by V. T. Do
After we cleaned up the kitchen, Wyatt walked me to my car. “Have dinner with me tonight,” he said.
I looked up at him. “You know, one of these days, you might try and ask me.”
The teasing in my voice was obviously missed. He frowned. “And give you the chance to say no?”
I laughed. “I can still say no.”
He was smiling then. “Yes, but it’s harder for you to say no when I’m not asking.”
I poked him in the stomach, trying to ignore how hard his abs were. “You’re weird.”
He grabbed my hand and brought it up to his lips. My stomach fluttered. I might be the weird one. “And you’re mine. I’ll pick you up at six.”
Opening the car door, he gestured for me to get in. I pouted. “Don’t I get a kiss goodbye?”
His toothy grin was the last thing I saw before my eyes closed and his lips were pressed against mine. The kiss started innocently enough. Then I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in closer. His tongue swiped across my bottom lip, urging me to open, before he entered my mouth.
I moaned, loving the feel of his hot, velvety tongue against mine, loving the way his hands tightened around my waist, and loving the little groan he let out, as if he couldn’t get enough of me.
He pulled away abruptly, and I tried to follow, tried to prolong the kiss, but he held me back. “If I don’t let you go now, I’ll say fuck it and take you back to my apartment. And then I won’t let you leave.”
“Maybe I don’t want to leave,” I said, catching my breath.
He kissed me again. This one shorter than the first. “Go, Emery. I’ll pick you up at six. And, baby? Plan to stay the night.”
My breath stuttered at the promise in his voice. I nodded.
I didn’t remember the drive home. I spent it thinking about Wyatt and me and what the future might look like for us. I hoped that he’d keep his promise, that I wouldn’t regret taking a chance on him, because even I could see how far I had fallen for him in such a short amount of time.
I needed our future to be bright and certain. More than I’d ever needed anything else.
Chapter Twenty-Four: A Beautiful Contradiction
Emery
I never thought it would be like this.
That being with someone you could fall in love with would be like this. That my life had been missing something until Wyatt came into it. I was quickly becoming one of those girls who was obsessed with her boyfriend, and I didn’t care.
Two weeks had passed since the day Wyatt took me ice-skating. Two blissful weeks in which I spent most nights in his arms and most mornings eating breakfast in his kitchen. I learned things about him every day, and I was beginning to see that he was the kind of man I would love spending the rest of my life trying to figure out.
A perfect contradiction that I wanted to keep as my greatest treasure.
He was hard and rough-looking, the calluses on his hands telling the story of a man who was good with his hands, yet when he held me in his arms at night, it was the gentle, tender side of him that I saw.
He was the man who was easily three times my size but made me feel safe and invincible.
He was the man who could spend hours playing with my body roughly, fucking me like a whore, and then moments later, worshipping me like a goddess.
I might be in love with him.
A big part of me really believed I had already fallen for him. A small part, however, the rational part, told me this might be too soon. That he was my first relationship, and I didn’t know what love was. I could have easily confused affection with love and could be opening myself up to a world of hurt later if I wasn’t careful.
So far, I’d managed to keep my mouth shut. Especially when we were in bed together. I didn’t want passion to blind me, where I ended up saying something I couldn’t be sure was true, or worse, if it was true, and I ended up scaring him off.
I walked out of my last class of the day, and even with the dark-gray sky that hinted of snow later, I couldn’t keep from feeling like I was on top of the world. I drove home listening to love songs, because everything felt like unicorns and rainbows.
Joey told me the other day that she thought I looked happy. I hadn’t realized how sad I was before. Joey looked radiant as well. Wyatt and I had been out with her and Cole a couple of times already, and I’d grown fond of Cole.
Wyatt had told me that Cole had a rough childhood, and I couldn’t care less—he treated Joey like a queen. We all had something in our past we weren’t proud of, Wyatt included.
He talked about his childhood sometimes, but I could tell he hadn’t told me everything. There was something guarded about him. There were times when I swore he looked like he wanted to tell me something, but then he changed his mind at the last minute.
I didn’t want to be one of those girlfriends who demanded that her boyfriend tell her everything. I wasn’t a nag. And I was such a novice when it came to relationships, I wasn’t sure what the appropriate timeline was for couples to share the deeper stuff.
When I pulled up to my house, I noticed two things.
One, my Aunt Helen was home. And two, she wasn’t alone. There was a car in the driveway that I didn’t recognize.
Aunt Helen had a small group of friends that she’d entertained for over a decade now. We were both introverts and had problems making new friends, therefore I knew all of the people in her circle. So it was shocking to see someone here I didn’t know, and this guest was obviously a man—a young one at that, considering the interior design of the car was masculine, with a sticker of a pinup girl on the back window.
I would be very surprised if my aunt was dating, and even more so if she was involved with a man who had a car like this. Besides, she had Preston. I didn’t know when they would just come out and say it, but if she was dating anyone, it had to be Preston.
So, whoever owned this car couldn’t be a friend or date.
I walked in the front door and placed my backpack against the wall by the door. “I’m home,” I called out.
I heard talking in the kitchen, so that was where I headed. Aunt Helen came into view first, dressed impeccably as usual, her brown hair pulled up into a neat bun, not a single strand out of place. Her eyes crinkled, and it looked like I had caught her mid-laugh.
“Hello,” I chirped, walking further into the kitchen, before I caught sight of her companion. My footsteps faltered. “Ethan? What are you doing here?”
Ethan was supposed to be my date. Wyatt had canceled on him, and I hadn’t talked to him since. I had forgotten about him completely. He was bigger than I imagined. This was the first time I’d seen him in person, and there was a big part of me that was... unimpressed.
It wasn’t his looks, because I knew from his pictures that he was an attractive man. With soft blond hair and blue eyes, he looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. His shoulders were broad, and it was obvious he worked out. I knew he was older than me by a couple of years, yet he looked young to me. It was his demeanor that I was unimpressed with. It was the demeanor of someone who still had a long way to go before they proved they could play in the big leagues of the corporate world. I had seen his type in the men who had worked for my grandpa.
But what was obvious was the entitled air about him. As if he despised being asked to prove himself. That his name and stature should be enough.
“Emery. I’m here to see you, actually.”
“You are? Why?”
“Emery!” Aunt Helen admonished.
I cringed. I hadn’t realized how rude that sounded. “Sorry. That came out wrong. I’m just surprised is all.”
Ethan smiled at me. “That’s okay. I should have called you. But your aunt said I should come by.”
I was able to keep the frown from my face as I turned to her. “Really?”
She smiled and stood up. “Yes, I thought it would nice if you kids got to know each other. Well, I need to return a phone call. I’ll let Emery enterta
in you, Ethan, and you should consider staying for dinner.”
She walked out of the room without a backward glance, and I stood there awkwardly, suddenly very unsure of what to do with my hands.
Ethan walked over to me. “How are you?” he asked.
Wanting to put some distance between us, I moved away to get some water. “I’ve been good. Thanks for asking. What about you?”
“Great. Grad school is kicking my butt, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ve been busy preparing to take over the family business.”
He smiled, and I nodded, pretending to be interested. His mother ran a clothing franchise, with shops all over the country. He was rich and handsome and could get any girl he wanted, so it made me wonder why he was trying so hard to make it work with me.
I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and took a long sip. “I hope this doesn’t come off as rude, but, um, what are you doing here?”
I didn’t want him to think there was a chance for us. Especially not with Wyatt in the picture. What would he say if he knew Ethan was here?
“Your aunt. She thinks we would make a good couple.”
If I’d still had water in my mouth, I would have spit it out. Probably at him, and I wouldn’t be sorry about it. “Why do you say that?”
He grinned. “She told me.”
I set the water bottle down on the island. “Ethan, I’m sorry. But I think this might have been a wasted trip. I... I’m with someone.”
His eyes widened in surprised. “You are? Your aunt didn’t say anything.”
I blushed. I assumed Aunt Helen had figured it out by now, considering I hadn’t spent more than a few nights at home in the last two weeks. Maybe I should have told her. I could have avoided this whole awkward encounter.
“It’s still pretty new.”
Ethan brightened, and I didn’t know why. He stood up and walked over to where I stood. I resisted the urge to step back. “Then it can’t be that serious. I don’t think you gave me a fair shot. We were supposed to have that date, but you had to cancel. Go out with me. Say, tomorrow night?”
I shook my head. “That’s very sweet, Ethan. But I can’t. I really like where this new relationship is going. And I think he might be the one.”
“You can’t be serious. Come on, Emery. I bet if you give me the chance, you’ll find that I am a better match for you.”
“I don’t think so.” I grabbed my water and moved back. “You are, of course, welcome to stay for dinner. I’m sure my Aunt Helen would love to hear what your mom has been up to.”
Ethan’s eyes flashed with annoyance. But the look was gone so quickly, I wasn’t sure if I had imagined it. “You’re not being fair to me. If you hadn’t canceled our date the first time around, we would be dating now. I would be dating a Caldwell now.”
I knew my face was red with anger without needing to look in a mirror. “You sound awfully confident there.”
“I know how I look.”
Now I didn’t bother to hide my expression. “And?” He didn’t like my response. I didn’t like his face. “I don’t owe you anything. And if you think that’s the case, you need to rethink that. If you plan on staying for dinner with my aunt tonight, please tell her I won’t be there. I hope you have a good day.” I added the last part because I grew up with Aunt Helen, and she always said I needed to be polite, even when dealing with assholes.
I walked out without a backward glance.
The rain had picked up when I got outside, just a slight drizzle that I had no doubt would turn into snow. I drove without the music on this time, my day having gone from unicorns and rainbows to screaming thunder and hell’s inferno.
I hadn’t realized where I was going until I came upon James Ross Architectural Inc. The building was impressive on its own. Like most of the skyscrapers in New York, it was made mostly of glass, a formidable yet elegant structure, much like the men who owned it.
I parked my car and paid the meter, then walked in. Even though it was almost closing time, the building was still filled with activity. I looked around, thoroughly impressed with the sleek modern design. It wasn’t until I got to the elevator doors that I realized I had no idea which floor Wyatt’s office was on.
A lot of people were shooting me questioning glances. The clothes I was wore made me stick out like a sore thumb. While everyone was in business attire, not a hair out of place, I was wearing jeans and my red coat that made it impossible for me to blend in. And I’d caught the attention of the security guard.
He was a mean-looking dude, with a bald head and trimmed beard. He was probably older than me by a decade, and his size was big enough for me to think he could easily pick me up off the floor and throw me well across the huge room.
“Can I help you?” he asked. Even his voice was scary.
I took a step back. He followed. I decided then that I needed to act confident, like I belonged here. I raised my chin and looked him in the eyes. His dark Satan-like eyes. “Yes. I am looking for Wyatt James. Can you tell me where his office is located?”
He stared at me. I managed to only fidget a little bit. “Miss, Mr. James is really busy. He does not have time to deal with stalkers. I am going to have to ask you to leave. And if you can’t walk out of here on your own, I will physically remove you.”
My eyes widened. “You think I’m a stalker? Wait. Does he have a lot of stalkers?” The thought that he might was jarring. I shook my head. “I’m not a stalker. I’m his girlfriend.”
He raised an eyebrow in disbelief. I was a little insulted and a lot humiliated. I realized now that I should have texted Wyatt first. I wasn’t thinking. “Please leave,” the guy said again.
He took a menacing step forward, and I made the mistake of backing away, as if I was getting ready to run. He grabbed my forearm, hauling me close. “I warned you, little girl.”
A quick look around told me we were drawing a lot of attention. Some of the looks I received were downright hostile. It was the most humiliating moment of my life. Tears pricked the corner of my eyes, and I tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold.
“You’re hurting me,” I gritted out. “I can walk out of here on my own. So let me go.”
My voice shook, probably from adrenaline. He didn’t look like he would. He was going to drag me out of here like some crazy, obsessed stalker, and he was going to enjoy every second of it. As if he had been waiting all week for this kind of excitement.
“You have five seconds to let her go, or I swear you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
I stopped struggling at the sound of Wyatt’s voice, so filled with relief that I sagged against the security guard. “Mr. James. I was just escorting this one out.”
“Why are you still touching her?” His voice came out in a low growl, and I knew he was pissed.
The security guard looked momentarily confused before he let me go. I rubbed my arm, wincing a little. No doubt I would have a bruise for the next few days.
Without waiting for Wyatt to say anything, I turned and ran to him. He wrapped his arms around me, looking at my face. He was probably checking to see if I was okay. I wanted to cry then. And that wasn’t like me. I wasn’t emotional.
His frown intensified when he swiped his thumb under my right eye, brushing a tear away. “Did he hurt you?”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know how to answer. And honestly, I didn’t want him to lose control. I wanted to get out of there, because we were really drawing attention now. Most people had stopped what they were doing to stare at us.
“Did I not give the instruction that Emery Caldwell is to be escorted to my office whenever she chooses to visit?”
I pulled back, a little surprised that Wyatt had planned for my visits to his office. It was thoughtful. It would also mean security guard guy knew that Wyatt had a girlfriend. I turned to look at him, and I couldn’t decide whether or not I was happy to see that his face had paled.
“Sir, she didn’t tell me who
she was. All she asked was where your office was located.” I scowled then. I didn’t give him my name, but I did tell him I was Wyatt’s girlfriend. He should have asked for my name then.
The guy saw my scowl and took a step back. “It won’t happen again.”
Wyatt nodded. “You’re right. It won’t. Please pack up your things and leave.”
“Mr. James?” he asked in disbelief. As if he couldn’t understand why he was being let go for such a small incident. I didn’t either. I turned to Wyatt, but he silenced me by squeezing me tighter against him.
I closed my eyes. I was just so damn exhausted. And the day wasn’t even over yet.
“Leave before I have someone escort you out. This is your final warning.”
With that, Wyatt led me to the elevator. We didn’t talk on the ride up, but Wyatt held me close, and that was exactly what I needed in that moment. When we arrived on his floor, Wyatt guided me out. This floor was nice. The same modern design was here, but there was also something cold and clinical about this floor. The dark furniture against the white marble wall demanded untouchable admiration. It was something meant to keep others out. Meant only to be seen not touched by outsiders.
I felt like one then.
There was a reception desk up front, with three women sitting there. They stood up when they caught sight of Wyatt.
He gave a nod in greeting when one called out to him. Then we walked past them, and I tried to ignore the wide-eyed look they gave me. As if this was the first time they’d ever seen Wyatt with anyone.
Or was it because of how young I looked? I knew he was thirty-one. That meant there was an eleven-year age difference between us. Did I look young on the outside? At least, too young to be with someone as sophisticated and mature as Wyatt? The thought left me in a depressed mood. It was no wonder the security guard hadn’t believed me when I told him I was Wyatt’s girlfriend.
We walked down the hallway, and there was a large room encased by glass. I looked inside and saw a big conference table. We kept walking, and at the far end stood two doors. One had Wyatt’s name on it, the other had Cole’s. These was their offices, which took up two corners of the floor.
