Embrace Me (Stark Ever After Book 7)

by J. Kenner

  He dances out of the way with a grin. “Um, yes I am,” he says, then slips into the hallway, taking the last word with him.

  I shake my head, amused, as I continue skimming the resumes in my own stack. Eric is not only my newest hire, he was also one of my first. He and my partner, Abby, had joined Fairchild Development not long after I started it. I’d been overwhelmed with the amount of work I’d taken on—a good thing in terms of building my business, but a bad thing if I wasn’t able to make my deadlines.

  I ended up hiring help earlier than I’d intended to, and Abby and Eric were the happy result, and the three of us got along great. Abby has since become my partner, but Eric had his mind set on bigger things. He quit to go to New York, something that had saddened me, not only because he really is great at what he does, but because I genuinely enjoy his company.

  Not that long ago, though, he’d come back. In New York, he’d been a little fish in a very big pond, whereas with me, he gets to be very hands-on with both coding and clients.

  He’d been afraid that I wouldn’t want him back, but I can hardly blame someone for their ambition, and I’m thrilled to have him back on the team. I’d been a little worried that he’d be frustrated by Abby’s rise in the company, but he’s not.

  All in all, he’s about as perfect as an employee can be, and I think going away made him realize what a good thing he has here. Over the last few months, he’s become as much of a right hand as Abby.

  And I’m especially grateful for him now that I’m trying to get every single duck in order before I go on maternity leave.

  Today’s task is to choose five potential interns to bring in for an interview. I add two more to the No Thank You pile, then move a USC sophomore’s resume to the Maybe pile before leaning back in my chair.

  “Problem?” Eric asks as he steps back into the conference room. He puts my cup of decaf in front of me, then heads to his side of the table.

  “Just wondering if you’re sure you want to bring on an intern right now.” The idea had been Eric’s, something he’d run by Abby and me about two weeks ago. “The timing’s not ideal,” I add.

  He drags his fingers through his hair. “Not perfect,” he agrees. “But there’s still time.”

  I glance down at B.B.S., who will be ready to greet the world before I know it. “You’ve got a few weeks, sure. But we aren’t going to hire someone today, and you’re going to have to train them before you can use them.” I shrug. “Honestly, it might be easier for you and Abby to just divide the work. And if you really get into a bind, you know you can always call me.”

  He cocks his head and looks me in the eye, then glances down to my baby bump. “I appreciate the offer, but honestly, Nik…?” He grins. “One, I’m thinking you won’t want to be disturbed. And two, I’m thinking you’re going to be so frazzled, you wouldn’t even know what the answer is.”

  I laugh. He’s probably not wrong.

  “Besides, if we can get someone in to interview in the next day or so, I’ll have almost a week of training before you even leave, right?”

  “That’s true,” I say, picturing the calendar in my head. “This little guy’s due in just over three weeks, so I plan to work about ten more days here and then stay home. But until the baby’s born, I’ll be working. You can call me at home. Or come by. I’ll set up the bungalow as an office again, so I’ll be there when you need me until I come back here after my leave.”

  “We’ll be fine. You have two little girls who are going to want your time before their brother comes, and then you’re going to have a little boy who’s going to be very demanding.” He grins and indicates himself with a flip of his fingers. “Trust me. I know how much trouble guys can be.”

  “Fair enough.” I look at my stack of potentials, then slide it toward him. “In that case, knock yourself out. I trust you to hire someone perfect.”

  His eyes widen a little. “What? You’re saying you don’t want a say?”

  “You’re going to be the one working the closest with our intern. I think you should do the initial calls and interviews, then get Abby to approve your choice. I’ll help if you need me to, but otherwise go for it.”

  He leans back in his chair, looking only slightly discombobulated. Then he nods. “Yeah. I know what we need. Of course I can do this.”

  I laugh. “Yes. You can.”

  “I’ll arrange the interviews for when Abby’s back,” he says referring to my partner who’s currently in Dallas meeting with one of our anchor clients. “It’ll be easier if she’s in the office when I do the interviews. That way I can steer whoever I like over to her office for a second interview.”

  “See? You’re already on top of it.” I glance at my notes to see what else we have to cover. “What about Every Note?”

  “All good,” he says. “I’m heading over to Stark Tower later today to do some training on the new features, but I don’t foresee any issues.”

  “Good.” Every Note is a cross-platform, collaborative note-taking app that I designed about the time that I met Damien. It hadn’t been finished yet, but I told him about it, and he’d seen the potential. He’d actually wanted to license it right away, but I insisted on starting my business without a connection to my then-boyfriend. Once established, though, I was more than happy to add Stark International to the client list.

  I glance at my notepad again and go over a few lingering details until Eric leans back in his chair and groans. “Nikki, you’re having a baby, not transferring to the moon. We don’t have to go over everything today.”

  I sigh. He’s right of course. I’m in that state where I want to get everything in order before the baby comes. Some books call it nesting. I call it being organized.

  “You’re right.” I narrow my eyes. “But I’m still going to type all this up and send it to you.”

  He laughs. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.”

  I push back and stand, groaning as I get my balance. “All right, I’m heading out. I have a lunch date, and then I’m going to head home to get ready for tonight. Are you coming?”

  “Are you kidding? Of course.”

  “Good,” I say, because even though giving speeches makes me nervous, it’s for a good cause and I want my team there, too.

  “Business lunch or pleasure?” he asks. “Not that it’s any of my business.”

  “I’m meeting Jamie and Evelyn,” I say. “So very much pleasure.”

  He tells me to say hi to them both, and I promise I will. Then I gather my things and take a ride share to The Patio, a new restaurant in Santa Monica on the Pacific Coast Highway near the Pier. I’d come to work in the Town Car, with Edward—Damien’s favorite driver—chauffeuring me, and during this ride, I shoot him a text to let him know I’ll need to be picked up at the restaurant in an hour or two.

  Soon, I’m settled at a table with my best friend, Jamie Archer Hunter, and Evelyn Dodge, who was one of the first people I met when I moved to Los Angeles. Bold and brassy, Evelyn can always be counted on to say her mind and not pull her punches. And I absolutely love her for that.

  Over the years, she’s become almost a surrogate mother. A welcome thing, considering the woman whose call I declined this morning never excelled in that role.

  “It is so great to see you both,” I say after we exchange hugs.

  “You, too, Texas,” Evelyn says. “And you look amazing. You’re glowing. But you also look like you’re ready to pop. Are you sure you’re okay about tonight?”

  “She’s the star attraction,” Jamie says. “Of course, she’ll be there.”

  I wave the words away. “My part’s just a short speech,” I say. “You’re the one explaining the news. Which is fine,” I add with a grin, “since you love the spotlight so much.”

  “I do,” she says. “I really do.” She leans back and fluffs her dark hair as she flashes a camera-ready grin. I’m girl-next-door pretty, but Jamie has always had those movie star good looks, and even now that she’s
no longer the young ingénue, she has a spark that shines on camera.

  “Well, both of you will do great tonight,” Evelyn assures us. “After all, this project is your baby.”

  She glances down at my belly again. “Your other baby.” She grins. “Speaking of, how are those two little girls?”

  “They’re doing great.” I can feel myself smiling.

  Jamie runs her finger over the rim of her wineglass. “Great is an understatement. Those girls are so adorable. Almost makes me want one of my very own.” She cocks her head, making a show of thinking, then shakes it. “Actually no. I’m happy to just be able to borrow yours when I feel that maternal urge come on.”

  One of these days, I’d like to see Jamie and Ryan with a baby. But I have a feeling that day isn’t coming any time soon.

  “I never thought I wanted kids,” Evelyn says. “And honestly, I don’t have any regrets. But every once in a while, there’s a little ping.” She leans across the table and takes my hands. “That’s only one of the many reasons I’m happy that you’re in my life, Texas. Playing Grandma, I mean.”

  “There are a lot of reasons I’m happy you’re in my life,” I say honestly, then make my expression bland. “Babysitting is definitely on the list.”

  Evelyn chuckles, then lifts her glass of wine in a toast. We clink, and we all drink. Them with their wine and me with sparkling water.

  ”Speaking of built-in family babysitters,” I add, “you and Frank coming together tonight, right?”

  Frank is my father, but he left my mother—and me—when I was a child. A few years ago, he re-appeared, and though it was rocky early on, he’s now fully in my life again. I even call him Dad on occasion, but I tend to default to Frank around other people. Especially around Evelyn.

  They’ve been dating for a while, and the truth is, if I call him Dad, that makes her Mom. That’s not a bad thing. Not at all. After all, my biological mother is a piece of work, and someone who had—at least until this morning—completely disappeared from my life after I firmly kicked her to the curb after years of abuse and harassment.

  So with Evelyn, it’s not as if I already have a mom I don’t want replaced. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Evelyn already feels like a mother to me, but since I don’t know where this thing with my father is going, I don’t want to get my hopes up.

  Of course, Evelyn has been in Damien’s life since his earliest tennis days, and she’s remained a lifelong friend. I know she’ll always be around, but I can’t deny the fantasy that one day she’ll play a bigger role. And, honestly, I can only hope that my father understands what he has in her and has the guts to make it permanent. He might not. After being married to Elizabeth Fairchild, I can definitely imagine that he’d be gun-shy.

  I’m saved from my meandering thoughts by the arrival of the waiter, and I order a light chicken salad even though I’m not hungry. Lately, there’s barely been enough room in my stomach for food. Jamie orders the burrito plate, but Evelyn sticks with her wine and a side salad.

  “I’m saving up for tonight,” she says. “Your father and I are going out to dinner before we head to the foundation.”

  “Perfect,” I say, before we move the conversation away from my dad and my pregnancy and on to more mundane catching up. Evelyn has gotten back into agenting, and she shares some great stories about the ridiculous hurdles that she has to jump to navigate Hollywood. And, as a plus, she represents Jamie, and they both gush about a new job that Jamie is up for, apologizing for not being able to give me the details about the hush-hush project.

  “I’m just happy something’s in the works,” I tell them both. “You know me. Hollywood details just whoosh right over my head.”

  “Unless we’re talking classic movies,” Jamie says sagely. “Then she’s all over it.”

  We all laugh. My lack of knowledge about the business isn’t a secret, though I do try to pay attention more since it’s now the bread and butter for two of my favorite people. I’m especially happy for Jamie, who’s always wanted to be on camera, and is now living her dream, both as an actress and as an on-camera entertainment correspondent.

  She’s been my best friend since Texas, and though she used to be a wild child piece of work, she’s calmed down considerably since she married Damien’s best friend and business partner, Ryan Hunter. He’s a perfect match for her, since he not only keeps her in check, but he doesn’t deny her that bit of wildness that makes Jamie Jamie.

  Ryan took over at the Stark Security Agency when Damien founded it after Anne’s kidnapping. Thinking about that usually makes me shiver, but I’ve gotten to the point where I can handle the memories. And I’m so proud of what my husband has accomplished with that organization.

  Our conversation continues to meander all over the place in that kind of easy back and forth you have with friends and family.

  I rest my hands on my belly as I look at these two women and think about our circle of friends and my husband right there in the center of it.

  Yeah, I think, as I sigh happily. It really is all about family.

  Chapter Three

  Damien crossed the tile floor to the table where the three women sat, then stood behind his wife.

  “This is what I like to see,” he said as Nikki turned in her seat and smiled up at him. “Three of my favorite women enjoying lunch together.”

  “What on earth are you doing here?” Nikki asked, her pleasure at seeing him coming through in her voice.

  He lifted his phone, as if that were answer enough. Apparently it was, because she laughed. “Edward told on me,” she said.

  “He said you were tired and going home for the day. I told him I’d pick you up. I spent my morning at the Domino, so I was conveniently located to act as chauffeur for my wife.”

  “Well, I can’t say I’m sad to see you,” Evelyn said. “You’re just lucky you came when we were already done with your wife.” She reached over and patted Nikki’s hand. “Or, perhaps, she was done with us.”

  “This has been wonderful, but I can definitely use a nap,” Nikki said.

  Jamie shook her head. “With all this talk about exhaustion and the other aches and pains that go along with pregnancy, you guys are definitely not talking me into having a kiddo anytime soon.” She aimed a bright smile up at Damien. “Fortunately, between you two and Jackson and Sylvia, I’m swimming in nieces and nephews.”

  He laughed. “Which means, of course, that we can call on you to babysit anytime.”

  “Absolutely. And so long as I’m not naked and in bed with your best friend, we’ll rush right over.”

  Nikki made a show of holding her hands over her stomach. “Careful. He might hear you.”

  Jamie waved away the words. “Well, he has to get to know his Aunt Jamie soon, doesn’t he?”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Nikki said, reaching out for Damien. He took her hand, wondering what he’d ever done to get so lucky.

  “Ladies, I’ve already taken care of the check. Now I’m going to take care of my wife.” He pointed between Evelyn and Jamie’s drinks. “You two go ahead and finish up, but if you don’t mind I’m going to take her now. I think it’s time someone rested.”

  “Normally I would get on him for handling me,” Nikki said, pushing her chair back. “But I really am exhausted. And,” she added looking up at Damien with a smile. “I’m very happy with my designated driver.”

  He watched as she gave both women a hug, then he brushed a kiss over both their cheeks. For a man whose childhood should be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as worst ever, he’d ended up winning the Friends and Family Lottery.

  He kept a hand at Nikki’s lower back, not only because he enjoyed feeling the way she moved against him, but also because he wanted to be close in case she slipped. His normally graceful wife was definitely lacking in grace these days.

  She smiled up at him. “Waddling,” she said, then rolled her eyes.

  “Yes. But you do it with such pizzazz.”


  As he’d hoped, she giggled. “So home?” She looked up and down the street then frowned, obviously not seeing his car. “Why didn’t you have the valet leave it here if you knew we were coming straight out?”

  “To be honest, I lied. I’m happy to take you home if you’re too tired, but I thought it might be nice to take a walk on the beach.” He was carrying a soft-sided leather briefcase, and he tapped it now. “I brought your Leica,” he said. “I’d like to get a shot of you by the water.”

  She looked between him and the beach. The restaurant was a short walk from the Pier, and they could easily cross the parking lot, then walk through the sand to the water. But walking on the loose sand wasn’t easy, and if she was already tired…

  For a moment her face was almost unreadable, which was unusual, as Damien had developed the knack of reading Nikki’s expressions over the years. Then he saw the answer in her eyes. The bright joy that spread to her mouth, ending in a stunning, brilliant smile. “That sounds wonderful,” she said, squeezing his hand. “Thank you for thinking of it.”

  “It’s for both of us,” he said, but he was touched by her words. Nikki had been an amateur photographer for years, taking her camera on every trip and even taking lessons from their friend Wyatt Royce, a highly sought-after professional photographer.

  But she’d never taken any pictures of herself during her pregnancy with Anne, though they did have some studio shots of him, Lara, and a very pregnant Nikki. They’d taken tons of pictures in China when they got Lara, but the only candid pictures of her pregnancy with Anne were the snaps he’d taken using the camera on his phone.

  This time, he wanted to be more deliberate.

  “We don’t have a tripod, though,” she said. “It’s not like I can take a selfie.”

  “I think I can handle it,” he said. “You tell me how you want to stage it, and I’ll take the picture.”

  She narrowed her eyes putting the tip of a finger next to her mouth as she made a show of studying him. Then she made a light scoffing sound. “Well, I suppose if you’re the best I’ve got to work with.” He laughed, then pulled her close and kissed her. “I love you Mrs. Stark,” he said.