I laughed. “I’ll leave the tux at home.”
She looked at me for several long seconds. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. Thank you for asking. I’m not broken up about the breakup. Trust me, it was a long time coming. She’ll realize it soon enough and give up her campaign to smear my name.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe you haven’t heard about a woman scorned.”
I laughed. “I’ll be okay. It’s only words. This is typical behavior. She needs millions of people to feel sorry for her. She wants the drama. I have no doubt in my mind she is probably happier than she has ever been in her life. She feeds off the drama. I don’t. I can’t be around that.”
“I get it. I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll send a car,” I blurted out.
She put a hand on one hip and looked at me. “Evan,” she said in a warning voice.
“Come on. It just makes things easier. We can have a drink and neither of us has to worry about driving.”
“Fine, but this is a dinner as friends.”
I innocently nodded. “Yes. Friends. You can text me your address.” I quickly wrote down my personal cell and handed the number to her. “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you later,” she said and rushed out of my office.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I retook my seat. I was going to get to see her. It was the first step back into her life. I had to play it cool.
Chapter 14
Cherie
I was probably making a huge mistake by going to dinner with him. I could feel the tension sizzling between us and knew being alone with him could put me in serious jeopardy. Jeopardy of falling in love with him all over again. Not that I had ever fallen out of love with him, but with time, the feelings had lightened and become easier to put away.
I was going to keep things strictly in the friend zone. I was not going to be the rebound girl. I would not let myself get starry-eyed over him. “Friends. We’re just two old friends catching up.”
I grabbed the new black dress that was hanging on the back of my door and pulled it on. We were just two old friends catching up, but it didn’t hurt to look nice for the reunion. We would talk about our lives and what we had been doing the past fifteen years. We’d catch up on family and he could tell me all about his adventures in the Air Force.
He would be doing the bulk of the talking because I knew my life paled in comparison to his. He was a billionaire. He’d traveled the world and had shaken hands with some of the most famous people on the planet. My boring life was nothing to brag about.
I pulled out the strappy heels I had picked out to go with the new dress. They always made me feel sexy. I had only worn them a few times. Tonight was a special occasion—between friends. I had to keep reminding myself we were friends. I could not afford to get mixed up with him again.
We lived in very different worlds. I would never fit into the world he lived in. I wasn’t sure I wanted to after my encounter with Amber. Meeting famous people wasn’t quite the experience I had thought it would be. I could do without the verbal abuse.
I picked up my mascara and coated my lashes, wanting to go for a dramatic look. I knew I couldn’t compete with Amber, but I wanted to at least try a little. I realized I never truly tried to impress men with my looks. I didn’t want to look like a potato next to Evan and decided to up my game a little—not to impress him, but to feel better about myself being in his presence. I didn’t want people to look at us and wonder if I was some poor woman he picked up off the street out of charity.
I took a step back from the mirror, turned left and right, checking all the lines of the dress, and decided I looked about as good as I was going to get. I grabbed the light black jacket that matched the dress and walked into the living room to check my phone. A few seconds later, it vibrated in my hand with a text from Evan saying he was there.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach. “Friends,” I whispered. “Just friends.”
I grabbed my purse, popped my phone inside, and walked out the front door. I froze when I saw the limousine parked in front of my tiny house on my narrow street. I looked left and right and saw several neighbors staring at the massive vehicle as well.
Evan climbed out of the limo and smiled, holding the door open for me. “Your chariot has arrived.”
I smiled and walked toward the waiting car. “This is a little overkill, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “I like the privacy and the comfort.”
“You like to show off.”
“You look absolutely gorgeous,” he replied, ignoring my comment.
“Thank you,” I murmured, trying not to blush. I had never ridden in a limo before. It just seemed natural that I would take another first with him. I climbed in, doing my best to look like I had done it a hundred times before.
Evan climbed in and looked over at me. “Where to?”
I leaned forward, even though it did nothing to put me any closer to the driver that felt like he was a hundred feet away. I quickly gave him the address of where I was taking Evan and settled back into the seat.
It wasn’t long before the long limo was pulling up to a crab shack in a part of town I knew Evan had probably never seen. It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t for the elite. It was just some good food for those that knew where to find it, and judging by the array of old cars and trucks scattered around the parking lot, it was hopping.
“This is different,” Evan said with a smile.
“Some of the best crab you’ll ever have.”
He raised an eyebrow as if he doubted my statement. “We’ll see.”
“It might not be served on a gold platter, but it’s better than that fancy stuff you’re used to.”
He laughed. “I don’t doubt you.”
We walked into the crab shack that resembled a tavern. The music was loud, the people talking over the music were louder, and the smell of grease and seafood filled the air. We found a table and quickly sat down. I realized my choice of dress was probably a little much for the place, but I wanted to look good for him. He’d gone a bit more casual, leaving the jacket and tie off, but still wearing his tailored slacks and a white shirt unbuttoned at the top with the sleeves rolled up. It was hard not to look at the man. He was so damn gorgeous!
“Two beers and two orders of fish and chips,” Evan said when the waitress came over.
I raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you feeling bossy?”
He laughed. “Tell me you were going to order something different.”
I grinned. “No, I wasn’t.”
He winked. “I still know you.”
I offered a coy smile. “Maybe.”
Our food was delivered quickly, and it was like watching an actual flashback happen in real time. Evan reached for a piece of the beer-battered fish with his fingers and took a bite. It was hard to pair the billionaire businessman to my old Evan from home, but there he was.
“Damn, this is good,” he said before taking a long drink straight from the bottle of beer. “I can’t remember how long it’s been since I’ve eaten with my fingers and drank from the bottle.”
I laughed. “Poor you and your privileged life,” I teased.
He grinned. “There are a few downsides, but I’ll admit, it’s mostly awesome.”
“I’m happy for you,” I told him. “You deserve everything you have. I know you had to have worked your ass off.”
“I did in the military, but I have to admit, the money wasn’t that hard to make.”
“Did you ever make any bad deals and lose a lot?”
“Yes, more times than I care to remember.”
We talked a bit more about his business and what he did. I was truly fascinated. “You always had a good head on your shoulders. I don’t ever remember you being good at math, though.”
He laughed, finishing off his third beer. “I’m still not good at math. I have accountants and calculators. I only need to be good at picking the right properties and inv
estment deals. I can do the basic stuff like seeing potential, but don’t ask me about percentages and shit like that.”
And just like that, my Evan was back. My heart recognized the genuineness. He was still that boy from the swamp. He was wearing fancy clothes and had a haircut that probably cost more than I made in a week, but he was still my Evan. I fought back the feelings bubbling to the surface. The feelings I had pushed down a long time ago when I walked away from him.
“Want to go for a walk?” he asked after we had finished eating.
I had a feeling we were both a little buzzed. The beer had never tasted so good and it went so well with the fried food and good conversation. “I’d like that.”
We left the restaurant and headed down a small path that would lead us to a quiet beach. It was late and most people would be at home in bed or hanging out at one of the many nightclubs in the city. The moon was almost full and there was a light breeze blowing over the water. It was a cool night, but not so cold it was uncomfortable. I took off my heels and let my toes sink into the sand.
“I haven’t done this in a long time,” Evan said, taking off his own socks and shoes.
“What part?”
“Walking on the beach at night,” he said. “Drinking beer. Any of it. Feeling completely happy in the moment.”
“You’re not happy?” I asked, turning to look at him.
“I am, but it’s hard to let your guard down and just be who you really are when you are constantly surrounded by people who tell you that person is unacceptable for a man in your position.”
“What about when you’re alone?” I questioned.
He shrugged. “Sadly, I’m not alone all that often, and when I am, I’m usually avoiding going out to keep from being hounded. Being with Amber kind of made me a paparazzi magnet. I didn’t enjoy it at all. I’m anxious for the buzz to settle down so I can go back to being somewhat unrecognizable.”
“There’s a lot of people out there who work their whole lives to be rich and famous,” I commented.
“I wanted to be rich. I didn’t want to be famous. I want to be me. I want to be the guy I’ve always been.”
I shivered when a cool breeze washed over us. He reached out and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against his warm body. I didn’t fight it. He pulled me up the beach, away from the water as we walked.
“I think that old you is still inside,” I told him. “You just need to be more natural and I think you could find that happiness. It’s a balance.”
He turned to face me, his body still close to mine. “You’re right,” he said, his eyes holding mine.
I didn’t move even when I knew what he was about to do. I wanted the kiss. I craved his touch. When his lips finally settled over mine, I was lost in the moment. I was transported back to a time when he and I were madly in love and nothing could come between us.
My arms wrapped around him, holding him close. Our mouths opened for one another, our tongues doing a dance that came as naturally as breathing. It had been too long. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until I was back in his arms.
The sweet kiss quickly transformed into something desperate and needy. We both tore at each other’s clothes. His pants were around his ankles and my dress was pushed up and out of the way with my panties stuck around my knees.
“Down,” he ordered.
I didn’t hesitate to drop to the sandy beach in my new dress. I didn’t care where the sand got. I only cared about him giving me what my body was ravenous for. I reached between our bodies and wrapped my hand around his swollen cock. “Oh god,” I gasped, realizing he was definitely bigger than I remembered.
“He’s not here,” Evan growled, biting my ear lobe as he shifted his weight from my body to his arms.
“I need you right now,” I demanded.
“You’re going to have every last inch of me. I’m not holding back.”
My head rested against the soft sand. I stared up at him and had to reach out and touch his face with my hand to make sure it was all real. “Don’t hold back.”
He reached between my legs, his fingers sliding over my folds, already slick with need, before pushing one finger inside. He pushed hard, his desperation apparent in his jerky movements. His mouth slammed over mine. His tongue plunged deep, nearly hitting my tonsils at the same time as his finger pushed in high, readying me for his invasion.
I opened my legs, my hands moving to his bare ass, and pulled him closer. “Please,” I whispered.
His finger was gone and was replaced by the tip of his heavy cock probing at my entrance. Every cell in my body tuned into that one place, waiting for the moment we would be joined together again. He slowly pushed in, adjusting his body as I opened my legs wider.
“Yes,” he breathed out the word as my body opened up to his and allowed him to slide inside.
Chapter 15
Evan
It was better than coming home to a hot apple pie smothered in homemade ice cream. Her sweet, welcoming body was better than I remembered. I was never going to be able to cut the woman from my life. She was mine. Every last glorious inch of her was mine.
Her body squeezed around my shaft, milking me and pulling me along on her ride to an orgasm I knew was going to rock both our worlds. I stroked long and deep, scraping against the walls of her welcoming body. Every nerve in my body felt like it was being plucked, teased, and pulled. Her body was liquid fire around me. I was losing control. My bare knees dug into the sand as I thrust again and again.
“Don’t stop,” she gasped, her nails digging into my ass.
“I couldn’t if I wanted to,” I grunted.
I hated that her dress was still on. I wanted to bury my face in her cleavage. I wanted to inhale her scent and suck on her nipples until they were hard pebbles. I felt like a rutting buck and didn’t give a shit. Cold air washed over my bare ass, reminding me we were on a very public beach. As much as I wanted to stay with her all night just as we were, I wouldn’t humiliate her in that way.
“Evan,” she breathed as her body erupted around mine. It felt like being enveloped by the sweetest volcano.
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Baby, I’ve missed you.”
I heard her whimper before releasing a sound that was unique to her. The low keening sound escaped her lips, just like it always did when we made love. It was a sound that carried me back to a time in my life when things were easy and uncomplicated. I gave in to the need that was clawing at my insides to be released.
My head went back as my body bucked and rocked inside her. It was so good, I almost wept with relief at having her back in my life. I dropped a kiss on her lips. Her eyes opened. She was washed in moonlight and never looked more beautiful. I nearly told her I loved her. I refrained, knowing the timing wasn’t right.
“Wow,” I said with a grin.
She looked up at me, and for a second, I saw that same girl I had fallen in love with. It was gone in a flash. “Oh god,” she said, pushing me away.
I fell onto the sand. “Where are you going?” I asked, watching her scramble to find her panties.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” she mumbled, slipping on her panties and shoving her dress down.
I got to my feet, standing half-naked in front of her without feeling the least bit of shame. “I think it happened because it’s what we both wanted.”
She shook her head and turned away from my nudity. I was making her uncomfortable. I dusted away the sand clinging to my skin as best as I could before pulling on my clothes.
“Evan, it was the moment. Blame it on the moonlight and the good memories.”
“I don’t think it’s blame. I think we can attribute the rekindling of what we had back then to being reminded of how good it was.”
“Thank you for dinner and getting the chance to catch up,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Where are you going?” I asked with confusion, following behind her as she walked across the sand.
&
nbsp; “I’ll call an Uber.”
“Cherie, wait!” I called. “I’ll have my driver take you home.”
“No. It’s okay. I’ll get a ride.”
She was running away from me. “Cherie, it isn’t safe. Let me get you home.”
She was shaking her head. “I’m good.”
I wanted to pull her into my arms. I didn’t know what was happening, but I wanted to go back to five minutes earlier when she was in my arms. “Please,” I asked nicely.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I have to go.”
I stopped chasing her. She was determined to leave me. Again. What the hell was I doing wrong? I turned to look behind me, focusing on the waves, and realized my first mistake might have been banging her on a public beach. There was likely sand in places sand should never be. I would make it up to her.
We weren’t in the best neighborhood and I couldn’t just leave her alone. I quietly followed behind her, keeping my distance. I stayed in the shadows, watching until she got in a car and was driven out of the parking lot. I got into the waiting limo that was trying to be discreet on the far edge of the parking lot and failing miserably.
By the time I got home, I was more confused about her reaction. I was also far more determined than ever to win her back. I took a shower, washing away the sand and plotting my next move.
When I got to the office the next day, I had Bonnie call my head of security. I needed his services.
“What’s up, boss?” Vaughn said, coming into my office.
“I need a favor, but of course, I’ll pay you for it.”
He laughed. “Okay. What do you need?”
“I need everything you can get me on Cherie Sanders,” I said.
He wrinkled his nose. “Your wedding planner?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want to know?”
“I want to know what kind of volume her business does. I want to know how many people work for her. I want to know what her reputation is in the business.”
Heart Breaker Page 9
