XanderI inwardly groaned. Just what we needed, more opinions. I got up from the table and took the binder with me. I said nothing on my way out. I was ready to get to the hotel and hop in a pool or a cold shower. My hired car was just pulling up to the curb when I stepped outside. I practically ran to get into the back of the car. I directed him to take me to the hotel without making any stops.When I got to my room, I was stripping out of my clothes before the door closed behind me. I headed directly for the shower, stepping under lukewarm spray. The huge shower gave me ample room to turn and make sure every inch of skin was the recipient of the soothing spray.After finally cooling off and feeling human again, I pulled on a pair of underwear and nothing else. I grabbed a beer from the minibar, not caring that it probably cost twenty bucks, and flopped down on the sofa. I had barely taken the first long drink when my phone began to vibrate on the table. I got up, expecting it to be
EvieI walked into Nelle’s bar, my face glued to my phone like a true millennial. I was smiling as I sent back a lips emoji in response to something Xander had texted. I barely looked up as I walked through the door, navigating my way around the tables to my seat at the end of the bar.“No,” I heard Nelle say.I looked up and found her staring at me with her hands on her hips. “What?”“Don’t you dare turn into one of those zombies.”“I’m not a zombie,” I protested at the same time my phone vibrated in my hand. I had to look down and see the message.“Yes, you are. Put your phone down.”I smiled and put my phone on the bar, facedown. “There, happy now?”She frowned at me. “I’m not sure. Do you want a drink?”“A glass of red would be nice, thank you.”“Are you off for the night?”I nodded. “For the whole weekend.”“Wow! That has to be a first.”“I know and I cannot wait to just unwind for two days in a row.”She laughed. “I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”“It’s going to be
EvieMy phone vibrated again. It was a phone call. My immediate reaction was it had to be him. “Oh, it’s my dad,” I said when I saw his number. I slid off the stool and headed toward the back corner of the bar near the restrooms to hear better.“Hey, Dad,” I answered.“Evie? Is that you?”“Yes, Dad, who else would have my phone?”“I hear a lot of noise. Are you working?”I looked around the bar. “No, I’m at the bar.”“Oh, visiting Nelle,” he surmised. It was only a little embarrassing that my father knew how straitlaced I was and knew I wouldn’t be hanging out at a bar on a Friday night. I never did get that rebellious streak. I sometimes wondered if I missed out on something good.“Yes, I am visiting Nelle,” I answered. It was sad I wanted to lie and tell him I was there drinking and hanging all over men. I was not normal.“Do you have anything going on tomorrow night?” he asked.I bit my lip. I was hoping to spend some time with Xander, but we had made no firm plans. My dad was my
XanderAfter a false start home yesterday due to some stupid storm, I was finally home. The pilot had called me bright and early in the morning. He informed we had a small window to take off. I packed my shit and made it to the small airport by five. In California time, that was two. My body was screwed up. I hoped to go back to sleep but it was impossible.I cracked a few eggs into a pan before popping some bread into the toaster. I wasn’t a chef. I didn’t cook a lot, but I could cook a few things. My eyes felt gritty from the lack of sleep. I made another cup of coffee, thankful it took less than a minute to be ready to drink and sipped it while my breakfast cooked.I sat down at the kitchen bar with my iPad propped up on a holder. I took a bite of the eggs while scanning through the headlines for the day. The world was going to hell in a handbasket, as my father would say. It was depressing to read the news.My phone rang, interrupting my quiet morning. It was still early for a Sat
XanderI smiled. “It’s more about my like of privacy and quiet.”“Your stairs go directly down to the beach?” she asked.“Yes, they do. It’s steep, and it can be a hell of a workout, but it is well worth it. One of these days, I might buy a house that is right on the beach.”“I’ve always dreamed about living on the beach,” she commented as she took a seat on one of the overstuffed white couches. “Not this beach because it is always so packed but maybe a little more up north. Better yet, a deserted island.”“Now, you are talking,” I said with a laugh.“Do you have people that try and sneak up here?”“Not a lot. There is a locked gate below, but you know drunk kids.”“You need an island,” she said with a nod.It did sound appealing. “I might just look into that.”“Then you wouldn’t have to worry about sharing your beach with anyone else,” she reasoned.“It does get packed during the summer, but during the fall and winter, it’s pretty quiet down there. I like to go down and just spend th
EvieI was a nervous wreck. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was. I wasn’t sure if I was nervous about seeing Xander or nervous about Xander meeting my father. It was new territory for me. He would be the first in a long, long, long time. I couldn’t even remember when I brought a man home. A boy. I think the last time I was probably sixteen and going to the Homecoming dance with an upperclassman. That had been a fucking nightmare.I stared down at the three dresses I had pulled from my closet and laid on my bed. I couldn’t decide what to wear. I was acting like it was my first date with Xander. It was, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t a date. It was dinner with my dad and Xander would be along for the ride. Not a date.I decided to hop in the shower before it got too late to do it and then I would really be freaking out. I showered, shaved, and slathered lotion from head to toe. I put on a matching bra and panty set that made me feel sexy. I was going through way too much trouble for a date t
Evie“That is really stupid. If you have strong feelings for this guy, which I can tell you do, have another conversation with him. Talk to him about maybe casually seeing each other. Ease into the whole thing. Don’t show up at his house wearing a wedding dress and carrying a magazine about babies. Go slow and easy and see if he’s the skittish type.”“You make it sound like I’m approaching a rabid animal,” I quipped.“I have found most men resemble scared little beasts,” she answered. “A tranquilizer gun might be needed.”I burst into laughter. “I’m not going to tranq Xander and drag him back to my place and tell him he will be mine.”“I think there is a movie about that,” she mused aloud.She had effectively lightened the mood. I felt a little better. Not a lot but enough to be my usual rational self. “Okay, now, I need a dress.”“Wear that dress and your black heels. Leave your hair down and make sure you go a little darker on the eye makeup than usual.”I got up and picked up the d
XanderI pulled my car up to the valet and got out, handing him the keys. Evie was standing outside the restaurant, waiting for me. I walked toward her, putting one hand on her waist and dropping a kiss on her cheek. “You look stunning,” I told her.The dress she was wearing hugged every curve. It gave her an hourglass figure, a la Marilyn Monroe. I liked it. If only we weren’t having dinner with her father. My imagination was running wild. There was so much I could say to her that would get her juices flowing and get her into that bathroom stall with me pounding deep inside her.“Thank you.”“You are meeting me outside,” I commented. “Does that mean your dad isn’t here yet?”“No, he’s here. He’s always early.”I grimaced. “And I’m always late.”“You’re not late tonight. At least, not that late.”“Sorry,” I murmured.“It’s fine.”She didn’t move to go into the restaurant. I could sense her discomfort. “Is everything okay?”“Yes, of course. Great.”I touched her cheek, being careful no
XanderLaughter floated out of the ballroom behind us. I was glad everyone was having a good time. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work over the year. Every person in there deserved to celebrate their success, including Charlie’s crew.“What kind of business?” she asked. “Are you guys cooking up another scheme to make ships even faster?”“No. I think I’m good for a while now. I have more important matters to focus on.”She touched my cheek. “I better be one of those matters.”“You are. You absolutely are.”“My dad is pretty excited to be a part of all of this,” she commented.“He should be. He made it possible, which is why I gave him a check for his cut of the profits.”Her mouth fell open. “You did what?”I shrugged. “Without him, I never would have gotten those first few ships to try out the new hardware. He offered suggestions that made it work even better. He deserved—no, he earned—that money.”“Wow. Did he accept it?”I laughed and nodded. “Oh yeah, he did. His name is a
XanderOne year laterPride. That was what I felt in that moment. My ships were heading out to sea. Everyone else was already making their way back away from the dock. I couldn’t leave just yet. I watched the ships navigate out to sea one at a time. I didn’t have children, but I imagined what I was feeling was similar to what a proud papa would feel.I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Charlie next to me.“This is a big day,” he said.“It is. You pulled it off.”“You pulled it off.”“What do you think?” I asked him. “Is it going to work? Do you foresee them falling apart halfway around the world?”He shook his head. “My guys did excellent work. That shit is solid.”“Good. Those test ships seem to be holding up.”“Of course, they will. My team is the best. Your idea wasn’t half-bad either.”“Thanks,” I said, watching as one of the ships cleared the harbor.“You know, you could have made a lot more money with that plan,” he lectured.“I could have but I already have a lot of
Evie“I’m going to make love to you all night,” he promised. “This is just the beginning. This is to tide me over until we get home. I want you in my bed. I want me inside you.”“Yes,” I gasped, my head dropping to my chest as he slid in and out of me. Every stroke touched new places. Every stroke sent my body into a wild tailspin of desire and need. “Please. Please. Don’t stop.”He didn’t speed up his pace. He kept moving in that slow steady rhythm, sliding in, grinding his hips, and then gliding out and leaving just the tip inside me. The spasms rocking through me made it difficult for me to remain standing. I wanted to crumble in a heap at his feet with him still inside me.“This is just the first,” he said, his voice strained. “I can’t hold back. Your body is milking me. You are too tight. Too hot. Too fucking wet.”“Don’t hold back,” I told him. I needed his release. I could feel mine hovering just out of reach as if my body refused to give in until it had his complete surrender.
EvieI was being terribly irresponsible. I was not the girl who got naked in the park and had sex. Unfortunately, when I was with Xander, all bets were off.And he loved me. The words echoed through my mind over and over. He loved me. I would follow him into the fires of hell knowing he loved me. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed to hear those words from him.He loved me. I loved him. I didn’t know what that meant for the two of us, but damn if I was going to pass up the chance to find out. The way he was kissing me was different. Maybe it was mind over matter, but I could practically taste the love on his tongue. It was in the way he touched me. The gentleness of his hand on my cheek, holding me steady while his tongue plundered inside my mouth.“Over here,” he said as he broke his mouth away from mine.I felt a little dazed. His kiss made me feel drunk on lust. Again, I was ready to follow him anywhere if it meant I got more kisses like that. He took my hand and led me away f
Xander“Xander, I want to believe you, but I’m hesitant.”“I know. I expect that. It isn’t just the memories of Kade that brought me back. You. Memories of being with you. Thinking about this place and our time together. Those are all really good memories. I want more memories like that.”“You are saying all the right things,” she said with a smile. “You know I can’t resist you.”“I’m counting on it.”“I’m glad you are back,” she said.“Me too. Does this mean you will entertain the idea of having a relationship with me?”“I could be convinced,” she said.“I am going to work very hard to convince you,” I vowed.She sipped her wine. “How are you doing? Like really doing?”“I’m doing a lot better thanks to you.”“Thanks to me?”“You are a sneaky little lady,” I told her.She raised her eyebrows. “Me? Sneaky?”“I got a call yesterday.”“Congratulations.”“Oh, you’re cheeky too.” I laughed. I opened the picnic basket and pulled out the small cheese tray and peeled back the plastic. “You ho
XanderI was so close to losing her. I sensed it in her voice. I wasn’t expecting her to jump at the chance to see me, but I wasn’t expecting such resistance either.The sense of urgency I felt was making me anxious. I couldn’t imagine my life without her. It had taken me way too long to realize how I felt about her. Anytime I thought about my life in a month or a year or in ten years, she was there. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but I knew she was a person I wanted in my life. It wasn’t even a want. It was a need. I needed the woman like I needed air.I was prepared to chase her down if I had to. I would do whatever it took to make her hear me out. I knew there was still a chance she would kick me to the curb. I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I had fucked up. A lot. I would spend the next year trying to convince her to give me a chance. I couldn’t explain when things clicked but they had.It was like the light went on. I hated that I was so ignorant for so damn long. I hated to thin
Evie“I don’t know,” I answered. “I didn’t take the call. I was in a meeting. And it wasn’t the kind of meeting that allowed me to answer my phone.”“Did he leave a voicemail?”“Nope.”“I hate that,” she groaned.“Me too. If it was important, he could leave a message. The guy has fallen off the face of the earth again. He hasn’t called or texted and now he blows up my phone? I’m not interested.”“Liar,” she shot back.“Okay, I am interested but I don’t want to make it too easy.”“You know you’re never going to be able to think of anything else if you don’t call him back and find out what he wants.”“Won’t that make me sound like I’m desperate for his attention?” I asked.“No. The man called you. Calling him back is just polite.”Truly, I was looking for her approval. She had given it to me and now I was anxious to call him and find out. “I’m going to do it.”“Let me know,” she said and hung up.I held the phone in my hand, tapping it against my forehead. I needed to mentally brace mys
EvieI pulled up the images from a sweet-sixteen party I had planned about six months ago before I turned my laptop for the new client to see.“Oh wow, that is stunning!” the mother exclaimed.“I don’t want pink,” the spoiled princess pouted.I smiled, remaining calm. “You don’t have to have pink. You can choose any color you want.”“No,” the mother quickly interjected. “We are not having black.”The girl scowled. “I wasn’t going to say black.”I kept my smile in place. The affluent family had reached out to me last week. Initially, I didn’t want to do it. I was in no mood to deal with a spoiled teenager.“What colors were you thinking about?” I asked.“Purple,” she answered. “I want several shades of purple.”“Oh, that’s very regal,” her mother said with a relieved smile. “I like it.”“I was at a party you planned for my friend like a year ago,” the young girl said. “She said you were really good. My party has to be better than her party.”Ah, teenage envy. “We will do our best.”“We
Xander“No, I don’t suppose it was. You did it for yourself. You made something of yourself. I’ve kept my head in the sand, trying to ignore what you’ve been doing. I did a little research. You have changed the world, just like you said you were going to. You really did something remarkable. Your mother used to show me newspaper clippings with your name. I know I didn’t say it, but I’m proud of you. I’ve always been proud of you.”I put the bottle of beer down. I could not continue to drink it if he was going to send me into coughing fits every time he dropped one of his little bombshells. “You are?”“I am. I should have told you before. You are my son. I’ve said some pretty shitty things. I don’t know how to make them go away but I was hoping we could try and start over.”I felt like I was being pranked. Maybe I was dreaming. In thirty-two years, my father had never believed I was worthy of his last name. “You want to start over? I’m sorry, Dad. This is all coming out of left field.