by Willow Aster
“Don’t you have a family to go home to?” I ask.
“No one as sexy as you.”
My heart races at his words, but I refuse to show fear. “I don’t think my boyfriend would appreciate you talking to me like that. And I know I don’t.”
The elevator is slow, and I am so uncomfortable that I just turn to the door and take the stairs. And then I run all the way down several flights before pushing the door open to the street.
I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down.
I’m overreacting.
I don’t want to make a big deal about Arwin. He’s not going to do anything. He talks a big game, and he’s creepy as hell, but acting on it is a different story. And going to Jack would mean going to HR, which would ultimately be my word against his, and I would be made out to be a drama queen.
Not happening.
I can handle him. I’ve been handling men like Arwin my entire life.
I decide to walk home to see if Dad is at the shop. I’ll text Spence to meet me when I get there. I need to sort through all these thoughts flooding my head right now.
Dad and Little Joe are the only ones there when I arrive.
“Hey, what are you doing home? I figured you’d be with Spence,” my father says, and I realize that he thinks that because I go there every single night.
What am I doing?
Jumping in with two feet and no life jacket. That is so unlike me. I reach in my purse for my phone and realize I left it on my desk. Damn you, Arwin.
“I can come home if I want to.”
“Trouble in paradise?” Little Joe teases, and it doesn’t sit well with me. He knows the other foot is about to drop too.
“Everything is fine. I just came to check on you two. Can I use your phone? I left mine at the office,” I ask Little Joe.
“Ohhhhh, you better call your boyfriend,” he teases, holding the phone just out of reach. I pinch his chest as hard as I can until he cries out like a little baby. “Owww. Your dad said we couldn’t do titty-twisters anymore.”
Dad chuckles. “That was when you were in fifth grade. And I said you couldn’t give them, I never said she couldn’t.”
Little Joe sighs and gives me his phone and I immediately dial Spence.
“Hello.” He sounds pissed.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Jesus Christ, Emma. Where the fuck are you?” Wow. Pissed is an understatement.
“I’m at the shop. I decided to walk here after work.”
“How very thoughtful of you.” His words are stabby. The door flies open and an irate Spence strolls through the door like a man on a mission.
I end the call, because apparently we’re done chatting, and I hand it back to Little Joe.
“You don’t think I deserve the courtesy of knowing that you walked here after work when I’m waiting for you? Hell, I drove to your office and that dipshit Arwin said you left thirty minutes ago. I was fucking worried something happened to you.” He’s fully shouting now, and I hear Dad chuckle, before patting Spence on the shoulder and giving me a knowing look.
“Have a good night. Lock up on your way out,” Dad says, and Little Joe does that weird bro half-hug to Spence and sticks his tongue out at me before following Dad out the door.
“I’m sorry. I got busy and then just needed some fresh air. I didn’t realize I left my phone at work. I was calling to tell you where I was just now.”
I move toward him, but he doesn’t soften. He’s mad and he’s not hiding it.
“Yeah. You think it’s safe to look like you do and walk around at night?”
“I’ve been doing it my whole life. Trust me, I can take care of myself.” My blood is rumbling to a boil right about now.
“You think I don’t know that? Are you ever gonna let me in? You’ve been one foot out the door this entire time. I can be patient, Emma, but I’m not a doormat. And I won’t be walked all the fuck over.”
Where did he come up with that?
“What are you talking about?” I place my hands on my hips before moving into his space. “I have never treated you like a doormat!”
“Well, you certainly aren’t treating me with respect right now, are you?”
“You are so overreacting about this,” I say through gritted teeth.
His eyes are pained when he gets in my face. “The thoughts that went through my head when I saw Arwin creeping around your office and I couldn’t reach you?” He shakes his head. “I texted and offered to come get you, yet your stubborn ass decides it’s a good idea to walk home alone. Do you have a fucking death wish? Things happen, you know...” Now he storms toward the door, like he’s had enough of me.
Well, this happened sooner than expected.
“Yeah, run away as soon as things get a little rough. I expected no less.” I storm out behind him and flip off the lights and lock the door.
“What is this about? Are you scared because my mom and sister want to hang out with you? This is on you. I’m not running away from anything. But you’ve got to meet me halfway.”
“I just wanted to walk home, you stubborn ass. I’m excited to see your mom and Pen.”
“I think you’re scared shitless,” he shouts. His hand goes to the top of his head and presses, like I’m giving him a headache.
“I’m not scared of anything, Spence Taylor. You’re the one leaving, not me.”
He stalks toward me and pins me to the door. “I am not leaving you.”
He steals the air from my lungs.
“It feels like you are.”
“I’m not your mother, Emma. I don’t leave. But you’ve got to stop pushing me away every time you get scared.”
I grip his shirt and kiss him hard. I don’t want to argue with him anymore. But I need him to stay. I need him more than I want to admit.
I love you is on the tip of my tongue.
But something keeps me from saying it.
“Please, don’t leave,” I whisper.
“I’m not going anywhere, Queenie.”
Shopping with Mya and Pen and Melanie is so fun, I forget to be cautious when getting close to Spence’s family. I wonder if this is what it’s like to have a normal relationship with your mother, because this woman is just kind and caring and warm. There doesn’t seem to be a hidden agenda and that is so unusual to me, I find myself watching her as much as I can while trying to not be obvious.
“Oh, I like that sweater a lot,” Melanie says, as she sidles up beside me. Pen and Mya went to the makeup counter to grab some highlighter and lip gloss for Pen.
“I thought this dark blue would look great on Spence. His eyes always look a deeper blue when he wears this color,” I say, holding it up to look at it again.
“I agree. And this is stunning. He’ll love it.”
I smile, because I know she’s right. I’ve been getting gifts for Spence all day, not to mention all the fun things I’ve already ordered for him online.
“I’ve never seen my son happier,” she says, and she puts a hand on my cheek.
My stomach flutters with something and I fight back the tears that threaten to fall once again.
What is Spence and his family doing to me?
“I’m really happy too,” I croak, and my voice is much higher than I’ve ever heard it before.
“You deserve that, honey. You both do.”
I nod, just as Mya and Penelope come walking our way.
“Do not tell me that’s for my brother. You are spoiling his grumpy ass,” Pen says.
Melanie gasps. “Penelope Layne. You did not just say that.”
“Oh. Sorry, Mom. His grumpy butt.”
Melanie continues to frown.
“Sorry, his grumpy be-hind you.” Penelope’s voice is completely void of emotion, and we all burst out in laughter.
“You kids and your mouths…”
“It’s a GD shame,” Mya says.
“A real shii-take mushroom show,” I say over my laughter.
My phone buzzes and it’s Spence. My stomach flip-flops over itself like it always does. “Hey,” I say. “I’m just finishing up shopping with your mom, Pen, and Mya.”
“Gus is about to combust from sadness that he’s missing out on all the fun, so we are heading to Mean Mug now. Meet us there?”
“Yes. We’ll head that way.”
“Miss you, Queenie.”
“Stop sexting and let her get you another gift,” Penelope yells over her laughter and her mother shakes her head in disbelief.
“You getting me a present, baby?”
I swoon. I haven’t allowed anyone to call me baby. Ever. I’ve always found it repulsive. But the way he says it makes butterflies collide into one another in my chest. Ridiculous. “Maybe. I’ll see you soon.”
“Count on it,” he says, and his voice is gruff.
I bite down on my lip to stop from letting my mind wander.
Oh, the places it wanders to when I think about this man.
I end the call and Mya and Pen are staring at me as Melanie is in a conversation with the sales clerk about the other locations they have in the U.S.
“You two are awfully cute together,” Mya teases.
“Damn, if it wasn’t my brother, I’d ask what he said, but I don’t think I want to know.” Pen raises a brow. My cheeks get hotter and I resist the urge to fan myself.
“They want us to meet them at Mean Mug. Let me just pay for this and we’ll head out.”
Spence and I had our first big argument the other night about me walking home and not calling him. But when his lips touched mine, all that anger dissipated. I know we need to take our time, but when I’m with him, I can’t help but hope this could last. That he could be the one exception for me.
He already is, whether we make it or not.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Spence
We have several condos completed. We’ll release a few for rent but decide to sell the rest of them.
“So, that girl you hate, Sadie,” I say, and my girlfriend straightens on the couch across from me. She’s wearing one of my white button-downs, because that’s what she grabbed after a spectacular morning loving. It’s become our routine every day. But on the weekends, we take our time. I love to hear her cry out my name over and over. She’s sated and relaxed. My shirt is oversized, and she’s only got two buttons closed up in the center, so I have a perfect view of her cleavage at the moment.
There should be songs about this woman’s tits. And don’t get me started on her eyes. They’re like none I’ve ever seen before. A perfect mix of green and blue, with pops of gold and amber.
Jesus. I’m in so deep with this woman that I can barely see straight. Her legs, fuck me sideways.
“Sophie,” she says, and her lips form a perfect line. Her soft, plush, change-my-life lips are a little less than happy right now.
I don’t miss the fire in her eyes.
“There are three condos available for rent, and she’s on the waitlist. Jesse told me to talk to you first. We have a long list and many people that are far more qualified with better credit scores. But she keeps coming by the office to ask about getting a place.”
“Spence Taylor. If you rent that girl a condo, I swear to God I will cut off your balls and serve them to you on a shish kabob.”
I choke back a laugh and pull her onto my lap. “Tell me how you really feel. I’m teasing, by the way. She came by the office and hit on Jesse as well, and you know how easily rattled he is. She then took a shot at Gus and Caden at Mean Mug. I believe Gus called her a viper in sexy clothing, and Caden gave the final no.”
“Thank goodness. I’m not coming to stay over here every night if she’s your neighbor.” She laughs, and I bury my chin in her neck.
“Speaking of that.”
“Yes?” she asks, and she turns in my arms and straddles me, placing a hand on each of my cheeks. “Are you sick of me staying over here so much?”
“Nope. I actually hate that we won’t be spending Christmas together,” I say.
Emma is coming with me to Chicago, but she’s flying home on Christmas Eve to be with her dad and Yaya, and I’ll be spending Christmas with my family. I’m tempted to offer to come back with her, but it’s time for Emma to ask if she wants me there. Things smoothed over at Thanksgiving, but there was weirdness there that I don’t want to repeat.
“I know. But you’re coming home the day after Christmas, right?”
“Yep. For sure.”
“So, what’s on your mind then?”
“I was thinking maybe you could take a few drawers here, so you don’t need to keep going back and forth for things,” I say. I want to ask her to move in with me, but again, it’s going to need to come from her. I’ve played my cards; she needs to show me hers.
When we’re together, she tells me that she loves me in a million ways. I feel it, and that’s all that matters.
“A few drawers? Are you sure? That’s a big commitment,” she says, over her laughter.
I flip her on her back. “I think we’re ready.”
She smiles up at me. “Okay, Spence Taylor. I will take your two drawers and raise you one drawer in the bathroom for my makeup and face wash.”
“Done.”
She strokes my cheek and looks up at me like I hung the moon. “I’m crazy about you.”
“Of course you are.” I cover her mouth with mine.
And when I sink into her and pull her legs up onto my shoulders so I can get in as deep as I can go, I swear I hear her whimper that she loves me as she clenches around me.
I’m not positive if I dreamed it up because I want to hear her say it, but we get so lost in each other that the words don’t matter so much anymore anyway.
We’re leaving for Chicago in the morning, but Emma insisted on us hosting a little holiday party with a few friends from work, my brothers, and the guys from the auto shop, Bernard, and Yaya. She wanted everyone to meet, and I thought it was a great idea.
“Tell me you are serving more than one of these fancy boards of chipmunk food,” Gus says.
“It’s called a charcuterie board,” Mya says over her laughter.
“Chipmunks do not eat fifteen dollar blocks of cheese and salami from the best butcher in town.” Emma slaps his hand when he goes to grab a cracker.
“Ow. Why can’t I have one?” Gus smirks.
“Have a meatball. This is art. Mya and I spent the past hour making it look like this.”
“So no one can eat it?” he asks, giving me a look like they are both insane.
I don’t disagree. But I wouldn’t change a damn thing.
“You can eat it after everyone sees it,” Mya says, before moving toward Jesse who wraps his arms around her.
“The meatballs are damn good.” Caden has been sampling the other appetizers since he arrived.
“I’ve invited a few ladies from Mean Mug to come tonight,” Gus says proudly.
“You did not invite multiple girls that are interested in you to the same party,” Emma says, hands on her hips as she stares at my brother.
“What? They’ve all shown interest. Let them fight it out.”
“You’re a bit of a pig,” Emma says. “But it sort of works for you. I just can’t wait for the day someone knocks you on your ass.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Caden says.
“How about you? Did you invite anyone?” Mya asks.
“Nah. I’m good.” He cracks open a beer and takes a long pull.
“Brother here is suffering from a crush on our little designer,” Gus says, over his laughter. “The beautiful Cosette.”
Caden sets his beer down on the counter and puts Gus in a headlock. “Shut the fuck up. I think she might be engaged or about as close to it as she can get. Besides … I don’t like her that way.”
“Is that why you’ve got my head in a very uncomfortable position? Not to mention it’s awfully close to your junk, you dicksickle. Let me up.”
&
nbsp; The doorbell rings and Emma hurries to the door. Her father, Yaya, and Bernard stand on the other side holding bottles of wine and a big box of chocolates. She invites them in and we make introductions. Before I know it, Heidi and her husband Levi, Paige, and Aidan from their office are here. Jesse is talking to Aidan and has finally dropped his obsession with the dude’s pearly whites. Aidan was interested in Mya once upon a time, but my brother finally made his move, and he and Mya have been together ever since. They’ve all ended up being damn good friends.
“You’re a class act, Yaya. And you’ve raised one hell of a fine lady,” Gus says as he chats up Emma’s grandmother.
Bernard is shamelessly flirting with anyone and everyone in the room, and the laughter and chatter is flowing.
The shop crew shows up. Little Joe and I have become pretty good friends, so I take him around and introduce him to everyone, including the slew of women that Gus invited. He’s so wrapped up in the flattery from Yaya and Bernard that he doesn’t seem to care much about anyone else.
Stinky Pete, Whack Jack, and Fish are all here, sitting in the living room talking to Emma’s father.
“I think he’s taking it too far,” Heidi says to Mya and Emma, and I go on high alert.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle. Do not say anything to Jack, please.” My girlfriend’s words cause the hair on the back of my neck to stand on edge. There’s something I don’t recognize in her voice.
Fear?
“He’s getting braver, Em. And he definitely focuses all of his attention on you.” Mya has had a few glasses of wine, and she’s not holding back. She looks up to see me watching them and she clears her throat.
Emma turns around to see me. “Hey, there. Are you having fun?”
“Yeah. And I think Gus is happy that he finally gets to eat your art board.” We all glance over and see Gus talking away and shoving salami and cheese in his mouth at the same time.
“Hey, as long as everyone got to see it before he dove in, I’m fine. I knew he’d love it.”
“What were you guys talking about? Is someone giving you a hard time?” I ask, tucking her pretty blonde hair behind her ear.