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Michael
I tell myself to keep ignoring what I’m not telling her. After all, we’ve only just started us. And it’s never been an issue in any other relationship before because I never had a serious relationship with someone before.
This is new territory for me.
Once we get back from our weekend getaway, things are going too smoothly for me to rock the boat anyway.
Several weeks later, I’m working late to catch up. It’s hard to be here when I just want to be home with Brianna. Even the idea of it makes me smile. Home. Brianna.
The words have become synonymous. Brianna is home for me, and it amazes me now that I can’t imagine it any other way.
My phone buzzes and Ms. Brown’s voice comes over the intercom. “Derek is here to see you.”
“Send him in.”
I swivel to the window, taking in the dark clouds that billow over the city. The fall nights are getting cooler. Those nights make me want to get home earlier and earlier to curl up with Brianna by the fire with wine and a good meal.
“Daydreaming?” Derek asks from behind me.
I smile but don’t turn. “What are you going to say if I say yes?”
“That maybe you need a little more daydreaming in your life. A little break from mental stress.”
This time I swivel back to face him. He’s dressed in a charcoal suit and holding a manila envelope.
I angle my head at him. “What you’re saying is, you have bad news.”
Derek takes the seat across from me. He sets the envelope on the desk but doesn’t open it. “It’s not bad news. It’s an update. And I hesitated about bringing it in because I don’t want to ruin what you’ve got going.”
“What’s that?”
“Your agreement with Brianna.”
My voice lowers an octave, going serious in an instant. “What do you mean?”
Derek continues in a calm voice. “I mean, I see that you’re happy. And despite my reservations with the whole agreement, Brianna seems good for you. I don’t want to bring negativity into it.”
I relax just slightly. I’d instantly thought he had something negative to say about Brianna, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I cross my arms. “Tell me.”
“Her ex-fiancé is still lurking around. He was spotted outside your apartment, outside her old job, and on the side of the road while she was at lunch with her friend a few days ago.” Derek gestures to the envelope. “It’s all in the pictures.”
My jaw clenches. “He’s following her.”
“He’s following both of you.”
I think of Brianna at home by herself, with that sick asshole probably outside of the building waiting for her. Watching her.
“What the hell does he want?” I ask, shoving back from my desk. “Hasn’t he already done enough?”
“I’m giving you the facts. Not much else to do at this point.”
“Not much else to do?” I shake my head. “We get him out of her life. We confront him, and if he doesn’t back off, then—”
“I wouldn’t recommend that.”
“Why the fuck not? He’s not allowed to just stalk people—”
“He hasn’t hurt her, hasn’t even spoken with her. He could reasonably say he was at the same place the same time she was. But Brianna doesn’t even know. Confronting him will just escalate the situation.”
“Maybe it needs to be escalated,” I growl. “So he doesn’t think it’s okay to come anywhere near her. She’s already gone through enough—”
My phone buzzes again and I jam my finger on the button. “What?”
Ms. Brown’s voice comes through, almost apologetic. “Sorry, sir. But Miss Stevens is here.”
I blow out a breath. “Thank you.” I look at Derek. “She doesn’t need to know about this.”
Derek grabs the envelope with a nod. “Of course not.”
I meet Brianna at the door, irritated and relieved to see her at the same time. “Did you come here alone?”
“Of course—hi, Derek.”
He smiles at her. “Miss Stevens.”
“Please call me Brianna.”
He nods agreeably.
“Did you have Brian drive you over?” I ask, taking Brianna’s hand.
“No. I drove. What’s wrong?” She glances from me to Derek. “Did something happen?”
I send Derek a warning look, and then try to set aside my irritation. It’s not her fault Chet’s still slinking around, and if I act suspicious, she’ll figure something out.
“Nothing happened,” I explain, trying to sound reasonable. “Derek said there was an accident on the way and I was hoping you didn’t get caught in it.”
She smiles and then kisses my cheek. “Oh. That’s nice of you to think of me. The drive was uneventful.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Derek lifts his eyebrows at me, then nods to the door. “I have a meeting to get to, but I’ll give you a call later.”
I wave him off, already distracted by Brianna. Once he’s out the door, I grip her chin gently. “What was that?”
She blinks up at me. “What?”
“That kiss. A little chaste for my taste.”
“But Derek—”
“Trust me. He’s seen it all.”
Her lips curve, making me forget all about my conversation with Derek. She’s so damned sexy, I can’t keep my thoughts straight.
She lifts on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. Her mouth slides across mine before her tongue dips inside. She releases a long, slow breath, her breasts pressing against my chest. Even that small action makes me hard as a rock.
“That’s better,” I murmur.
She smiles. “You’re not afraid of public displays of affection?”
“No. I mean, yeah, I am usually.” I narrow my eyes at her, almost like she’s trying to trick me. “It’s different with you.”
“Different? What do you mean?”
“It’s…” Everything in my life has changed since Brianna came around. I don’t mind being affectionate with her in public because this is real. Odd as it sounds, even with our arrangement, there’s something deep and true about our relationship.
I grin at her. “You know, I have a really hard time articulating things around you. Must be because you’re so sexy—it distracts me.”
She takes a step back, and even though she’s smiling, there’s question in her eyes. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Yes. I’m glad you came. Work was getting dull.”
“Well, I came for an actual reason,” she says with a smirk. “Not just to entertain you.”
She starts to turn, but I grab her waist. “Where are you going?”
“I was going to sit on the couch.”
I walk to the couch and pull her onto my lap. The best way to continue to distract myself from Chet is to keep Brianna close. Not only because she takes my mind off of more serious things, but because I don’t want Chet anywhere near her.
“Why did you come?” I ask.
“Partly because I wanted to see you,” she says. “You told me I could drop by anytime.”
“And I meant it. You’re always welcome. I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.”
“What’s the other reason?”
“Your sister called me.”
“She called me too.”
She shifts on my lap, brushing the tops of my thighs and nearly driving me crazy. Maybe I should have brought her home before having this conversation.
“Did she talk to you about the website?” Brianna asks.
“Yes. She said she called you first, then called me to make sure I persuade you to do the project because you’re amazing.”
Brianna laughs. “That’s not what she said.”
“No, I believe her exact words were, ‘If Brianna doesn’t do this project, I’ll hate her forever. She has to do it because she’s the best and my business needs the best.’”
“Seriously? Intense.”
I give her a quick kiss on the lips. “That’s Liv. She’s young and impulsive, but she’s got a good head for business.”
“Well, look what family she’s part of.” Brianna considers this. “How do you feel about her business?”
“We’ve talked. I gave her some advice. I think it’ll be work—hard work—but I also think it’ll be successful if she takes all the right steps. Hiring you is a right step.”
Her eyes lock on mine. “You really think so?”
“I know so.”
I can see how much the words mean to her, and feel how much they do when her mouth fuses to mine. My mind nearly blanks, shocked into submission by her kiss and the feel of her body on mine.
“Damn,” I murmur when she pulls away. “We need to get home now.”
She laughs and tries to get up, but I hold her tight.
“One more thing,” I say. She settles on my lap again. “I was thinking you could work here.”
“Here? Like, in your office?”
I nod. “Sure. You can use the table, or we can find you your own office.”
“Why?”
I don’t even blink when I answer. “Because it’s closer to Liv in case she needs to come consult with you and because I like having you close. Besides, you come by almost every day for lunch and then meet me after work. It’ll be easier this way.”
“That’s true.” She taps her fingers against her lips. “I never really thought about that.”
“One day, your company will be big enough you’ll have to have employees and an office and all of that.” I grin at her. “This will just get you ready.”
“I like the sound of that.”
This time I let her stand, and swat her on the ass when she does. She yelps and turns to me, indignation on her lips.
“Don’t say a word,” I tell her, “or I’m going to take you right here on the couch.”
“I’d rather you take me on the couch at home, and maybe in the shower.”
“Or both,” I answer, grabbing her hand. “I think I’m done with work for today.”
She laughs as I tug her out of the office and to the elevator. I’ll focus on Brianna tonight and deal with Chet later.