The Beat Match

by Kelly Siskind

  “I was lost without you.” He kissed her roughly as they tugged at each other, demanding hands pushing at damp clothes, gasps escaping between filthy kisses. “I love you,” he whispered as they slowed down. “Always.” His next kiss was soft, gentle and reverent, the thick sweep of his tongue making her moan.

  He pulled her to the room’s black leather couch, cuddled her close. She nosed his damp neck. “I’m sorry I broke up with you. It was the last thing I wanted to do.”

  He angled her body toward him, eyes beseeching. “Then why’d you do it?”

  “Because Duncan blackmailed me.”

  “He what?” His arm tightened uncomfortably around her.

  She confessed about her plan to help him fight DLP, catching Duncan, the ensuing threats and Sarah’s private eye work. “I think DLP has something bad on Duncan. That’s why he did what he did.”

  According to Sarah’s evidence, Duncan hadn’t been uber-stealthy when lurking around Saanvi’s apartment. A neighbor’s surveillance camera had caught him ambushing Aldrich Pharma’s top researcher at her front door, then forcing her into his car. She’d later emerged weeping and had run into her brownstone. She had quit Aldrich Pharma the next day. There were phone calls logged between Duncan and a higher-up at DLP. Sarah had found a dodgy offshore bank account.

  None of it was irrefutable evidence. Duncan might not get arrested, but it would no longer be Annie’s word against his. There was enough in the folder to burn that man’s career to the ground.

  “I think I will fucking kill Duncan,” Wes said fiercely. “And you know what this means?”

  She shook her head.

  “You saved the merger. It was toast. We lost another researcher, but once I show Karim your files, there’s no way he’ll sign with DLP.” He leveled her with an adoring look. “I should have accepted your help when you offered it. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”

  “Lots of massages,” she said playfully. She wanted his hands on her, always.

  He settled her more firmly on his lap, ran his thick fingers up her thighs. “You’ll be begging me to stop.”

  “Fat chance. But what about your job? You took off your mask.”

  He quit kneading her thighs. “I doubt I’ll work at Aldrich Pharma much longer. My father knows about Falcon.”

  Had her plan backfired? She’d thought waiting for evidence had been the smart move, delaying Wes from reacting and lashing out at Duncan. The good guys were supposed to win. “I should never have trusted him to keep his word.”

  “He didn’t leak anything. I told my father. I was tired of denying a part of myself to appease the company and realized I didn’t want to quit DJing. I’ll find work elsewhere.”

  “But you love Aldrich Pharma.”

  “I love you, and I love the work. Someone will hire me who doesn’t care what I do at night.”

  She hated the slight defeat in his posture, the weariness in his voice. “I don’t think he’ll fire you, but if he does, you’ll take Marjory with you. And you won’t have to hide the mutant animal testing going on in the secret underground lair anymore. We can free the animals together. Felix can be with his fellow rabbit-squirrels and star in his version of Planet of the Apes.”

  He smiled. “Planet of the Rabbit-Squirrels.”

  “You read my mind.”

  He pressed small kisses along her jaw, up to her temple. “I would shudder to delve into that murkiness.” He leaned back and looked at her as though they’d just met. “I love you, Annie.”

  She touched the sharp slant of his cheekbones, feathered her fingers toward his mouth. “Say it again.”

  “Only if you say it back.”

  “Demanding.”

  “Give me a few hours and I’ll show you demanding.”

  She liked that dirty promise. She liked this even more—them tucked together, touching, nuzzling, adrenaline still high from the show, her heart so impossibly full. “I love you more than I love scrapbooking,” she whispered.

  He nipped her bottom lip. “Good, because I’m tossing the book you made of me.”

  She froze, picturing her latest creation with dogs defiling his photograph. “I tossed it already.”

  He cocked his head and stared at her. “You’re such a liar.”

  “I lost it.”

  “You added to it.”

  “What? No. Of course not.”

  He flipped her onto her back, loomed over her like the sexy beast he was. “Lying comes with penalties.”

  She would happily take punishment from Wes, her best friend and lover. She might have to add to that book every day for the rest of their lives, just to see this predatory gleam in his eyes, so she could reach for his wide shoulders, feel all that maleness gunning for her, and say, “Do your worst, Herbert.”

  Epilogue

  Nine Months Later

  * * *

  “Have you seen my passport? I was sure I left it on the bookshelf.” Annie tore through her chaotic apartment, bulldozing through stray magazines and sheet music.

  Weston leaned on the kitchen counter, enjoying the show. “On your bookshelf, where exactly? In that mess of half-finished puzzle books or tucked between the torn magazine pages that might spill over at any minute?”

  She slanted him a dirty look. “My place is cluttered but organized, and I’m tired of you judging it. One more crack, and I’ll change the lock.”

  “I’ll pick the lock.”

  She pursed her lips. “I can’t believe Leo taught you that.”

  “I also know how to jack a car.”

  “Leo never stole a car. He didn’t even have a license.”

  “You don’t need a license to steal a car.”

  She puffed out a laugh, then side-eyed him. “Did he really steal a car?”

  Weston mimed zipping his lips and tossing the key. Annie didn’t need to know about the night they’d taken a Mercedes for a joy ride to impress a couple of club girls.

  He grabbed Annie’s passport from a stack of old phone books and raised it in the air. “Are you looking for this?”

  She grabbed a couch pillow and tossed it at him. It landed a foot short of its target.

  He sauntered over to her, passport in hand. “What were you saying about your organized clutter?”

  She pressed her forehead against his chest. “This was a memory blip, not clutter.”

  “Whatever you say, Squirrel. But we know which of the two of us is more organized.”

  “Whatever.” She nuzzled closer. “You’d be lost without me.”

  No argument from him. “I also wouldn’t have a pet rabbit I don’t hate.” The second those words were out, he flinched. He hadn’t meant to blurt that confession.

  Annie pulled back, squinting one eye at him. “What do you mean I’m the reason you have Felix? You took him from your neighbor.”

  “Yes. I did.” He scratched his nose. “That’s exactly what happened.”

  She stepped fully away and crossed her arms. “You’re lying.”

  He glanced at his watch. “Would you look at the time? We should really leave.”

  “Explain about the rabbit.”

  “We might miss our flight.”

  She didn’t budge.

  With what he had planned for today, better to smooth this over before he dug himself deeper. “I bought Felix from a pet store and lied about his separation anxiety so you’d quit chasing me at my shows.”

  She leaned closer to him and cupped her ear. “You’ll have to speak up, Herbert. It sounded like you said you lied about Felix to ditch me.”

  He fought his rising laugh. “I was blinded by your beauty and distracted at my shows and didn’t know what else to do. But think about how great it worked out. We have an adorable pet rabbit.”

  “Because your need for control is so preposterous you’re willing to exploit a perfectly innocent animal.”

  “It was self-preservation. You were relentless.”

  “That didn’t sound like an a
pology.”

  “Sorry?”

  She rolled her eyes. “No, you’re not. You’re a control freak who always has to have his way.” She pushed to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “But I kind of love your evil-mastermindedness, future husband.”

  Hopefully she’d love today’s surprise even more.

  He took her hand in his and planted a kiss on the engagement ring he’d given her last week. Proposing had been as emotional and terrifying and perfect as he’d hoped. He’d done it right in front of the Office of the City Clerk, had dragged her up to fill out the marriage license right away. She’d cried and laughed, the two of them kissing and smiling through it all. “This is proof,” he’d told her. “My promise to you there will be no freaking out before the ceremony.”

  She’d loved the gesture, had prattled on about how they’d get properly married next year, during the summer. She hadn’t clued into the stunt’s ulterior motive.

  “Enough about your rabbit games.” She bounced on her toes, a thousand-watt grin lighting her face. “Have I told you this trip will be my first flight and that Ibiza is my number one bucket-list destination out of my list of two hundred and twenty-four?”

  “A few times.” About two hundred and twenty-four.

  She skipped over to her bag, grabbed the handle, and rolled her shoulders back. “I am, as of now, a jet-setter. A stylish woman of the world, about to embark on the vacation of a lifetime.”

  “With the man of her dreams.”

  She tossed him a wink. “We should pretend to meet in the hotel lobby. You can pick me up. I’ll take off the engagement ring.”

  He grabbed her bag and planted a hungry kiss on those adorable lips. “Not a chance. Every man there’s going to know you’re mine.”

  She tossed her arms around his neck, kissed him while smiling. “All yours. And you’re mine. Which means I actually have to get my butt in gear and start planning our wedding.”

  Her joy dipped slightly, a hint of stress in her creased brows. All signs that today’s plan wouldn’t backfire on him. It better not, at least.

  Annie was the first thing he thought about in the morning, at lunch, while walking down the street, when seeing vintage clothing stores or passing a craft shop. He refused to sleep without her, splitting their time between his place and hers. He bought her gifts incessantly, loved toying with her long blond hair while they watched a movie. He couldn’t look away from her when she found a new song for their set list, her skin glowing with excitement. She was his best friend. She was the reason Aldrich Pharma had announced their merger with Biotrell and a large part of why he still worked for his family company. She’d even begun to win over his father.

  Today better go off without a hitch.

  He carried her luggage to the waiting car and slid into the backseat with her.

  She linked their fingers and turned to him, her hazel eyes, more green than brown today, brimming with affection. “Have I thanked you for planning this trip?”

  He kissed her nose. “You have, but don’t hold back. Thank me again.”

  “Thank you, again. I don’t have patience for planning. I mean, I will for the wedding,” she said quickly. “But I know how crazy busy you are. I hope taking the time off work isn’t killing you.”

  “Not when this is a partial business trip.” DJ business was also business. His father had grudgingly agreed to ignore Weston’s moonlighting. With the merger solidified, shareholders couldn’t argue against his capabilities. And when Ushuaia called asking Falcon to play their massive open-air club, he couldn’t refuse. Especially since a trip to Ibiza lined up perfectly with today’s plans. “Besides, exploring that exotic island is no hardship.”

  She fiddled with his fingers while tucked into his side, tracing the length of each digit. He watched her intently, bounced his heel, waiting for her to clue into their driver’s direction.

  Eventually, she squinted through the window. “He’s going the wrong way. Why is he going the wrong way?”

  Weston tugged her closer, worried she might open the door and bail out. “I have no idea.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Always when I ask you about a random gift that appears out of thin air. Where are we going, Wes?”

  “Like I said, I have no clue.”

  “Do you have a clue if we’re going to miss our flight? In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a woman of the world, and gallivanting women don’t like missing their flights when they’ve been counting down the days with stickers and colored markers in their scrapbooks.”

  “I have not forgotten. Our flight is later than I told you. Enough with the questions.”

  “Weston.”

  “Anthea.”

  She gave him the silent treatment for the rest of the ride.

  When the car pulled up to a random curb in midtown Manhattan, she caved. “Why are we still in the city?”

  He kissed her ear and murmured, “Don’t move.”

  He stepped out of his side of the car and rounded to hers in several long strides. He yanked her door open and dropped to one knee.

  She glanced around the street, then back at him. “What you doing?”

  He gathered her small hands in his. “The day I met you was the most important day of my life. Knowing and loving Leo was a gift, but meeting you was destiny. I didn’t know it then, but you’re the glue and sparkles that hold me together. You’re every artwork I’ve ever admired, captured in a vibrancy I never fathomed. You’re the reason I’m living a full life, and why I have a silly pet rabbit. You’re my…” His throat clogged with emotion. She was everything. “You’re my heart, Squirrel.”

  Her chin trembled, those expressive eyes glossing over. “What’s a heart-squirrel?” she asked through her tears.

  He laughed. “You. You’re the crazy squirrel. And I love you so damn much.”

  “I love you, too. More than anything. But you’ve already proposed, and I said yes.” She pulled out her left hand and waved her vintage square-cut diamond ring in his face. “We even have our marriage license. What’s with the bended knee and gorgeous profession of love?”

  He’d gone on a hunch with this next move. A slightly reckless hunch. Annie was taking her own piano lessons, while teaching in her spare time and working on her DJing. She had gigs booked. She’d even started a scrapbooking club for kids at a community center, and she still waitressed a couple of nights a week. All hectic and time consuming, though fulfilling. He’d known she wouldn’t love carving time for wedding planning. Planning in general wasn’t her forte.

  He, however, was a born organizer.

  “That was just the preliminary proposal,” he said, his voice shakier than he’d like. “This is the official one.” He fanned his hand toward the building. “We’re having the ceremony today.”

  “What do you mean today?” Annie’s voice screeched as her brain struggled to play catch-up. They’d talked about an eventual wedding, sometime next summer. Time for her to figure out the million and one things that would need doing. Now Wes was watching her with wary, shifty eyes. He was nervous, and she was flummoxed.

  “The wedding’s already planned,” he said, casting a glance at the brownstone behind him. “And it’s happening now.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her laugh had an erratic pitch to it. “I must have misheard you again. First the Felix reveal, now this.”

  He stood from his bent knee and held out his hand, palm up, to help her from the car.

  She stared at it, helpless. “My wedding isn’t happening here. Now. I’m wearing an old skirt and a tank top.” Printed with the words: Because I’m the DJ, That’s Why. “And I wanted our friends at our wedding. Nothing big and fancy, but a day we could share with them.”

  Another moment of perfection to gather and cherish alongside the millions of others they created daily. She’d worked so hard to build friendships this year. Talk to women. Share her worries when getting together for food and drinks with people like Pegasus, whose real name was Gre
tchen. Grow a network she could count on, and who could count on her. She’d hate not to have them here today.

  Wes stretched his hand closer to her and lowered his voice. “As much as I love our bickering with benefits, which would have been entertaining while planning a wedding, I didn’t want the planning to be a burden. You’re busy and hate scheduling and research, but I enjoy it. I also wanted to do this for you. Not just the signing of our marriage license. Really show you I’m ready for us. So let me love you the best way I know how. Let me whisk you off your feet and be your prince.”

  God, this man. All those months of infatuation, yearning, pining, she’d never imagined he’d be this devoted, that a few words from him would knock her sideways. Her dream wedding morphed into this moment now. A random New York street. Pedestrians casting them odd glances. Weston Aldrich offering her the one thing he’d never offered anyone: his unprotected heart.

  “Yeah, okay.” Her words sounded watery. She accepted his hand and stood. “I can’t believe we’re getting married today. Do we have time to call Vivian and Rosanna and—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips. “Trust me, will you?”

  She nodded, too blown away to speak. He signaled to someone in the brownstone behind them, and Vivian and Sarah scurried out. Annie squawked. They whisked her inside, and people were everywhere, catering people and makeup people and hair people.

  “Whose house is this?” she asked, dazed.

  Vivian clutched her hand tightly. “A friend of Sarah’s. And no more questions.”

  “But—”

  “No buts.” Rosanna appeared from around a corner, as stunning as ever. “You’re officially kidnapped. There’s no worrying or questioning. There’s only smiling and enjoying.” She held up a white dress.

  Annie screamed.

  Rosanna winced. “You broke my eardrums.”

  “How did he—”

  Rosanna tutted and raised her hand. “Is she always this bad at following instructions?”

  Vivian linked arms with Sarah. “We usually let her ramble and check back every few seconds to make sure she’s breathing while she’s talking.”