think so,” she replied at the same level.
Beni nodded.
All the while, August was acutely aware of her parents watching the two of them, but she did her very best to ignore it. More than anything, she wanted Ada and Cameron to love Beni ... sure, there were things about him and his lifestyle that were concerning, but it was underneath all of that which counted the most. That was a lesson she had needed to learn over and over again in her own life, and one her parents repeated to her when people judged them without knowing anything about their family and love.
She expected they would offer the same respect to Beni, and so far, they had done exactly that. She appreciated it.
He was a good man.
He treated her well.
And she loved him.
Beni was quick to take the seat next to hers, his hand snaking over to rest upon her thigh as they all started to grab what they wanted for food. It was only after grace had been said that they started eating, though.
“So,” her father said, pointing a fork at August, “I expect a phone call while you’re in Chicago ... just to be safe, and I expect Beni will keep you out of trouble.”
“Absolutely.”
She shot the man next to her a look.
He only shrugged.
“Everything will be fine,” she told her dad.
Cameron sighed. “And yet, I still worry.”
Story of her life ...
“But also,” Cameron was quick to add, glancing Beni’s way before winking at August, “I hope you have fun. Seems Chicago keeps calling you back, hmm?”
More than he possibly knew.
“I guess so, Daddy.”
He smiled faintly. “Yeah, I know.”
Did he?
• • •
“Did I pass the test, or ...?”
August glanced to the side, taking in Beni’s grin as they walked the hall to her apartment on the second floor. “What test?”
“The meeting the parents test. Isn’t that what all boyfriends have to pass to be good?”
“Is that what you are?”
“Hmm?”
“My boyfriend.”
Her tone was as playful as his smile. She didn’t mean for it to be a serious question at first, but as the seconds passed when they stopped in front of her apartment door, she kind of wanted to know the answer ... and she wanted it to be a very specific answer.
“I certainly hope so, but you tell me.”
August wet the line of her top lip as she tried to play off his question with a laugh. “Nice trying to deflect it to me, but—”
“Not deflecting. I know where I stand. I haven’t even thought about another women since you stepped into my path. Can’t be bothered when I have one like you standing in front of me. I’m certainly not here doing this with someone else, now am I? Didn’t catch a flight just to spend one night with someone else in a city that doesn’t feel like mine just to accompany them on a flight that will take off before I even typically roll my ass out of bed on the weekends.”
She dragged in a quick breath.
His point was certainly made.
And yet, he drove it home with, “And the only person I’d really like to get inside the apartment behind them, so I can get a taste of that pussy I’ve been thinking about since she jumped on a plane a month ago ... is you.”
Jesus.
She knew she was wet.
Didn’t even need to check.
“Is that boyfriend enough for you, or—”
August let her actions
do the talking for an answer to that one. Her mouth crashed against his, her palms finding his jaw to drag him in closer as she kissed him. The door snapped against her back when he shoved her against the heavy wood. Frantic and seemingly unaware that they were still standing in that goddamn hallway, his hands drove up under her shirt to find the lacy cups covering her breasts, while hers dropped down to grab at the waistband of his pants.
“Get the door open,” he groaned against her mouth, “before someone gets a fucking show.”
Well, at least one of them hadn’t forgotten.
Anticipation curled around and down August’s spine as she turned to unlock the door, her hands shaking as she found the keys in her bag. The need only became thicker when Beni’s hot mouth found the column of her throat, his tongue striking out to taste her skin before his teeth dragged across the same spot.
Heat.
And chills.
She felt them both at the same time.
“Can’t wait to fuck that pussy,” he murmured in her ear as her trembling fingers slid the key into the lock, “and do you know why?”
She did.
Or she was pretty damn sure.
“Because it’s yours,” she said when she turned the lock, and the doorknob at the same time.
“Exactly that.”
His hand found hers on the knob, flexing to twist it as she did, but with just a little more force. The two of them slipped into the apartment without a look back, the door slamming shut although she wasn’t sure if it was by his hand, hers, or both.
Her bag hit the floor when her back met the wall. That cable-knit sweater of his went first, exposing hard muscles and the sleek lines of his torso and chest to her palms. He had that lean tone of a runner, with just enough bulk of a boxer, and she fucking loved it.
Once his sweater was gone, though, he didn’t let her admire for long before he went to work on shedding August of her clothes one piece at a time. In between each came a kiss from him that burned her from the inside out, promising bliss and wickedness all rolled into one.
As he reached for his back pocket in search of the condom she knew he kept on hand just in case, she pulled open his jeans, fingers dipping below his boxer-briefs while her other shoved the pants down around his hips. He let her roll the condom down after he’d opened the packet, his groan at the way her fingers flex down his length to cover him enough to make her thighs clench.