by E. H. Lyon
Always with You
Matchbox Series Book 3
E. H. Lyon
Copyright © 2021 by E.H. Lyon
Always with You, Matchbox Series #3, Edition 1
Written and published by: E.H. Lyon
All rights reserved.
Editing & Formatting: Contagious Edits
Cover Design: Shanoff Designs
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means. Including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. The name, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and used fictitiously and are not to be perceived as real. Any resemblance to persons, venues, events, businesses are entirely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ Use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.
Ebook ISBN 978-1-7362792-2-9
Paperback ISBN 978-1-7362792-7-4
Matchbox Series
Different with You
* * *
Crazy with You
* * *
Always with You
* * *
Again with You
* * *
Tempted with You
Contents
About
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Next Up
Acknowledgments
About
This sexy CEO is about to get everything he always wanted; she just needs to say yes…
Leo Hart is back after an 18-month absence and he’s ready for some responsibility as he takes on the role of CEO of the family company. Persistence, determination and getting what he wants is what he is used to. But it turns out his biggest challenge isn’t in the boardroom.
It’s the surprise son he didn’t even know he had… with Jess.
They were at each other’s throats for years except that one time when they aimed a little lower. Jess is adamant they stick to co-parenting only. But when they agree to temporarily live together so Leo can bond with their son, Leo decides to use his CEO tactics to persuade his favorite redhead to upgrade their frenemy co-parenting titles to something more. Strong-willed Jess drives on the side of caution, but Leo is confident that she and him—well, they were always going to end up together.
Always with You is the third sweet and sexy standalone novel from the “Matchbox” series where you can re-visit all your favorite characters throughout.
Chapter One
Leo
Really, I should be in the office. I have about ten reports to review and over three hundred e-mails of people just waiting for me to show up in a suit for my big return as CEO.
But the guys said just one drink when I phoned them from the airport to announce I was back, and I am in no position to say no to a drink as we are owed a good catch-up.
Heading straight to my place, I dropped my luggage, changed, and opted for my motorcycle to enjoy one last ride around our idyllic town of Sage Creek, Colorado before I dive deep into the responsibility of the family business of investments and development deals.
I park my bike in front of Matchbox, and the smell of the surrounding pine trees is strong on this summer night, and I can already hear the live music. The place is buzzing; I wouldn’t expect anything less on a Saturday night.
God, I missed this place. It has excellent local brew and its own brand of whiskey. The live music is great and the ambience is always right. It’s successful, popular, and being a silent partner in owning the joint with a few other friends —well, I guess that makes me completely biased.
Opening the door to the old, refurbished warehouse now bar, I immediately spot the guys standing at a high table against an exposed brick wall in the open room. They’re busy laughing with beer bottles in hand. Max notices me and lets out a wide grin that complements his dark-rimmed glasses and dark hair.
I head over right away.
Admittedly, we haven't had much contact while I was away, yet when I phoned them earlier to say that I was back, it was like I never left. That's what great friends are for; being able to pick up where you left off.
"Look what the devil dragged in—Leo Hart is finally back," Max nearly sings as he slaps my back and guides me a few inches to the table.
"Now it hasn't been that long, has it?" I pretend with a cheeky look.
Lucas pats me on the back to welcome me back too. "Almost a year and a half." He slides a beer to me.
I grin and take the beer bottle from his hand. They were clearly expecting me. Nate—the face and owner of Matchbox, plus Lucas’s little brother—is behind the bar. Normally not his role, but it’s busy tonight. I give him a nod as I’ll catch up with him another time since he is also my neighbor.
"How was it? I'm jealous, you got to travel the world and all," Lucas voices in awe. He could probably do it himself, but he has a kid and is too committed to being a straight-laced local doctor.
"You owe us more than a year's worth of drinks and an apology for deserting us, by the way," he adds.
Nodding my head in agreement, I put my bottle on the table. I do owe them an apology.
I decided to go on my big adventure before I settled down in life, because despite my history, I do want to settle down. Made the decision to leave when the old man and I didn’t see eye to eye on an important family matter. Then I was on my way to South America.
A bit cliché, I admit. If there is such a thing as a third-of-your-life crisis, then I probably was the poster child. Can’t deny that.
"We have so much to catch up on." Max is playing with the label on his beer bottle.
"Yeah, like Max here who is screwing his client." Lucas smirks and flashes his eyes.
I let my eyes widen as I look at Max to give him the impression that I’m impressed.
"Come on, man. It isn't like that. She was a client and is now my sexy significant other who happens to be a kindergarten teacher. So yeah, fantasy jackpot come true," Max tries to defend but he can’t help smiling to himself.
"Sounds like there’s a story there,” I add, rubbing my chin and looking around the room to see who else is here because there is someone I’m hoping to find.
"Shall I get those drinks?" I offer, as somehow we’ve already almost downed a round.
"Yeah, in a bit, just add it to the tab and then say the bill is on your name and card." Lucas grins and I hold my hands up in surrender.
"So, do you have a hot Brazilian hiding here somewhere?" he asks, pretending to look around.
"You think so much of me?" I fake annoyance.
Admittedly, I’ve been known to be friendly with the ladies. But I have slowed it way down as I approach mid-thirties, because I realized there’s more to life.
“So, how’s work, Max?” I try and change the subject.
My ears perk up when I hear Max say, “Jess is here with Abby, actually.”
Abby is Lucas’s girlfriend and friends with Jess—whose name very much hits a chord in me.
My mind hasn’t forgotten how Jess and I left things. I mean, we barely tolerated each other to start with, having gotten off on the wrong foot, but I don’t even know how she feels about me anymore after what transpired.
“She has been a rock star the last year with everything that has gone on,” Lucas mentions, and this surprises me. Mostly, because I have no idea what he means.
“Rock star? What, is she finally showing off that little tattoo on her inner thigh?” I mutter to myself as I take a drink of beer.
When the guys choke on their drinks, I immediately realize my rookie mistake that I wasn’t quiet enough. Fuck. I am an idiot. Why did that slip off my tongue so easily?
Probably because the thought of her body with curves in all the right places and under me is imprinted in my head for life. Because of that one night when we finally combusted.
“What do you mean tattoo on her inner thigh?” Max’s face raises with a puzzled expression, and it comes on strong like I just entered a Law & Order interrogation.
“Leo, how do you know about her inner thigh?” Lucas quickly adds on with his voice going high, and he shares a look with Max.
They’re thinking something, but I have no clue what. Before I can answer or even figure out what the hell is going on in their heads, Max rubs his hands through his hair as if he’s adjusting to the news that I nailed his business partner.
“Huh, looks like that theory is right.” Max tilts his head to the side in contemplation.
Hmm, strange, Jess was adamant that we shouldn’t share our evening with anyone. So now I’m wondering how the guys suspected.
“What do you mean theory?” I ask, amused.
Max and Lucas look at each other. Lucas shakes his head as if to warn Max not to do something. I am really at a loss now at how this conversation derailed so quickly.
“Well, this night just got interesting,” Lucas admits as he motions with his head to the ladies sitting at the bar.
I follow my sight in the direction of where he’s looking. In my plain view I can see Jess laughing with Abby as they drink some wine. She looks just as good as that night with smokey eyes, dark slim blue jeans, and a black top. Her long dark auburn hair falling behind her shoulders in waves, her thick hair that sprawls out on my chest to perfection.
She most certainly left a mark in my head. But truthfully, she always had a fucking spot in my head. And I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have a twinge in my middle begging to see Jess.
Deciding to make my move, I head over. I owe the guys a round anyway. Then we can all chill out.
I begin to walk over to the bar through the crowd and loud music. Abby looks up and nervously smiles at me. She gently nudges Jess’s arm and whispers something in her ear. Jess turns her head to see what Abby is looking at. Immediately, Jess’s face of laughter and fun fades to disbelief.
Her mouth slightly falls open, as if someone just stole all her breath.
I know I can have that effect on people.
Jess’s blue eyes lock with mine instantly. Our held gaze is tense, and I’m not sure why. It seems my journey to the bar required Lucas and Max to speed line it in front of me.
Before Jess or I can say something, Max is already next to her and gently nudging her arm.
“Look, Jess. Guess who’s back. Crazy. My guess is you two have a lot to catch up on,” Max has a cunning look thrown across his face as he cracks the sentence out as if he’s trying to make a point to her.
One I really don’t understand. And Jess seems unfazed by it too. She is too focused on me.
My eyes remain locked on Jess who slowly is able to close her mouth. That sexy mouth with dark lipstick on her lips that I once devoured and have been thinking about how to get her to agree to let me devour it again. Something tells me that I shouldn’t think about that right now. And that’s a damn shame.
Abby seems lost and looks at Jess then me. I’m now confused and hoping anyone can give me a clue to this situation occurring in front of me.
Jess seems to notice the whispering around us and something in her switches. As if she was snapped back to reality as her mind was somewhere else—hopefully a flashback of what we did. She breaks our gaze and firmly grabs my arm.
“We need to talk,” she tells me seriously. “Alone,” she barks, looking at everyone as she drags me with her outside to the patio of Matchbox.
Part of me can’t believe that within two minutes of seeing each other, she already wants to argue with me, because she seems like she’s on a warpath. But I’ve always liked her all hyped up. Challenge accepted.
There are a few people drinking outside, but for the most part we’re alone. It’s dark out, but the white fairy lights give some light. The music is now more in the background.
She lets my arm go with her eyes blazing. Wild animal Jess is clearly gearing up. Proving the fact, her palm lands against my chest and she pushes me just enough to make me flinch.
“You are finally back.” She’s a little snarky still, I see.
This makes me lick my lips with a smirk forming. “What do you mean finally? Missed having me deep inside you or the fact you loved being wrapped tightly in my arms?” I cock my head to the side.
Her face flares as our eyes intensely gaze into one another’s. She is about to rage, but instead she almost bitterly laughs to herself. “So, this is how we’re going to do this,” she mumbles to herself and looks up towards the sky with her hands on her hips. She then returns her eyes to me. “Missed…right. Well, Leo, you have indeed missed something,” she speaks with that tone that tells me I should be bracing myself up.
But as I study her and try to figure out what I could have possibly done to have her already in such a state, I can see something is different with her. She is struggling to continue her sentence. That isn’t her. No, she is a feisty spitfire that could bring me to my knees, and she doesn’t even realize.
I feel the need to help the conversation along.
“Okay then, Jess, you wanted to ta—”
“I have a baby—”
We both speak at the same time. It doesn’t matter as I heard the word baby loud and clear. She looks up from the ground to focus her eyes on me.
Okay, so Jess is a mom? To a baby.
"We need to talk." She’s looking at me and studying my face.
There is a pause, and in that pause, my brain makes a connection. Whoa. Something tells me I am part of this baby equation. She is about to walk off, but I instantly grab her arm.
"Baby?" I’m able to get out of my mouth as if someone punched the air out of me.
I want to say more, but I am really struggling here. She responds simply with a nod yes.
"We… have a baby.”
She emphasizes that we, that I am sure of. I am too stunned to muster the strength to keep her in my hold. Instead, she pats my shoulder to encourage me to take in the news, before walking away.
Well. Didn't see this coming.
Chapter Two
Jess
The joys of parenthood meant I had to rush off after dropping that bombshell and head home to let the sitter go. Seeing that Leo needed to let it sink in, I let Max know that Leo could meet me at my house.
In true Leo fashion, he has already rubbed me the wrong way. The first night in a while that I finally managed to temporarily go off mommy duty and actually enjoy a glass of vino sans yoga pants, then this happens.
The corporate Messiah of our town returns without warning and appears in front of me making my heart sink, stomach whirl, and my air disappear. I’ve been waiting for his reappearance like an upcoming Armageddon.
Looking through the fridge that stands against the wall of the exposed brick of my refurbished kitchen, I pray that there is a half-bottle of wine open somewhere.
That
night that got me into this situation is on constant replay in my head. How could I have been so careless? Wait, how could he have been so careless? Nope, it was a team effort.
But I clearly remember him ripping the condom wrapper open with his teeth, I remember because it nearly sent me over the edge watching him do it. At least one of the times that we decided screwing each other was a good idea that night. And okay, maybe one time we were slightly delayed with wrapping up his thick and impressive cock, but meh, statistics were supposed to be on our side.
Either way, so much for keeping that night in the vault. Our mishap has a trophy in the form of a beautiful little baby, and now I guess I should be thanking him for the best gift ever.
Taking the screwcap off the wine, I throw it to the sink that is filled with baby bottles and sippy cups. I begin to pour wine into a glass but might as well drink it straight from the bottle at this point. My body is racing, and honestly, I am not too sure I can stomach the wine anyhow—and that is saying a lot.
Holding my wine glass close, I give myself a pep talk, as I am a woman surviving on months of interrupted sleep. Plus, my post-partum stage means I am low on resilience for a man who I could never figure out. Is he the cliché trust fund kid who sleeps around, or more the mysterious guy who rides off on a motorcycle type?
