by Claire Adams
“Good.” He kissed my head and let out a contented sigh. “Because you already are.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Alfie
I was almost scared that I’d dreamt Molly being there the day before, but waking the next morning to her pressed to me confirmed the truth.
The woman loved me.
She loved me so much that she’d spent her last dime or maybe even borrowed money to get a plane ticket to come find me, and it was my fucking fault that we’d not worked out in the first place. I’d tucked tail and ran the minute things got a little sticky.
It wasn’t her who was going to act like my mother with her wayward wants and infidelities; it was me. Fear rose up inside of me, but I squelched it.
“Morning, baby.” Molly rolled over toward me and ran her hand down my chest. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Like a baby.” I pulled her close and kissed her a few times before studying her face. My heart skipped a few beats, and the butterflies in my stomach danced around. The woman was far too good for a guy like me, but I wasn’t letting go again.
Not ever.
Now I just had to figure out how soon was too soon for asking her to marry me. It felt a little trite after everything we’d been through, and I was more than sure it would be rushing things, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to.
I’d wanted to slap Harry the day before over marrying for anything but love, and here it was, right in front of me. Love. I wanted to marry Molly and keep her close beside me, never sharing or giving her up for anyone else.
“You’re lost in thought.” She laughed as she got out of the bed.
“Yeah. I was thinking about how grateful I am that you had the courage to get on that plane.” I rolled onto my side as the blood rushed from my extremities to my cock. She looked damn good walking to the bathroom with nothing on. “Come back over here, and let’s wake up in more of a proper fashion.”
“Nope. I’m making you breakfast.” She walked into the bathroom. “I bet you haven’t eaten anything good in a week.”
I got out of the bed and found a pair of bottoms before walking to the bathroom to find her in her favorite robe. “I have a staff, you know.”
“I know, but still.” She watched me in the mirror in front of her. “Have you cooked anything?”
“No.” I moved up behind her and wrapped my arms around her before leaving down and kissing the side of her neck. “I missed you so much. You have no clue how much I regretted all that shit going wrong.”
“The worst part is that I was trying to help you, and you were just trying to protect your company.” She turned in my arms. “No more stupid misunderstandings between us.”
“Got it.” I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. “Breakfast sounds good. Shrimp scampi?”
She laughed and moved out of my hold, leaving me to watch her go. The woman was everything I wanted in my life and then some. Good fate and fortune had her back within my grasp, and I wasn’t letting go again.
“Go start the coffee while I find some socks?” she asked as I walked out of the bathroom and watched her.
“Absolutely.” I made my way down to the kitchen with a bounce in my step. Things were going to be fine. Better than fine. I’d made up with her and Harry. Where I wasn’t sure if Harry and I would have a relationship going forward, it was still good to have some reconciliation with the old chap.
I’d almost gotten the coffee made by the time she walked into the room. The smell of her perfume filled my nose, and let me a little needier that I wanted to be.
“Were you serious about me coming to work for you?” She leaned against the counter and smiled up at me.
I reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yes. I would love that. We’ll have to figure out how to tell everyone that we’re seeing each other, but outside of that, I think you would be a great fit.”
“Do we need to tell them?” She reached up to get two coffee mugs from the counter above the microwave.
“I don’t know.” I moved to the fridge and got out everything we would need for breakfast.
“I got it. Just grab your coffee and sit down at the table. I want to dote on you a little.” Molly’s smile was warm and loving.
“You sure? I don’t mind helping.” I took my cup and walked to the table, letting my actions speak far louder than my words. If I never had to cook again, I’d be alright with it.
She laughed. “Yes, I can see it’s something you’re really torn up over.”
I dropped down into my seat. “Tell me what brought you back to me, Mol. I mean, I know you and I have an incredible love affair starting between us, but what was the push you needed that got you here? You made some big sacrifices, and if we’re being honest, it was me that needed to come after you. I fucked up royally.”
“Yeah. You did.” She winked before turning toward the stove. “But I knew I was falling in love with you. I’ve never let my career get in the way of anything I wanted, and I was doing that this time. I went from interview to interview, feeling like shit, and the last one was the worst.” She dropped a few pieces of bacon in the skillet on the stove and turned to face me, nursing her coffee. “And as fate would have it, I ran into Logan downtown.”
I smiled. “He told me. He thinks you’re quite beautiful.”
She shrugged. “I don’t care what anyone thinks about my looks but you.”
My body hardened as she gave me a sweet smile. I got up and walked toward her, pulling her into my arms as I leaned down and kissed her.
“I’m completely lost to you.” I brushed her hair back. “You want to go check out this special place that my father used to take me to later today?”
“I’d love that.” Her expression softened a little. “I want to know everything about you.”
“I want that too. I think if I opened up a little, you might understand some of the hesitation in coming to find you.”
She reached up and touched the side of my face, her fingertips so soft. “As long as you’re happy that I’m here now, I don’t need to know why you waited a week.”
I chuckled. “Your voice just changed a little. You are upset about that.”
“I’m a woman. Of course I want to feel like I’m good enough for a man like you to come after me.” She kissed me once more before turning and working on breakfast again.
I wrapped her up in a tight hug, loving the way her soft ass felt pressed against my erection. “You’re way too good for me, Mol. Don’t ever deny that.”
“Prove it.” Her voice was filled with cheekiness. God, I loved her.
“I intend to. For the rest of my life.” I popped her butt and walked back to the table. Everything was going to be perfect because she was there.
*
“Here we are.” I held Molly’s hand as I stopped outside the little park where my father and I would visit from time to time.
“It’s beautiful.” She released my hand and walked toward the large rock my dad would help me climb up. “Wow. Look at this mammoth.”
“It was my father’s thinking rock.” I motioned for her to join me near that back of it. “There’s a place to walk up the rock back here. My dad used to hoist me up here, and we’d talk for hours.” My heart ached in my chest.
“You miss him?” She joined me at the back of the rock and walked up the little, chiseled stairs to sit on the flat part near the top.
“Sometimes I do.” I reached over and ran my hand over her thigh before taking her hand into mine. “He was my rock when I needed one.”
“And when was that?” She scooted closer and cuddled up to my side. The park wasn’t too far from the office, and in the past, I would have been worried about someone coming by and seeing us being a little too affectionate, but I let it go. I wanted to be a different man for Molly. I wanted to be open and willing to love with abandonment.
“When my mum went through her rough times.” I squeezed her hand, knowing that it was time to
open up about the shit with my mum. “My father worked a lot, like all the time, and my mom was lonely. She started sleeping around when I was in seventh year in school or something like that.”
“And you knew she was sleeping around?”
“We all knew.” I glanced down toward our hands. “It was expected to some degree because my father was really married to the company. It’s one of the main reasons why I haven’t pursued relationships in my life. I have a huge commitment to his company, which is now mine. If I had a sibling or someone that I could share the responsibility with, it would be better, or maybe at least a little easier.”
“I think you can find the right people to work with and for you to help spread that burden, but keep going. Please.” She leaned over and pressed her cheek to my shoulder, not forcing me to look her in the face, and I bared my soul. I was grateful for the small mercy.
“Mum became abusive a few years later when her affairs didn’t fill the emotional need inside of her, and she blamed my father and me.”
“You?” Molly jerked back, her voice angry. “Why you?”
“Easy target.” I shrugged. “She told me over and over that I was the reason for their problems, and if I hadn’t been born, then she could have just left my father and started over. And she was probably right. She stayed for me, but sadly enough, she came to hate me because of having to stay.”
“She didn’t have to stay.” Molly reached over and touched my cheek, forcing me to look at her.
“I know that.” I cupped my hand over hers and kissed her palm softly. “I’m healed from all of this, Molly. I just want you to know who you’re dealing with and why I might be a little hesitant at times.”
“I just want you to be you.” She moved closer and kissed my shoulder.
“Mom killed herself after a huge fight between all three of us one night when I was in high school.” I let out a long sigh. “Dad and Logan know the story, of course, but I’ve never shared it with anyone else. I suffered for years after that because she reamed me good before going in the bathroom and cutting her wrists. It was me who tried to hold her skin together as she died.” I got choked up. I always did when I thought about her dying in my arms.
“Alfie. That’s horrible. No one should have that burden.” Molly moved to her knees and put her arms around me, pulling me in close as she hugged me. “You’re not the reason for all of their problems. Surely you know that.”
“I do.” I glanced up and slid my hand into the back of her hair. “I just wanted you to understand what happened and why I’ve pushed love away my whole adult life. I didn’t want a repeat of my father’s life.”
“And you won’t have one.” She kissed me softly and brushed her nose past mine. “Just let me in, okay? I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay.”
“Why is that, Mol? Why are you here to stay?” It was shitty of me, but I needed to hear it. I needed to know that she loved me.
She moved back just a little and smiled. “Because I love you.”
“Good. I love you too.” I pulled her into my lap and kissed her until we heard kids snickering below. It felt good to get my past off my chest, to share it with the woman I loved.
It was the first step in healing and binding us together.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Molly
We spent the night before watching old movies and eating everything in the house. It was almost like I’d found more than a lover in Alfie. I’d found a best friend and a partner. He opened up about some of the specifics with his mom and dad.
My heart hurt for most of the night, and I found myself lying awake until the early morning, just simply holding him. Everything about the future felt so open and alive again, like nothing could stop me. I belonged in Europe, and I belonged with Alfie. Funny how things worked out.
Finally, sometime around four that morning, sleep took me. I was less than pleasant when the alarm went off two hours later.
“Up, sleepyhead. We’re going to be late.” Alfie popped my naked ass.
“Just one more hour. Please.” I rolled over and pulled at the covers.
“Nope. Come on. Get up and get ready. I want to introduce you to everyone at the office this morning. I already spoke with Bill, and he’s excited to meet you. You know, him and Gary actually went to Uni together.”
“Gary?” I rolled over and realized that I still owed Gary a phone call. I wouldn’t be coming in for a chat over getting my job back. It was a little unnerving to think I was placing so much hope in mine and Alfie’s relationship, but it was the right thing to do.
“Yep. Get up. I made pancakes.” He ran his hand down my thigh and squeezed. “And if you don’t get up soon, I’m going to strip and get back in the bed with you. You are far too inviting lying there like that.”
“Yeah, cause that’s a great reason for me to get out of this warm bed that smells like the man I love.” I rolled over and chucked a pillow at him.
“Tease.” He walked out of the room, and I rolled on my side, closing my eyes and breathing in deeply. Every desire I had for my future seemed to be teetering on the next few months and how things went with me and Alfie.
Time to get up and make things happen.
I got up and put on my favorite suit before doing my hair and makeup. Alfie called for me down the hallway, and I walked out with a smile on my face.
“What? It takes a little while to get all done up.”
He glanced up from the bottom of the stairs, the look on his handsome face one I wanted to memorize. “Wow. You’re not going looking like that. Go put a bag on your head and get some sweat bottoms on.”
I laughed. “I look nice?” I turned around slowly as he whistled.
“I’m hard as a rock. Does that help?” He turned and walked toward the door. “I’m two hours late, by the way. Bring your beautiful self down here, and let’s go.”
“What about breakfast?” I jogged down the stairs as best I could in heels.
“Here you go, madam.” An older gentleman walked out of the kitchen with a to-go plate in his hands. “I put a cup of butter and syrup in there for you.”
“You must be William.” I extended my hand toward him. “All of the time that I had spent here, and we never had a chance to actually meet though I’ve seen you here and there.”
He glanced at Alfie and chuckled. “Master said to make ourselves rather ghost like unless we’re needed to perform a duty.”
“Well, please don’t do that in the future. I like getting to thank you for all you’re doing.” I shook his hand and smiled as his cheeks flushed pink.
“You flatter me, Miss Molly.”
“All right. You two stop.” Alfie opened the door and shook his head as I laughed and walked out into the brisk morning.
“What? I was just saying thank you.” I reached for his hand after he closed the door.
He lifted our intertwined fingers to his lips and kissed my hand. “A beautiful woman saying just about anything pleasant here will cause a man to trip over himself. Behave.”
I snorted. “Not happening.”
“Good.” He squeezed my hand and released it as we reached the car. “I’ll enjoy spanking you rightly then each night.”
“Can we call the spanking foreplay?” I moved to my side of the car and licked the side of my mouth.
“Such a bad girl, Molly. What am I going to do with you?”
I got into the car and buckled up before smiling over at him. “I can think of a few things.”
“Save them for the ride home. I’d hate to scare everyone in the office with our attraction.”
“Hmmm… Might do them some good to lighten up.”
“Oh, Lord. Here we go.”
I laughed as he pulled the car out of the garage and headed for London. I could fall in love with the countryside around us much like I had the man next to me.
*
“All right, so Kent and Bill are in charge of the marketing department?” I brushed my hands dow
n the front of my suit as we rode the elevator up the large high rise in London.
“Yes, but the team is made up of about twenty people. I’ll have you work beside them for a few months, and then we’ll announce that you’re taking Kent’s place as assistant Marketing Director. I’ll push Kent up to the Director position.”
“I like that.” I reached out and squeezed his ass seeing that it was just the two of us in the elevator.
He gave me a cute look. “And I like that, but behave. Make sure you keep things at the office professional.”
“At least until we’re married?” I moved in front of him and straightened his tie, tugging on it a little as I leaned in and kissed his lips.
“Married? Are you thinking I’m going to make a proper English woman out of you, lass?” he smiled and leaned in for another kiss.
I denied him access by stepping back and lifting my eyebrow. “Are you thinking that you’re not?”
“Oh, I very much am.” He reached for me as the door opened.
I turned and walked out, shaking my ass a little more than I needed to, but it was all in good fun. The sound of him growling softly behind me had my smile widening. I loved him with a crazy passion inside of me that I couldn’t remember feeling before in my life.
“I’m going to check in with Sicily, my secretary. The marketing team sits at the end of the floor. First conference room on the left is the team meeting in five minutes. Wait for me, and I’ll introduce you to everyone, or go on in. It’s totally up to you.” He touched the small of my back as he moved past me and turned to the right, heading down a long hall.
I stood in the middle of the hallway locked in indecision. I’d been confident and sure of my abilities where marketing was concerned and had never really met someone in a business environment that I couldn’t make a friend out of.
Was he testing me? It almost seemed silly to think he was, but my lover and future husband wasn’t just that, but now my boss.
I chuckled as I walked down the hall and into the room. Everyone stopped chatting as I stepped inside. It should have been awkward, but it wasn’t.
