Somewhere far off beyond the haze of our shared joy, the elevator dings once more and a man in a suit ambles out into the hall. Donovan Dunn pauses, bewildered eyes taking in the scene of us embracing in the hall.
“Eric?” he asks, his tone more stunned than I’d ever thought possible of the stalwart man. “Morgan? What the hell is happening right now?”
Chapter 21
Eric
Slowly, I lower the beautiful woman in my arms back to the floor though I keep my arms tangled tight around her waist to prevent her from going too far. She seems just as keen to stay close to me, her head resting on my shoulder as she melts into me. She fits just as perfectly into my arms as she had on that night.
I just barely register my best friend in the hall, his head shaking slowly back and forth. Donovan, who still looked absolutely puzzled, slowly eases by us to wrap Chloe in a tight hug before pressing a kiss to her waiting lips. Then he turns back toward me and this beautiful woman who I can’t seem to tear my eyes from.
Donovan clears his throat. “Eric. Morgan. You two know one another?” he asks with uncertainty.
“We met at his show,” Morgan answers with a laugh before suddenly sucking in a sharp breath.
Her eyes, which had been brimming with delight, now suddenly darken. She whirls on me, half pulling away though I instinctively tug her back into my arms. She doesn’t resist, though her gorgeous smile melts into a slow frown.
“You’re Eric?” she asks with a suddenly wounded tone. “The Eric. The jerk who stood me up for our blind date? If you had come then we would’ve been reunited sooner!”
I flinch, abruptly realizing that my angel had been waiting all that time for me to show up and I’d blown it.
“He would’ve come,” Chloe interjects while I’m struggling to answer, “but he was just so hung up on this beautiful girl he met at his concert that he didn’t want to go out with anyone else.”
“Is that true?” Morgan asks softly.
I nod, biting my lower lip hard. “I was . . . I am . . . still hung up on you. All I’ve wanted these last few weeks was to track you down. It’s been killing me knowing I let you walk out of my life.”
“He was a real hot mess,” Donovan smirks.
“Yes, we’ve established I have problems,” I grumble at him, playfully glaring over Morgan’s head.
Morgan. What a beautiful name for a beautiful angel. My angel.
Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink, a pink that reminds me of wild roses and sweet cotton candy and delicate silk. She is so entirely beautiful that it hurts to look at her, and every time I blink, she only grows more intoxicating.
I realize with a start that she’d been preparing to leave when I showed up. Had I stopped to grab a coffee or wallow in my sadness over losing the agents at the Lancaster Stadium show, I would have missed her entirely. I would’ve shown up at Donovan’s to apologize and then gone home to eat Chinese takeout all alone while trying to keep up my resolve not to drink.
The thought makes me shiver. The world is both cruel, and randomly generous. As luck would have it, I now stand here with the woman of my dreams in my arms, the taste of her kiss still on my tongue. It’s a taste I want to savor forever.
I know it’s crazy to be thinking in terms of forever when Morgan and I only just learned each other’s names, but I can already tell that she is the one.
My one.
It’s impossible not to feel like our chance meeting is more than blind luck.
It feels like it’s destiny . . . like fate.
There has to be some greater force in the universe that made our paths cross like this. Whatever that might be, I will be eternally grateful for it.
It’s true that if I’d shown up the other night at La Folie, Morgan and I would have been reunited, but I still would’ve been a disaster—the walking embodiment of a ticking time bomb. I’d still be drinking too much and avoiding my issues. Instead, I had that horrible night and the conflict with Donovan that I still have to apologize for. It was awful, but I’m strangely grateful for it.
That night, I hit rock bottom and I learned a lot about myself in the process. I’d like to think it was fate that kept us apart until I was ready to appreciate this beautiful woman in my arms to the fullest extent. I feel now that I am more worthy of her time and her heart. That may not have been the case had I found her earlier.
I turn to her, cupping her face with my good hand. I gaze wholly into her loveliness. Her eyes shimmer, a blue so clear that I can see all the way to her soul, which is just as beautiful as the rest of her. “I want to take you out on a proper date, Morgan,” I say softly, savoring the way it feels to finally say her name. “I know that I don’t deserve it after losing your number and standing you up the other night, but it would make me beyond happy to get a second chance with you—”
“Yes!”
I’d been prepared to grovel and beg for a second chance, but before I can even get that far, she throws her hands up into the air with vigor and nods.
“Yes!” she cries again smiling so bright it stops my heart. “I would love that, Eric.”
I wrap her up in my arms again, my heart soaring so high that I feel like I’m walking on air. Every other problem in my life feels so insubstantial now that I’ve found Morgan. With her by my side, I feel like I can handle anything.
I tip her chin, greedily stealing kiss after delicious kiss while we cling to each other.
Chapter 22
Morgan
As though it was the most natural thing in the world, Eric reaches for my hand as we walk side-by-side. He looks both ways across the busy street, waiting for a break in the traffic before dashing across with me clutched close to his side, his laughter like music in the air.
His strong fingers remain locked tightly around mine, making me feel more secure and safe than I think I have in my entire life. Just the feeling of holding his hand is enough to make my breath lodge in my lungs.
I can’t help the wide smile that spreads slowly across my face or the pink flush of my cheeks. I can’t believe I still feel this way after two weeks with him. The newness hasn’t worn off and I have a feeling it won’t. I smile at him and he kisses the back of my hand. The gesture floods me with nostalgia. It’s something my mother used to do.
When I was a little girl and I missed my mom, I used to hide in the attic of our house in Kansas and dream of my future. I dreamt of being a model in some exotic place—glamorous and carefree, just like the gorgeous girls who graced the magazines we used to look at. I kept them stashed in the attic so I could flip through the pages and feel closer to my mom. I dreamt of how proud she’d be if my face one day was on the covers of those same magazines. And I dreamt of the handsome man who would be at my side through it all.
Even though my modeling aspirations haven’t quite met what I thought they would, the man by my side is even more perfect than I ever could have envisioned, and I wouldn’t trade him for all the success in the world.
Being with Eric is like being on the most thrilling roller coaster of my life. That feeling of my stomach in my throat is constant, making me dizzy in the most delightful ways. I only wish my mom could meet him and see how happy he makes me.
In the warm sunlight, his dark eyes are dappled with silver flecks that make me lose my breath. He pulls me against his waist so his arms can slide around my hips, his fingertips lightly brushing over my curves. It’s another beautiful afternoon just like the first day he brought me here.
I can’t believe our first date was weeks ago already. We’d been so eager to make up for lost time that we went out the day we found each other at Donovan’s. Without time to plan anything, Eric took me to his favorite restaurant, Syd’s—which happens to be a greasy burger joint that has become our spot.
One bite of that juicy burger and I was hooked. When Eric first took me to Syd’s I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a burger. But those days are far behind me now. I’m working on rebuild
ing my image. I still want to pursue my dream of modeling, but I plan to do it with a much healthier and more confident image.
Today, as we walk toward the tiny burger shack nestled between two towering brick buildings, a strange sense of surety grips me. The scent of fried food is thick in the air and a long line of people trail ahead of us toward Syd’s, where I know a lone man is flipping burgers and serving up piping hot fries.
“You sure you wanna eat here again?” Eric asks. “It’s our two-week anniversary. We can go somewhere nicer.”
“This is perfect,” I answer honestly, beaming up at Eric.
His face reflects my own smile. I don’t think either of us have stopped glowing since we found our way back to each other.
He gives my hand a squeeze. “A model who eats burgers . . . how did I get so lucky?”
I laugh. “Lucky for you I’m the kind of model who quits agencies and eats what she wants.”
“You doing okay with all of that?”
Eric knows it hasn’t been easy. I told him all about my past with Hanson and the direction I want to take my career. Incredibly, Eric has been nothing but supportive.
“Actually, I’m even better than okay. I’m with you,” I say planting a kiss on his lips. “Plus, I hadn't even realized how much that agency was bringing me down until I left. I was depressed when I was there, but now I feel like I can breathe again. I feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.”
“That makes me so happy,” he answers sincerely.
I think that’s part of what I enjoy most about being with Eric. He can be so funny and almost childlike in the most entertaining way, but he can also be sincere and genuine. I’ve never met anyone who can both make me laugh until I cry and also make me feel so very heard and seen.
He and I have lightly broached the events of the last few weeks that left his hand wounded, but I hadn't wanted to push him into discussing things that perhaps he didn’t want to with someone he’d only just met. I knew enough to see that he’s trying his best to give up drinking and become a better person, which is something that I admire with the utmost respect.
Eric may not see it yet, but I see how much he wants to change, and I’m willing to support him in any way I can. And, to be fair, I probably drank a bit too much as well. I’d made a fool of myself at La Folie, after all. That’s why I made a pack to quit with him. It was good for both of us.
“Are you worried about the performance at Lancaster Stadium?” I ask as we edge closer to the burger shack.
He’d called me earlier before our date to say that the doctor cleared him to play with his injured hand as long as he wore a brace.
“Nah,” he says slinging an arm over my shoulder. “As long as I’ve got you by my side, I know everything’s gonna be perfect.”
I grin as we fall into step with the long line. It may take us an hour just to order our food, but it’s an hour that he and I can spend together. I’ve got no complaints about that. Plus, the fragrance of the food here is addicting.
Even though I enjoy decadent food from time to time, in my heart I’m a homegrown kind of girl who enjoys the simple things in life. Being a model is fun because I can dress up in glamorous gowns and play a part for a little while. But what I really love is stripping it all off to climb into a pair of Eric’s oversized sweats and cozy up on the couch with him. That seems to be just his speed as well, which makes me even happier.
All I’ve ever wanted is to spend time with the one I love.
Love? Is that what’s blooming in my heart right now?
All I know for sure is that I can’t wait to find out. Every second I spend with Eric feels incredible. Our relationship is so new, but it feels strong, like the bud of a flower just beginning to spread its roots. Only time will reveal what kind of blossom will grow, but I have every hope that it will be everlasting.
I nuzzle my head against his strong shoulder, feeling the warm weight of his cheek against my forehead. Silence falls over us, but it isn’t heavy or awkward. It’s comfortable. For the first time in my life, I feel like I don’t have to ramble on just to fill gaping holes in the conversation.
“What’ll it be?” the man behind the counter asks as we finally approach. His cheeks are ruddy from the heat of his grill but he looks to be thoroughly enjoying himself back there.
“Two cheeseburgers and a large order of fries, please. Oh, and lots of cheese sauce!” Eric says eagerly, glancing toward me. “Anything else?”
“Make mine a double! And do you have bacon back there?” I ask, sniffing the air, my mouth watering.
Eric laughs and then gives an inspired nod, hugging me closer against him. “You better make both of those bacon-doubles.”
He pays even though I try to fish out my wallet and then we step aside to wait for our order. While waiting, Eric spins me around to the music playing in the background. I laugh and snuggle against his chest, swaying to the song as his arms settle around my waist, his forehead resting against mine.
“I’m so damn excited about this,” he whispers softly, as though he were sharing a secret.
“About the burger?” I tease. “Me too.”
He chuckles heartily, hugging me tight before his lips descend on mine. The kiss instantly deepens, his fingers delving under my blouse to stroke my back and crush me against his powerful body, leaving me gasping by the time we part for air.
“No,” he says simply. I can see in his eyes that his heart is on his sleeve and for the first time, so is mine. “I’m so damn excited to be falling in love with you.”
My heart throbs against my chest as I take in his statement. I feel the same way too, but I’m terrified to admit it.
But not Eric. He’s not afraid to say what he wants. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us, Morgan.”
For once, someone is on the same page as me. He wants what I want, to cherish one another for as long as we can.
Tears in my eyes, I simply lean up to demand one more kiss, the first of forever.
I’ve never dated someone like Eric. He’s so fearless with his emotions. I wonder if he’s always been this way. All my past relationships taught me to hide my true feelings, never get attached. I love that he’s breaking me of that, because what I feel for him is beautiful and I want him to know. So, I show him, the only way I know how—pressing my lips to his.
Chapter 23
Eric
Every kiss with this woman makes me feel like I’m floating higher and higher. As I soar, there is no fear of crashing back down. There is no hesitation at being so buoyant. Loving her comes as naturally to me as breathing.
There’s something about being next to Morgan that makes me feel strong and weak all at once. I’m certain she makes me the best version of myself, but the thought of losing her cripples me. She’s my everything.
I’ve already memorized every curve of her delicate lips and how they fit against mine, but I still bask in each kiss like it’s the first time. Like now, when our kiss ends, I savor it as she hides her face against my chest while she waits for her heart to recover. I can feel it beating against mine as we sway together, the sun warming our shoulders and the fragrance of burgers tingling our noses.
I can only hope I didn't just make a mistake in saying what I did, but I’d made a promise to myself once I got out of the hospital. I was no longer hiding my feelings. Whatever I felt, I shared, and whatever I needed to say, I said. Life was too short to live any other way.
Contemplating, I try to decide whether I should apologize for being so forward, but then Morgan’s feet shift just slightly and the angel in my arms tips her head up. I hold my breath, searching her expression for a hint of what she’s feeling. Though her eyes are shimmering with tears, she has the happiest smile I’ve ever seen on her lips.
Relief washes over me in an instantaneous wave. I should’ve known she would understand where I was coming from. If there’s anyone who completely gets me, it’s her. I have no idea how this connection o
f ours has been established so effortlessly and so quickly, but it has. I’m already beginning to wonder how I managed to survive without Morgan in my life.
“I’m excited about this too,” she answers shyly, blushing in that gorgeous way she does.
Softly, I kiss her forehead and stroke her cheek just as the man behind the counter grunts my name and pushes a tray toward us.
I grab our meal and usher her to a nearby table underneath a faded rainbow umbrella on the back patio. Our knees brush as we sit, making sparks dance across my thigh. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I’m so enraptured by her presence that I can hardly eat.
I’d never been one to believe in magic, but it’s impossible not to feel that it’s real while I’m sitting next to Morgan. Every pore on my body is tingling and every hair stands on electric edge. She, at her very essence, is my own personal angel, sent to save my soul.
I smirk with deep satisfaction watching her wolf down her burger, then lick her fingertips. When she catches me staring, she goes bright red.
“Sorry. I didn't realize how hungry I was,” she explains bashfully.
I shake my head and kiss her cheek. “Watching you eat is the only thing better than experiencing this piece of heaven on a bun for myself,” I answer, finally taking a bite of my burger and sighing deeply.
We finish our meal as the sun is slowly going down, a cool wind rippling between the city.
“My place or yours?” I ask, standing up and clearing our plates.
“Mine.”
She sinks against my side, my arm looping around her waist. Together we stroll down the sidewalk, taking our time even though her apartment is only a few blocks away. We circle around the building, once, twice, before finally coming to a stop in front of her apartment. I’m not sure why we do this every time. Maybe it’s that it’s hard to be alone in her bedroom together and not tear each other’s clothes off.
Eric: A Clean Billionaire Romance Page 10