Chapter 12

Lawson

“Holy Shit!” I shout, freezing mid-stride. “What the fuck?”

Clay crosses his arms, his face hard as stone. “What the fuck back at ya.”

“How’d you get in here?”

“Your door wasn’t locked, but that’s irrelevant.”

“Did you follow me home from the gym?”

“Hell yes, I followed you. While you showered, it gave me time to look around. Quite a place you have here.”

“Stay out of it, Clay. It’s none of your business.”

“None of my business? When did you decide to move, and more specifically, to a GODAMMED co-op across town?”

I clench my fists, trying to think of a valid excuse. All my lies are rolling together, and there’s no way I can tell him the truth. I open my mouth to say something right as there’s a knock on the door.

“Lawson, it’s me,” Greer announces herself, and Clay’s head jerks at the sound of her voice.

A sense of panic washes over me as my two worlds are seconds from colliding. Greer can’t find out this way.

“Go to my room,” I order him.

“No.”

“Listen to me,” I grit out. “I’ll explain everything to you, but in the next few minutes, I need you to bury your questions and try to act normal.”

I pass him, jabbing him intentionally in the ribs, going to the door and sucking in a deep breath. Maybe there’s a chance I can avoid them meeting.

I open the door and am immediately attacked as Greer launches herself into my arms and attaches her mouth to mine.

Like every time we kiss, my body awakens. Her body shapes perfectly against me, her arms and legs wrapping tightly. Our tongues twirl together, and I slide one hand in her hair, slanting her head so I can dive deeper. The flavors of sugar and chocolate coat my mouth, and I groan at the sweetness.

Panic from earlier eases with each second that passes. Her thighs lock around my waist, and I’m instantly hard, ready to strip her naked right here.

My ears start to ring as my lungs scream for oxygen, but I don’t stop, continuing to devour her. She breaks away first, laying her forehead against mine and panting.

“How was the baby shower?” I rasp.

“It was perfect, absolutely perfect.”

“You taste like cake.”

“I had two pieces.” She giggles. “It was delicious.”

“I agree.”

I forget we’re not alone until a throat clears behind me. Greer stiffens, her eyes darting over my shoulder.

I turn, kicking the door shut with my foot, and shoot my brother a threatening glare. His eyes are wide, taking in the scene before him. He starts to smirk, his lips twitching as his gaze moves to my hands on Greer’s ass.

“I didn’t know we had an audience,” she murmurs in my ear.

“I forgot all about him the second I saw you.”

“Maybe you should put me down.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Lawson, put me down.” She tries to wiggle free, rubbing directly on my cock.

I help her slide down my body, and when her feet are on the ground, I tuck her to my side.

“This is my brother, Clay,” I half-heartedly introduce them.

“Oh my God, hi!” She squirms away and moves fast, hugging him warmly.

When she steps back, he has the decency to try to hide his confusion.

“I’m Greer Palmer, it’s nice to meet you. Lawson has told me a lot about you.”

He snaps his eyes to mine as realization washes over him. I jerk my head, narrowing my eyes in warning.

“Don’t fucking say anything,” I communicate silently.

“Nice to meet you, too, Greer.” He forces a smile.

“Did I interrupt something?” She twists between us, her excitement fading.

“No, babe, Clay followed me home after the gym. He wanted to see the new place.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Yeah, it was time I checked out the new place,” he tells her with a sarcasm I pick up on instantly.

“I’ve been dying to meet you, but Lawson explained how busy you are.”

He places his hands on his hips, moving his eyes back to me. “Busy, huh? Maybe it was my brother’s way of hiding his pretty new girlfriend.”

“I told you he’d try to whisk you away.”

Greer laughs, coming to me and folding back into my side. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m entranced. Not taking my chances with anyone, including my own brother.”

“You have nothing to worry about.” She lifts up and kisses my cheek. “I wish I knew Clay was here. I’d have come home sooner.”

At the word home, Clay goes pale.

“Greer lives across the hall,” I clarify.

“Yes, that’s how we met. He had a hard time getting his furniture through the door,” she says in a hushed voice. “He needed a little help.”

Clay flinches, his eyes going to the door and then landing on me. The vein in his forehead pulses as he rolls his bottom lip through his teeth.

“Are you all packed?” I change the subject, hoping she can’t see the rage brewing inside him.

“I have a few more things to throw in my bag. Then we can leave.”

“Where are you guys headed?” Clay asks.

“We’re going camping,” Greer chirps, bouncing against me. “It’s an annual trip with my friends.”

“You’re going camping?” Clay’s patience is wearing thin. I can sense the impending eruption.

“We need to get going in about thirty minutes.” I brush my lips along her temple. “Enrique sent me a text earlier about getting in a hike.”

“He messaged me, too.” She scowls, glancing to Clay. “I hate to meet and run, but I need to do a few things before we leave. Maybe we can do dinner sometime.”

“Dinner sounds good.”

I walk her to the door. “Text me when you’re ready and I’ll come get you.”

She nods and I watch until she disappears into her apartment. In those five seconds, I try to think of how to explain this.

“Before I lose my ever living shit, tell me it’s a huge fucking coincidence her last name is Palmer.” His voice is packed with venom and fury.

I turn to face him and brace. “It’s not a coincidence.”

“Does she have any idea who you really are?”

I shake my head.

“You are one nasty son of a bitch. It makes sense now. Your evasiveness, disappearance from social media, the crazy ideas about the building plans. You’re using her.”

“It may have started out—”

“Don’t tell me how it started out. She described it perfectly. You couldn’t get your furniture through the door? That’s the biggest bunch of bullshit I’ve ever heard. You are the most spatially gifted person I’ve ever met. I’ve seen you actually fit a square peg in a round hole. You’re an architect for God’s sake. From the moment she met you, you’ve been lying to her.”

I stay quiet, shame and guilt clawing at me.

“My God, Lawson, what are you thinking? You have the talent and expertise to create a world-class design. Why would you stoop to this level? I know you’re competitive, but this is below even your standards. Thinking only of yourself and your precious fucking career. That sweet, beautiful woman is in love with you, and you’re using her! How do you even live with yourself?” By the time he’s done, his face is red and his chest heaving.

My own anger boils to the surface, and I lash back at him. “Stop saying I’m using her!”

“It’s the truth!”

“I’m in fucking love with her!”

He twitches, shock spreading across his face. “The fuck you say?”

I stumble to my sofa and sink down, my heart racing so fast I drop my head and breathe deeply to try to gain control. There’s a ringing in my ears and head, anxiety spiking high. When I feel that I can talk without losing my mind, I tell him what I’ve been holding inside.

“Clay, it wasn’t supposed to be this way. She was supposed to be a stuck-up socialite that lives on her daddy’s money and makes it easy to dislike her. The idea was to befriend her, get her to talk about herself and her life. It was an in-and-out plan. I wanted to know what makes her old man tick and what I could implement in our design that would make it stick out from the rest. It was completely professional. There would be no feelings, no loyalty, and I’d go back to my life. Everything was precise, right down to my goodbye. She wouldn’t care.

“The night I met her, it was all blown to hell. She is nothing like I imagined. There’s not a socialite bone in her body. She’s the antithesis of the woman I created in my mind. Her face peeked around her door, and those green eyes landed on mine. It was a jolt to my system. She was wearing sweats, her hair tied to the top of her head, and not a stitch of makeup. I was screwed. It’s not even her beauty. She’s kind, funny, sweet, and smart. She owns a thriving business and helps people who have been affected by cancer. And when I say she’s smart, I mean brilliant.”

He exhales loudly, the sound hissing through the air. I raise my eyes to his and see his expression has changed, the stony hatred and judgment vanished. I should stop talking, but for the first time in two months, a weight is lifting.

“I tried to walk away. It was after you came to my office and saw the design. Something happened, and I knew it was time. Things were getting too deep. I packed a bag and went back to my loft. I was going to figure out a way to make a clean break. I bought a bottle of Jack and sat on the floor, planned to get drunk and channel my old self. The same guy who fucked for fun, lived hard, and didn’t give a shit about the consequences. Greer would despise that person. I’d move out, get on with my life, and never run into her again.”

I draw in a deep breath and keep going.

“Then I looked around. It was so cold and sterile. I stared at the walls, trying to remember a life before Greer, and nothing came to mind. I had small visions of growing up and our family and friends. But everything else faded away. My heart started to beat so hard I was certain I was having a heart attack, but it was a full-blown panic attack. I passed out cold. Something supernatural started to happen. Out of nowhere, I could smell the scent of her all around. My fingertips prickled with the feeling of the silky smoothness of her skin and hair. Then I pictured her that morning. We woke up, and the first thing she did was give me her blinding smile. Her eyes sparkled so bright, I swear I could see my reflection. Instantly, I calmed down. I left the liquor and drove back here with a physical need to hold her. I knew then, I am in love with her.”

My body deflates, and I fall back, scrubbing my hands over my face.

“Jesus Christ, Lawson, what the hell have you done?”

“I’ve fucked up beyond repair.” I answer honestly.

“Hasn’t she asked you about your career, your life?”

“She thinks I’m in construction with Dad. As far as she knows, you are in finance.”

“At least there’s one truth.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, staring at the ceiling.

“How exactly are you juggling this? How’d you even get approval to move in here?”

I turn my head to see him sweep his hands around the apartment.

“I’m hemorrhaging money. As for getting in, it’s another black mark.”

He sits in the chair across from me, leaning his elbows on his knees and pinning me with his stare. I get the eerie sensation of looking at our mom.

“What are you going to do? “

“I’m going to hand in the final drawings to Uncle Rob, build the model, and insist my name isn’t attached anywhere. Once the bids go live and are no longer anonymous, Rob can have all the credit. Then I’m going to take Greer away somewhere and tell her everything. Hopefully, she won’t be able to run until I grovel enough for every man who has ever fucked up. She will know how much I love her.”

“What if she doesn’t forgive you?”

“She has to forgive me.”

“Brother, this is a huge betrayal. You need to be prepared for her to walk away.” Even with the tenderness in his tone, ice flows through my veins. “I think you need to tell her the truth now. Maybe you can sugarcoat it, make it sound like a coincidence. But the longer you keep up this charade, the harder it’s going to be. You’ve met her friends. She’s invited you into her inner circle.”

“She has to forgive me, Clay,” I repeat.

His expression fills with sympathy at my pathetic plea.

“Shit.” It’s his turn to scrub his hands over his face.

“Yeah, shit.”

“I don’t know whether to punch you or offer my shoulder to cry on.”

“There’s no crying. I’m going to work this out. There’s no other option. Greer is mine. There is no way I’ll ever let her go.”

“You sound like a crazy person.”

“You have no idea. This woman has turned me inside out.”

Silence falls between us, both of us lost in our own thoughts. He shocks me when he cracks a smile and starts to chuckle.

“If this wasn’t so fucked up, I’d think it was fun.”

“Not sure why my misery is so amusing.” I clench my fist, not feeling his hilarity.

“The trail of women you’ve left behind with broken hearts never looked as pitiful as you do right now.”

“I’m finding out Karma really is a bitch.”

“Remember when I thought I was in love with that girl in college? Your advice was to see a doctor because you were convinced I was insane?”

“I stand by my statement. You were insane. She was a fucking whack.”

“Maybe she was, but I swore to myself if the day ever came that you admitted you were in love, I’d make sure to return your sentiments. Show you how it feels.”

“Is that what you’re going to do now? Kick me while I’m down?”

“Hell no, you’re doing enough kicking for the both of us. And, honestly, I can’t even stay mad. She was in this room less than five minutes, and I may have fallen in love with her a little.”

“She’s easy to love.”

“Think of all the times you said falling in love wasn’t your style.”

“I hadn’t met Greer.”

I decide to give him another tidbit of information he can use against me for the rest of my life. “She’s a trivia buff. Loves that shit. Wins tournaments all over the city.”

“Trivia, huh?”

“She and her friends call themselves the Nerd Herd.”

“So, let me get this straight. Lawson Hall, playboy extraordinaire, has fallen head over ass for a geek?”

“A hot, sexy, incredibly gorgeous geek that makes me look like a dumbass at these events. One night, I was schooled on the elements and chemical make-up of semen.”

His jaw drops, and it’s my turn to grin. “Yep, semen.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, because I’m thoroughly convinced you have lost your mind. This makes me as evil and deranged as you. But tell me more about this girl. Maybe I can figure out a way to help you keep her when the truth comes out.”

I know my time is limited, but I launch into the story, leaving out only the intimate details. When I’m done, he looks as sick as I feel.

“You’ve got one thing going for you. She’s in love with you.”

“Let’s hope it’s enough.” I blow out a breath as my phone dings with the text that she’s ready.

“Give her this weekend, Lawson. But, next week, you have to tell her the truth.”

I nod, knowing he’s right, but selfishly, I’m not prepared for the risk.

•∞•∞•

“Babe, you’re freezing.” I strengthen my hold to try and stop her shivering.

“I’ll get warm in a second. The fire’s about to get going.” She curls into me further, her still damp hair soaking into my shirt. “Besides, you’re like an inferno. Your body heat is all I need.”

“I could carry you to the truck and turn on the heat. At least until you stop trembling.”

She raises her face to mine with a determined glare. “I will be fine. Soon, Enrique and Jonas will use their master pyro techniques to have a blaze so big we’ll be sweating.”

“Here we go!” Jonas steps back from the fire pit, and a huge blaze sparks in the air, the flames growing wide and high.

The heat reaches us instantly, and Greer claps along with her friends.

“Okay, we have almost an hour until dark. Who’s helping me with dinner?” Bessie looks around for takers.

“The pasta salad is done and in the cooler. I’ve already marinated the kabobs and veggies, too,” Greer tells her.

“So, the guys can cook, and we can lounge back and drink?”

“Actually,” Greer unfolds herself out of my embrace and hoists to her feet, “I wanted to show Lawson around.”

There’s a low grumble from the group, but Jenny flashes me an encouraging smile. An unnerving feeling settles in my gut, but I rise and take Greer’s hand in mine.

“Lead the way.” I let her trope me through the campsite and along a well-paved path until we stand at the edge of a vast manicured lawn. A hundred yards in the distance is an enormous mansion lit up brighter that anything I’ve ever seen. The stone structure is built in an English architecture style, with high points in the rooflines and tons of intricate details.

It’s an architect’s dream. Whoever designed this structure is brilliant.

“That’s amazing.”

“It’s mine.” She moves in front of me, chewing on her bottom lip. “All of this is mine.”

I tense, unprepared for her confession. “It’s yours?”

“I’ve been hiding a part of my life from you. It’s something I hold close and don’t share with anyone outside of my circle. But it’s not fair to be dishonest with you anymore.”

“Dishonest with me?” My throat goes dry.

“My dad is an extremely successful business man, Lawson. Successful enough to have this house in the Hamptons, a penthouse on Fifth Avenue, and several properties around the world.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah, I’m a part of a very wealthy family. I’ve chosen to live my life on my own, but he knows how much I love this place. Mom and I used to spend summers here. It became hard when she died, but every time I’m here, she’s with me. Dad thought about selling it, until we agreed we couldn’t let it go. When I met my friends at college, we came here one weekend and the guys went wandering. Jonas came back and declared they’d found the perfect place to camp. He convinced us to try it. Since then, we have one weekend a year when we do the primitive thing, but in the summers, we spend our time at the house.”

A mixture of jealousy and longing comes over me, and it has nothing to do with the mansion in the distance. I want to be a part of her summers in the Hamptons for the rest of my life. I want us to make our own memories. My heart clenches in my chest that the chance of this may never happen.

My conscience screams at me that this is the perfect time to start untangling my web of lies. Question her more and then tell her my ‘construction’ company is actually a development group as well. Convince her this is all a coincidence. But my brain can’t find the words.

“Lawson, say something.” She continues to chew on her lip, her eyes rimmed with worry.

“Wow,” is all I can find to reply.

“It’s a little overwhelming, I know. That’s why I keep my identity quiet. When people discover I have money, it changes things. ”

I step into her space, cup her face in my hands, and rub my thumbs across her cheeks. “Nothing changes with us. Money or not, you’re still my Greer.”

Relief flashes in her eyes, and she wraps her arms around my waist. “Are you upset I’ve kept it from you?”

“I don’t consider this a secret. It’s a part of getting to know you.”

“Thank God! I’ve been so worried this would scare you off, especially the part about not being completely honest.”

My stomach rolls at the word ‘honest’. “There’s nothing in this world that would scare me away from you.”

A small smile forms on her lips right before she rises on her tip-toes and brushes her mouth against mine.

Usually, her kisses would sooth any worry away, but a realization slams into me and I tense.

“Lawson, what’s wrong?”

“I realize there’s nothing I can give you that you don’t already have. I can’t compete with this level of wealth.”

Coming into this scam, I knew Greer was rich, but it didn’t matter because it was all a farce. Now, it occurs to me that I have nothing to offer.

“That line of thinking is exactly why I was afraid to tell you.”

I cup her chin and cheeks, lifting her face back to mine. “You misunderstand me. I told you nothing would scare me away. I just need to up my game.”

“Up your game?”

“Yeah, baby, your money is irrelevant because I’m going to be the one to take care of you.”

“You already do. I’ve never been this happy. You give me something money never could. I feel loved.”

“You’re surrounded by love, baby. It’s in your voice every time you talk about your dad. Your friends adore you, and your clients think you walk on water. My job goes deeper. My job is to let you know you’re cherished, adored, and worshipped. Love is only scratching the surface.”

Her breath hitches. Without saying the actual words, I’ve declared my feelings. The worry fades, and her eyes start to shimmer, the beautiful green glowing so bright they pierce into my soul.

“What are the chances I can get started on that worshipping part right now?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“It starts with stripping you naked and ends with you yelling my name.” I lean down and nip her bottom lip, touching the tip of my tongue to hers.

“We can’t,” she whispers into my mouth.

“Why not?”

“Because I think my dad has security cameras installed at the perimeter of the property. We could trip some kind of motion detector.”

“That’s unfortunate.” I thrust my hips into her, my cock already hard at the small taste of her.

“Next time I’m in the house, I’ll figure out exactly where they are aimed.”

“You do that. For tonight, I guess I’ll have to wait until we get into the tent.”

“We can’t do that either. What about the others?”

“You’ll have to be quiet.”

“I can—”

“Shhh.” I swipe my tongue around hers again. “Let’s wipe the word can’t out of your vocabulary. Trust me.”

She parts her lips, allowing me full access, and I delve in, kissing her deep. My hands grip her face a little tighter, my body lighting on fire. She clutches my waist, grinding against me as I devour her mouth. My dick strains against the elastic waistband, begging for release. Fucking her this morning seems like a lifetime ago as need and hunger boil in my blood.

She twists us so my back is now facing the property and inches us to the side a bit. It doesn’t register in my lust-filled mind until she slides a hand into my shorts, scraping the tip of my cock with her fingernail. Then she glides her hand all the way down my shaft and begins stroking me in the same rhythm as our tongues dancing together. I groan into her mouth when the fiery sensations start shooting down my spine.

My hips buck into her hand as she expertly works me to the point of panting. My heart races as I break away from her mouth and press my forehead against hers.

“What are you doing?”

“Shhh.” She mimics me from earlier and, tightening her grip, jerks me harder. Blood rushes to my dick and my balls start to tighten. Her mouth moves along my jawline until her lips are at my ear.

“I can feel the vein in your cock throbbing against my palm.”

Stroke

“It’s warm and pulsing.”

Stroke

“I’m imaging this morning, naked, underneath you as you pounded into me.”

Stroke

“Can you imagine it?”

Stroke

A low, throaty groan is my answer.

“Naked, writhing, panting, begging… Do you remember?”

The picture is vivid in my head, and suddenly, the warmth of her hand transforms to resemble the heat of her pussy. I growl, bucking my hips wildly. She pumps up and down, occasionally skimming her thumb across the crown and circling.

My hands slide up her hips and under her shirt until I can graze my fingers over her hardened nipples. Even through the fabric of her bra, I feel the heat from her skin. She presses her chest into my hands, her breath coating my ear as her own breathing hitches.

“Now, imagine me on my knees, sucking you deep. My tongue runs up and down until it swirls around your tip, licking you the way you like it.”

Stroke

When this vision fills my mind, my head falls to her neck and I moan her name so loud I’m sure the crew at the campsite hears me. My balls tighten then release as I come all over her hand. The warm liquid hits my stomach as she continues to pump.

My chest heaves, and I try to catch my breath. Her movements slow until she lets go, pulling her hand from my shorts. I can’t move for several minutes, trying to regain my composure.

Finally, I find my voice. “What the fuck was that?”

“That was me proving we can’t be quiet.”

I raise my face to find her grinning triumphantly.

“You think giving me a hand job in the woods while filling my head with sexy as fuck images is going to stop me?”

She shrugs. “I’m not sure if it will deter you, but it will make you understand we need to get creative.”

Jesus Christ.

She’s pure perfection in every way.

I brush my lips across hers lightly, squeezing her tits once more before pulling away. “Who’d have thought such a sweet mouth could put such wickedly erotic thoughts in my head?”

“I have a lot more tricks up my sleeve.”

I take her hand, wipe it off with the underside of my shirt, and then link her fingers with mine.

“I’m a determined man, Greer, and you’ve just set the bar.”

I tug her along back to the campsite, eager to find a place of seclusion for later tonight. She giggles the whole way.

When we get back, four sets of eyes are focused on us.

“What happened out there?” Jenny asks.

“Nothing, why?” Greer replies innocently.

“We heard Lawson yell.”

“Oh, that. I saw a snake and screamed, jumping on his back. He wasn’t prepared, so he yelled my name and stumbled.”

Not one person believes that, but they have the decency to drop it.

“So, is the cat out of the bag?” Jonas directs his question at me.

“If you mean that I’ve found out my girlfriend is loaded and we’re going to be spending a lot of time here in the summer, then yes, the cat’s out of the bag.”

“Thank God, I was starting to get fidgety about saying something wrong. Greer swore us to secrecy until she could tell you.”

“Well, I know now, and it doesn’t matter to me.”

Jenny and Bessie sigh approvingly, and Greer squeezes my hand.

“I understand one thing, though. I couldn’t figure out why there was a state of the art, modernized bathroom in the middle of nowhere. That bathhouse seemed out of place.”

“Yeah, my dad had it built the first time we mentioned camping out here.” Greer explains.

“Let’s eat. I’m starving.” Jenny changes the subject abruptly. “Your little escapade meant that I drank way too much fireball on an empty stomach.”

Greer lets go of my hand and goes to help with the food.

Jonas and Enrique come to my side, Enrique handing me a cold beer. His eyes roam from my face to my rumpled shirt, then back up.

“Saw a snake, my ass. More like she was taming a snake,” he mutters under his breath.

I chuckle and tip my beer to him. “Consider him tamed.”