Chapter 27
Easton
I woke the next morning with her still in my arms. I'd already showered the night before after she slipped into a deep sleep, but holding her through the night was something I couldn't deny myself the chance to do. I'd confessed my desires during our love-making, but like anyone with any sense in their head, she'd want to hear it when we weren't naked and fucking each other like animals. I could understand that.
I fixed breakfast and left a note on the counter that her plate was sitting wrapped up in the microwave. I had to meet with Jon and stop by to see my folks before heading to the airport. I should have woken her up before leaving, but she was too peaceful lying in the midst of my dark sheets. Her silky, crimson locks were spilled out across my bed, her breasts heavy and half uncovered as she lay on her side sleeping soundly.
Canceling the trip seemed like a good idea until I walked out of the building and headed downtown. My career was going to be the only mistress that Vivian would have to contend with, and it was honestly going to be up to me to figure out just how to balance the two of them. I couldn't let one or the other down. Sadly enough, my career was still pulling slightly ahead of my love life, even though I was almost a hundred percent sure that I'd found the girl I'd be proposing to in the future.
The drive downtown was a bear, but I only spent an hour in the car, which wasn't too terribly bad. Jon's secretary, Sherry, greeted me as I walked in.
"Hi, Mr. Parks. Nice to see you again. I assume your trip to Florida went well?" She stood and pressed her hands on the top of her elevated desktop.
"It was great." I put the packet of my reports in front of her. "Here are my write-ups. Just send them back to me when you guys have reviewed them. I'm in L.A. this next week, but I'll check in the following week to see if you or Jon need anything else from me." I turned as Jon stuck his head out of the large double doors and smiled at me.
"Good. I was just about to have Sherry call you. Come on in. I have twenty minutes and then I need to run. I think Bethany is having contractions." He waved me in. "Let's make this the quickest meeting we've ever had."
"Jon, this can wait. Go to the hospital or wherever you need to be." I walked into his office as he closed the door.
"No, it's good. Her mother is with her, and honestly, I can't stand the woman. I do need to head out in twenty minutes. So seriously, take a seat and let's talk." He sat down behind his large cherry-wood desk. "You turned in your reports?"
"Oh, course I did." I took a seat and adjusted my tie. "I spoke with Jeffry Bryan just before leaving, he's one of the main managers on staff at-"
"La Mage. I know Jeffry. He called this morning, but I haven't had time to get back in touch with him." Jon brushed his fingers over his mustache. "Did something happen?"
"Yeah. He pulled me into a private room on Saturday night and said that they'd somehow seen several reviews that Kevin was touting about on food items that they know he didn't try. They're talking about a slander suit against us if those reviews go live." I sat back, a little more deflated by having to be the bearer of bad news than I thought I would be.
Jon stood up as his face turned red. "What? Are you fucking kidding me?"
"No, Jon. They have his order list from his room service, and they have cameras that they've checked. The guy is a fucking weasel. I told you that before I left for the trip. I wasn't being an ass. He's a really shitty guy." I pressed my hands to my knees. "I'll write up everything I witnessed and transcribe the conversation with Jeffry, too. We'll just get him to sign off on his portion of it so you'll have the right amount of ammo to let Kevin go."
"Aww...fuck." Jon slumped down in his chair. "Do you know how hard it is to find a food critic? It's damn near impossible. We had this conversation already, too."
"I know, but I'm going to help out. I know I haven't been here but a few years, but I'm looking to spend my career here, which means helping the company grow in all areas." I stood and slipped my hands into the pockets of my pants. "I think I might have found someone that would be great for us. She's going to work on putting together some reports for you. Would you be willing to look them over and maybe bring her in to talk to you?"
"Is she green, Easton? You know that I can't put someone fresh from the streets in Kevin's position. The press would never go for that." He ran his fingers through his salt and pepper hair and shook his head. "Why is it when everything seems to be going good that the rug just has to get pulled out from under you?"
"I'll let you get to your wife, but don't sweat this. We'll figure it out. I can critique food until we find the right person." I shrugged. "I'd do that for you."
"You're already killing yourself for us." He stood and extended his hand. "Thanks for bringing this into me, Easton. I really appreciate it. It just shows your loyalty to our brand. Get that shit typed up for me and give me the reports so we're covered when I bring Kevin in. What a fucking waste."
"I will, and promise me that you'll read over the girl's reviews." I lifted my eyebrow, not willing to let him off the hook that easily.
"Alright. Shit. I'll read them, but you know how I feel about newbies." He picked up his phone. "Be safe on your flight and check in later this week sometime."
"Will do, boss. Tell Bethany good luck for me. I'll be thinking about you guys." I turned and walked to the door as he picked up a call and started yelling at some poor schmuck about stock values.
I waved to Sherry and walked to the car as the notion of bringing Vivian into the company shifted from a possibly good thing to maybe not my best idea by a long shot. I figured we'd start dating after my trip to L.A. if she was being straightforward about wanting to give it a shot, but maybe I was doing too much. She didn't seem like the kind of woman who would be overly appreciative of a man ruling all areas of her life.
Maybe I needed to let her land her own job and not stick my nose into her business until I talked to her a little about it. I huffed loudly as I reached the car and dismissed the whole idea. It wasn't unlike me to start taking over bits and pieces of some girl's world to make them secure for her. If something happened between us, like a fallout, she wouldn't feel like she was just losing her man, but her job, her apartment.
"Leave it be," I grumbled to myself as I got into the car and drove out of the city to see my folks. The ranch was beautiful and sat nestled into the hills forty minutes out of town. I didn't have more than an hour before I needed to head to the airport, but it was enough time to check in with my folks.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket as I walked to the door, half expecting to see a text or missed call from Vivian, but I had nothing. I texted her quickly that I hoped she had a great day and to call me later. It wasn't overbearing and it made me feel better to reach back out to her. Most girls would have read into me leaving a note after a long night of sex as something negative. I didn't figure Vivian the type, but now that I was away from her, I wasn't so sure.
"Hey, handsome. I was wondering if you forgot us." My mom walked out of the house and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a warm hug and kissing the side of my face several times. "Why is your skin so soft?"
"I've decided to invest in skincare products?" I lifted my eyebrow playfully.
"You big, hairy girl." My father walked out of the house and extended his hand to me. "Good to see you, son."
"You too, Dad." I gave him a hug and pat on the back before walking into the house. The smell of bacon wrapped around me, and I breathed in deeply. I should have brought Vivian with me for breakfast. My mom and dad would have loved her. The sooner I introduced them, the sooner she would know how serious I was about trying to make our lives mesh together.
"So tell us about your trip to Miami." My mom rubbed the top of my back as we walked into the kitchen.
"Where are Clint and Jake?" I glanced around before moving to the stove and picking up the tongs.
"They're on a last minute hunting trip. Clint called to see if they should invite you, but momma told them that you were on a business trip." My dad sat down at the breakfast counter and pulled a coffee cup toward him. "You need to take some time off, Easton. You've been going at it for two years. We barely get to see you at all anymore."
"Yes. I agree. Having off on Christmas day and Easter on occasion isn't going to work." My mom took the tongs from me and bumped me with her hip. "Get a cup of coffee and go sit by your dad. He misses you."
My dad pressed his hand to his face as he fake cried in his usual dramatic fashion.
I rolled my eyes and moved up behind him, wrapping him in a hug and digging my chin into his shoulder as he screamed like a woman.
"Oh yeah? Is that the one tear you cried for me, old man?" I laughed as he twisted violently, trying to shake me off.
"Don't hurt him please. You know he's getting old." My mother sat a cup of coffee in front of me as I slid into the seat next to my dad.
"I'm not old. I'm a freaking spring chicken." My dad glanced at me, waiting.
"I'm not making the chicken sound." I swatted at him as he turned to attack me.
"Boys. Stop it. I want to hear about this girl, East. I know you're on a tight schedule. Warm your mother's heart and tell me that she might be the one." My mom stopped and glanced over at me. Funny enough, my father did too.
"Yeah, she might be her." I shrugged. "Actually, she is. I'm just not sure if she thinks I'm him."
"She will, son. Just be yourself and pull back some on your damn job. Women need attention, and if she's a looker, then some old dog's waiting for a chance to steal her from you." My dad elbowed me in the side. "Ain't that right, Mary?"
"Yes. It is." My mom moved toward us and placed a big plate of bacon down. "Don't eat all that. I'm working on eggs now, and listen to your father. Your job should be important, but there comes a time when everything has to play second string to your family, baby. Now is that time."
She was right, but I wasn't sure how to readjust things or if I was ready to make that deep of a commitment. Surely Vivian would understand and give me a few more years to get ahead. I was so close to being invited into the executive inner circle. A few more years and I'd be there. We could get to know each other and slowly move toward the next level of commitment.
"No girl worth having is going to hang out and wait on you to choose her over that job. Hear me now. You'll lose her." My dad rubbed my back. "Is she worth giving up a few of your dreams for?"
"I don't know, Dad. I think so, but if I'm being totally honest, then I really don't know yet."