Perfect Grump: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Snow, Nicole

  She cracks the door. Even just a glimpse of one red eye stabs my heart out.

  “It’s after six o’clock, I just got home, and I no longer work for you. Someone better be dead,” she snaps.

  “Reese, can we talk? Please.”

  “Since you said you can’t see me anymore, that might be hard. Go back to your car and text me. That way we can talk without actually seeing each other. Then again, usually when you can’t stand seeing someone you don’t randomly show up on their doorstep...”

  “I deserved that,” I growl, slapping a hand against the door—which she diligently holds shut. “I know I messed shit up. Big-time. I’m sorry and I love you.”

  She takes a harsh breath and says, “Apology not accepted.”

  “I brought gifts.” I know it’s pathetic but I’m desperate to hold her attention. So I wave the bouquet and cotton candy like a drowning man.

  “Billionaire bad boy tries to buy forgiveness. How boring. And you know I hate that stuff.” She glares at the cotton candy.

  “I was hoping you’d take a chance on it. Things can change,” I say with a pained smile. “Or if you won’t, give it to Millie.”

  “Millie’s gone,” Reese whispers.

  I blink, staggering back a step.

  “Take it to Abby’s then. We should go see her. She’s probably pissed at me on your behalf, right?”

  “I can’t. I told you she’s gone—both of them.”

  “What do you mean gone? Will you let me in? It’s raining out here,” I say, hoping tonight’s drizzle makes me look like a wet dog and tap dances on her sympathy.

  “Is anyone else outside?”

  “Nope. Just a lonely sucker getting rained on because his girlfriend won’t let him in.” I try smiling at her again.

  No dice.

  If it weren’t for the rain, I think her hate-glare would’ve set me on fire by now.

  “Huh. How many idiots are out there with you?”

  “One? I’m the only idiot.” It comes out harsher than I intend.

  “Sounds like it. Because your girlfriend would let you in, and I’m not her.”

  I shake my head. “C’mon, Reese, no word games. Let me make this right. And what happened to Millie—”

  Right.

  The door slams an inch in front of my face.

  Do I give up for tonight?

  On cue, the rain picks up, bleeding through my shirt and freezing me to the bone. I don’t move.

  I’m contemplating my Navy training—all the ways I could infiltrate her apartment—when the door finally opens a foot.

  The warmth of Reese’s apartment wafts around me as she shoves it open, unseen.

  “Get in here, or don’t,” she says.

  I start to step inside.

  She puts up a hand. “Wait.”

  She takes the flowers from my hand and hurls them over my shoulder, where they land with a thunk in the parking lot.

  Yeah. We’re off to a fabulous start.

  She waves her hand at the cotton candy with disgust. “I guess that junk is technically food. Give it to the first homeless person you see.”

  “Where’s Millie?” I try again.

  Sighing, she steps aside and lets me in, shutting the door behind me.

  “Witness protection with her mother. They’re not supposed to contact me until it’s over,” she says.

  “Oh, fuck. I’m sorry.” I didn’t see that coming, but I should have. “So, you’ve been completely alone.”

  “Since when does my loneliness matter?” Her eyes narrow.

  “Were you going to tell me?”

  She throws her head back and groans like I’ve just vomited on her shoes.

  “Who else did she tell?” Reese asks quietly, her chest rising and falling.

  It takes me a second to realize she knows that I know.

  Shit. This is not how I wanted this to go.

  “Ward and Grandma. Paige didn’t tell me if you’re worried about that—”

  “Beatrice did. Got it.” She pauses, refusing to meet my eyes. “Nick, you’re off the hook. Just get the hell out of here.”

  I take a step forward. “You think I don’t want you?”

  Her eyes tear up and she turns away.

  Goddamn, my name is mud.

  “No. I don’t want a man who was ready to abandon ship until he found out he knocked me up,” she flings back.

  Fucking ouch.

  “That’s not why I’m here, and you know it,” I say quietly. “I told you, I’m sorry. Pregnant or not, I would’ve come to my senses sooner or later. I just needed time to—”

  “Bullcrap. That’s exactly why you’re here,” she cuts in. “Granny Bea told you, and you had to come stroke your guilty conscience. I don’t need your pity or your money, Nick. I don’t need you for...for anything.”

  She’s a terrible liar when she’s hurt. It punches me through the ribs.

  I grab her, pull her around to face me, ignoring how she elbows me in the chest for real.

  Let her hurt me. Physical wounds heal easy.

  “I love you. You, Reese Halle. I’m here for you. I was afraid I’d hurt you, or someone else would because of me. That’s why I walked away like a complete dumbass. I tried to protect you from myself, and I was wrong. It never had anything to do with not loving you.”

  She struggles for a second, then goes limp, dry sobs racking her entire body. I settle her against my chest, and I’m grateful when she doesn’t recoil.

  “What changed?” she asks bitterly as soon as she looks up.

  “Me. I’m a changed man and I finally figured it out. A little chat with an angel and a demon made me realize I’m not who I used to be—and I’ll never go back to being him. I’m whole, sweetheart.”

  “Angel and demon?” She blinks at me.

  “Never mind,” I say. Osprey and Grandma aren’t the point of this.

  I stare into her blue eyes and say, “What I mean is, I’m almost whole. You’re my last missing piece, and so is our kid.”

  My hand is shaking—fucking shaking—as I bring it down softly to her belly.

  I still can’t wrap my head around being a father. The fact that I might lose my chance before it’s even started scares the hell out of me.

  I won’t force my way into her life, though.

  If she hates me that much, if she truly wants me gone, I’ll give her the space she needs. And I’ll still love her and our child from exile, as long as I’m drawing breath.

  She blinks her tears away with a hoarse moan of frustration.

  “Your gifts are always lame, but your words...why do you have to be so effing sweet?”

  There’s my girl. Easy to talk to and honest to a fault.

  My smile almost breaks me.

  “Can I have a kiss yet?” I ask, tilting her face up gently by the chin.

  She crosses her arms in front of her. “Nope. I have mono.”

  “Mono? How?” I blink at her.

  “Kissing random dudes. Anyone I could find to get your taste out of my mouth.”

  I snort. “Was it fun?”

  She shrugs. “Better than the last guy I kissed.”

  “You’re killing me. How many people do I have to hunt down in this city?” I growl with mock jealousy. No, not quite 'mock.'

  Even the thought of some imaginary chucklefuck having her makes my blood seethe.

  She’ll never belong to anyone else.

  If I have to stand on her doorstep in pouring rain all night to make sure she gets the message, I will.

  I’ll catch pneumonia before I let her think for a second she’s meant for another man.

  “You make me throw up every day, so maybe it’s fair I kill you instead,” she says.

  All bullshitting aside, I have to touch her now. I pull her closer, running my thumb along her cheek. She doesn’t move away, but she doesn’t embrace me.

  “Are you doing okay? Is the pregnancy...bad?” I grind out. I have to know.
r />   “It’s fine. It’s normal. It just sucks.”

  “It’s done sucking, Reese,” I tell her. “From now on, I’ll be here to hold your hair back.”

  “I have headbands.”

  “I have one more gift that’s not from the airport gift shop. I think you’ll like this.” I reach into my pocket and fumble around, producing the neatly folded check.

  She takes it with a nervous glance and unfolds it. Her gasp turns me inside out.

  “Holy hell. What even...?”

  “For your dream—”

  “My dream? That many zeroes? And you don’t want to know what I dream about since the hormones kicked in—”

  I stare at her seriously. “The hellfire in your face says I do.”

  She giggles.

  “Look, I accept that some things are written in stone,” I say. “Ward being a dick to me, the way I smile waking up next to you, and since you’ll never be a cotton candy kind of girl...maybe you could be a bossy limo girl instead. That’s my dream, too, and I want to buy it.”

  “Your dream?”

  I take her hand, shoving my fingers through hers.

  “My resignation wasn’t accepted. And since Roland Osprey decided not to put my head on a pike for all of Chicago...if my family still needs my help, I don’t want to walk away.”

  “Okay?” She looks confused.

  “Remember the no fraternization policy at the office? I’ve thought about this. Hypothetically, if my driver went started her own limo service—her lifelong dream—I’d be free to see her whenever and wherever I wanted. Maybe even the back seat of a limo. There’s also no reason why Brandt companies can’t still hire her drivers as a client.”

  Reese’s face goes bright red. “And if I still don’t want to fraternize with you?”

  “Then you’ll keep the seed money anyway, and I’ll never give up. I’ll be waiting for the moment to swoop in and convince you to love me again. You know how Homer spent thirty years fighting monsters before he got back to his Roman princess?”

  She gives me a dead look. “Um, I’ve barely read the classics, but I think it was Odysseus. And it was twenty years. And they were Greek. Also, you busted my heart to smithereens.”

  “Whatever! I loved that story as a kid and...I never meant to hurt you, Reese. Never. I’d let a one-eyed giant chew me up a thousand times before I’d ever hurt you intentionally,” I say, wrapping my arms around her.

  “You knocked me up.”

  My eyebrows go up. “I don’t regret that one.”

  She laughs and it’s adorable. Then her face grows serious again.

  “You left me with basically no notice. How do I know the next time you think you’ve effed up you’re not going to just take off again? A family can’t deal with that, and neither should anybody you love.”

  I swallow a groan because it’s a valid fucking question.

  “I messed up bad. I see it now. Maybe in time, I can gain your trust back. I promise you one thing; I’ll never walk out on our children as long as I live. I promise—”

  “Children? You’re expecting more than one?”

  I try like hell not to smile.

  “It’s your body, sweetheart. You’ve got veto power, but...if we can fall back in love and I can win you over again, then someday, I’d love more.”

  She’s quiet for a long moment, pondering.

  “You’re serious about sticking around?”

  “If you’re cool being stuck with me.”

  “If you ever leave me again—” She stabs a finger up, pushing it just below my throat.

  Grinning, I pull her closer and hold her like it’s the first time.

  “It won’t happen. Swear to God and I already swore to Grandma.”

  “I’ll never speak to you again if you walk it back,” she warns.

  “I’ll cut out my own tongue, my eyes, my—you don’t want to know. I like having organs, so I think that’s good collateral, yeah?” I say.

  Finally—finally—her arms close around my back and she slumps into my arms, letting go. But she presses her head into my chest, crying softly.

  I stroke her hair. “What’s wrong, love?”

  “I want this. I want you. For things to be the same again so badly. But I’m...I’m scared, Nick. Abby gave Will all the chances and now just look at her. I know it’s not the same. You’re not a drug-dealing lunatic, but still...”

  Goddamn. What do I say to that?

  I don’t like being compared to Will Frisk, but I did leave her high and dry, pregnant, and alone.

  Slowly, she leans in and whispers, “I have to do what’s best for this baby and—”

  “And you’re not sure that’s me,” I finish.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I love you. I love our baby. I’ll take care of you both the same way I took care of you and Millie. But you don’t need me now. You have the money for a new company and people to help you through it. You only need me if you want me.” My voice cracks. Raw.

  Sorrow scorches my throat as she looks up at me, her bright-blue eyes drinking me in. I gather the words to finish.

  “But I hope you need me, Reese. I hope I can chase every doubt from your mind and give you everything you deserve. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.” I hold her tight, remembering she’s pregnant. “Shit. I’m not—am I hurting you?”

  Smiling, she presses her body into mine as an answer.

  “I want to be there with you, but I’m scared. I just—I don’t know—”

  “I’m not strong enough to leave you again,” I say roughly.

  Her chin tilts back and her round eyes gleam.

  That got her attention.

  “Sadly, I had a taste of what it is to live without you. I can’t fucking do it again,” I growl.

  “Nick...”

  Tears stream down her cheeks.

  I wipe them away, brushing my finger on her skin.

  “God. I hope I don’t regret this,” she rushes out.

  Regret what? But before I can ask, she’s up on her toes. Her arms have moved from my waist to my neck, and her lips are on mine. Heaven returns.

  I flick my tongue against the seam of her lips.

  She opens her mouth, inviting my kiss.

  Now that I know what life feels like Reese-less, kissing her tastes so much sweeter.

  She slides her leg over mine and strokes gently.

  Growling, I pick her up.

  She wraps her legs around me. I have to pull away to catch my breath.

  “Where’s your bedroom?” I rasp.

  Reese holds a breath and exhales slowly. “Behind the kitchen.”

  Her lips are on mine again and I’m stealing every breath she has.

  We stay melded, tongues tangled, as I carry her down the narrow hall and tumble her down on the bed.

  She comes up on her knees. I pull the belt of her fleece bathrobe loose, smiling like the world’s biggest fool. I’m certainly the planet’s luckiest one.

  Her hands climb up my shirt and she starts opening buttons one by one.

  “Are you laughing at me because I’m not sexy? I didn’t plan on being seduced tonight.”

  “You’re always sexy, brat,” I whisper.

  “In three-year-old fleece pajamas?” She laughs. “I’m sure.”

  No lie. I’m so hard I could hit a home run.

  She’s got my shirt splayed open now and presses one hand to my abs, dragging her nails down with a lust-sigh that makes me throb.

  “One of the things I love about you most is your honesty. You’re real. That’s more than enough. Besides, lingerie doesn’t leave shit to the imagination,” I tell her.

  She blushes and giggles softly. “So you love me because I don’t try hard enough?”

  “I love you, woman. Let’s stick with that.”

  Honestly, I might start reciting Shakespeare if that’s what she wants—and after the way I butchered The Odyssey, it’d be cringe.

  Buttons undone, I lose my
shirt.

  Then I cup her hips with my hands, lean down, and press my lips to hers, drinking her in with a feral groan. She traces my lips with her tongue.

  I take every unruly bit of her mouth, reclaiming what’s mine.

  She moves closer. Her arms wind around my neck. One leg slides around my waist.

  She pulls me down with her lushness.

  Her back slides against the mattress, but I’m worried I might break her in my fury.

  “Is this okay?” I whisper, my forehead nudging hers.

  She nods.

  “I don’t want to hurt you or—”

  “You want me.” She smiles, her expression shadowed with desire. “I can feel it through your slacks.”

  I kiss her so hard it’s sinful. She shifts against my leg, damn near dry-humping me.

  Fuck.

  I can barely tear myself away.

  “Nick, if you don’t make love to me now, I’m going to regret giving you another chance,” she hisses.

  God, this woman.

  It’s hard to believe she was a virgin when I met her.

  “I have you, and we’ve got all night, darling. Patience,” I say.

  Her very impatient lips find mine again and her nails dig at my neck.

  I’m down on her like a thunderbolt, hands relishing her skin, lost in the passion until I flip her over.

  I roll off her and pull her on top of me.

  “Like this. Spread your legs for me,” I order.

  Biting her lip, she presses the core of her body over my hardness.

  Even through the fleece pajama bottoms, my slacks, and underwear, her warmth entices me. I need more if I want to keep breathing.

  I groan like a frustrated bull.

  Grinning, she pushes against me again. “You like that, bossman?”

  How the hell could I not?

  “I’ve corrupted you,” I say with a grin. “Once upon a time, you were so—”

  Her hips swing against me again, bringing this wicked friction.

  “On second thought, fuck innocent,” I snarl, pulling the fleece nightshirt over her head. She’s not wearing a bra. Firm, round tits hang so close to my face with her nipples already peaked and begging.

  When I slide my tongue over a cherry peak, sucking it into my mouth, she falls back with a seductive whine.

  “Ohhh, yeah. Yeah, I’ve missed that,” she whispers. She cups my jaw with a needy glare.

  It’s my turn to grind against her, and I put my power into it.