MattI understood why she wanted me to leave, but that didn't make the pain any less. I got home around four that morning and dropped down on the new couch I'd splurged on. Pleasure still pumped through my veins, and would for hours to come because of her.She was by far the finest, most put-together woman I'd ever known. And thanks to that, the worry over me falling short cropped up. I set my alarm and forced it away before slipping into a deep sleep that had me almost ignoring the incessant buzzing around me."What?" I jerked up, covered in sweat. Fear raced across my mind. "Just a dream."I got up and lifted my hands toward the ceiling, stretching and trying to still my beating heart before walking toward the shower. I had to be in the office at nine for my first day as part of the advertising think-tank at M&B. Whatever the hell that meant.A groan left me as I flipped on the light to the bathroom and started the shower. Everything hurt. Fucking yoga. Not only had I contorted myse
Matt"You have a minute?" My girl was ruling the room, and everything about the power dripping off of her left me hard and achy.Professional. Stay professional. "Absolutely." I walked to the door as she moved out into the hall. I paused and glanced back toward Lewis. "I'll get that tour when I get back if you're still up for it.""Absolutely, man. Take your time."I walked out into the hall and almost plowed into Erica. I reached out and grabbed the back of her shoulders, not quite sure why she'd stopped."Hey." I pressed myself to her back and ran my hands down her arm."Sorry. I almost lost a thought from a meeting I had earlier. I need to write it down." And like that, she was jogging down the hall toward her office.I laughed under my breath and followed her into her spacious corner office. "It's nice in here. Who you gotta sleep with to get one of these big beauties?"She glanced up from scribbling something down on a post-it note. "Ha. Ha.""What? This is great." I walked to t
EricaIt had been one hell of a week trying to work through some of the things on my long-list of to-dos at work, help Matt with the painting, and avoid both him and Mitch on the relationship front. I had no doubt that Matt and I would end up together, but I wanted to be more cautious about it after knowing how insecure he was.The man in the bedroom was a little bit different from the one that had everyone laughing at the office and swooning in the boardroom, but not much. When he wasn't paying attention to how people reacted, he was simply himself, and more like his father and Damon than he probably realized.I sat in my office on Friday morning and flipped through my personal journal. I had so many decisions to make, but I wanted to ensure that they were grounded in truth. The truth was that I loved Matt, and had for two years. The truth was that he left my heart soaring, my body on fire and my mind spinning.And the truth was simply that I was scared. We were so close to becoming
Erica"Hey, pretty girl." He turned toward me as I opened the door and got into the car."Hey. The traffic bad on the way over here?" I buckled up and stiffened a little as he leaned over and pulled me into a warm kiss. It only took a second of being pressed against him to loosen me up. How lame were my standards?"Not bad at all. I'd drive anywhere to get to you though." He wagged his eyebrows before moving back into his seat. "So tell me about this gallery. I haven't heard much about it.""It's locally owned, like a lot of the galleries around here. The artist actually lives in Paris, but his sister runs the gallery here for him. His pieces are abstract, complex, hard to decipher.""Hmmm... sounds like my kind of guy.""Very true." I clasped my hands in my lap and sunk back against my seat. "I'm so glad this week is over.""I bet." He reached over and wrapped his hand around mine. "I'm looking forward to the weekend.""Me too. It'll be nice to get out of here for a while.""Who's wa
MattShe was pulling back - big time. Where I was the one trying with all my might to prove myself to her, the more I pushed, the farther she seemed to pull back. She was fine with sex, but talking about the relationship? No.I brushed my fingers by my lips as I pulled up to the private hanger. She was supposed to pick me up that morning, but I was running a little behind and didn't want to put her in a frenzy because of it.I needed a new tactic. Damon would know what to do.After parking, I grabbed my bag and walked to the plane as anticipation danced in my stomach. No matter what happened between us, I was pretty sure she would forever have an impact on me. There hadn't been a time over the last two years of her working for my father at M&B that seeing her hadn't left me tingling, excited, scared.I walked up the stairs and nodded at the flight attendant before turning my attention on Erica. Her hair was in a loose bun and her dress was business-like, but a little more casual than
Matt"Are you sure you're okay with me staying here?" Erica glanced over toward my father as he nodded."Yes. Karen and I had Martha make up a bed for you and everything. It's just overnight, and you know you're always welcome in my home, Erica." My dad moved forward and pulled Erica into a hug before glancing over at me. "How are you? Behaving?""Never." I wagged my eyebrows and moved up to hug him. The smell blasting out of the kitchen left me feeling like home would always be my dad's house, no matter how old I got. "Where's Damon? Bethany?""They're out back. Let's get your luggage stowed away and you can join them." Karen moved to pick up my bag. My stepmother was petite like Bethany. I chuckled and picked up the bag."No way are you toting our stuff. Just lead the way, and I'll put it up." I took Erica's bag from her as my father wrapped an arm around her shoulders."Red or white wine," he asked her while leading her into the kitchen."Both?" She laughed and the sound filled me
EricaIt was odd how much I felt like I belonged at the table with Matt and his family. He made sure to pull me into every conversation and touched me in some matter over and over, almost as if he wanted to reassure me that I belonged to him, but did I?Of course I did. Why was I fighting it so damn hard?"I'll clean all of this stuff up," Karen spoke to Kent. "You guys just go have your meeting with Erica here. There is no reason for you to go all the way up to the office.""Sounds good." Kent stood and stretched before glancing down at me and then to Damon. "You guys okay with that?"Bethany and Martha picked up a handful of empty dishes, and I felt odd not helping clear the table."Yep. I'm going to start a fire in the living room and then we can talk. That okay?" Damon got up and moved away from the table."I'll help clean up and then join you guys." I smiled and stood, gathering plates and ignoring everyone fussing around me about me working on the dishes. "Hey. I like being invo
EricaThe meeting with Kent was over by the time Damon walked into the living room, sweaty and huffing like a freight train."We all good?" He panted and lifted his thumb toward us.I laughed, unable to help myself. I'd seen the more playful side of Damon Bryant a few times over the years, but nothing like he was around his little brother. It was comforting and depressing all in the same moment. My brother and I had a horrible, tense relationship. What I wouldn't have given for it to be more playful, or at least somewhat loving."We're good, and I should fire you and hire Erica here. She's the only one among you who doesn't goof off all the time." Kent stood up and glanced down at me. "You want a CFO job?""Not only no, but hell no." I stood up and twisted around, stretching my back."Well, damn. Never mind, son. You're stuck." Kent turned and handed me the final sketch. "I love the last one. Swing it by Mitch and let's get rolling on it. Great job, as always.""Thanks." I bent down a