Hot Summer Fling

by Parker, Ali

  She inclined her head and motioned for us to follow her. The dining area was large, airy, and spacious. Only half of it, including the long black bar against one wall, was covered by a roof. Oil lanterns decorated the tables, sitting on top of starched white tablecloths.

  There was only one solid wall on the entire rooftop, which was why it didn’t have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view. Close enough, though.

  Glass panels were fitted on top of the rails for the remainder of the length of the deck. Whoever had designed the place had definitely felt the same way I did about respecting the view in all its natural splendor. They’d gone to great lengths to make the restaurant protected from the breeze and safe enough for the people up here while ensuring they didn’t obscure the views it offered too much.

  The architects’ work was perfectly complemented by the that of the interior decorators, who had kept their own design and furnishings clean and simple. There was no clutter, only functional wooden furniture and a few plants. It gave the restaurant a trendy look, but it also had a friendly, comfortable atmosphere. I couldn’t think of a better, more beautiful place to share the news I had with Fulton.

  The hostess showed us to a table near the edge and set two laminated menus down on it. “Here you go. This way you’ll still be able to soak up the view while you’re having dinner. Your waiter will be with you shortly.”

  “Thank you,” I said, lowering myself into the chair Fulton had pulled out for me. I glanced at him as I sat down. “Wow, you’re being a real gentleman tonight.”

  “I’m always a real gentleman.” Amusement shone from his eyes as he pushed my chair in and went to take his own. “You just haven’t given me too many opportunities to prove it to you.”

  I waved my hand dismissively, but I couldn’t deny the rush of affection I felt for the man. He was so down to earth for someone so powerful. I knew how hard it must have been for him not to wield any of that power on my behalf during my job hunt, but I appreciated him respecting my decision by allowing me to forge my own path.

  “I actually asked you to dinner to thank you for the opportunities you’ve given to me, but if you want, we can talk about me not giving you the opportunity to be a gentleman often enough, if that’s what you want.”

  I was trying to lighten the mood between us. It had grown heavy with the weight of my emotions, the elation over the news I had to tell him, and my gratitude for the part he had to play in it.

  Fulton smirked, shaking his head. “No, I’m okay. I’m much more interested in what it is you think you need to thank me for. Let’s talk about that.”

  I smiled and put my hand out across the table for his. He took it immediately, gentling cradling it in his much bigger one. Casual contact like that was starting to become as natural for us as breathing, but thinking about it only added to the mess of emotions already swirling around inside my chest.

  Instead of focusing on what it meant that things felt so natural with him, I closed my eyes for a second and centered myself. “I contacted that museum you told me to check out. I have an interview tomorrow. They’re giving me a chance!”

  Fulton broke out into a wide grin, standing up and coming back around to my side of the table. He hauled me to my feet and crushed me to him. “Congratulations, Val. I knew something would pan out for you. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thank you.” I hugged him back, holding on to him and letting myself relax in his arms. “I never would have even known about that museum if not for you. Thank you for telling me about it.”

  “You’re welcome.” He grudgingly released me, probably realizing at the same time I did that our embrace was becoming a little too much for continuing it in public. The way our bodies had been mashed together, along with the length of time we’d been standing like that was bordering on inappropriate for public consumption.

  He went back to his seat as I lowered myself into mine, unable to stop smiling. “How did you know they were hiring, anyway?”

  Fulton shrugged, grabbing his napkin and spreading it across his lap. It seemed like an odd time to do it, almost like he was doing it just to have something to do. “I keep up with what’s happening at all of the museums. I’m on a lot of mailing lists and occasionally, I sift through them all to stay on top of things.”

  I studied his handsome features, noticing that his movements were a bit stiff. Scooting forward in my chair, I folded my arms. Cold tendrils of fear threatened to take hold of the happy warmth in my heart. “Did you have anything to do with me getting an interview, Fulton?”

  The thought had been tumbling around in the back of my mind all day, begging to be let out. I didn’t want to believe that he’d gone behind my back and pulled strings to get me in, but I had to ask.

  He lifted his eyes from his napkin, meeting my gaze confidently. “You and your personality got you that interview. Use it to get the job. You deserve this, Val.”

  Well, that wasn’t a straight answer. I sighed quietly, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to care too much about his noncommittal answer. I was too damn happy that I finally had an interview, and as I stared into his gorgeous blue eyes, I decided to cling to the happiness instead of worrying. I’d done enough of that for the past few weeks to last me a lifetime.

  “Okay, I will. I’m planning on using anything and everything I have to get the job.”

  Fulton flashed me a proud smile, nodding as he picked up his menu and started studying it. All through dinner, I grilled him on the museum and the art world. I needed all the information I could get if I was going to be successful in my interview, and he had it in spades.

  He really did seem to keep on top of things, and by the time we finished dinner I knew there was nothing I could’ve done to better prepare myself than to talk to Fulton. When we finally walked out of the restaurant, I was buzzing with excitement.

  Things were falling into place for me, and I was the one making it happen. With a little help from my friends, yes. But I was okay with Olive giving me tips on how to conduct myself in an interview and Fulton helping me prepare so I didn’t make a fool of myself. I had come to learn that doing it yourself didn’t mean you couldn’t accept any backup help at all.

  Fulton turned to face me when we reached the sidewalk, taking both of my hands in his. He bent down to brush the softest, sweetest kiss to my lips and lingered there when he pulled away. “You’re going to kill it tomorrow.”

  I looped my arms around his neck and smiled, feeling confident and ready. “Yeah, I am. I’ll let you know how it goes, but get ready to change my information in your contacts to include the title ‘art consultant.’ I’m ready for whatever great things are about to happen.”

  Chapter 33

  Fulton

  Valerie got the job. She’d knocked the interview out of the park—her words, not mine—and had started as Adam’s newest art consultant the very next day. For the past two weeks, she’d been so busy with work that I hardly got to see her.

  We talked often and squeezed in as much time together as we could, but she was on cloud nine about being hired and doing everything in her power to prove herself at her job. I totally got it, but I also missed her.

  Our conversations since she started had been dominated by art, what she was doing at work, and how well she was doing it. There never seemed to be a good time to talk about us or about the big elephant in the room that was my return to Boston.

  The past few days, I’d been getting pressured to head back to the main office. Daniel had so many meetings lined up for me that I was pretty sure I’d be eating and sleeping in the conference room for five years after I got back.

  It wasn’t something I was looking forward to, but duty had called … and it kept calling. I’d been keeping up with everything as best as I could from Florida, but there were people and matters that required my personal attention, and I couldn’t put them off any longer.

  Pushing open the door to Adam’s museum, I tried to ignore the ache in my chest about the n
ews I’d come here to deliver. The second I’d realized that my time in Florida had come to an end, an unshakable weight had settled on my heart and it was only getting heavier.

  I wished there was more time for me to prepare, to give Valerie time to adjust to what was about to happen, but there wasn’t. If I could, I would have asked her to come back with me. We might not have had the talk about what would happen when I went back, but that didn’t change that I wanted to be with her.

  It just didn’t feel like we were done, not yet. I was hoping that we would be able to figure it out before I left, but if not, I was planning on asking her to keep talking to me at least. That way we still had a shot at figuring it out, even if I was leaving.

  Adam didn’t seem to be around when I walked into the museum, but Valerie was talking on the phone at the front desk and looked up when she heard the door open. She beamed at me, holding up a finger to let me know she’d be another minute.

  When she was done with her call, she glanced around to make sure there weren’t any customers watching us and then launched herself at me. Her hug was tight and fierce, but way too short.

  “Fulton! I’m so glad you’re here. I was going to ask you if you had time for a quick lunch later, but this is so much better. Now I can show you what I’m working on before we go get some food.”

  My lips quirked into a grin I couldn’t quite control. Valerie was so exuberantly happy about the job. I felt my own heart race every time I was near her, regardless of what was going on in my own head. “Still enjoying your new position, huh?”

  “I love it.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me away from the main entrance of the museum, talking nonstop about how great her job was. “I managed to acquire a new piece today that the owner has been after for months. We’re so excited. The exhibit we’re putting together is really going to help put us on the map. It should be within the next month or two. I’ll get you an invitation to the opening, it’s going to be amazing.”

  Gently slowing us to a stop, I guided her to an alcove—in order to give us a little bit of privacy on the museum floor—that had been created between two paintings. Valerie didn’t have an office and I knew I couldn’t put off telling her what was happening.

  I had considered inviting her to my house for dinner tonight to break the news, but time was of the essence and every minute I delayed was one minute less notice to her. There wasn’t enough time left as it was, the last thing I wanted to do was to spring it on her any later than I already had to.

  Drawing her into my arms, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and braced myself for ripping off this massive Band-Aid. “I’m sure it’s going to be a massive success, but I doubt I’ll be able to make it to the opening. That’s why I came to talk to you, I’m going back to Boston tomorrow.”

  The radiant smile dropped from Valerie’s lips, color draining out of her cheeks as she stared at me with her jaw slack. “You just…. You’re leaving? Tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. I know it’s sudden and I’m sorry about that.” I took a deep breath, hoping she heard the sincerity in my voice. My arms tightened around her, almost acting of their own volition to let me know they weren’t ready to let her go. “I’ve put it off as long as I can. I have to go back. I’m sorry it’s so soon. I’ve been hoping to buy some more time, but I’m fresh out of it.”

  It was strange how that ache in my heart intensified with each word I said and seeing the effect of it on Valerie’s features. Pain flashed in her eyes, a grimace momentarily scrunching up her face. “I don’t want you to go.”

  Her voice was barely above a whisper, but there was a plea in her tone that took that ache and made it feel like a knife was being twisted into a vital organ. Ouch, fuck.

  I lowered my forehead to rest it against hers. It wasn’t the most comfortable position to be standing in, but I wanted to give her any comfort that I could—and okay, to myself too. Touching whatever skin of hers that I could, felt like the only comfort I had to offer.

  “I don’t want to go, but I have to. My assistant has been fielding meeting requests for weeks and the board is on my ass. I’ve done everything I could from here, but it’s time for me to go back.”

  Valerie frowned in concentrated thought, opening her mouth to say something when we were interrupted by the sound of Adam’s voice behind me. “Fulton. I thought I saw you coming in.”

  Breaking apart from Valerie, I pivoted to face him. My mind was already racing to figure out a way to warn him not to say anything about the last time I had been there, but it was too late.

  “You were right about Valerie here,” he said in a loud, booming voice and slapping my shoulder. “Thank you for telling me to take the interview. You’ve made me a truly happy man. This girl really is a dynamo. To think I never would have found her if you hadn’t come to talk to me. Really, man, I owe you one.”

  Valerie made a shocked, startled sound. I spun around again just in time to see the remaining color drain from her face and her little fists clench at her sides. “What?”

  I reached for her, desperately trying to avoid the catastrophe I suddenly saw coming. Elliot had been right, and I should have listened to him. At the very least I should have thought ahead and asked Adam not to say anything to her from the get-go. “Valerie, I can—”

  She took a step back, her hazel eyes narrowing to slits. “No. I don’t need you to explain. I understand perfectly.”

  Before I could stop her, she had turned around and was rushing out of the museum. My feet were rooted to the spot like I were a tree that had been planted there. Adam was talking, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

  My brain was hazy, blood pumping in my ears. Fuck.

  I could barely hear myself thinking, but I caught hold of the only thought that mattered. I have to go after her.

  As if that thought had sent a command to my numb limbs, I burst into action and chased after Valerie. When she heard me calling her name on the sidewalk, she slammed to a stop and turned to me with fire raging in her eyes. There weren’t many people around us, but Valerie didn’t look like she gave a damn if anyone heard her anyway.

  “I can’t believe you did this. That you’re the reason I got this job.” She was seething, her cheeks now flushed and so pissed off that I could see her trembling with rage. “You knew I didn’t want your charity. I didn’t need it, but that’s all I’ve ever been to you. Fucking charity.”

  “No, that’s not—” I frowned so hard it felt like I would never be able to straighten my face out again, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered, except Valerie and convincing her to hear me out. “You’re not charity, Val. That’s not why I—”

  “I told you, I don’t want to hear your excuses. From the day I met you I’ve been this little charity project of yours. The local waitress who hated her job and needed help. You must have been thrilled about getting a couple of fucks out of the deal, huh? Happy that your charity case spread her legs for you to keep your dick occupied while your brain was busy with philanthropy.”

  “What?” Shock blasted into me with such force that it made it hard to breathe. I felt like there were hands around my lungs, squeezing the air out of me and leaving no possibility of expanding them again. I knew it would be bad if she found out, but I never would have imagined this. “That’s not it at all. You can’t honestly think that. I know that you’re pissed, and I understand why, but don’t do this, Val. Don’t cheapen—”

  A hysterical laugh ripped from her chest, her eyes wide and flashing with incredulity. “You’re telling me not to cheapen whatever the fuck this was? How dare you. I couldn’t have been any fucking cheaper. I mean, what did this cost you? A thousand dollars of a couple of billion as a tip and some meals? Fuck you, Fulton. I never wanted your charity and I couldn’t have been any clearer about it.”

  My head was spinning, trying to make sense of all of these bullshit accusations. I couldn’t believe that she really thought any of those things about me. “You are not now or have you ever bee
n a little charity project to me. Yes, I fucked up. I went to Adam behind your back because I wanted to help you, but that’s it. It wasn’t fucking philanthropy. The thought never even crossed my mind.”

  There was a bite to my words I couldn’t conceal. Every time she referred to herself like that it was a punch to my gut. While I’d never backed away from a fight, I couldn’t take these punches. They wreaked havoc on my gut and went on to shatter my fucking heart.

  I took a step toward her. “Please don’t do this, baby. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t mean to make you feel like a charity case. All I wanted was to help you, to give you an in you needed because I care about you.”

  “You care about me?” She snorted, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “Bullshit. If you cared about me at all, you would have respected my decision.”

  “Respected your decision to what, Val? To struggle and be rejected and disappointed over and over again? It’s because I respect you that I couldn’t let that happen. It killed me to see you so upset over a path I sent you careening down. Don’t you see, Val? I felt responsible for your pain because I was the one who encouraged you to go after this. I couldn’t sit back when I was the one who exposed you to the hurt you were experiencing.”

  Her arms fell to her sides, her anger deflating to give way to something much more alarming. She was letting me go, so hurt and disappointed that she wasn’t going to fight with or for me.

  “You know what kills me, Fulton? It kills me that the first and only thing I’ve ever really done for myself, the only thing I’ve ever really achieved that has made me feel fulfilled and that made me feel like I could really do something I loved with my life, wasn’t done by me at all. It was nothing more than a handout from some rich dude who wanted to fuck the poor girl.”

  My jaw actually dropped open at that one, but Valerie didn’t give me the chance to respond. “Just go, Fulton. Leave. That’s what you were going to do anyway, so fucking do it. I’m done with you and with your lies. Leave, Fulton. Leave and never fucking come back.”