The Monroe Series Complete Trilogy

by Emma Tharp

  Putting the truck in drive, I have a deep appreciation that I don't have to fly to our destination this year. I haven't looked at the place on the map yet. If I did, I'm sure I'd freak out. The pure joy she exuded every time she texted me about this vacation told me I was going to really need to pinch pennies the rest of the summer. She talked about boats, winery visits, concerts at SPAC, and horse races. There’s even a casino nearby, which is awesome because every minute with her is a gamble.

  Check-in today is at three. The drive is five hours. And I know she'll be there right on time. I will be, too. After all, our time is short. And I have a burning question that I hope this week will get answered. I'm getting older. What I wanted and needed isn’t the same as it was three years ago. Or even six months ago.

  This past winter, a buddy and I flew to Murren, Switzerland. I saved for five years for the trip. It’s a picture-perfect mountain that’s been on my bucket list to ski. It was the fourth day of our trip and there had been a huge storm the night before. A skier’s dream. Several feet of fresh, virgin powder. I was skiing the Lauberhorn, the longest downhill ski run in the world. We were making our own tracks—and I was high on adrenaline—when I lost my footing and started tumbling down the hill. Thankfully, I wasn't hurt badly, but I was reminded of my mortality. In that moment when I thought I was going to crash into a tree, my thoughts immediately flew to Giselle. I didn't want to die without seeing her again. I didn’t tell Giselle about the accident because I didn’t want to spook her. Now, I'm not sure a week is going to be enough. I want strings. I want commitment.

  I don’t know what she’s going to say or how she’ll react when I admit to her what my feelings are, but I need to tell her. As the years tick by, I realize I want a partner. Someone to share life with every day, to come home to at night and wake up next to in the morning.

  We need to have the conversation, and I hope she feels the same, because I can’t envision my future without her.

  Three

  Giselle

  "Hello," Dean purrs in his deep, sexy voice.

  My heart flutters to life. There's only an hour left before I make it to Lake George and I can barely wait. "Hi, how is your drive going?"

  "It's going well. I've been going faster than I should because I can't stand it anymore. I can't wait to have you in my arms."

  A pulse begins to hum between my thighs. "Now don't go getting yourself in an accident. I need you in one piece when I see you."

  "Don't you worry."

  "Let's meet up in Saratoga for lunch before we go to the cottage." I laugh inside every time I call it that. It's actually a lake house. It's right on the water with its own dock, boat, and guest cottage.

  He lets out an exaggerated sigh. "I guess we can meet up to eat beforehand, but I really can't wait to see you naked."

  "The feeling is mutual, but if we eat a late lunch, we can grab groceries and supplies while we’re out. Then, we can make our way to the place we’ll be enjoying together for the next seven glorious days."

  "Drive safe and I'll see you in an hour." There's a growl in his voice that's so full of promise.

  I turn up the music and set my cruise control a little faster than normal. All thoughts of work and stress slowly ease out of my brain and body.

  The phone rings.

  I click on the Bluetooth. “You miss me already?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do miss you. It would’ve been nice if you could’ve stayed longer on Monroe Cay with us, but I understand why,” Donovan, my younger brother, says.

  Whoops. I thought it was Dean again on the line. “You aren’t giving me a guilt trip, are you?” When I was packing up, he did make me feel bad for leaving. I told him I’d had this trip planned for nearly a year. And I only found out about Garrett’s wedding six months ago. My family knows about my yearly trip and how important it is for me. “Because I made it to the wedding.”

  The calming sound of crashing waves plays in the background. He’s probably out working on his tan. “No, I’m not calling to make you feel guilty. I just wanted to remind you to try and relax and have a good time. I worry about you. You’ve been working way too hard lately and you need to take some time to chill out.”

  Taking a deep breath in, I blow it out. Donovan is only trying to help, I know that. He has a huge heart. You’d think he was the older sibling. “When I get to our destination, I’m fine. I barely have time to think about work or the office.”

  “That’s good. Maybe one day we can meet Dean.”

  “Donovan. How many times do I have to tell you that that isn’t how our relationship works? One week a year. That’s it.” Sometimes I feel like I’m beating a dead horse with my brothers. They’re both in a hurry for me to settle down. It doesn’t make much sense to me after watching Garrett go through a heart-wrenching divorce with his ex-wife that cheated on him. And seeing so many well-intentioned couples that come through the firm, who thought they could make a marriage work, end up divorced anyway. It’s an ugly process that I am in no rush to go through myself. I wish they’d just be happy that I’m happy.

  “Okay. Okay. You don’t have to get defensive.”

  “I’m sorry, Donovan.” At times I don’t always understand my own feelings, much less the feelings of others. I try to be caring and supportive of the people I love. My problem is realizing the emotional needs of people closest to me. But, as soon as I do, I put forth effort to meet those needs. It took me many years to figure out the way Donovan needed to be loved, and it’s not with me losing my patience. Especially when he’s showing genuine concern for me. “I didn’t mean to be short with you.”

  “It’s okay. I wasn’t trying to give you the third degree either. I just want you to be happy and actually enjoy yourself with Dean. It was only a friendly reminder. You deserve this break. And you need it.” His voice is full of concern.

  Both of my brothers have expressed their concern for me. It’s been harder to take time off lately for family functions or to go out for a meal with them. They worry I’ll have a heart attack or something because they think I’m overworked. It shouldn’t be so hard for them to believe that I love my job and I don’t mind the long hours. Not to mention, it’s slightly hypocritical, at least for Garrett, because he’s one of the hardest working people I know. And Donovan is so successful because he worked hard to build up his venture capital firm. Even though our parents aren’t alive, I can still hear their advice—especially Dad’s. Work hard and you’ll never have to rely on anyone. I took it to heart. I’ll only ever have to rely on me.

  “Trust me. I haven’t even thought of the firm since I left. And I only have about thirty minutes left of my drive. The next week is going to be all about relaxation,” I tell him.

  “Good. That’s what I like to hear. Make sure Dean treats you right.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Remember, I told you that he’s the perfect gentleman.”

  “All right, I better go. Liza is telling me it’s time to go for a swim. The ocean calls. Love you.”

  “Tell everyone hi for me. Love you, too.”

  I end the call with a smile on my face. My brother took time out of his own vacation to check on me. I really have been blessed with the best siblings.

  The rest of the drive is uneventful and before I know it, I'm pulling up to the outdoor café on Broadway. It's a beautiful, quaint street in Saratoga full of amazing food and nice shops. Paying the meter, I scan the sidewalk.

  I see Dean before he sees me. I take a moment to drink him in. He's tall, tan, with a commanding presence. There's something about his stance; his muscular shoulders are pulled back with his hands jammed into his pockets like he's in complete control, yet calm and relaxed all at the same time. He's watching a couple intently as they walk past him. The man has his arm around the woman's shoulders and the woman has her petite arm slung around the man's waist. They're oblivious to everyone else around them as they stare at each other and laugh about something. It's young love at
its finest. I admire them for a beat before I walk toward Dean.

  His teal eyes find mine and they seem to penetrate me, stripping away the time and distance. It feels like coming home. He moves toward me, closing the distance, and the smile that takes over his face is broad and wide. His tongue glides along his bottom lip and I can't look away. He's incredibly skilled with that mouth and suddenly I regret the decision to stop for lunch before I take him to bed.

  "You’re a sight for sore eyes. It's so good to see you," Dean says as he wraps his strong arms around me. One of his hands lands on my back and the other is mere inches from my ass. The heat of his touch sears through my sundress.

  My hands twine together around the back of his neck and he leans down to kiss me. All the people and the noise of the street fall away the second his lips are on me. I'm completely under his spell when his tongue plunges against mine. His fingertips press into my back, squeezing me closer to him. He lets out a low growl and a rush of heat spreads through me. All the fear I had about Dean losing the spark for me melts away.

  Dean pulls back and his hands run through my hair. "What do you say we take a raincheck on lunch?"

  "It's like you read my mind." The thought of sitting next to Dean in a restaurant for the next hour, pretending like I don't want to be rolling around in the sheets sounds like torture.

  "Good. Let's stop at the grocery store to pick up the basics and then I need to get you back to the cottage so I can strip these clothes off you."

  "Follow me." I give him one quick peck before rushing back to my car.

  There's a market a few minutes up the road that we stop at. I've never shopped this quickly before. We grab food for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow along with a few essentials.

  "We're eating in?" Dean looks hopeful.

  "Sometimes. Breakfast. Some lunches and dinners. Others… Out. I don't want to work all the time when I'm on my one vacation a year. You know?"

  He stares at me a moment. "You only get one vacation a year. And you spend it with me." He says it like it’s absolutely unfathomable.

  I nod. "I do. I can't imagine spending it any other way.”

  His teal eyes light up and his smile widens.

  "It's worth it. Just wait until you see this place."

  We check out, each paying half and then load my car with groceries. "Follow me," I say.

  "Anywhere."

  We get in our cars and head toward Lake George. I'm dying for him to see the lake house. I can hardly wait to see the look on his face when he realizes the place is ours for a little while. When I saw pictures of the stone fireplace, I knew we’d be lighting a fire and going at it on the rug in front of it. I couldn't resist. I took one look at the huge walk-in shower and imagined what it would be like to share it with Dean. Soon, I won't have to dream about it—we'll be living it.

  Shivers run up and down my spine as we pull into the driveway. The place is as beautiful in person as it is in the pictures. A large, rustic Adirondack-style home right on the water that has breathtaking mountain views. There are fifty acres of land with trails and trail maps on the property where we can hike if we feel like it. I know how much Dean appreciates wildlife and adventure.

  I stop in front of the house and quickly turn off the car. When I hop out, I hold my arms out wide. He jumps out of his car to join me. "Look at this place! What do you think?" I squeal in delight when Dean looks positively speechless.

  Four

  Dean

  Holy hell.

  My stomach drops as I see the roof of the house from the distance. I should've known. I should've expected this. She is used to a much different lifestyle than I've had the opportunity to grow accustomed to.

  Sure, I’ve traveled. It’s always ski vacations. I save and save to ski the top-rated mountains in the world. But when I go, I don’t splurge on expensive hotels. That’s not why I’m there. One trip I didn’t have to pay for was Aspen. Many years ago, one of my students in Vermont asked me to go with her and stay for a week, making sure the lessons continued. And more. Because I was single and she was paying … Why not? That had been pretty incredible. We stayed in a log cabin with a stone fireplace and a hot tub so big I could practically swim in it. This…is going to beat that to a pulp. I can feel it in every cell of my body. Mostly because I have feelings for Giselle, not because this place looks like it’d cost a month’s wages to stay for a week.

  Licking my lips, I step out of my beat-up pickup truck. She's driving a sleek, black Mercedes sports coupe. For me, a car is just a way to get from point A to point B. Nothing more. She wears designer clothes; I prefer comfortable athletic wear. We might value different things, but if that’s what she likes and can afford, more power to her.

  I walk over to her, determined not to ruin this for her. She’s so damn excited and happy. And it’s her year to pay for the accommodations, so why should I be bothered? Was I upset two years ago? I know the answer. I mostly enjoyed Beverly Hills. I didn't think about what it cost her; I was more concerned with what it was costing me. I spent a ton of money on the flight. Looking back on it, I feel like a complete ass. This time around she did everything she could to help me feel more comfortable. A huge grin spreads across my face as I greet her.

  "This place looks amazing." I pull her in for a hug and rub her back in the process. The feel of her body pressed to mine has my blood pumping hard. "Take me inside. I'll bring the food in and you can give me the grand tour." Hopefully the tour is quick, because I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to keep my hands off of her.

  I grab the bags and she takes my free hand and leads me inside. We unload the bags with perishables as quickly as possible. Then she shows me the incredible open floor plan, the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. She makes sure I notice the gorgeous view from the master bedroom, which overlooks the lake. Lake George is stunning, but the view isn't as supremely beautiful as she is.

  She bats her eyelashes at me and twirls a strand of her hair. "Check out the shower.”

  “Damn. I built one just like it. The tile work and showerheads alone cost more than I make in a month.”

  “Wow.” Her eyebrows raise. “When I saw it online all I could think about was what I wanted to do to you in there."

  This is one of the many things I love about Giselle. She isn’t afraid to tell me things like that. She’s open with her body and opens up to me about what she likes or wants in the bedroom. It’s so damn sexy, and when she expresses her dirty thoughts, it takes all of my willpower not to rip her clothes off her. “Oh, really. And what did you have in mind?” I pull her in close to me and caress her ass.

  Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. “You’re just going to have to wait and see.”

  "Okay. I think we should test it out now." I am all in.

  I press kisses on her neck. Her sweet lavender scent surrounds me, and I breathe her in. My lips close around hers and my tongue explores her mouth, reacquainting ourselves. Her kiss feels brand new, yet familiar at the same time. It’s almost as if no time has passed at all.

  My heart jackhammers in my chest as her fingertips run through my hair. She moans into my mouth, “I've missed you."

  Pent-up desire hardens my entire body. "I feel the same, baby." Moving toward the shower, I turn it on, making sure the water gets steamy hot.

  “Unzip me,” Giselle says, lifting her hair and turning so her back is to me.

  Tugging the zipper down, I ease the straps along her shoulders and arms until it all slips to the floor. Next is her bra. All that’s left is her thong. I squeeze her perfect ass, so round and soft before stripping her bare. It takes me two seconds to remove my shorts and T-shirt and lead her into the shower.

  Hot water rains down on us as I take a moment to admire every inch of her body. Her breasts and hips are soft and supple, while her waist and legs are toned and tight. My cock swells in appreciation. With greedy hands, I cup her face and kiss her lips, her jaw, down her collarbone. When I get to h
er nipple, it’s hard and ready for me. She arches her back and moans. I suck hard before releasing it and moving to the other side.

  She reaches down and her hands move to my waist, down my V until she gets to my erection. Giselle strokes me, working up and down my length. A ragged pant leaves my lips. “Giselle.”

  I claim her mouth and trail my fingertips, feather soft, down her stomach all the way to her sex. First, I slide one finger inside her, then another. She lets out a shuddering breath as I press in and out of her. “Yes. That feels so good, Dean.”

  She tightens her grip on me as water splashes around us. Every touch is driving me crazy and pushing me toward the brink. It’s way too soon. “Giselle, I need you now.”

  Pushing her up against the wall, I glide my cock along her entrance. As part of our arrangement, we each agreed to get tested before our get-togethers and she’s on birth control. I get to feel all of her and I can’t wait another second.

  I’m dizzy with desire as I enter her slowly, easing inside inch by inch. She’s breathless and clutches my shoulders. The sexy little sounds she makes, the way her body responds to mine, all of it overloads my senses. Maybe I should think about sports, or famine, or something else to distract me from the way Giselle is grinding against me. I can’t let go yet. I have to remind myself to go slow, to not lose control our first time together in a year.

  Desire is red hot in her eyes—I know mine are full of lust and longing, too. I capture her lips with mine and kiss her deep and greedily. My hands are everywhere, on her hips, around her waist, squeezing her ass—I just can’t get enough.