Dylan
My days had become longer since Beth had left for London. I wanted to get as much done as possible so we could spend the time she had away from the studio together.
My phone vibrated on the desk in my office; the number wasn’t familiar.
“James,” I answered.
“Dylan, it’s me.” I froze. “Alicia.”
I hadn’t thought about the email she’d sent me since I’d deleted it, so I was shocked to hear from her. I hadn’t heard her voice in years, not since I caught her cheating on me with her now husband.
“It’s been so long since we spoke. How are you?”
I took a deep breath; was she attempting to make small talk with me? “What do you want, Alicia?”
“Hey, is that the way you greet an old friend?”
Was she serious?
I’d always found her so charming. However much she did things that would burn and sting, she was always able to talk her way out of it, convince me that I’d misunderstood her intentions.
“I wondered if I could buy you lunch? Or dinner?”
I winced. What was she plotting? With my cell tucked under my chin, I Googled her husband—a wealthy, not to mention elderly, Chicago entrepreneur. They had married shortly after I’d discovered their affair—good business, she’d called it. Perhaps he had died.
“How did you get this number?”
From time to time, I wondered if she’d kept track of my career. My wealth now far exceeded her husband’s.
“Oh, Dylan, I have my ways. You must remember that I can be very persuasive if I set my mind to it.”
I ended the call. I didn’t need her bullshit.
She called back and I put my phone on silent, turning it face down so I wouldn’t even have the distraction of the flashing screen.
What the hell was Alicia calling for? I glanced back at my search results and scrolled down. It looked like her husband was having some financial difficulties—maybe she was looking to trade up again. The recession had been brutal. Raf and I were cautious investors, careful to ensure that we never got pulled into bidding wars with investors, but the economy had taken a lot of casualties.
Raf crashed into the office. “We just got regulatory approval on the Redux transaction.” He was panting.
“Fucking great.” We’d never done anything in the sector before so we’d been told that approval was by no means a certainty. “I knew we’d get it.”
Raf stalked over to my desk and held out his hand. “You were right, my friend.”
“As usual.” I winked at him.
“Okay, don’t be an asshole about it.” Raf slunk into one of the chairs opposite my desk.
I chuckled. “Guess who just called me,” I said. “Alicia.”
“Are you fucking serious, dude? Have you spoken to her since that shit went down when you split?”
I shook my head. “Nope, never even laid eyes on her. She emailed me a week or so back, but I just deleted it.”
“What did she want?”
“No idea. I hung up on her.”
“Wow. I mean, you were cut up about her. I’m not sure you’ve ever been the same. Would you go back there?”
Beth’s beautiful smile came to mind. I still hadn’t told Raf—or anyone else—about her. I liked that we were wrapped up in a bubble, just the two of us, but perhaps it was time. “Not if my dick depended on it. And anyway, I’m seeing someone.”
“You mean you’re fucking someone.”
“Well, we’re definitely doing that, but we’re also dating. In fact, she’s coming to the gala on Friday.” The corners of my mouth twitched. I couldn’t wait to have her on my arm.
“And why am I just hearing about this now?”
“Because, unlike you, I don’t like to over share. Which unfortunate girl are you bringing to the gala?”
He rolled his eyes. “Christ, I hate the drama. Christie threw a vase at me last night. I didn’t even know I owned a vase.”
“Christie’s the Art History major?”
Raf looked at me as if I was stupid. “No, that was Tasha, and weeks ago. Do you listen to anything I tell you?”
“I try not to.”
Raf ignored me. “Christie’s the one who looks like Gisele ten years ago.” I shrugged. “Anyway, she’s a maniac. I think I’m going stag on Friday. I’m getting too old for this shit.”
I chuckled. “You were too old to be chasing girls five years ago. You need to try a woman. Someone who has her shit together.”
“Are you really giving me relationship advice? You haven’t gotten laid for a decade before this mystery chick came along.”
“Her name’s Beth—and if you call her a chick I’ll miscalculate your quarterly dividend on purpose—and I was having plenty of fun before her, but I never chased. I never had to.”
Raf pushed his hands onto the chair arms and stood. “You’re an asshole. I hope you marry her, then she divorces you and takes all your money.”
“Love you, bro.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
I picked up my phone. Four missed calls, all from the same number. I also had five texts. Hoping they were from Beth and not Alicia, I opened the first one.
Alicia: Seriously Dylan, I have a business proposition for you. I think we should talk.
Business? She’d probably suggest marriage. That was how she approached relationships.
Alicia: I’m just suggesting lunch. If you don’t like what I have to say then you never have to see me again.
Alicia: I really miss what we had. It was so simple and you were so good to me.
Jesus, did she think I’d fall for this shit? What we’d had was anything but simple. Looking back, everything had seemed strategic where Alicia was concerned.
Alicia: I really need your help. Please. You’re the only one I can turn to.
There were plenty of rich men in Chicago, others who would be taken in by her.
Alicia: I’ll email you my proposal.
I took a deep breath, deleted her texts and dialed Beth.
“Hey,” she answered. “How come you’re calling me in the middle of the day?”
My MO was to call Beth before work, and then after if it wasn’t too late. We spoke most days and I’d gotten to know her routine. We were four thousand miles apart, but somehow I felt closer to her than ever.
“I just needed to hear your voice.” I wanted to neutralize Alicia’s poison by talking to Beth. “Am I interrupting?”
“No. It’s always good to hear from you, and I’m just baking.”
“Of course you are.”
She laughed. “Yes, I suppose I do it a lot. How’s your day.”
“Good and bad. Weird.”
“That sounds intriguing.” The scrape of utensils against metal clattered down the phone. “Tell me.”
“Well, we got regulatory approval on Redux.”
“Congratulations. That’s the pharma company in England, right?”
“Yeah.” I grinned. Our worlds had begun to mix together as I got to hear about her day and I shared mine. I’d forgotten how comforting it could be. “And then my ex called, which was the bad and the weird.”
“Alicia? I didn’t realize you were in touch.”
“We’re not. I haven’t spoken to her since we split.”
The clattering at the other end of the phone went silent. “What did she want?”
“She suggested lunch. I hung up.”
“You hung up?”
“Yes, I don’t want to speak to her. I have nothing to say, and I’m sure she’s got nothing I want to hear.”
“Perhaps she wanted to apologize, set things right? Maybe she was offering you both closure.”
“I’m pretty sure whatever she was doing, it was entirely to benefit Alicia. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about her. I want to talk about you. What are you making?” Images of Beth naked except for high heels and an apron sprung to mind.
“Hmmm, I’m not sure I should say.”
“Hey, I thought we said no secrets.”
“Chocolate mousse. It’s a current favorite of mine,” she confessed.
“Is that right? I’m quite fond of that dessert myself.” I grinned. “What are you wearing?”
She laughed. “I always bake naked. Apart from my heels and a short, frilly apron, of course.”
I groaned and palmed my twitching cock through my pants. “I wish I was there.”
“I’m going to see you tomorrow; we can make up for some lost time. Unless you’re busy?”
“I’ll make time for you. Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay at my place?”
“I’m not saying never, Dylan, just not this time. We’ll see plenty of each other. I’m staying a week this time.”
“I hope to see all of you.”
She laughed. I was serious. If I thought she’d let me, I’d keep her naked for her entire trip.
“Perhaps I should cancel the gala,” I said. I didn’t want to share her.
“You can’t do that. You’re a patron. Unless . . .”
“Unless what?”
“Well, we’ve just started dating. Maybe it’s too early to—”
“It’s not too early to anything. I told Raf that you were coming with me.”
“You did?” I didn’t understand why she was surprised but she sounded happy, which made me happy.
“Sure, we’re exclusively dating; why wouldn’t I tell people?”
I ran my finger round the inside of my collar. “Okay, you’re not saying anything. What are you thinking?”
“Ummm, I’m thinking I’m glad we’re exclusively dating.”
I grinned. “Well I’m pleased that you are.”
She laughed. “Perhaps I should tell my brother.”
“You’ve not told him?” This conversation was long overdue. We needed to be on the same page with stuff like this.
“I’ve talked to Haven and Ash.”
Well, that was something. Her sister-in-law and her kinda sister-in-law seemed to be her closest girlfriends, so at least she’d told them.
“What’s stopping you from telling Jake?” She wasn’t dating anyone else and neither was I, but she hadn’t told her brother despite the fact that they were close. Was she having doubts?
“Nothing. He’s been telling me to date for a while now, so the general concept isn’t a problem. I guess I don’t want him to worry, and I think he’ll want to meet you when I tell him and I don’t know—”
“Okay, well, we can do that.”
“You think? I mean, the family thing, can’t we just skip it? If you ran into each other that would be one thing, but an introduction? It all seems a bit . . . over the top.”
“I want to meet your brother, Beth. Everyone who’s important to you. Don’t let this be a big deal. I’m not going to ask him if I can propose.” Though it was a big deal. I’d not met a girlfriend’s family since I’d asked Alicia’s father if I could marry her.
“Okay. I’ll tell him, but I’m warning you, he’ll want to meet you properly.” I could hear her smile, even from four thousand miles away. I wished she were closer.
“Good. I have plans for our weekend, so bring some outdoor clothes.”
“Outdoor clothes?”
“You know, stuff you can go outside in?”
“Yeah, thanks, genius. I understand what you’re saying, but why?”
I laughed. “Because I want to show you something.”
“But the things I want to see are indoors where clothes are optional.”
I shook my head. She was the perfect balance between sweetness and joy, sexy and dirty. “I think we can do both.”
I couldn’t wait to prove it.
Beth
I woke from a dream about lemon curd, shortbread and poppy seeds. I reached for the switch on the side of my chair that tilted it back up to a sitting position and I grabbed my notebook from the pocket to my side. I scribbled down some notes, then peeked over my shoulder and out the window.
My stomach tumbled, and I grinned.
I’d never enjoyed landings, but now my excitement at being stateside was threatening to bubble over as I willed the plane to the ground as fast as possible. I’d never been so enthusiastic to go back to the place I grew up.
Since my last trip to Chicago I’d returned to London, barely dating someone, and yet, here I was, going back to Chicago to see my boyfriend.
I’d resisted his numerous attempts to get me to stay with him. Moving quickly was one thing, but I wanted a life jacket to cling on to as I got swept down the river.
With Louis I’d moved in with him after our third date, and I’d become completely dependent very quickly. I was a different person now, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t fall into old patterns. Dylan and I could spend time together without me being a guest in his house.
Haven and I had gone shopping for a suitable dress for Friday’s gala, and we’d picked something that I thought Dylan would like. I was pretty sure he’d be okay with anything I chose, but as he’d told me I had the best ass in the universe, I wanted to make sure I had a dress that showed it off.
As soon as we were landed, I scrambled off the plane, texting Dylan on the way to immigration.
Beth: I just landed. See you later.
Dylan: I have the live arrivals board for O’Hare open on my laptop. I’m sorry I’m not there to meet you.
Beth: Make it up to me later.
I’d rather he finished his work so we could have the whole evening together than stop to collect me, then have to go back to the office. Once I was with him, I knew I wouldn’t want to let him go.
Dylan: It will be my pleasure.
An image of him licking my breast flashed into my mind.
Beth: I was hoping it would be mine.
Dylan: I’ll make sure it is.
It was a promise I knew he could deliver on.
At check-in, I was greeted by name. Clearly, I was spending far too much time here.
“You’re in 1204 again, Miss Harrison. Roger will take your bags up for you.”
“Thank you. I’m fine to take my own.” As much as I didn’t want Roger missing out on a tip, I didn’t want to have to wait on my suitcase.
I headed to the elevator and pressed the up button, glancing across at the bar where Dylan and I had sat when we were last here.
I squinted, and he came into view. He was here? He grinned, slid off his stool and walked toward me.
I breathed in the sight of his strong jaw and wide shoulders wrapped up in a beautiful navy suit that brought out his indigo eyes.
He circled his arms around my waist, pulling me toward him and kissing my forehead. “Are you eye-fucking me?” he asked.
I tilted my head as if considering my answer. “I really think I am.”
He chuckled and kissed me again on the forehead before reaching for the elevator button.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t meet you at the airport. I had a call, but got here as soon as I could.”
“I wasn’t expecting you until much later. My other lover is about to arrive.”
He shook his head as he pulled me into the elevator car. “Don’t joke about shit like that. It makes me restless.”
“Would it make a difference if I told you my other lover’s a woman?”
He growled and pushed me against the glass wall of the elevator, slamming his tongue against mine, plowing deep and hard. My hands slid into his hair as I tried to stop from collapsing. Lust overtook me. I liked him, and I enjoyed our phone calls, but seeing him was different. Seeing him made my breath short and panties damp. I wanted to press my fingers against every part of his body in the hope that it would soothe my need for him.
“I’m so pleased you’re here,” I said as he kissed down my neck. “I told myself that I could wait until tonight, but I think I would have turned up at your office, naked beneath a coat.”
He pulled back to look at me. “I should have waited.”
The elevator doors pinged open and we scrambled out. “I need a shower. I’m airplane grubby.”
He bent his head to my neck as I fiddled with the key card in the lock. “A shower sounds good.”
I grabbed some additional pillows from the top shelf in the dressing room, pulled back the bedcovers and started to build a pillow wall down the middle of the bed.
Dylan wandered back into the bedroom, a towel around his waist, eating an apple. “I brought the menu. We should eat. What are you doing?”
“Yes, we should eat. Good idea.”
I pushed a pillow down to the foot of the bed. The wall should probably be two pillows high.
“Seriously, what’s with the pillows?” He grabbed the belt of my robe and pulled me toward him. We’d made it to the shower, then the sofa, then eventually back to the shower.
“I’m building a pillow wall. I need to sleep tonight, and won’t if we’re lying naked next to each other.”
He sighed. “I can sleep at home. It’s fine and you’re right, as much as I’d like to keep you up all night, you’ve got to make whole sentences in front of a camera tomorrow. It’s best if you get more than thirty minutes of rest.”
I tried to peel his hands from around my waist, but he wasn’t budging. “But before we make it into the bed, anything goes, right?”
I grabbed the discarded menu. “What shall we eat?”
He leaned into my ear. “How about I eat you?”
“You did that already.” I smacked his hand. “Good job by the way.” He chuckled. “I think I’ll have the pasta. Shall I order you the steak?”
He cocked his head and smiled. “Yeah, that would be great.”
I placed the order and Dylan pulled me into the living room and onto his lap, facing the view of the river.
“I have to be up at six tomorrow. The car is coming for me at seven.”
“Friday has turned into a bit of a nightmare for me. I have meetings all day. I’m sorry.”
I leaned into his chest, savoring the feel of his skin against my cheek. “I’d planned to go and see my dad, then I’ll have to get ready for the gala. It’s fine.”
“We’ll have all day Saturday and Sunday together.”
I was concentrating on the vibrations in his chest as he spoke, so I didn’t register what he’d said at first. “Oh no, not Saturday. Didn’t I tell you? They’ve decided to show the first segment this Saturday, so I have to go into the studio for an interview, then meet with their publicity team. I think I’m going to be there most of the day.”
He took a deep breath and I sat forward so I could see his face. “Are you mad?”
He smiled. “Of course not. I just want to spend time with you.”
“Sunday, though. And I brought outdoor clothes.”
The door buzzed and I scampered off his lap. The sounds of the television filled the space behind me.
“Beth,” he called as I was answering the door.
“What?” I screamed when I saw my face on TV. “What’s that?”
I looked up at Dylan but he was staring at the screen. “That’s you.”
I sank to the sofa before my knees gave way. “Christ on a bike. What the hell am I doing on television?”
“Bake with Beth” scrolled across the screen, and then I was gone.
“Excuse me, can I get a signature?” a voice from behind me asked.
I couldn’t move. Dylan must have dealt with it as when I finally stood, the waiter had gone.
“Did you see that?” I asked.
Dylan nodded, his eyebrows raised. “Did you do publicity shots already?”
“I had some taken in London. I didn’t think, didn’t realize . . . I just didn’t expect this.” I couldn’t believe they were advertising my show. Or my slot on someone else’s show.
“You didn’t expect to be on television, even though you have a baking segment on television.”
“Well, when you say it like that it makes me feel stupid.”
Dylan chuckled. “You’re not stupid. But perhaps you’re not quite prepared.”
“I’m thinking you might be right. I’ve been concentrating on getting the recipes right, and making sure I’ve rehearsed. I guess I didn’t think about broadcasting into peoples’ homes.”
The more time that passed, the more it felt like I was leading some kind of double life. In one, I lived in London, dreaming up recipes and having my nieces spit up on me. In the other, I was in Chicago, on television, and had a boyfriend who looked like a Greek god and ordered me dessert whenever I wanted it.
I was living the best of both worlds but needed to mesh them together if I was going to be able to hold on to both of them.