by Laura Pavlov
I could feel the heat rushing up my neck and across my cheeks. The thought of bathing with him was just—too much. I’d yet to even see the man naked. He’d seen me naked more times than I could count, but I hadn’t been gifted the same in return.
“I’ve never bathed with anyone,” I announced, before taking a bite of the best Margherita pizza I’d ever had. I groaned and savored the flavors as they exploded on my tongue.
“No groaning, please. The big guy, and I say that modestly because as you’re going to see tonight, he’s quite the sight. But he’s sensitive these days and when you groan and you’re sitting on him, well, it’s just cruel, Blue Jay.”
I laughed and turned to press my lips to his. I couldn’t help myself. He was quite possibly the most lovable person I’d ever known. Jack Montgomery was the rainbow after a storm, the sunshine on a gray day, and the rain when you were in a life-threatening drought. He was an endless overflowing cup of sexy, beautiful man.
“Sorry about that.” I turned to take another bite as I felt his impossible to miss erection poking me in my backside.
“I’ve never bathed with anyone either. So, these are all firsts that we will get out of the way, before you know…”
“What?”
“Before you trust me enough to let me rock your world completely.”
“I’ve already given my full consent. I’m all in. You’re the one who keeps saying no, which is slightly embarrassing since you have the reputation of a manwhore, and I’m rather inexperienced, yet I’m the one doing a hard-press to get you in the sack?”
His entire body shook with laughter now, which left me no option but to do the same. “Patience, Little Bird. I’m holding out because I want you to date me, not use me for my gorgeous fucking body, although I get it, I do. You aren’t the first to want this, but I think you just might be the last one I give it to. So, I’m taking my time.”
His words floated in the air around us, and my breath caught in my throat. Was he serious? Was this just part of his shtick? He didn’t need any with me, as I’d already thrown myself at the man. Why would he say that? Did he mean it? Was he just being Jack the never-ending flirt and he knew those words would hit me hard? I tried to keep my face straight and not react.
He ate his pizza as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on the room. The man just said what he thought. He didn’t overanalyze or care how it sounded, and I loved that about him. But it also terrified me.
“Okay. Sounds fair.”
“Good. Tell me about your day. You worked late.”
“Well, I finished the article about how many dates there should be before you take your partner home for Thanksgiving,” I said with a laugh. Thanksgiving was next week, and it was the only thing I could come up with to send to press this week.
“How many dates does it take?”
“I asked several people, and everyone seemed to think that somewhere between five and ten dates, depending on the connection with the other person, was acceptable.” I chewed on the crust and glanced over my shoulder to see him watching me.
“Well, we’ve had at least a hundred dates if you count the fake dating time, not to mention I’ve known you for years.” He reached for another slice.
“What are you talking about, Montgomery?”
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” he asked, and if I wasn’t crazy, he appeared nervous.
“Um, well, my dad and Thelma are going to the Bahamas this year, and Miles is going to be in New York with that new girl, Sierra, that he met. They are going to spend the weekend in the city and see a few shows, do some holiday shopping, and eat at all his favorite restaurants.” I laughed, because this is what he told me when he tried to sell me on joining them. “He invited me, but I’m not feeling the whole third wheel thing. I’ll probably go to Becks’ mom’s house. I’ve done that the past few years.”
“Not this year.”
I finished chewing and narrowed my gaze to study him. “Why? I have fun there.”
“You’re coming to our home in Lake Tahoe. My mom really likes you and we do this big ole Thanksgiving, and the twins will be there. Come on. It’ll be fun.”
I admired how much time Jack spent with his nieces. He went over to their place every single day after work because he was convinced that they would forget him if they didn’t see him daily. It was ridiculously sweet.
“We’re keeping this a secret, and what if it’s over by then?” I teased, but the words gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.
He rolled his eyes. “My family knows because we don’t keep secrets. They’re also protective and they understand why we are keeping it private for now, so they won’t say a word. Hell, both my sisters-in-law are giving me tips on how to win you over, hence the goddamn rose petal map through my apartment, and the fat, mean cat that I now have to keep forever.”
I smiled. He sure was putting in a lot of effort. “Okay,” I said, biting down on my bottom lip as butterflies swarmed my belly. “I’ll go with you. You do happen to have the coolest family I’ve ever met.”
“The apple doesn’t fall far.” He wriggled his brows before reaching for his beer and taking a long pull. “What else were you working on so late? I highly doubt taking a date home for the holidays took you that long.”
I thought about it. Jack was my boss who I was also secretly dating, and I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t like what I was about to tell him. But it was inevitable and if I didn’t tell him now, he’d find out tomorrow from Dan Arbor, which could potentially piss him off.
“I met with Dan about a story for my column.”
“The Reynolds story is long over. What are you talking about?” He set down his beer and turned me to face him while I sat perfectly still on his lap.
“I got a lead on a story about Melissa Labrith and her shady husband. But I did what you recommended, and I shared the information with Dan.”
His shoulders stiffened. “Governor Labrith? No. Let Dan dig into it.”
I rolled my eyes. “No. I write an anonymous column, in case you forgot, and it’s my lead. Her strait-laced husband is not who he seems to be, and I think there is trouble in paradise. His son hates him, and he throws these parties that are super sketchy. I’m talking drugs and sex, Montgomery. At least that’s what we think. It’s like a big ole orgy at the mansion. And our fair governor is not happy about it, but being an election year, she’s sort of trapped.”
“Who cares? It doesn’t involve you.” His voice was hard, and he showed no humor.
“What?” I pulled back, completely appalled by his words. “Well if that’s true, then who cares how long one should date someone before bringing their significant other home for Thanksgiving? Who cares about the best hot spots in the city to meet eligible singles? I don’t. But it’s the news. I’m a journalist, and you own a damn newspaper. How can you even ask me that?”
“Do you know what Governor Labrith’s maiden name is? Do you know who her largest donor was?”
“I do. So, what.” Governor Labrith’s father, Joseph Capetti, was a real estate mogul rumored to be involved in organized crime. He was a wealthy and powerful man, no doubt about it. Everyone who’d run against his daughter for governor mysteriously dropped out of the race and she ran unopposed. I knew why they bowed out and everyone else knew why as well. But the man covered his tracks like a pro. It appeared Governor Labrith’s husband was fairly sly in his ways as well as I’d never heard one rumbling about the Labriths before now, but if something was there, I was damn well going to find out.
He pushed me to my feet as he stood, and his hands settled on his hips. “So what? Are you fucking crazy? She’s off-limits, and you don’t have permission to run with this story, do you hear me? Not happening. Conversation closed.”
“You have got to be kidding me, you misogynistic, arrogant ass. You aren’t the boss of m
e,” I snarled as I shook my head.
“Technically I am. I’m your boss, whether you like it or not. And you aren’t writing this story.”
My mouth gaped open. Was he for real? “It’s anonymous. No one will know it’s me. And you can’t tell me what to do.”
“I can and I will. You aren’t writing this story.” His face was hard and there was no sign of wavering.
I stormed across the room and grabbed my purse making my way to the elevator. Two big arms wrapped around me, and his chin rested on top of my head. “Don’t leave. Take a bath with me.”
“Take a bath with you? I’m not some kept woman who you can tell what to do and then demand I bathe with you. That’s not how this works.”
He turned me in his arms and covered my mouth with his, lifting me off my feet as my legs wrapped around his waist and my body gave in to the desire I could no longer control. He pressed me up against a wall before pulling away. “We have to be able to separate work from our personal life.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” I said, my breaths coming hard and fast.
“What if we meet with Dan and Ford tomorrow and come up with a solution.” His hands slipped beneath my blouse and his thumbs traced back and forth over my nipples that were now hard enough to cut glass.
My body was the ultimate traitor.
“What kind of plan?” I whispered against his mouth, wanting him to kiss me again even though I hated him at the moment.
“Maybe you can do the research and Dan will break the story. I don’t want anyone to trace this back to you.” He nipped at my bottom lip, and the ache between my thighs throbbed with need.
“You aren’t playing fair.”
“When it comes to keeping you safe, Little Bird, I’ll never play fair,” he said before covering my mouth with his and walking us toward his bedroom.
He set me down on the edge of the tub and leaned down to turn on the water. The bathroom was massive, with windows overlooking the city, white marble floors and gray cabinets. It was modern and sleek, very much like the man who lived here.
“We aren’t done talking about this,” I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest.
“We are for tonight.” He unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and shrugged it off, tossing it on the floor.
“Says who?” I stood and made my way over to him. I’d be damned if he thought he could tell me what to do. I ran my fingers over the defined lines of his abs and cursed myself for being so weak when it came to this man.
“Me. Take your clothes off, Blue Jay.” He reached for his waistband, and I studied his muscled chest, noticing the enormous erection tenting his pants. My mouth watered and I stood there gaping like a fool before I gathered myself.
“Why?”
He dropped his pants and his briefs slid down his legs at the same time and—oh my. I’d never seen a more beautiful man in my life. I’d personally never been a huge fan of the penis. Thyme’s wasn’t overly impressive, and I found it rather ugly. But this. This was something people painted and sculpted and dreamed about.
“Because I want to take a bath with you,” he said, his voice gruff and sexy as his whiskey eyes bore into me.
I couldn’t resist him. No matter how angry I was.
I tugged my shirt over my head and let my skirt fall to my ankles.
“Okay, let’s take a bath.”
He looked me up and down like he was trying to memorize every inch of me before he reached for my hand and led me to the tub. He stepped in first, pulling me in to settle between his legs. But there was a giant elephant in the room, which was currently poking me in the back, causing me to break out in laughter.
Yes, I was still mad at him for thinking he could tell me what to do.
Yes, we would continue this conversation tomorrow.
No, I couldn’t walk away right now even if I wanted to.
Which I didn’t.
“What’s so funny, Little Bird?”
I rolled over on my stomach, resting my arms on his chest before allowing my hand to drift down below his waist and stroke him.
“Nothing’s funny, Montgomery.”
His jaw clenched, and I could tell that he was desperately trying to compose himself. “You like what you see?” He leaned back, both arms resting on the side of the tub as he closed his eyes and allowed me to touch him for the first time.
“I do. I like everything I see,” I rasped. My hand moved up and down his length slowly, enjoying every moment.
“Tell me we can date, out in the open, and tell your brother—and this is all yours. I’m yours.” He sucked in a long breath as I moved my hand faster.
“It’s too soon.”
His eyes opened, and he wrapped his hand over mine beneath the water and guided me to stroke him one last time before pulling my hand away.
“Then you’ll have to wait, Blue Jay.” And he covered my mouth with his, and it was the most erotic thing I’d ever experienced. Making out with this beautiful man in the bathtub. The closer I got to him the harder it would be when he walked away.
And he would.
Because nothing good lasts forever.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jack
“Earmuff those babies, please,” I said, as Harley held Everly and Laney Mae had Penelope propped on her lap. They both burst out in laughter.
“They don’t know what you’re saying, Jack-ass. They’re babies.” Laney Mae rolled her eyes, but when she could tell I wasn’t kidding, she covered both of little P’s ears with her hands. I stared at Harley before she did the same to Everly.
“Is there something a doctor can do for a wicked case of blue balls? I’m dying here, ladies,” I said as we sat at a round table in the bakery.
They both continued to laugh hysterically before removing their hands from my nieces’ ears.
“For god’s sake, you’re ridiculous. It’s a couple of weeks. Man up,” Harley said as she tried to compose herself.
“The best things in life never come easy. You like her, right? You really like her? So, stay the course.” Laney Mae hoisted baby P over her shoulder and rubbed her back.
“If you count the fake dating part of our relationship, it’s been months, not weeks. So, yeah, I’ve gone a long time. I’m a… sexual man. I don’t even remember what I’m holding out for. She spends every night in my goddamned bed and you two have me brainwashed that I can’t sleep with her.” I pushed to my feet and paced around the dining space as I ran my hands through my hair.
“We didn’t say you couldn’t sleep with her, we said that you need to make sure she knows this is more than sex. She has her guard up with you, and it’s fair. You’re a well-known playboy,” Harley said.
“You’ve slept with half the city, Jack-ass, and she knows that. She needs to believe this is real. That’s why she won’t tell her brother, because she probably thinks the minute you sleep with her that you’ll dump her.” Laney Mae chuckled when Penelope let out a loud burp.
“Well, then maybe I need to sleep with her and show her I’m not going anywhere. I mean, I’ve given her no reason to doubt me. And I hate lying to Buck. He calls me every fucking morning and I’m lying to the dude. He’s like a brother to me, for fuck’s sake. Oh Jesus. I’m sorry,” I said, leaning forward and kissing the top of each baby’s head.
“They don’t understand it now, but they will soon, so you’ll need to clean up your language. And try to get your brother to do the same while you’re at it,” Harley said, fighting back the smile on her pretty face.
“I will. I promise.” I reached for Everly and pulled her to my chest. These little angels had a way of calming me and I fucking loved it. “And she agreed to come to Thanksgiving, so that’s progress.”
“That’s a huge step. You’re moving in the right direction. Let her take the lead. If she wants to tak
e things to the next level, I think it’s fine. She knows you’re all in at this point. I mean, who invites someone to Thanksgiving that just wants sex?” Laney Mae said, winking at me. “Proud of you, Jack-ass.”
“Yeah. It hasn’t been easy. But she’s worth it. All right, I need to get to work.” I pushed to my feet and handed Harley the baby before kissing the tops of four beautiful heads. “I’d be lost without you.”
“Love you,” they both called out, as I pushed through the door.
Monroe had come to the office early to get some work done. I knew she was going to fight me on this Melissa Labrith bullshit. It was not surprising that there was a story there, but it wasn’t one I wanted her to tell. Not by a fucking long shot. And she’d see how serious I was when we met this morning. I was pissed at Dan for even considering this knowing that it would be dangerous.
I made my way upstairs, popping the last of my donut in my mouth. Harley came in on the weekends and early mornings to bake and Laney Mae would come watch the girls for her so she could get things accomplished. She never left them with anyone who wasn’t family and I fucking loved that Everly and Penelope were growing up surrounded by all this Montgomery love.
“Ford, Monroe, and Dan just headed over to the conference room. They asked me to have you meet them there,” my assistant Sam said.
“Thanks. Here you go.” I dropped a bag with a few treats on her desk.
“Have I told you that you’re my favorite boss yet?” she said.
“Yeah, I overheard you saying that to Ford yesterday, you traitor.” I smirked as I made my way down the hallway.
I pushed the conference room door open as a frown formed on my face, the minute I set my sights on Dan. But then my gaze locked with Monroe’s and my lips turned up in the corner. Couldn’t help it. My girl had a way of doing that to me. Blue Jay was the sunshine in a shitstorm. Hell, I missed her, and I’d woken up in bed with her only a few hours ago. I loved waking up with her sprawled across my body. Lavender and honey had become my favorite scent.
