by Anne Rainey
“I’m all ears.”
“The biggest problem seems to be the social events and the local commerce meetings. Also the Multiple Sclerosis charity that Vaughn’s sponsors. I’d like you to take over these events.”
Jackson nodded. “Works for me.”
Merrick thought for a second, then said, “Also, I want you to interview someone for the sales rep position.”
“You have someone in mind?”
“My cousin Grace. She’s been pestering me about hiring her. She’s just graduated with her bachelor’s, and I’d like you to do the interview.”
Jackson surprised him when he frowned and sat back in his chair. “Does she know I’m doing the interview?”
He shook his head. Merrick knew Jackson and Grace butted heads on occasion, but he’d never understood why. “No. I haven’t talked to her yet. Is there a problem?”
“Nope, none at all. I’ll set it up immediately.”
“Let me run it by her first,” Merrick said. He hoped Grace wouldn’t give him a hard time about Jackson doing the interview, but he had a feeling she would. He should delve deeper, find out what it was with the two of them, but he didn’t really have it in him to give a damn. All he could concentrate on was Chloe. The door to his office opened and she appeared, as if his thoughts had conjured her.
She walked across the room and handed him some documents. “I need your signature on these.”
Merrick took them and turned to Jackson. “I’ll send you a schedule of upcoming events.”
Jackson stood. “Sounds good.”
After he left, Merrick’s gaze zeroed in on Chloe. Damn she looked good. The black slacks and emerald green blouse she wore hugged a body he longed to touch. “How’s it going with your dad?”
She smiled and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s okay. We stay out of each other’s way for the most part.”
“I miss you, baby,” Merrick said, unable to contain it much longer. He’d wanted to give her room, but, damn, he was getting desperate.
She blushed and looked down at the floor. “I miss you, too.”
Merrick stood and moved around the desk. When he was within touching distance, he murmured, “I promised not to push and I intended to keep my word. I just want you to know that things are in motion. I’ve already talked to Jackson.”
Chloe looked up, her hungry gaze eating him alive. “I heard you two talking when I came in.”
Unable to resist, he reached out and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “My bed is cold without you. I haven’t slept more than an hour a night.”
“Me, either,” she said, her soft voice caressing his senses. “And I think I’m keeping Dad up with my restlessness.”
Merrick smoothed his thumb down her cheek to her lips. God, he wanted to taste her. “There’s a solution, you know,” he whispered, emotion clogging his throat.
“Merrick—”
He stopped her with a kiss, unable to bear another denial. He kept it brief, all too aware they were at the office. “I won’t give up on you, baby,” he vowed against her lips.
“I wouldn’t want you to,” she murmured. She cupped his cheek in her palm and smiled. “Merrick Vaughn is no quitter.”
He winked and dropped his hands. “Damn straight.” When she moved away, putting distance between them, Merrick blurted, “Come over tonight. For dinner, nothing more.”
She squinted at him suspiciously. “You’ll try to seduce me.”
He shook his head and tucked his hands into his front pockets. “Just dinner, baby. I’ll order Chinese or something.”
She was quiet for a moment and Merrick was afraid she would deny him. Finally, she smiled. “What time?”
“Seven. Does that work?”
She nodded. “Want me to bring anything?”
“Just an appetite. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”
Merrick watched her leave. His heartbeat had sped up, and his mind was already envisioning the night ahead. It was too early to bust out the champagne, but at least he wouldn’t be eating alone again. He’d have Chloe all to himself for a few hours. It was something.
t
Chloe shifted on the soft white rug in front of the fireplace and adjusted the spaghetti straps of the lacy red teddy she’d bought earlier in the day. She imagined Merrick walking into their home and finding her displayed like a present wrapped in satin. Her temperature spiked and her pussy grew damp. Damn, she hadn’t been this excited since their honeymoon night.
The minute she’d overheard Merrick handing over his social duties to Jackson, she’d known she wouldn’t be spending another night at her dad’s house. Merrick’s dinner offer had provided the perfect opportunity to surprise him. But a simple dinner wouldn’t do. She didn’t want to come home and quietly fall back into their life together, she wanted a fresh start. An exciting start.
He’d promised to make some changes, and she’d seen first hand that he was a man of his word. He hadn’t given up on their marriage and it was time she proved she wasn’t about to either. When she heard the whir of the automatic garage door, her stomach did a little flip-flop. She heard the door open then close. Suddenly Merrick was there, staring at her, the bag of food and bottle of wine clearly forgotten.
“Jesus,” he groaned as he looked her over.
Chloe smiled, recognizing the arousal heating his blue eyes. She held her hands out to her sides and asked, “Do you like it?”
He placed the food and wine on the counter, then strode across the room. He fell to his knees in front of her and touched one lace-covered breast. “You look amazing. Damn, baby.”
Her body came alive at his words, and his light caress sent fire licking through her veins. “I wanted to surprise you.”
He pulled back and Chloe missed his touch immediately. “What does this mean?”
“It means I want to come home,” she declared. “I want to start over. It means I love you, through the good times and the bad.”
Merrick grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap. He buried his head in her hair. “Fuck, I’ve missed you. Don’t ever leave me again. Never again, baby.”
Chloe wrapped her arms around his head and held him tight. She could feel his body trembling. Tears sprang to her eyes. “No, never again. I promise.”
He lifted his head and crushed his mouth to hers. He was hard, rough, forcing her lips apart and sweeping his tongue inside, teasing her into a frenzy of need. He tasted of spice and hot, aroused man, and Chloe would always crave his wild flavor.
Merrick pulled back before cupping her cheeks in his large, calloused palms. “I love you. This week has been pure hell.”
“I wanted to come home so badly, please understand. I needed to see for myself, Merrick.”
“Shh,” he soothed, “I know, it’s okay.”
Letting her fingers drift through his soft dark hair, Chloe said, “I do want one thing from you.”
“Anything, sweetheart. Just name it.”
“I want us to go to marriage counseling.” When he frowned, she knew he hated the idea of an outsider getting into their personal affairs, but she also knew they needed help, so she stayed firm. “It’s important to me.”
“What could a shrink do that we can’t do on our own?”
She shrugged. “Maybe nothing. Maybe it won’t be necessary. But I want you to at least consider the idea.” When it was clear he was still going to argue, she barreled on. “You have some unresolved issues. You admitted it yourself. It could help to talk to someone. We’ll do it together.”
He gritted his teeth. She could see the muscle jumping in his jaw. It went against his nature to admit to failure. When he sighed, she knew the truth before he spoke. And she loved him all the more for it.
“If it’s what you want, if it gets you back in my bed where you damn well belong, then we’ll go to marriage counseling.”
She pressed against him and placed a gen
tle kiss to his lips. Merrick crushed her to his chest, his hands cupping her ass, fitting their bodies together. Chloe pulled back an inch and, with emotion clogging her throat, whispered, “I love you, for now and for always.”
Merrick’s blue eyes heated, darkened. “I love you, too, baby. There will never be another who fills me the way you do. You give me strength. You make me want to be a better man. You make me feel ten feet tall. As God is my witness, with you I know I can do anything.”
“Even fatherhood?” she hedged.
Merrick’s lips quirked into an ornery grin. “Definitely. In fact, I think we should get started immediately.”
Her heart soared. “Really?”
“Hell, yeah. I’m already imagining you barefoot and pregnant.”
“Don’t go all Neanderthal on me, big guy. I’m so not June Cleaver.”
“Fine, then, just pregnant,” he acquiesced. “But first let me unwrap my pretty present.”
“Definitely,” she groaned.
He tugged the straps of her teddy down her shoulders and her breasts sprang free. He licked his lips. “Mmm, so sweet.”
His mouth covered one hard nipple, and Chloe surrendered to her husband’s touch.
Epilogue
“You’re such a dork, Merrick! Stop fiddling with it and let me see it.”
“Lacey, I can cook a friggin’ hamburger, it’s not that hard.”
“You’re squishing all the juice out!”
Merrick pointed the metal spatula over Lacey’s shoulder. “Nick, will you please find your wife something to do? She’s driving me nuts.”
Nick laughed and wrapped his right arm around Lacey’s middle, drawing a frown from Merrick. It still seemed strange to see his best friend and his little sister together. He wondered if he’d ever get used to it. Thankfully, they’d finally tied the knot. They’d kept it simple and small. No frills, like Lacey. There’d been a collective family sigh of relief when Lacey had walked down the aisle at last.
“I’ve got just the thing,” Nick murmured. “Come on, baby. Let Merrick burn the food.”
Lacey harrumphed even as she allowed Nick to pull her away. Merrick so didn’t want to know what Nick had in mind for Lacey.
“I think you’re doing a terrific job.”
Merrick swung around. His breath caught. At three weeks pregnant, nothing had changed about his wife’s body. But the knowledge that she carried his child sent a dose of pure male pride through him.
Merrick crooked his finger. “Come here, give me a kiss.”
Chloe closed the gap separating them. In an instant, Merrick had her in his arms, his mouth slanted over hers. He sucked at her lips, teasing his way into her mouth. She tasted like apple juice. Sweet and tangy. He wanted to sip at her all day. He lifted an inch and whispered, “Daddy’s hungry, angel.”
“Mmm, yes,” she sighed, “but we’ll have to wait until after the barbeque.”
Merrick ground his teeth together. Damn, their family get-togethers always went late into the evening. “I have a treat for you,” he tempted her.
Chloe pulled back, her eyes alight with excitement. “You do?”
“Yeah.” He leaned close and whispered, “I bought you a paddle.”
Chloe gasped. “Merrick!”
“Figure out a way to leave early and I’ll give you a pretty red ass as a reward.”
“You’re insatiable,” she replied, but he noticed she didn’t seem too upset by that fact.
He winked. “And you love it.”
“Love what?”
Merrick knew that voice. He mentally counted to ten and turned around. His cousin, Grace Vaughn, followed by a pissed off Blade. At five foot three inches and one hundred and ten pounds, Grace was trouble with a capital T. “None of your business, brat.”
“Aw, that’s no fun.”
“Why aren’t you in the house torturing Blade?”
“He lost. Three times. I swear he’s a spoilsport, too.”
“Chess or poker?”
Grace grinned like the imp she was. “Chess, and I got forty dollars out of that big lug.”
Merrick quirked a brow at Blade. “You actually bet money? Thought you were smarter than that, bro.” No one placed bets against Grace. She was the best damn chess player around. She’d competed in college and still had a reputation.
“Hell, I would have won, but she brought out the timer,” Blade complained. “I hate that stupid timer.
Grace laughed and patted Blade on the arm. “It’s that Vaughn male pride. Gets you boys every time.”
“Maybe you’re just not playing with the right guy.”
Grace flushed and swiveled on her heel. “And you’d be the right guy, huh?”
Jackson stood to Grace’s left, his eyes filled with challenge. What the hell?
“I think I could definitely give you a run for your money, little girl.”
She snorted and planted her hand on her hip. “You wish.”
Jackson crossed his arms over his chest. “Afraid I’ll win?”
Grace mimicked his pose, then stuck her nose in the air. “Afraid you’ll cry like a baby when you lose.”
Blade chuckled. “Be careful, Jackson. I’m convinced Grace sold her soul to the devil to play chess as well as she does.”
Candice walked up and wrapped an arm around Blade’s waist, which resulted in Blade hauling Candice off to the side of the house and behind some bushes. Lucky bastard. Merrick wanted to haul Chloe off. He would have too had his mother not suckered him into manning the grill.
Jackson’s disgruntled tone as he remarked about a blonde devil in blue jeans pulled Merrick away from Blade and Candice’s naughty rendezvous. As his gaze caught on Grace, he realized she was a breath away from killing his V.P of Operations. For some infernal reason, Jackson and Grace had never gotten along. Which made what he was about to propose just this side of insane.
“Before you two disintegrate into another of your fascinating arguments, I have something to say.”
Jackson narrowed his eyes. “To both of us?”
Merrick pulled Chloe to his side. Needing to feel her seemed as necessary as breathing. When she melted against him, peace stole through him. “Yeah, it concerns you both.” His gaze rested on Grace. “I want Jackson to interview you for the position as marketing rep.”
“Merrick, I don’t—”
He cut Grace off with a hard look. “You said yourself you wanted to work for me. With your schooling, you’re the most qualified person for the position.”
“I figured you’d hire me to work for you. I didn’t plan to be this dweeb’s glorified gofer.”
Merrick clenched his jaw as a headache started to come on. “You won’t be a gofer. Jackson’s solid. He’ll show you the ropes and treat you right.”
Grace stepped closer and planted her hands on her hips. “Maybe you’ve not been paying attention, but Jackson and I don’t exactly see eye to eye.”
“That’s only because you’re ten inches shorter than me, Gracie.”
Jackson seemed to be having way too much fun with this. Merrick never could understand why the man seemed to take such pleasure in provoking Grace. “Christ, Jackson, can’t you at least try to be nice?”
“Can I say something?”
He hadn’t expected Chloe to want a say in it. Although, one of the things they’d learned since they’d started counseling was to respect each other’s role in the business. At one time Vaughn’s Business Solutions had been in his name alone. He’d fixed that error. Now the business was both of theirs, equally. It’d been another attempt to prove to Chloe that he was deadly serious about keeping her number one in his life.
Merrick nodded, encouraging her to go on. Chloe dove right in. “Grace, you won’t get a better opportunity than this. You’ve worked hard to get that degree, and Merrick’s offer is your reward. Besides, isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”
Grace nodded and stayed silent, for once. Amazing.
As they wa
lked away, Merrick quirked his lips and tugged his wife around to face him. “You’re good.”
Chloe laughed. “All I did was point out the obvious.”
“What if they kill each other? This may end up a real bad idea.”
“No, they won’t. She’s in love with him, and he’s got the hots for her big time.”
Merrick stiffened, every single one of his protective instincts kicking in. “The hell you say! He’s way too damned old for her.”
Chloe placed two fingers against his lips and said, “Shh, it’s their business, not ours. And he’s only thirty-two to her twenty-two. Not exactly a huge gap.”
Merrick’s gaze sought out the two antagonists, shocked to the core when he witnessed Jackson sliding his fingers through Grace’s blonde hair. Grace stepped back, forcing Jackson to drop his hand. “He has no business thinking of her that way,” Merrick muttered.
Chloe laughed, which had him as hard as a baseball bat. “Only because she’s your little cousin and you’re way too overprotective. Let it go. It’ll all work out.”
“I still don’t like it,” he grumbled.
Chloe smoothed her thumb over his bottom lip, adding extra fuel to the fire in his loins. He grabbed her wrist and sucked the digit into his mouth, then bit the fleshy tip. “Think of a way to escape, baby,” he murmured around her finger. “I need you.”
“I’ll always need you, Merrick.”
“Keep saying things like that and I’m hauling your ass out of here, regardless of the barbeque.”
Suddenly, black smoke wafted around them, pulling them out of their lusty haze. Merrick turned toward the grill and groaned. The hamburgers resembled little charcoal discs. “I suck at cooking.”
“It’s okay, because you excel at other things.”
Merrick ached to show her those other things, but his mother shouting from the patio door had him scowling instead. He looked up to see Lacey heading toward them with a fresh batch of hamburgers. Shit, it was going to be a long night.
The heated look in his sweet wife’s eyes made him see the truth, though. As long as he had Chloe, he was ten feet tall and capable of anything.
