by TC Matson
“Yeah.” My eyes find Aimee’s. “See you around, Aimee.” My tone is dejected, sullen, and final.
Fuck this. Fuck jealousy. Fuck wanting something I can’t have.
SIXTEEN
Financial reports are scattered all over my desk, along with my thoughts. For the past two days, I can’t seem to get a damn grip on them. After I left the bar, I went home frustrated as hell from the jealousy riled up inside of me. That wasn’t me. Jealousy isn’t my thing. I don’t let it control my actions. I move on to bigger and better things. But that is the problem. I don’t want anything else. I want Aimee. For once, I can’t obtain what the hell I want…
Shoving all my thoughts away, I try to hyper focus on the Fairmont financials, submerging myself in my love for numbers, when Mary’s voice pops through the receiver and causes me to jump. “Sir? You have a visitor.”
“Who?” I grumble.
“I’m not sure. She refuses to tell me.”
Digging my fingers into my forehead, I try to stop the impending headache from settling in as I rack my brain for who it could be. Most everyone who stops in is from the company and always gives a name. I know I don’t have any meetings.
Sighing, I say. “Send her in.” Whoever it is will add to the quest of getting Aimee out of my mind.
Heels click just outside my office door before it pushes open and my quest to forget has been obliviated. Aimee’s blonde hair falls in tendrils over her shoulders. She looks nervous, gripping the straps of her purse in front of her.
She strides in, shutting the door behind her and looks around my office before she makes her way to my desk and drops her hip to the corner of it. “Nathan’s is bigger and nicer.”
Pushing away from my desk, I sweep my gaze over her pink open-toe heels, up her jean-clad legs, across her pink blouse to her face selfishly taking in the sight of her that I’ve missed. “Sounds like I’ve lost the sword fight. But for the record, it’s not the size that counts. It’s how well you can swing your sword.”
She titters, blessing me with her smile.
“How was the rest of your date?” My tone may have been casual, but the pang in my chest is rampant.
She shrugs. “It ended around twelve and we went our separate ways.”
“Shitty date then.” I point out. If she was with me, going our separate ways would’ve sounded more depressing.
Although she looks confident, anxiety is eating up her baby blues. She’s rubbing a piece of her white purse between her fingers fidgeting.
“Obviously, you came here for something. Talk. What can I help you with?” I lean back in my chair, ready to dodge another slap while she shreds me for what I did. I won’t apologize for my shitty behavior. I marked my territory without pissing on it. To me, that’s a win.
She worries her bottom lip, not saying anything, which is surprising. Aimee’s pretty good with words.
Deciding to alleviate some her stress, certain she’s here for an apology, I give it to her straight. “I know I crossed the line. I’d like to apologize, but truthfully, if I did, I’d be lying. And I’m not a liar.”
Her gaze moves to the city outside the window as she takes a deep breath in. “I had all day to think about it yesterday. What you did was revolting…” Cue my verbal lashing now. Pink blushes her cheeks. “But I won’t lie either and say I didn’t like it. And I think I understand why you did it.”
Curiosity officially piqued.
She still doesn’t look at me. “I’m pretty damn closed off with you. The little I know of your past haunts me and I hold it against you. I know it’s not fair to you, especially since all you’ve ever been is honest with me…I think.”
“I have.”
She nods and when her eyes finally find mine, my heart begins to beat a little faster from the hope in hers. “You want my truth? I’m insanely attracted to you, physically and mentally. There’s a pull. It’s magnetic. Somehow we always gravitate toward one another and no matter how hard I try fighting it, it’s out of my control. The thought scares me because I like to be in charge of my feelings and body. You strip me of that. Want another truth? I’m tired of fighting it.”
My grin explodes. I all but want to haul her into my lap and kiss her face, but I don’t, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“We don’t need to be screwing around behind our best friends’ backs, but I’m not ready for them to know. I want to see what’s between us, and if it doesn’t work out, I don’t want them to be caught in the crossfire.”
I stand, peering down at her. “What are you saying, Aimee?”
She swallows before meeting my gaze. “If you’re in this for real and not dicking me around, I’d like to try it.”
Cupping the back of her head, I slam a kiss to her mouth, my tongue slipping past her lips meeting hers. As she threads her fingers around my neck, I pull her to stand and bring her body flush against mine. It’s a powerful kiss as I pour in everything I feel. I want her, just her and no one else.
She’s panting when I break away. “I’m positive that felt real and I’m not dreaming.”
Her mouth curves up coyly. “Dream of me often?” she throws my words back at me.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” I whisper against her lips just before taking another kiss.
“Sir?” Mary’s voice through my intercom interrupts us. Aimee jumps, but I tighten my grip on her body so she can’t step away. I’m not ready for that yet. “Porter from marketing is here.”
“Tell him I’m running behind. Give me ten minutes.” I say, keeping my gaze trained on the woman in front of me.
“You sound super corporate-y. I pictured you in a cubicle.”
First, a luxury penthouse, now a cubicle. “You’ve done a lot of thinking about me.”
A rose color stains her cheeks, but she doesn’t look away.
“Be ready at seven tonight. I’m taking you out on a date.”
“I get off around six tonight.” She tiptoes a kiss to my cheek. “See you then.”
I stand frozen, stunned in place as she walks out of the office, never looking back as she shuts the door.
I’ve got my fucking chance. No way anyone will wipe this grin from me today.
* * *
The air from my lungs seizes as my dick jumps at the sight of Aimee. I bite my lip as my gaze slides down her black and red floral dress, down the plunging V-neck that reveals a lot of cleavage, over the curve of her hip, down the short skirt that shows her long beautiful legs to her black strappy heels. Snapping my eyes back to hers, I swallow…hard. Her hair is wavy again, half pulled back with strands framing her face. I’ve seen Aimee in sexy things before, but tonight, knowing this is for me, does some shit in my chest.
“Hi,” she says, sounding nervous. Which confuses me. Aimee doesn’t do nervous.
“You look…” There’s no stronger word for… “phenomenal.”
She bites her lip, tucking her head to hide the blush—another new for me.
I open the passenger side of my ride and put her in before rounding the front. As I pull off, I steal a glance at her tanned thighs against my black leather and flash a grin at her. “If you could, act stupid as hell tonight.”
Her face screws up as she snaps her head to me. “Do what?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands off you if you’re being you. Your smarts and humor paired with the way you’re dressed…” I shake my head with a chuckle. “We’ll need to establish some ‘in-public’ rules or I’m positive I’m going to jail for indecent exposure. Possibly both of us.”
Her laugh is beautiful—everything about her is beautiful. It’s like I’m seeing her in a whole new light. My thoughts are all about her when we pull up to the restaurant.
After settling with the valet, we’re seated in the courtyard under the faux trees with branches stretching out across the entire area. Dim white lights hide within the white blossoms, giving us the feeling of being outside, although technically we’re sti
ll in the building.
Aimee is wide-eyed in awe as she looks around. “This place is incredible.”
The waitress introduces herself and takes our wine order before Aimee continues. “I’ve heard about this place, but I’ve never been here. Have you?”
The smile on her face and the glint in her eyes? I want to keep that look on her forever. “No.”
One word causes the gleam in her eyes to shine brighter and her smile to grow wider. Something in my chest tightens. It’s a new feeling and I don’t ever want it to diminish.
Once the waitress brings our wine and we place our orders, Aimee smiles over her glass. “Tell me about Cody Shaefer.”
“What do you want to know?”
“All of it.”
“How far back you want me to go? Shitty diapers? Playground flirting? Flunked English paper in high school?” I chuckle and then take a sip of my wine. “I am what you see.”
“Ever had your heart broken?”
Damn. Dive right into the deep shit, why don’t we. “Is it going to be like that?”
Her brow tics as she takes another sip of her wine.
I take a huge gulp of mine. Admitting my past failures isn’t something I’m fond of doing. “I was seventeen. Her name was Veronica and we dated for a year or so.” I avert my gaze. “She went to a football game with her friends and I went to a party with mine. I got pretty shitfaced. Next thing I know, I wake up with another girl who isn’t my girlfriend and a condom beside the bed confirming how much of an idiot I was. I broke up with her that day because she deserved better than me. It messed my head up for a long while. I couldn’t understand how I could be in love with her and screw it up.”
There’s no hatred in her eyes as she stares at me. Her expression gives away nothing. I can’t read her, which is odd since she’s usually expressional. I need to know that she doesn’t hate me for knowing I did the same thing as her ex-boyfriend did to her.
“Ever see her?” she asks simply.
“Last I heard she was married with a few children and had moved, but I don’t know where.”
“I think you did a pretty noble thing, coming clean immediately.” Her eyes flash, narrowing for a fraction of a second. “You were pretty young. Did you learn from it?”
“Did I ever. Breaking the heart of the one you love brings a new meaning to the word painful. That was a defining moment in my life. I vowed I’d never be that guy ever again.”
I breathe a sigh of relief when she changes the subject. “What about your family? Siblings? Are you close to your parents?”
“Only child and I’m close with my parents. They moved to Florida several years ago after my dad retired from his accounting firm.” I grin, tapping my temple. “Number man. I get it honestly.”
“Why didn’t you take over his firm? Surely he wanted you to.”
“He did, but I wasn’t interested. After a long meeting with him, he understood. Bennett Towers is my home. No way I’m jumping ship.”
She smiles. “How long have you known Nathan?”
Pondering, I look up and then shake my head. “No clue. Third grade, maybe?” I lift a shoulder. “We were in the same class and recess was the shit. To be honest, I can’t remember a life without him in it.” I take a swallow of my wine. “Your turn. Get the spotlight off me for a minute and let me recoup. Tell me about the enchanting Aimee Valis.”
“I don’t talk to my parents as nearly as much as I should. Mom works as a medical transcriptionist, Dad in a factory that forced them to move to Washington when I was nineteen.” The glint in her eyes dulls as her smile slips away and her lips tighten. “I met William in high school and wasted six years of my life. You know how that went.” She shakes her head, seemingly to rid herself of the memories and then her lips quirk up. “Met Shyla in English class when I sat beside her, and minutes later Brooklyn took the other seat beside me. We’ve been inseparable since. And my job? Well, I decided I liked to play with hair at a young age and made my passion my job.”
“You cut straight to the chase,” I chuckle.
“What makes you any different than him?”
I was waiting for that question and I’ve been ready to make my case. I open my mouth to do just that when our food arrives, forcing the question to linger in the air until the waitress leaves.
“I was seventeen. Although I’d like to think I was a man, I was still a kid with a lot to learn. The moment I fucked up, I told her. She wanted to give me another chance, but I broke things off with her, so she didn’t have to settle with a schmuck.” I capture her gaze letting her see and feel my next words. “That was the one and only time I’ve cheated. I learned from my own heartbreak.”
She swallows and then glances down to her lap as she smooths out her napkin. For several long seconds, she doesn’t lift her head and I don’t say a thing. Whatever demons she’s fighting, I can’t do anything to help. Words are words to her. Actions are louder, but she has to trust me enough to allow me to show her everything.
“I think you grew into a respectable man, Cody.” Her words send relief down my spine.
The rest of our conversation is light and fun. We don’t bring up anything that doesn’t have us laughing—stories I had forgotten about like wrecking Nathan’s dad’s golf cart on the course trying to jump a sand pit and having to explain I tried to do The Dukes of Hazzard to him. Or when I was dared to dress in Nathan’s sister’s ballerina get-up and run through campus. My stories have her laughing until tears and my chest tell me I am so done for.
Stepping up to Aimee’s front door, she pulls out her keys and unlocks it. I know…I know if I follow in behind her, I’m fucking her and tonight isn’t about the sex. Just before she twists the knob, I clutch her hand and spin her toward me. Cupping her face, I claim her mouth, keeping it slow as our tongues writhe together. The world slips away. All the sounds fall into a void. It’s just her in my arms and our future swirling in my thoughts. I control the pace as I show her my devotion. I’ll never hurt her. She’s much more to me than an easy fuck.
Her moan travels to my dick and it proves I only have so much will power. When I pull back, her eyes remain closed, her grip firm on my shoulders, and her chest heaving. “I want to fuck you senseless tonight.” My whisper is strained against her lips. Her eyes flutter open and desire spills from them. “But I want you to see this is more than that. It’s damn near the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I’m determined to show you me. The real me.” And have you fall blindly in love with me… I reach behind her, twisting the knob, and push the door open. “Good night, Aimee.”
SEVENTEEN
“You want me to do what? Again?” Brooklyn complains. “I thought you were over this jogging thing.”
I woke up this morning needing to run off my pent-up energy. I haven’t seen Cody since our date several days ago, but we’ve talked…a lot. He’s putting in a lot of effort to show me a different side of him—a sincerely sweet side I didn’t know existed He’s sent flowers to my home and work with cards that had Shyla and me smiling and swooning.
Between everything, he’s working my head over. I need an escape from my thoughts and what better way than to run? Truth is, I’m not just feeling things. I’m falling, which is the stupidest thing for me to do. I’m not ready to love. The fear of what could happen plagues my mind, and well, I’m just not ready. When I told him I was tired of fighting our attraction, I had convinced myself he and I would be doing nothing more than screwing each other’s brains out.
Little did I know my heart had different ideas and now I’m petrified.
“Call Cody. He’ll run with you,” she whines.
The one person I need to clear my head over. “I don’t want to call him. I need you. The last time we ran, we had a blast.”
“Because we ended up running into Nathan and Cody and kicking their asses in volleyball. They’re both at work so that’s not happening this time.”
“Please?”
“Proverbs
twenty-eight verse one states, ‘only the wicked flee when no one pursues them.’ I’m not wicked and I’d appreciate you not stealing my ticket into heaven.”
I snort. “Your health is pursuing you. Healthy heart, legs, lungs, body. I’m sure keeping yourself strong and thriving will get you a gold star on that shiny ticket and probably hole punches from the angels lining the path to the entrance. Give me a better excuse, B.”
She draws out her groan. “Fine. I’ll be by to pick you up in twenty. But you owe me donuts and ice cream.”
“Defeats our purpose. Don’t you think?”
“Don’t you dare judge me.”
We’re laughing as she hangs up.
* * *
We’ve been running at a steady jog for ten minutes when Brooklyn starts asking if we can slow down. “You’re trying to kill me.” She sucks in air. “We hit the pavement and poof! You’re gone.” She stops, doubling over with her hands on her thighs as she pants. “I don’t like this. Nothing to run from.”
“Everything okay?” A guy stops besides us.
“Yeah.” I point to Brooklyn and snort. “Newlywed and she’s just getting out of the bedroom for the first time since her wedding.” I love goading Brooklyn. She gets embarrassed easily when it comes to conversations about sex.
Her head jerks up and she scowls at me.
He smiles, flashing pretty white teeth. “If you stand, you’ll breathe better. It opens up your airways.”
Brooklyn stands, eyes narrowed. “I know this. I just haven’t had to do it for months. I’m out of practice.”
I laugh. “Not what your husband says. He enjoys your marathons.”
If her cheeks weren’t red from running, she’d be blushing. “You’re quickly becoming my least favorite of friends,” she quips.
I shrug. “I don’t mind second place.”
“Since you two have it under control, I’m going to go.” His eyes linger on me and he flashes a genuine smile.