by Lily Rose
“I’m sure I can squeeze you in if you don’t make me mad.”
“What are you guys doing?”
“I’m taking her out to a fancy dinner.”
“And then?”
Axel was a little slow sometimes. “I have a surprise for her at my apartment.”
Axel steered clear of the topic once he understood what I meant. “Well, I’m happy for you. You guys are the most complicated people I know, which is why I think you should stick together.”
“I think we should stick together for a lot of reasons.”
“Well, I’ll see you later.”
“Bye.”
When I picked her up, she was wearing a tight navy blue dress that did wonderful things for her figure.
Lucky me.
I whistled quietly. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” She placed her clutch under her arm. “You look nice too.” She pressed her body to mine and gave me a long kiss. When she was pressed against me like that, my mind thought of things I shouldn’t. I suspected that was her goal, and she succeeded.
I ended the touch and put my arm around her waist. “Hungry?”
“Always. You know me.”
I pulled her to my side and felt the happiness wash over me. I had the girl of my dreams on my arm, and everything in the world was right again. When I had her, nothing could bring me down. I was exactly where I should be, and I could be myself when I was with her.
“I missed you today.”
“Yeah?” I asked. “I always miss you.”
“Always?” she pressed.
“Yeah.” I was being dead serious. The entire time I was without her, she was all I ever thought about.
We reached the restaurant and took our seats. I ordered a bottle of wine for the table, and after I glanced at my menu and decided what I wanted, I stared at her. It was a favorite pastime of mine. She had the most beautiful features but she was never vain about them. But she wasn’t oblivious to her charms either.
She rubbed her leg against mine under the table.
I grabbed her hand and interlocked our fingers together. I didn’t mind going out in public and taking her to a nice dinner, but I preferred to be home. When it was just she and I, I could touch her all I wanted. If I had it my way, she’d be in my lap right now. But I would be a crappy boyfriend if I didn’t take her out on the town and show her off. We hardly went out together before, but things were different now.
After we ordered, we made small talk about work. She asked me about my investment strategy and seemed genuinely interested in it. Most women didn’t care about my line of work—just how much money was in my wallet. I asked her about the bakery, and her response was the same as it usually was.
When the food arrived, we ate it quietly. I wanted to continue to take things slow. I wanted to do things right. I really hurt her, and I had a lot of making up to do even though she already forgave me.
“Coming back to my place?” she asked after I paid the check.
“Actually, let’s go to mine.” She hated the fact my bed had many visitors before she came back into my life. It was understandable to a certain extent, but she didn’t truly understand how meaningless they were. She was with Kyle for six months in her bed, and I thought that was completely different. But since I’d dragged her through the mud for so long, I gave her leeway in a lot of things.
She immediately tensed like that didn’t sound the least bit appealing to her.
“There’s something I want to show you.”
“At your apartment?” she asked incredulously.
“Yeah.” She’ll understand it when she sees it.
We walked into the apartment, and I didn’t bother turning on the lights. It was dark, but you could still see inside the apartment. A distant glow came from down the hallway, the surprise I’d made for Francesca.
I took her hand. “Come with me.”
She didn’t object as I pulled her away.
I guided her into my bedroom, and on the nightstands and dressers were white candles flickering in the dark. They glowed dimly, and the shadows they made stretched across the walls.
Francesca took it in then eyed my bed. White rose petals were sprinkled on the brand-new comforter. New sheets were on the bed, as well as pillows. In fact, everything in the room was new. I’d replaced the bed frame, the mattress, and the remaining furniture.
“You’re the only woman who will ever sleep in this bed.” I came behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. I kissed her neck then the shell of her ear. I tightened her against my chest and felt her breathing increase.
Her objection to my old furniture was childish. But Francesca didn’t ask for much, so I would give her whatever she wanted. I felt her body tremble in my arms at the gesture, and it picked up a few degrees. She and I were starting over, getting the future we should have had two years ago.
My lips found her hairline, and I pressed a gentle kiss there.
But I never wanted just sex with Francesca.
What we had was so much better than that. When we touched, so did everything else. Without the use of words, we communicated. She made me feel whole—deep inside, in places I never thought I could reach.
She was the one.
Francesca turned around and faced me.
She leaned in and pressed a kiss to the center of my chest. It wasn’t sexual, but intimate.
And it made me come alive.
I wrapped my hand around her neck then pulled her lips to mine. I kissed her fiercely, savoring every moment because I wanted it to last forever. When we made out for hours the other night, I loved every second of it. Most guys wouldn’t, but then again, most guys weren’t head-over-heels in love like I was.
I guided her to the bed then lay her down on it. The rose petals were soft against her skin, and they smelled like a garden.
There wasn’t any hesitation in her eyes like there used to be. After she opened up to me, she seemed to have forgotten all her reservations. Like steam, it evaporated. Now she looked at me just the way she used to, like I was the single most important thing to her. Trust was in her eyes, and she was in love with me.
Whenever I was with her, my cold exterior melted. I was in a different universe, one where just she and I existed.
Francesca ran her fingers through my hair. Then she kissed me slowly, not rushing the embrace. She took her time, like she wanted to remember this moment forever.
The pain disappeared when she cradled me like this. I was so deeply and pathetically in love.
“I love you.” She held my gaze.
With Francesca, I was thankful to be alive. “I love you.”
22
Gossip
Francesca
Marie stormed into the back of the bakery where I was working. “Spill it. I know something is going on and you better tell me what it is. I’ll snatch that spatula and shove it so far up your—”
“Calm down, woman.” I set my stuff down and removed my apron. “You should be an interrogator.”
“It was one of my options.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now fess up. Axel has been acting weird lately. Anytime Hawke comes up, he gets this weird look on his face, like he’s trying not to smile but it comes off as a cringe. Believe me when I say, it’s not sexy.”
The only reason why I hadn’t told Marie was because I hadn’t seen her much. She was busy with work and the wedding, and when I wasn’t working, I was with Hawke. “Hawke and I got back together.” I laid it out and didn’t add any filters to it.
“What?” she asked in surprise. “When?”
“About two weeks ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She stomped her foot.
“I wanted to do it in person.”
Marie’s irritation didn’t last long. When she saw the smile on my face, she couldn’t keep her anger. “Are you happy?”
“You can see all my teeth, can’t you?” I was over the moon.
She smiled agai
nst her will. “Yes, I can. And it’s really surprising that you never had braces.”
“Why, thank you.”
She dropped her arms to her sides and came closer to me. “Tell me the details.”
“Remember when I said he wanted to get back together but I said no?”
“Clearly,” she said. “Because it didn’t make any sense.”
“Well, he didn’t accept that answer and tried to win me back anyway. He cooked me dinner and spent time with me…and I slept over a few times.”
Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak.
“We just slept together…nothing else. He told me he wasn’t going to give up until he got what he wanted. I didn’t trust him for a long time, and that didn’t change until I told him exactly how I felt…and about everything that happened after he left.”
Marie’s eyes fell in sadness when she understood what I was referring to.
“And I cried my eyes out for a long time until I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning…all that pain was gone. I let it go and Hawke and I moved forward.”
Marie pressed her lips tightly together. “You think this is it? You don’t think he’s going to do the same thing to you?”
“No.” There was no hesitation. He wouldn’t do that to me, not again.
Marie took my word for it because she smiled. “Then I’m very happy for you.”
I smiled again, melting at the thought of him.
Marie hugged me. “Now we can go on double dates.”
“We’ve been going on double dates,” I said with a laugh.
“The other girls are going to be so disappointed,” she said. “Every single one of them has a crush on Hawke.”
“That’s too bad,” I said. “Because he’s mine.”
“They didn’t have a chance anyway.” She pulled away with a hint of a smile on her lips. “So, have you guys…?”
“Oh yeah,” I said. “The other night.”
“Was it as good as it used to be?”
“It was better, actually.”
“I’m a little jealous…”
“Axel isn’t good?”
“No, he is. But we haven’t had make up sex in a long time…maybe I should pick a fight with him later.” A mischievous grin was on her lips.
“Just make sure you don’t break up for two years.”
Marie and I walked into the restaurant and spotted Hawke and Axel sitting at a table. They were across from each other, the seats beside them vacant.
“Look at those hunky men,” Marie said into my ear.
“Yeah…” Hawke wore a charcoal gray suit, and it outlined his strong shoulders and massive chest. It matched the scruff on his cheeks, and he looked appetizing.
When Hawke noticed me, he stood up and discreetly buttoned his suit with a single hand. He watched me and didn’t smile. He just stared at me, commanding me to come to him with just a look.
“Let’s go.” Marie pulled me with her.
I didn’t need to be told twice.
Marie got to Axel first, and he embraced her like a man deeply in love.
As I came closer to Hawke, his eyes were glued to me. He watched every move I made with intensity. When I finally reached him, his hand moved to the small of my back and he pulled me against his chest. He looked down at me without kissing me, but he made love to me with just the look.
My knees felt weak.
Hawke pressed his lips against mine and gave me a slow kiss. He had to bend his neck to reach me, and I had to stand on my tiptoes because of his six foot three height. The kiss went on longer than necessary, and Hawke had to force himself to pull away even though it was clear he didn’t want to.
We didn’t say a single word to each other, but with a connection like ours, words were unnecessary. Hawke pulled the chair out for me before he sat in his own. When I took my seat, his hand automatically moved to my thigh.
Axel eyed us back and forth. “About time.”
Hawke shrugged.
I didn’t say anything at all.
“Don’t tease them,” Marie said under her breath, like she hoped we wouldn’t hear her.
“No, I’m gonna,” Axel said. “Their relationship has been a soap opera. And I don’t watch soap operas for a reason.”
Marie slapped his wrist. “Knock it off. Hawke might be your brother-in-law someday. You should be happy.”
He will be Axel’s brother-in-law.
Hawke squeezed my thigh.
“Now that it’s out in the open,” I said. “Can we just move on and act normal?”
Axel looked at his menu in response.
“So, what’s left for the wedding?” I asked. “Anything else we need to do? Party favors? Centerpieces?”
“No,” Marie said. “Everything is ready. Now we just need to get married.”
“The sooner the better.” Axel kissed the top of her hand.
It still surprised me when he did sweet things like that. It was so out of character for him.
Marie didn’t react to his affection like she used to.
“Can you believe you guys are getting married in two weeks?” I asked.
“I can’t believe it,” Marie said. “This engagement went by so fast.”
“I’m excited for the honeymoon,” Axel said.
“I bet,” Hawke said with a grin. “Best part of the wedding. Where are you going?”
“The Caribbean,” Axel answered. “Marie is gonna wear a thong bikini.” He grinned wide like an idiot.
“In front of people?” Hawke asked. Hawke was the polar opposite. He didn’t tell me what to wear, but he wouldn’t want my butt exposed to the world. My body was his and he didn’t want anyone else to enjoy it—even if it was just with their eyes.
“Oh yeah,” Axel said. “They’ll wish they were with her instead of me. But they can’t because she’s my lady.”
“Let’s change the subject before you make everyone throw up,” Marie said.
“Throw up?” Axel asked. “You have a gorgeous butt. That wouldn’t make anyone throw up.”
“He’s right,” I said. “You do.”
Marie shrugged in agreement.
After we said goodbye to Axel and Marie, we faced each other on the sidewalk. Hawke hooked his arm around my waist, resting his hand on the small of my back, his favorite place. “My office is just a block away. And I’m pretty sure you haven’t seen it.”
“Or we could walk a few extra blocks to my apartment.”
Like always, Hawke could read me with just a simple look. “Why don’t you want to see my office?”
I felt childish just thinking about the answer.
After a few more seconds of staring, Hawke figured it out. “I’ve never been with a woman in my office before.”
I found that hard to believe, and my expression showed it.
“Why would I lie?”
I knew he wouldn’t.
“Now, do you want to see my office?” He pulled me harder into his chest and dangled his lips near mine.
My knees felt weak again. “I’d love to.”
His office was on the tenth floor of the building, and it was beautiful. It was modern, with pristine white walls, glass doors, and elegant furniture. A secretary sat in the front of the double doors. She was blonde and pretty, and there were people waiting in the chairs.
“Hello, Mr. Taylor. Have a good lunch?” She glanced at me with interest then turned back to him.
“I did, Abby. Thank you.” Hawke opened the glass door and allowed me to walk inside first.
I felt out of place with my dirty t-shirt and old jeans. My hair was in a braid over one shoulder. I didn’t look anywhere near as classy as that secretary.
Hawke took my hand and guided me to his office. There were others along the wall, and men wearing suits were inside each of them. Some were on their computers and others were on the phone.
“It’s really nice.” I was truly impressed.
“Thank you.” He s
aid hello to his secretary, another blonde, and then walked inside with me. Instead of glass doors like everyone else had, his were black.
I surveyed his office and looked at the gray bookshelves against the wall. Two red armchairs faced his large mahogany desk. On the end table were a few pictures. One was of him and me.
Had that always been there? Or did he put it there after we got back together?
My fingers touched the frame, and when I felt the dust on my fingertips, I knew it’d been sitting there for over a year.
Hawke leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you think?”
“I love it,” I answered. “It’s very…you.”
“Dark, foreboding, and terrifying?”
“No,” I answered. “Beautiful.”
He didn’t blink.
I came to his desk and stood in front of him. I didn’t touch him, keeping my hands to myself. “Why haven’t you had a girl in here?” I wasn’t sure why I asked the question. I wish I didn’t care about the others. When we first got together, I didn’t care. But after he left, I did.
“Because this is my office.” The tone of his voice suggested that was all he needed to say. “I have an image I need to protect. People don’t need to know my personal life.”
“Then why did you bring me here?”
He tilted his head slightly. “You’re different, Francesca. And you know that.”
My heart swelled to two times its size at his remark.
It was me and me alone that he truly loved.
I heard footsteps behind me when I was in the rear of the bakery. Without turning around, I knew who it was. The footsteps sounded heavy, like a large man was behind me.
And that could only mean one thing.
I turned around with a smile plastered on my face, expecting to see the man of my dreams.
But it was Kyle instead. “Hey, is this a bad time?” He wore jeans and a long-sleeved gray shirt. His biceps were defined, and the hardness of his chest was visible to anyone, even if they were blind.
“Uh…” I wish I could think quicker on my feet. “No, you just surprised me.”
“Sorry, I know I shouldn’t be here.” He rubbed the back of his neck and released a sigh. “There’s just something I need to know, and I think your answer might help me.”
