Chapter 27
Kate
I was still partially in shock from it all.
His company! He was giving up his company! Giving it to his VP!
“I have it all planned out,” he said, and I believed him. “I called Jerome when you were getting ready, and ran it by him. And then I called my lawyer to draw up the papers. To be honest, the thought of dealing with him, and seeing his smug face even long enough to get him to sign contracts isn’t appealing. But I’m willing to do it because I really do want to leave.”
He laughed. “I mean, I’m so beyond ready to be gone.”
I knew he wanted out, but I didn’t know he planned on getting out so soon. I was glad for him, though. Beyond glad.
I wanted his happiness more than anything in the world. Even more than my own.
“Besides,” he said, looking at the ground, breaking eye contact for the first time in a while. “Jerome can and will take the company to a place my dad would be happy with.”
His brow furrowed, and he seemed almost lost in thought for a few moments. I wondered what he was thinking. Because my mind was on overdrive. We had just overcome a huge hurdle, but there was so much left to deal with.
I was moving soon. We still hadn’t dealt with that part yet, and I didn’t want to push matters after the man had just given up his company.
There would be another day.
That’s what I kept telling myself.
I also kept telling myself that it would be all right.
Because our feelings for each other were real. They were feelings I never thought I’d have before Ian came along. Admittedly, I was basically one of those girls that had already started thinking about a damn wedding. I never thought I’d be so crazy. Especially over a man. But I was. Hell, just thinking about that sexy bod stuffed inside a tux was intoxicating.
It was hard not letting my thoughts control me in that moment. I was feeling aroused beyond belief. Just when I thought I was gaining some sort of control when it came to him.
“Are you looking at my body?” he asked, as his mouth opened wide in a mocking shock “Jeez, control yourself.” He laughed, and I couldn’t help but laugh as well. I really was having a difficult time controlling myself. Up until he yelled out, in very immature fashion, “Oh, wait… You can’t!”
He might have thought he was joking around, but it was actually the truth. But there was no way in hell I was admitting it now.
Instead, I just blushed crimson, and decided to mock him.
“Jeez…” I said. “Stop being a dick!” “Oh, wait!” I muttered, mimicking his previous tone almost completely. “You can’t!”
I didn’t want to admit it, because honestly I was scared to, but in that moment I was overflowing with happiness. He grinned, and opened the passenger side of his Bentley for me. I graciously accepted, but still, a part of me felt a little strange.
I was worried, to be honest.
But, I couldn’t imagine a future without him at this point. It was terrifying because it hadn’t even been long, and I was already finding it incredibly difficult to imagine a future without him in it. And not only just present, but with a starring role.
His gorgeous face, almost pale as he shifted himself in the driver’s seat of his car.
Those gorgeous eyes shined out like gems into my soul, as soon as he glanced over at me. I felt a whimper escape me, and I shivered, almost suddenly.
I had no idea how he still had so much control over me.
All I knew was that I had to close my eyes to keep from pouncing. The problem was, though, that I no more than closed my eyes when I felt his lips brush the side of my face. He inhaled a deep breath and held me still, just before taking another breath. “If only I could have you right now…” he growled.
“Okay!” I shrieked out. “Stop it!”
He was laughing. Hard. I knew he was doing it all on purpose.
“Anyway!” I laughed. “Let’s talk about what just happened…”
He nodded. “I thought we just did?”
“From the outside of a building to the car? That doesn’t count as talking, does it?” I laughed. “How do you feel about what you did today, really?” I asked, my stomach still in knots, just thinking about it all.
“I feel pretty good…” he sighed, with a huge smile forming on his face. “Wonderful actually…”
I watched him, and he looked refreshed. So refreshed that I knew he wasn’t bullshitting me. He was being completely honest.
“This is probably the best I’ve felt since my dad died.” He gestured towards the waiter and laid his card on the table.
“So you’re not at all worried?”
“I mean, I’ll still have my father’s money, I still own the company. I’m even making sure that Janice remains secretary of the CEO. Contract is pretty solid. My guy is on it. But even if I was dirt poor, I think I’d still feel good about this.”
“So, since you’ve basically already made a world of changes today, what do you want to do next?” I asked.
“Hmm . . . how warm is it in San Diego?” he asked, straight-faced. I smiled, genuinely still happy for him. I knew how hard it was to follow your dreams when your family wanted you to do something else.
“About seventy-eight degrees — year round…”
“Well, I guess that settles it,” he sighed dramatically.
“Settles what?” I asked, my face contorted, eyes narrowed at him.
He stopped, and turned to look at me, his lips moving upward in a smile. “Settles the fact that we better go shopping for my new wardrobe. And maybe a house.”