by K. J. Lewis
“And it worked, baby.” Ross kisses his temple before pulling up a chair to watch the game. He turns the chair so that he is straddling the seat and props his arms up on the back. He looks at the board for a minute before floating a suggestion my way. Glancing down, I realize he’s right and make the move before hitting the button. “But I wouldn’t recommend it,” he says taking a bite of an oversized pretzel.
“Wouldn’t recommend what?” Theo frowns at his husband.
“I wouldn’t recommend him telling Elise he loves her this soon.”
“I thought you said it worked for you?”
“I said your consistency worked for me. The first time you told me you loved me, it freaked me the hell out.”
“Only because you were afraid of commitment.”
“It was our first date, Theo.”
“Well, forgive me. I couldn’t keep it in.”
“And now I can appreciate it. Then it just made you Creepy Theo. I mean who tells someone they love them when they haven’t even been together 12 hours?”
“I do,” Theo retorts, giving Ross the side-eye. Ross laughs and winks at him.
“Are you pushing Reid to tell Elise so it will blow up in his face and you don’t have to worry about him?”
That’s an angle I never considered. I give Theo my full attention.
“No, if I have to give Elise to someone, I would prefer for it to be Reid. He’s honorable, for the most part.” He gives me a pointed look. “He just has a problem keeping his dick in his pants.”
“I’ve never stepped out on anyone, and you know it.” I bristle.
“No. All your pussies knew the drill. Except Amber.”
“I never stepped out on Amber.”
“No, but that crazy cat is a piece of work.”
“But it wasn’t because I wasn’t honest with her.”
“Amber?” Ross asks, and I wave him off.
“You’re using the word ‘give’ again.” I hit the game clock. “Check.”
“I’m not going to have another dick measuring contest with you, Reid.”
“I for one would love to be present at that contest,” Ross interjects.
“Good, ‘cause you’ll lose,” I say.
“I don’t know about that. Have you seen what my man is—”
“Look, man.” Theo stops Ross from finishing that sentence. “I’m on board, alright? Ross already had the talk with me. Give me a ‘Team Beckett’ t-shirt. I’ll wear it and do a fucking cheer. I believe you love her. I also believe you’re becoming intimate with her on a certain level, but it’s not on the same level as me. Not yet. You are going to have to put in the work to get to my level. I’m not going to just give it to you.”
“I’m Team Beckett, too,” says Ross. “But if you hurt Elise, I’ll surgically remove your balls and hang them on our Christmas tree this year.”
“Checkmate.” Theo hits the button.
Ross finished his shopping while Theo and I went over the final contracts for the buyout. I never thought Theo would give up control of his business, but he hasn’t even batted an eye.
“Do you think the team will come around?” I ask Theo as we climb into the SUV.
“They love Elise too much not to. It was just a shock. They’ll adjust. You can’t step in between her and her team. Elise runs the show.”
“I wasn’t. But I also wasn’t going to have her take the hit for something she has no control over.”
“Elise does have the control. She decided she wanted to move to New York. We could have made it work with her staying in Chicago. They know that. They are smart people. You trying to take the blame doesn’t change that. Her team dynamic is why the company is a success. You can’t interfere. Trust me. Learn a lesson from the road I’ve already paved,” Theo says over his shoulder. He brings his hand to rest on Ross’ thigh, who promptly lowers his from the steering wheel to interweave their fingers.
I know Theo is right, but I’m too stubborn to do this any way but my own. Maybe this is too fast. I mean, what the hell do I know about love? I’ve never been in love before. Am I really ready for that kind of commitment? Why do I feel the need to be stubborn about the team and find myself digging my heels in? Elise has me thrown off balance, and it’s not a feeling I am used to.
“Reid?”
“Sorry, what?” I look up and catch Ross’ eye in the rearview.
“We’re here. Theo and I are going to run one more errand.”
Looking around, I realize we are in front of our chalet. I had no idea we were even on the campgrounds. Elise’s SUV is parked out front. She must be back.
“Thanks,” I nod and exit the car, stealing a deep breath before I tell Elise what I think. What that is at this very moment, I have no idea. What she will walk away with is an understanding of how I expect this company to run.
I set the items Ross got today on the island before making my way to find Elise. The sounds of her soft crying has me quickening my pace, and when I round the corner, I find her on the couch. Tears are streaming down her face, and Nova is furiously working to lick each and every one of them away. Her arms are wrapped tightly around his neck.
“Sweetheart.” I pull her into my arms. This just makes her cry harder, and I’m at a loss for what to do. It’s not that I’m a total dick, but I don’t know if I’ve ever consoled someone before. I rock her gently and whisper words of comfort in her ear. Eventually her crying stops, and she hiccups softly as she tries to bring her breathing back to normal. All I can think about is how I want to make sure she never cries like this again.
“What happened?” I ask.
She starts to cry again, and I run my fingers through her hair. “Shh, baby. Just take your time.” I am seriously about to lose my shit. I am already making a mental list of whose balls I am going to hang on Ross’ Christmas tree when she tries again.
“He died. Champ died.”
“Oh, Dove. I am so sorry. Who’s Champ? Was he sick?”
“No. Champ,” she says like I should know. “Champ. He loses his sight and then he dies and little Ricky Schroeder…” She starts to cry again, harder this time. It’s then I realize there are credits rolling on the TV. I can’t help but laugh, but this makes her cry even more.
Lifting her head off my shoulder, I wipe her fresh tears with my thumb. She’s beautiful. Her lips are soft and full from crying, and I can’t stop myself from kissing her. She opens for me without hesitation.
“Better?” I ask. She nods.
“I’m sorry. I’m just exhausted. Physically and emotionally and that movie…have you ever seen that movie?”
“No. I don’t even know what it’s called.”
“Champ!” she cries out in frustration. “They should not show that on regular TV without some kind of warning system. I thought I was watching an old movie. I got sucked in and had no idea it would end like that.”
She wraps her arms around my neck. I stand and carry her to the bedroom kicking off my shoes before laying her in the bed. I remove my jeans and climb in behind her pulling her to my chest. Her ass wiggles against my forming erection. Pulling her tighter to me, I whisper in her ear to go to sleep. After a few minutes, when I hear her breathing even out, I add, “I love you, Dove.”
I realize she’s holding her breath. She must have heard what I said.
“Breathe, Elise. I don’t expect you to say it back. I just wanted you to know.”
She turns to face me but doesn’t say anything. Her large eyes watch mine for several minutes before she finally speaks. “How do you know?”
“I’ve never felt this way before.”
“That could just be gas.”
Wait. What? “Did you just compare my declaration of love to gas?”
“I’m just saying weird feelings often turn out to be gas.”
“This isn’t a weird feeling, Elise. I am in love with you. I am certain of it. I feel like a part of me is missing when you aren’t around. I want to know what you think
—about everything. From whether or not I should put blueberries on my pancakes to how you think I should integrate Theo’s business. I want to be deep inside you every second of the day. Not because I want sex, but because I want to claim you. Make you mine. I want to be a part of you. I need you to be a part of me.”
“It just seems sudden. I mean you didn’t even know me a week ago. With ‘I love you’ comes decisions, nexts. I don’t know what’s next. I still have to carve out a place in the new company. I’m leaving my team. There are so many unknowns for me right now.”
I roll on top of her. My eyes never leave hers. My body does what it knows to do when it is this close to Elise. It begins to move into hers, rubbing her, even through our clothing.
“I know you think you are going to scare me off, Dove. But you aren’t. I can be very patient when I need to be. I can wait for this to catch up to you.”
“Reid…”
I lower my mouth to hers before she can lessen this with an apology. I don’t need an apology from her. I just need her to be open to the idea of us. It only takes a few moves before she responds. Two more moves and we’ve both discarded our clothing. One more and I’m deep in the woman I love.
I smell something delicious when I wake. Alone. No Elise. She must be completely freaked out. I roll my eyes at the thought, then climb out of bed, and pull on some clothes. When I enter the living room, the doors off the deck are open and the sun is just setting behind the trees. Rhianna’s “Love on the Brain” is playing, and Elise’s ass sashays back and forth to the music while she cooks. Leaning against a wooden post, I watch her cook and drink her wine. She sings out of tune and doesn’t hold back. Her hair is pulled into a big messy bun on top of her head, and even with her back to me, I know she is wearing my t-shirt again.
There’s commotion at the door and part of the team comes in carrying booze. Only then does Elise realize I was watching her.
Gabby pats my arm and gives me a wink when she passes by. Ryan stops in front of me and offers me a handshake before making his way to the counter.
“Dinner is ready,” Elise announces, pulling dishes from the oven.
“How long was I asleep?” I ask quietly when she hands me a dish to carry to the table.
“I made most of it this afternoon while you and Theo were gone. All I had to do was heat it.”
She looks so young and fresh with no makeup on that I want to make a meal out of her.
“I’ll take that,” Fran says, pulling the dish from my hands. “Go let Theo and Ross know dinner is ready.”
I do as I’m told. I knock on their bedroom door and enter, relieved to find them reading and not up to something I can’t un-see.
The usual group—Elise’s core team—is seated around a table covered in Mexican food and dishing food onto their plates.
“There are enchiladas, tacos, flautas, tamales, and, of course, beans and rice.” Elise gestures at each dish. “The shells and the tamales are made from our favorite Mexican restaurant in town.” She sits in her normal spot, and Blake starts passing around shot glasses.
“Boss,” Blake says.
I look up, surprised to see that he’s addressing me.
“We didn’t handle the news that great today, and we want you to know it won’t happen again. Elise is one-of-a-kind, though, and we know we will never have another leader who has our backs as fiercely as she does.”
He fills some of the glasses with tequila and then passes the bottle to Ryan, who fills the glasses on his end of the table. Fran passes around a bowl of limes.
Blake lifts his glass into the air. “Elise, we love you as much as your family in New York does, and we will always be here for you. We couldn’t ask for a better person to work for. Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro!”
“Salud!” the rest of the table responds. They all move their drinks up, down, and then to the middle of the table before throwing back their shots. Before I can ask what the gesture means, they are already filling their next round of shots. The food is delicious and by the time most of us are on our second helping, we are more than a little buzzed.
“So are you guys going to finally end the card game tonight?” Ryan asks.
“There will still be card games,” Elise answers. “I’m still going to be your boss. I’m still going to be spending time with you, and some of you will be coming to the New York office with me.”
This is news to me, and I must not hide it well because Fran makes a comment.
“Uh, you might want to talk to the new Boss Daddy about that, because he looks shocked.”
“It’s not his say,” Elise says, passing a platter to Ross.
“It’s my company,” I remind her.
“It’s my team.”
“Who work for my company.”
“Which doesn’t survive without my team.”
“Elise,” I say harsher than I intend. I don’t usually have someone challenge me in front of my staff. Well, not if they plan to stay employed. She gives no response, so I turn my attention to the end of the table. “Theo?”
Theo doesn’t say a word.
“Why don’t we all do another round? Break up some of the angst in the room,” Blake suggests, trying to make light of the situation. “We need to keep going if I’m going to get Elise drunk enough to rap with me.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“Come on, Elise. We didn’t get our usual karaoke night in town this trip.”
“Then—” Elise is cut off by a knock at the door.
Blake answers the door to two men who are dressed in black from head to toe like something out of an action movie.
“Elise Donovan,” one of the men say, holding out a phone to her as she meets them at the door.
“Elise Donovan,” she says into the phone. After a pause, she walks quickly out onto the deck. “Mr. Speaker…” we hear her say as she walks out of earshot.
Immediately, the team picks up their cell phones.
“Got anything?” Ryan asks Fran.
“Nope. Whatever it is, it’s still under the radar.”
Elise enters and hands the phone back to the men. “Blake,” motioning him with a nod to follow her. Elise walks to the stereo and turns up the music loud enough that the people several cabins over can probably hear it. Blake bends down toward her, his hands resting on her hips. She wraps her arms around his neck, and he listens as she whispers in his ear. I’m surprised by the jealousy I feel even though I know it is strictly business. Jealousy is not a feeling I am accustomed to. She lets go of his neck, and Blake leaves without saying a word. Elise turns the music back down.
I appear to be the only one at the table who is confused by what just happened. Everyone else is moving on like it’s business as usual. I feel only slightly comforted by the fact that Theo doesn’t feel the need to ask questions.
Elise asks everyone what they did this afternoon, but I can tell she isn’t listening. Ten minutes later Blake is back, changed, with a duffle bag in hand. He sets his bag in the chair he vacated and picks up in the conversation like he never missed a beat. He’s obviously comfortable with whatever his role is. It’s now that I notice he’s wearing a Glock on his hip. As he casually answers Gabby’s question about something they did today, he pulls out a second smaller handgun and hands it to Elise.
“No,” she shakes her head and continues to eat.
“Elise,” Theo says in a tone that is not to be brokered with. I start to say something, but Theo gives me a look that I understand from many years of friendship.
“Theo. I don’t like—”
He cuts her off. “It’s that or Ryan stays with you 24/7.”
“You don’t even know what the case is about,” she argues.
“Don’t need to. It’s Blake’s call and you know it.”
“Theo.”
“If it were Fran or Gabby…” he says.
She sighs and, after a beat, reluctantly holds out her hand.
“Stand,” Blake
says, and when she does, he fastens a holster to her thigh then checks the weapon one more time. “Safety’s on,” he says and holsters her weapon for her. “Draw and click, one motion, just like I taught you. You covered?” he asks Ryan, who nods and pulls a weapon out of the back of his waistband. It’s the fucking Wild West in here, and I don’t have a clue what the fuck is going on.
Blake removes a phone from his bag and hands it to Elise. He zips his bag, and I can hear a helicopter passing overhead.
“Be careful,” Elise tells Blake as she stands for a hug. She kisses him on his cheek and says, “I love you.”
As irrational as it is, hearing her say it to him when she didn’t say it to me earlier has my blood boiling. On top of that, I have no clue how to manage this team when I don’t know what the hell is going on. I know this isn’t the time or place to bring it up, so I have to check myself. Inside I know two things: one, I am not okay with Elise being in a situation where she needs to have a gun on her person, and two, as soon as Theo and I sign these papers, she’s fired.
“Reid, you haven’t signed the papers. You aren’t protected. If push came to shove, you wouldn’t be covered in court.”
“You’re not a lawyer, Elise. It’s not like you have client-attorney protection.”
“I know that, Reid. I’ve been doing this a few years. I understand more than anyone what is at stake. I’m not going to put you at risk.”
“That isn’t how this works, Elise. You don’t protect me. I protect you. We seem to keep having the same argument. I don’t understand why that is.” He aggressively runs his hand through his hair, which really only serves to make all my girlie bits spring to life.
“Theo.” I catch him out of the corner of my eye, and I know he has been listening to the conversation. He gives me a look but reluctantly steps up to the plate. Or so I think.
“Reid, Elise is right. We don’t have a signed contract. It’s likely going through, but you know how mergers are. There are those items that stay secret until after everything is signed. There are certain things that you aren’t going to know. Hell, there are things you won’t know even after the papers are signed. I won’t even know what this is about unless Elise or Blake need to pull me in. It’s just part of it. Elise is known in circles that none of us realize. This is what she does. This is how we have made the bulk of our money. If a politician or institution with a lot of money needs something fixed, quietly and quickly, everyone in the business knows that means Elise.”