“Why?”
Why?
I walk toward him and suddenly feel calm. This is where I’m supposed to be. But he still has some explaining to do.
“Because I’m done running.”
“Jules, what happened on Monday…”
“We’ll get to that. I have a question first.”
His eyes narrow on mine. “What is it?”
“Can I have my necklace back, please?”
Nate’s whole body sags as he sighs and closes his eyes in relief. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out the necklace. “I’ve been carrying it around for four days.”
He holds it out to me, but I shake my head and turn around. “Will you please fasten it?”
I pull my hair out of his way, and he fastens the lovely silver heart pendant around my neck but doesn’t touch me.
Not yet.
And that’s okay, because once he starts, I’m not going to let him stop, and I need to hear what the fuck happened on Monday.
“Let’s sit.” He leads me to the sofa, and we sit.
I kick off my shoes and pull my legs up under me and turn to face him. He brings one leg up on the cushion and faces me, too. We sit like this for a minute, just looking at each other, until I feel tears pool in my eyes.
“Don’t cry,” he whispers. “I can’t stand it when you cry.”
I shake my head and look down at my hands, then take a deep breath and look back up at him, the tears under control.
“I’m listening.”
“Where did you go?” he asks, his voice low and eyes fierce.
“I was at Will’s.”
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m getting there,” I respond.
“You’re done running, Julianne.” He clenches his eyes shut for a moment and then looks at me again, his eyes sad and filled with longing. “I can’t take it when you run away from me.”
“Nate, Monday was…”
“I know exactly what Monday was, and you would, too, if you’d listened to me.”
“It hurt,” I whisper. “I needed you more Monday afternoon than I’ve ever needed anyone, and you weren’t there for me. You didn’t fight with me, for us. It made me feel insignificant and like everything we had was nothing.”
“I know, baby.” His voices softens, and he reaches a hand out to run his knuckles down my cheek, but I pull back out of reach. He flinches. “Jules.”
“Just tell me what happened.”
“You won’t let me touch you? Does that mean that you just want an explanation so you can leave for good?”
I swallow hard and look at his beautiful hands and shake my head slowly, but I can’t talk. Not yet.
“Monday was a clusterfuck, Julianne.” He pulls a hand down his face and suddenly looks very tired. “I was pulled into Vincent’s office as soon as I got to work. He told me that they’d received an anonymous phone call telling them that I’d been having an affair with you. He said that they didn’t have any proof, so at first I denied it.”
“Audrey,” I state, and he nods.
“It was Audrey. She saw us at the Market on Sunday.”
“How does she know about the no-frat policy?” I ask, confused.
Nate sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t know. I have a feeling she’s probably made it her business to look into most everything about me. She’s a nosy woman.”
“So it wasn’t Carly?” I’m so confused.
“No, but she was just a ticking time bomb, too. After you asked about her in the meeting, Vincent had us do some checking into her computer and office. She had extensive notes on you, Jules. She’s the one who sent me that incomplete report in New York. Jenny admitted that she asked her to hit send on your computer after you called that day, and Carly set you up. She was trying to figure out a way to get you fired.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Who knows?” He shrugs and shakes his head. “To move up in the company faster, maybe she just didn’t like you, the possibilities are endless. When confronted, she denied it, but we had enough evidence to fire her.”
“So Carly’s gone, too?”
“Yes.” He exhales deeply.
“What happened that morning?” I ask.
“Vincent told me that he was going to fire you whether I copped to it or not. He said he didn’t need proof, which is true. This is a no-fault state. They can fire anyone for any reason. So I called over to HR to have a representative present, and I told them that, yes, you and I are in a relationship.” He swallows and shakes his head.
“Then Vincent told me that he’d let you stay if I broke it off and transferred you to the New York office.”
I gasp and feel my eyes go wide.
“I told him to go to hell. I told him that I would stay on with the company if he offered you a severance package and cashed out your sick time as well as your vacation time.”
“Nate, it wasn’t about the money…”
“I’m not finished, Julianne.”
Oh, that’s right, this is Nate.
“All right.”
“Then I left his office and went to mine and started making calls. At noon, I was asked to go to the conference room so Vincent could discuss some things with Luis and me about how we’ll handle the accounts with you gone.”
He looks me in the eye. “It was killing me. The thought of having to fire you and planning how to divvy up your work was killing me.”
“You looked just fine in the meeting, Nate.”
“Yeah, well, looks are deceiving. When they pulled you in the room, I wanted to hold you and protect you. But I had a plan, and I couldn’t show you any emotion. I knew you’d be strong and that you would tell the truth, and you didn’t disappoint me, baby.”
“I didn’t have any reason to lie. I knew what I was doing when we started our relationship, Nate.”
“I know. We both did. But we don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
“No, we don’t.”
“I mean, there’s more.” He smiles at me, a wide, beautiful smile, like he has a gift for me. “After you left the building, I made a few more calls, and then ran after you. You know what happened then.”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
“Well, the following day, I handed in my resignation.”
I gasp again and search his face. He looks happy. At peace.
“Nate, God, you didn’t have to…”
“Yeah, I did, Jules. But here’s the best part. You know I’ve done well in this business. I’ve been smart. I’m a very, very wealthy man, sweetheart.”
“Okay.” I narrow my eyes on his face, not sure where he’s going with this.
“Well, as of this morning, you’re looking at the CEO of McKenna Enterprises, LLC. We have clients on board, and Mrs. Glover is coming with us, too.”
“Us?” I ask, in shock.
“Of course, us. It’s going to be a busy year ahead, but I know you’re not afraid of a little hard work.”
Oh my God.
“Are you offering me a job?” I ask, still not entirely grasping what he’s asking.
“No, my love, I’m offering you a partnership. This is our company.”
“Holy shit.”
“Is that your way of accepting the position?” he asks with a grin.
“No-fraternization policy?” I ask.
“I’m not fond of those,” he replies.
“You did this for me?” I whisper, in awe.
“I would do anything for you, baby. When are you going to figure that out?” His face is so serious, so sure.
“Oh, Nate.” I launch myself into his arms, and he pulls me close, buries his face in my neck and holds on tight.
“I love you so much, Julianne. Don’t leave me again. Please.”
I run my fingers through his hair and soak in his warmth. “I’m here.”
He pulls back and gazes down at me, brushes his knuckles down my cheek and kisses my forehead. “Your skin is so soft.”
“Natalie and I had
my birthday spa treatments today.”
“You deserved them,” he murmurs.
“Nate?”
“Yes, baby.”
I pull my fingers down his face, so in love with this sweet man. “When can I move in?”
“I’ll call a moving company in the morning.”
Epilogue
“Are the arrangements all made, Jenny?” I ask my assistant.
“Yes, sir, everything is ready.” Jenny winks at me, and I smile back. Bringing her with Julianne and me to the new company was one of the best moves I’ve ever made.
“Thank you. You can go ahead and go home for the weekend.”
“Great, I’ll do that. Happy birthday, Mr. McKenna.”
“Thank you, Jenny.”
Jenny pulls her purse out of her desk just as Julianne comes out of her office, looking fucking amazing in her red dress and black heels, hair all loose around her gorgeous face.
God, I love her.
“Are you heading out, Jenny?” she asks in her soft, sweet voice.
“Yes, Miss Montgomery, unless you have anything else for me?”
“Oh, no, that’s fine. Have a good weekend.” She smiles at Jenny and then crosses to me, a happy smile on her lips. “I think I’m ready to call it a day as well, Mr. McKenna.”
“You read my mind, baby.” I take her in my arms and rest my lips on her soft forehead, breathing her in. She always smells like sunshine and vanilla. “I have a surprise for you.”
She looks up at me with wide eyes and then frowns. “But it’s your birthday. I have a surprise for you.”
“Will it travel?” I ask and rub my hands up and down her lean back.
She purses her lips, and her eyes widen a bit in surprise, and then she says, “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Good. Grab your things and let’s go.”
“Are we going home first?” she asks.
I love it when she says home like that. It’s our home now, and has been for two months, but it still sounds new when it trips off her sweet tongue.
“No, we don’t have time.”
“But, I didn’t bring anything for a weekend trip.”
“It’s been taken care of, Julianne. Trust me.”
She gathers her things, and we lock up the office, then I hold my hand out for hers, lacing her fingers in mine, and we ride the elevator down to the parking garage.
“Where are we going?” she asks, her big blue eyes looking up at me expectantly.
“You’ll see soon.” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout, and I laugh and lean down to nibble and kiss her lips. “You taste good,” I whisper.
“I had a Hershey Bar before we left,” she whispers back.
I chuckle as the elevator opens and lead her to the Mercedes. I’d really like to take the bike this weekend, but we have too much stuff to bring with us.
After stowing our things, we’re soon on the freeway heading south out of Seattle. Julianne runs her fingertips up and down my thigh, sending shivers through me and making my cock twitch. I catch her hand and kiss her fingertips, and then rest our hands in my lap. She smiles sassily. “Later,” I murmur.
“Okay, spill it. Where are we going?”
“To the beach house.”
“Oh good! We haven’t been in a while.” She beams at me, and I smile back.
“I know, we’ve been too busy building the business. We deserve this weekend away.” I kiss her hand again, and she leans over to kiss me.
“Yes, we do.”
***
“Hey, baby, we’re here.” I brush the back of my hand down Jules’ soft cheek, waking her from her nap. She fell asleep thirty minutes into the car ride here, and I just let her sleep. She looks like an angel when she sleeps, and we’ve worked many sixty- to eighty-hour weeks lately, exhausting both of us.
“We’re here?” she asks sleepily and sits up to stretch, pushing her breasts out against that sexy dress, and my cock immediately stirs to life.
I didn’t realize until I pulled in the driveway how nervous I am about tonight. Telling her that I have a surprise for her was the understatement of the year. This could be one of the most important nights of our lives, and I just pray to God I don’t fuck it up.
Jules grabs her handbag, and I pull the large suitcase containing our clothes for the weekend out of the back seat and join her on the porch, unlock the door, and follow her inside.
The rental company I use to care for the house in our absence has been here like I requested, and I take a quick look around. There is a fire burning in the fireplace, the logs not burned too far down, telling me they were here recently.
Perfect.
The dining room table is set for dinner, and there are chafing dishes on the counter with our dinner being kept warm.
Jules drops her bag on the couch and turns to look at me, her pretty eyes wide and her mouth dropped.
“What is this?” she asks.
“I knew we wouldn’t want to cook.” I shrug, pretending that it’s no big deal.
“More of your minions?” she asks, making me laugh.
“Yes, my minions.”
I leave the suitcase at the foot of the stairs, planning to carry it up later, and flip on the sound system, satisfied as John Legend starts to croon out of the speakers.
Jules has walked over to the fireplace, looking at the flames, her arms folded over her chest. The light is bouncing off her beautiful blond hair and pale skin, and I can’t resist her. I wrap my arms around her from behind and bury my nose in her neck, breathing her in.
“You are so sexy, Julianne.”
“Hmm,” she murmurs. “You’re not so bad yourself, ace.”
I smile at her silly nickname for me, then kiss her soft neck. “Come on, let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
We pile our plates full of delicious-smelling pasta and white sauce, salad and bread, and I open a bottle of her favorite champagne.
“Wow, you went all-out.”
“Wait till you see what’s for dessert,” I respond.
“Chocolate cheesecake?” she asks with a grin.
“You guessed it,” I respond. You so did not guess it, baby.
Goddamn it, I’m nervous. I’m thankful that my hands are steady as I pour the pink champagne into flutes, and we sit at the table to eat.
“To you.” I hold my glass in the air, and she follows suit. “The most beautiful woman in the world.”
“I’ll drink to that.” She winks and sips her champagne, and I can’t help but chuckle at her.
When our food is consumed, Jules jumps up and kisses me square on the mouth, and before I can grab on to her and pull her on my lap, she draws back, flashes me that sexy grin, and says, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
She leaves out the front door with her keys in hand, and then returns less than thirty seconds later with a large black box in her arms.
“What the hell is that?” I ask.
“Your birthday present,” she responds with a grin.
“Baby, you didn’t have to give me anything.”
Just please don’t say no. That’s the only gift I need.
“Uh, duh. Nate, it’s your birthday. Of course I got you a gift.” She clears our dinner plates and sets the box on the table before me. “Open it.”
I pull the lid off and peel back the silver tissue paper to find one framed photo resting on a photo album.
I pull the frame out and stare in awe at the photo. Jesus Christ, it’s her. It’s Julianne, but she’s not wearing any clothes. She’s lying on a bed, on her belly, and she’s smiling at me the way she does when she knows that I’m hot for her.
Fuck, I’m hot for her right now.
“Say something, ace.”
I look up into her uncertain eyes and grin. “You’re so damned beautiful.”
She smiles sweetly in relief, and I lean over to kiss her, wrapping a hand in her long, soft hair. She pulls back and whispers, “Open the album.”
There are pages and pages of her, in the sexiest lingerie I’ve ever seen, wrapped up in a sheet, stark-ass naked, all in different poses. All sexy as hell.
I close the album and scoot my chair back and then pull her into my arms, her ass resting in my lap, and kiss the shit out of her. I run my fingers down her soft face, and over her breast, feeling the nipple harden as I play with it between my fingers. With a soft moan she stands, hikes her skirt up around her hips and straddles me.
“Right now, fast and hard, ace.” Her blue eyes are on fire with lust, and who the fuck am I to say no? She’s my every fantasy.
I rip her underwear in two and throw it on the floor as she smirks.
“I’ll buy you more next week.”
“Yes, you will.”
She unfastens my pants, and I yank them down around my thighs, and suddenly she’s on her knees, my dick in her sweet little hands, and her pink mouth is wrapped around it, sucking hard.
“Fuck, baby.” I gently grab her hair and guide her head up and down as she jacks me off with her fist. My balls tighten, and before she can make me come in her hot mouth, I yank her up by the shoulders, and she straddles me again, guiding me inside her, and all conscious thought evaporates. All I can think about is pounding in and out of that sweet pussy.
“Oh, Nate, yes.” She throws her head back, and I kiss her neck as she rides me, thrusting up into her wet softness.
“Christ, you’re so wet, honey.”
“Mmm…” she moans, and her muscles tense around my shaft, and I can feel the orgasm building in her. She’s going to take me with her, and I start to move faster, cupping her ass in my hands and bringing her down on me harder.
“Oh, Nate, I’m gonna come, babe.”
God, I love hearing my name come out of her like that when I’m inside her. I look down to watch her, to watch us and see her red tattoo, and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t make me even hotter.
“Come for me, my love,” I whisper to her and watch in awe as she bites her bottom lip, clenches her eyes shut, and grips on to my hair as she explodes around me, grinding down so hard on me that it almost hurts, and I feel my own climax take me as I still, pushed all the way inside her heat, and spill myself inside of her.
She collapses onto me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders and face buried in my neck, breathing hard.