by Parker, Ali
"I'm coming to Florida in two weeks and when I get there... this shit better be cleared up. You're on your last warning. Tell me you understand clearly the objectives of the tasks I've given you and that you will be getting them done."
He moved out from behind his desk and walked toward the window. Reaching up, he pressed his hand to the glass and seemed to be looking out at the city. She couldn't help but stare at the soft curve of his rear, her heart pounding a little harder in her chest as her desire spiked.
"Good. Don't fuck this up. I'm out of patience with you."
Damon pulled the phone from his ear and hit a button before turning and walking toward her. He let out a long sigh and stopped in front of her.
Bethany stood up and slid her hands up his chest, pulling him down for a long kiss.
He mumbled 'yes' before sliding his arms around her.
She flattened herself against the front of him, loving every hard plane of him that pressed against her softness. She ran her fingers through his hair, scratching softly as he slid his tongue deep into her mouth. Pressing her teeth against his offering, she shifted her hips, rubbing herself against him.
He broke the kiss, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to hers. "How did you know that I needed that?"
"I didn't. I simply needed it." She smiled as he opened his eyes, the dark orbs seeing far into the center of her soul.
"Such a greedy little thing, aren't you?" He nipped at her mouth before pulling back. Walking back to his desk, he tugged at his erection and growled at her.
"Only for certain things." She walked to his desk and extended the coffee toward him. "You missed out on your brother and father renewing their man-cards this morning."
Damon let out a short laugh, his mood seeming to have shifted. "That so? Tell me about it. I could use a break from this shit."
He plopped down in his chair and took the coffee from her, taking a deep drink of it and shaking his head in approval.
Bethany sat down in one of the empty chairs beside her and leaned back, crossing her legs and tilting her head slightly. He watched her like a hawk, his eyes moving down the length of her. She stifled a shiver.
"Mom gave away her washer and dryer set, and Matt and Kent loaded it for the older man who got it. I swear, I expected one of them to throw their back out." She shook her head as a smile lifted her lips.
"Dad lifted a washer?" Damon set the coffee down and licked his lips.
"Yeah, but he wasn't touting it like Matt."
"True Matthew fashion... to sing of his greatness." Damon tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him. "How are you? You feeling okay after our conversation last night?"
The moments in the pool the night before were like a dream come true. Damon admitting his love for her and asking her to dive headlong into the future with him. Incredible, yet so damn terrifying.
"I'm working through it. I feel beyond blessed, but you know how us youngins can be. I'm already questioning why me." She glanced down at her hands, hating the topic at hand.
"Because you're everything I want in my life." He reached across the desk and tugged at a long strand of her hair that had fallen loose.
"Greedy little thing, aren't you?" Bethany looked up and smirked.
He laughed and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry about this morning. I was so fucking furious over not getting to leave with you guys that I just wanted to break some shit. I should have told you instead of telling dad."
"It's fine. I understand." She stood up and walked around the desk toward him.
He reached up and brushed his fingers down her arm before tugging her down into his lap. Bethany turned and sat down, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"It's not fine. I'll work on it." He pulled her down for another long kiss, his fingers snaking up into her hair and holding the back of her head tightly.
She relaxed into the kiss, suddenly wanting so much more. She made love to his mouth for a few minutes until his arousal pressed against her uncomfortably.
"When are you coming home tonight?" She kissed him briefly again.
"I'll be at dad’s a little late, but I should make it by seven. Be there."
"I will. Let's have dinner with them and then we'll sneak off to your place. That sound good?"
"I wish baby. I need to eat and then make my way back up here." He ran his fingers along her face softly. "I'll be there for the wedding, and we can spend the night together afterward."
"Okay." Bethany tried to hide the disappointment that spread through her. Not being close to Damon was going to suck royally. She had laid her hopes on one more night. She needed it.
"Come here. Kiss me again and then get your sexy ass out of here. You've made the day a million times better." He pulled her down and took his time licking and kissing her mouth.
Bethany melted against him, her fingers brushing by his cock as he groaned. She would have pushed the moment if his phone hadn't interrupted them.
He moved back and checked it, growling softly.
"I need to get that." He pushed at her butt to move her off of him.
She stood and wiped at her mouth before walking to get her purse. She turned to tell him that she loved him, but he was already on the phone, his head down and pencil scribbling furiously.
"Love you," she whispered under her breath as she walked to the door, no return gesture given to her.
Chapter 45
Bethany
Bethany walked into Kent's large home as the smell of apple and cinnamon hit her in the face. She breathed in deeply and made a detour to the kitchen. Martha, their chef, was whistling a tune and taking pies out of the oven.
"It smells divine in here." Bethany moved around the portly woman and closed the oven for her.
"Apple and peach pies were the first things my momma taught me how to make. I've been baking them from scratch since I was a little girl." Martha smiled and pulled her mittens from her hands. "What’s wrong? The frown on your face is not the normal reaction to the smell of this goodness, you silly girl."
Bethany chuckled and moved toward the large counter that ran the length of the kitchen. Several pies baked to perfection sat proudly. She breathed in deeply, trying to decide what her response should be.
"I'm just sad that Damon is going to have to miss the vacation part of this trip. He'll be there for the wedding, but I was looking forward to spending some time with him." She shrugged.
"That's completely natural. I would be disappointed too. His daddy is for sure." Martha picked up a rag and started to wipe off the counters. "I have chicken laid out for the big family dinner tonight. You want Mexican or Italian style?"
Matt walked in and smiled. "Italian all the way. That means more bread, right?"
"Tortillas are bread, boy." Martha wound up her hand towel and popped him.
His yelp caused Bethany to smile despite herself.
"Italian it is, unless the lady wants something else." Martha glanced back to Bethany. Matt gave her a look that said to agree with Italian or he would put a hurting on her. She laughed and nodded, her stepbrother quick to break her sour mood.
"I'm good with anything edible. I need to pack actually, so I'll get that done, unless you need my help in here?" She walked toward Martha, reaching out and rubbing the older woman's shoulder. She was so good to the Bryant's and had pulled Bethany in quickly to be part of the family.
"I'll go with you. I wanted to get you to help calm my fears. I've eaten enough Tums to kill a large baby calf." Matt walked past them, his comment making little to no sense.
"Don't let that boy fool you. He's wicked smart." Martha nodded after Matt, her voice soft and full of truth.
"Oh, I know. He thinks he's got all of us fooled..." Bethany rolled her eyes and laughed loudly at Matt's response.
"I can still hear you two. Jeez!"
* * *
"Tell me why you're nervous? The wedding or the flight?" Bethany walked into the bedroom and moved to th
e closet in search of her large suitcase. Her mother had picked up a few things for her to take on the trip, but she had yet to try them on. Whether they were going or not was another story altogether.
"Neither. My father invited Erica to join us, you know."
"That's a good thing, Matt. She's a big part of his professional life. He probably thinks of her as a daughter of sorts." Bethany glanced over her shoulder in time to watch Matt flop down on the bed dramatically. She laughed and tugged out the suitcase that she had originally brought to Kent's a few weeks back.
The plan had been to spend a week with him, but that had quickly turned into several weeks. She wasn't sure about returning to her apartment now. Not with the situation with Krista being so bad. Her friend was still in police custody.
"I don't care what he thinks of her as. She intimidates the fuck out of me. I wanted to relax, wear what I wanted and eat like a pig." He let out a long sigh. "Now I have to behave and play the part."
He sounded so much like a wayward teenage girl that Bethany had to give him some hell over it.
"Yeah, I don't think she's going to like the pink panties you wear or the way you eat your food like a dog from a dish..." She paused as he lifted his head and rolled his eyes. "Move over so I can put my suitcase up here with you, you big girl."
"You have no idea what the pressure is like." He rolled over onto his back, his eyes focused on the ceiling as he pressed his hands to his chest. "She's perfect. Perfect teeth. Perfect record. Perfect ass. Ugh. It gets old."
Bethany laughed so hard a snort resounded. "You're so dumb right now."
"I'm telling Damon you're a snorter for that." He lifted his head and winked at her.
"I think Erica is only perfect in one way and that's what scares you so damn bad."
"What way is that?" Matt rolled over, almost falling off the bed. He caught himself and moved to his stomach, his hands holding his chin up.
"Perfect for you."
"Oh please. We're like oil and vinegar. Total opposites."
"Nope. Not even close. You're both artistic, good looking and have a great outlook on life. I think you should stop trying to turn her into a big scary monster." Bethany moved to her closet and started to pull out clothes.
"Okay. I'll do that... when you do it too."
She glanced back at him, lifting her eyebrow. "I have no clue what you're talking about."
"Sure you do. It's just a little different. I treat Erica like an untouchable and you treat Damon like everything he does, or every word he speaks is meant as is. I'll give her a chance just to be her when you give him a chance just to be him."
Bethany grabbed a few shirts and walked to the bed, throwing them in the open suitcase.
Matt moved to his knees, pulling them back out and folding them.
"I'm perfectly fine with Damon being who he is."
"Were you hurt by him not talking to you this morning?" Matt pulled out another shirt, folding it and averting his eyes from her.
"Yes."
"Why?" He glanced up at her quickly, his eyes wide as if he were worried.
"Because if we're going to be together, I expect him to communicate with me. I was on the fucking phone with him, and he didn't say anything, Matt. Not two words." Heat rushed up her chest and coated her throat. Surely Matt wasn't taking up for Damon when he was a cock earlier that day.
"And why didn't he say anything to you?"
"Because he's an ass and doesn't think of other people."
"Who's staying behind to take care of the mess at McKenzie and Bryant?" Matt moved off the bed and nodded toward the closet. "Go get more clothes while I drag myself deeper into this hole for the sake of my wayward older brother."
"Damon is staying back to take care of things. It's his damn job." She stormed to the closet and yanked out a few more items, not giving two shits about what she wore. No one would be there to impress anyway.
"No, it's my father's job to take care of large scale things like this." Matt paused and lifted his hand as Bethany started to retort. "Damon has his faults, I'll give you that, but him staying behind totally debunks your claims. He's caring, and he does think of other people. He's not used to being exclusive with someone and is working through his own demons. He was stressed, I bet and didn't want to snap at you. It was the same thing I would have done, sparing you from my wrath. You don't deserve to get hit with it."
Bethany started to bite back, but truth stopped her. Matt was right. She was pushing so much angst onto the situation only because she wanted to be the one holding the cards. If Damon was a true bastard and things didn't work out, she could simply blame that.
She dropped the remaining items in front of Matt, her shoulders dropping. "You're right."
"Yep. This time I am. Write it down. Doesn't happen often." He moved around the bed and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'll try and give Erica a bit of grace, but you do the same to Damon. Who knows, we might both end up happy in the end."
"I think we will." She wrapped her arms around the big guy in front of her and pressed her cheek to his chest.
"Now... you're not my sister for another few days. Throw your undies at me, and I'll fold them for you." He moved back, lifting his hands as if preparing for the onslaught.
Bethany grabbed the closest pillow to her and started to beat him with it. He screamed like a small child, getting a hold of a larger one and wailing back.
He was exactly what she needed in her life. A friend. A brother.
* * *
Bethany picked up the bread and walked into the dining hall behind Martha, her mom and Kent already seated at the table. They all took their seats, Damon's still empty. Sadness rolled over her, but she forced it away. He would be there soon, and she would work hard to make him feel welcomed. She needed to be his centering, his soft place to land, no matter what that meant.
"All right, let's pray?" Kent bowed his head and prayed over the food and the trip they were leaving for in the morning.
Bethany whispered amen and glanced up, Damon sliding his arm over her shoulders and smiling.
"Sorry I'm late. Long day at the office. My boss is a monster." He smirked as everyone chuckled.
Bethany leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his lips before squeezing his thigh softly. "My prayers are answered."
"You were praying for me to have a slave-driver of a boss?" He winked and pointed to the large plate of chicken in the middle of the table. "Someone start passing that toward my end of the table. I need it... now."
"How was everything? You get anywhere on all of the stuff at the office?" Kent picked up the platter and passed it, his voice shifting to business.
"It's good. We can talk later. Let's just enjoy our dinner together, Dad. You guys get everything wrapped up in the wedding decorations and stuff? Aunt Allison driving anyone mad yet?" He smiled and stood, reaching for the platter. He offered the serving fork to Bethany and glanced down at her, a smile on his lips.
"Yes. I swear I'm not sure what I did to be blessed and cursed so much by my only sibling. She's been planning beside Karen, but we wanted this to be small. Intimate. It's going to be over two hundred people."
Bethany turned, her mouth dropping open. "On a destination wedding? That's insane."
"I agree." Bethany's mom picked up her wine glass and took a long drink.
Kent reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "The good thing is that between Allison and Matthew, we're almost done. Just a few things to be done once we get on the island, but other than that, we plan on relaxing. I want you guys to do the same."
Matt looked up from his plate. "When is Erica coming out?"
"She's already there. I believe her flight was at lunch today. She's wrapping up the negotiations on the liability contracts for one of our partners who's out there already."
"Of course she is." Matt huffed and picked up his chicken, biting into it without cutting it.
Bethany laughed. "Hey. You're breaking our promise."
&nb
sp; He put the chicken down and started to cut it, a smirk lifting his mouth. "It was more for your benefit than mine."
"Most things are." Bethany turned to Damon as a look of question slipped across his handsome face. "I'll tell you later."
"Please do. If Matt and Erica are involved, I want to know all about it."
Chapter 46
Damon
"Why am I not surprised that you're interested in my suffering?" Matt lifted his eyebrow and stuffed a whole roll into his mouth.
"Your suffering?" Damon glanced down the table toward his dad, taking note of the warm smile on Karen's pretty face as she leaned in to whisper something to his father. "Dad. You hear this? Matt is suffering because you invited Erica to this wedding."
"Don't start." Matt shook his head and reached for his beer. "Seriously. I've already gotten a counseling session by our new sister."
Everyone stiffened at Matt's remark.
"Your new sister." Damon wrapped his arm around Bethany's shoulders and pulled her closer. "My soon-to-be forever."
Bethany glanced over at Damon, the expression on her pretty face showing discomfort. It was going to be a couple of bumpy months as their family transitioned, but they would make it through. She wasn't his sister; nor would she ever be. Damon had one sibling, and he was chewing through rolls at breakneck speed down the table from him.
"Why are you so upset about Erica going?" Karen's voice was soft, inquisitive. "I thought you guys liked her."
"It's just Matt." Beth pulled from him and picked up her fork. "He's convinced himself that she becomes a three-headed monster when the sun goes down."
"Two head." Matt wagged his eyebrows. "It's just two heads. Let's not get dramatic here."
"Oh, sorry." Karen laughed, and he couldn't help but smile. Matt would always be terrified of Erica. She was his perfect match.