Damaged (Crystal Brook Billionaires)

by Blake, Jessica

  I finally exhaled, letting all my tension out in a big whoosh. Jason set me back on the floor, and I caught his eye. Suddenly, the whole thing seemed incredibly ridiculous. We both started laughing, chuckling into our hands.

  “This was a stupid idea,” I giggled. “Sorry.”

  “No, it wasn’t stupid.” He kissed my forehead. “They’re gone now.” He looked at me with a glint in his eye.

  I laughed again and threaded my fingers through his. “This has been the craziest week of my life.”

  “I think that might actually be an understatement.”

  I groaned but smiled. Trailing my fingertips across his chest, I looked up at him. “I’ll make this up to you.”

  He ran his hands down the side of my head, smoothing my hair. “There’s nothing to make up for.”

  I smirked. “You can say so, but I think there is.”

  “Gwen,” he said, his face serious. “We’ll have plenty of time to do everything we want to do.”

  He gazed into my eyes and just like that, my heart and soul opened right up. I saw the boundless opportunities of a future with Jason. A million chances to feel things and know things I never had before.

  And none of it seemed scary anymore. In fact, it all just seemed perfectly right. The two of us, treading the waters of life that day and the next.

  And on and on… and on.

  EPILOGUE

  Jason

  “Sounds good,” I said into the phone on my desk set on speaker. “I’ll call to check in once I land.”

  The woman hung up, and I killed the call before leaning back in my leather chair to gaze out the window. In the right of the pane, the lower east part of Central Park was just visible, the red and orange trees glowing with the colors of fall. Above it, the bright blue sky stretched on, making it one of the most beautiful autumn days I’d ever seen.

  I laced my fingertips together and rested my palms against the back of my head. For six years, I’d had the same office. It was prime real estate, overlooking one of the best parts of New York City. I’d experienced more good and bad times in that room than I could probably count. When I wasn’t traveling around visiting other branches or properties, I was in that seat pounding away, sometimes seven days a week.

  But I was ready to give that day to day lifestyle up. I was ready for what was next in life.

  My heart rate increased at the thought, a sudden wave of anxiety overtaking me. I took a deep breath and sat up straight in the chair, dropping my hands and rolling my neck around to get out the kinks there.

  A sharp rap sounded on the glass door, and I looked at it. “Come in.”

  Claire opened the door and walked in carrying a stack of folders. Since getting promoted at the company, she’d taken to wearing her hair in a tight bun. It suited her, but I also found it somewhat comical. No matter how seriously her coworkers and clients might take her, I would always look at her and see the goofy, whimsical side. Before she’d taken me home with her the Christmas before, I had hardly ever even seen the humorous part of Claire. Now it came out daily and, contrary to disrupting the work atmosphere, it made the hours pass by more easily.

  She dropped the folders on my desk. “This is the last of them.”

  “Thanks. Are you sure you don’t want to come to North Carolina this weekend? I know it’s busy here, but we could swing it if you wanted to go.”

  She shook her head. “No. I want to get a head start on the New Jersey properties.”

  I stood and stretched. “You know, when I step off that plane without you, your family is going to give me an earful.”

  She smirked. “When are they doing anything but that?” Her face grew solemn. “So… is everything going according to plan?”

  “So far, so good. I’m going right there when I land, before I even see anyone.”

  She nodded. “Nice. It’s going to be fine, you know.”

  “Thanks. I’m glad you have some faith in me.”

  She smiled. “It’s hard not to.”

  I grabbed my briefcase. “I should go. Did Lisa call the car?”

  “It’s waiting downstairs.”

  “Great. Thanks.”

  I started to walk to the doorway but stopped when Claire spoke again. “Jason… we’ll all be really lucky, you know. I mean, if she says yes.”

  My throat burned as I glanced back at her. “Not as lucky as me.”

  The whole car ride to the airport, my stomach was a ball of nerves. The plane ride wasn’t any different. I had lied to Gwen and told her I was coming in on a flight that was much later than the actual one. Once I took care of some business, I would go to Freddy’s and pick her up from work.

  I’d been browsing properties online for a few weeks before I saw it. As soon as I took in the picture of the front porch, I knew it was just what I’d been looking for. Everything about the home was new, yet so familiar, down to the white picket fence. I’d made plans immediately to go to Crystal Brook for the weekend, under the pretenses of just paying my girlfriend a visit.

  We’d been traveling back and forth regularly to see each other for the last ten months. To say it had been a whirlwind romance would be to sell it short. Life with Gwen was even sweeter than I had expected it to be, but I was ready for something more.

  In the last year, we’d gotten to know each other deeper than I had ever thought was possible. Not only that, but the tighter we became, the more the fear disappeared. All of the pains from before — the sorrows and the worries about love working or not working out — just didn’t seem to matter. The past became inconsequential. We had each other, and in having each other, we had faith.

  It was more than that too. Seeing Miles start his own family fed the desire in me that I had suppressed to do the same. From the first time I saw her, Baby Lucy had become one of my favorite people. A big part of me itched to have my own children, to see them grow up next to their surrogate cousin Lucy.

  And I was tired of the city living I had always known. On the weeks back in New York, I missed not only Gwen but all of Crystal Brook. The little kitschy shops. The wooded trails that wound around the outside of town. The weekend ball games that the whole town attended. Every once in a while, I even called her parents’ house, just to shoot the shit with Susan and see how things were going with the parade committee. Miles always joked that I was becoming “small town.” I waved his jests off but secretly liked the idea. After all, what was so wrong with knowing all of your neighbors or being able to go to the farm right outside of town on Saturdays to pick up the week’s eggs?

  Having the opportunity to be a part of that world full time thrilled me — and terrified me. If Gwen said no when I got down on my knee and asked her to be my wife…

  I didn’t even want to think about that.

  The Raleigh-Durham airport was somewhat busy for a Friday afternoon. Over the last year of traveling in and out of it on a regular basis, I’d come to know it pretty well. Snatching my bag from the luggage carousel, I hurried outside to catch a cab. I’d waved off Gwen’s offers to come and pick me up, claiming I didn’t want to tire her out with always coming to the airport to get me.

  I told the taxi driver to take me straight to the address the woman on the phone had given me. As soon as the car took the Crystal Brook exit, a sense of peace washed over me. More and more familiar land marks passed as we left the interstate and got closer to the downtown area. It seemed that I knew not only every building but every tree as well. The town welcomed me, drawing me in, and cradling me close.

  The house was half a mile from Gwen’s own cottage, on the opposite side of downtown. It was still walking distance to Freddy’s, as well as her parents’. In fact, I couldn’t think of one more way in which the place could be perfect.

  I climbed out at the corner of the block, paying the taxi driver and sending him on his way.

  Holding my breath, I rolled my suitcase up the sidewalk. There was a slight chill in the air, but the sun shone merrily, making it one of
those quintessential fall days.

  I stopped at the little white gate. There it was. The house I’d seen in a dream the year before. Sometimes, I wondered if maybe I had just passed it on that Christmas visit to Crystal Brook and stuffed the picture of it away in the back of my mind, never directly acknowledging it but allowing it to come out in my dreams.

  Walking down the block, I knew that wasn’t possible. As many times as I had visited Crystal Brook over the last year, I’d never once walked down Frank Street. It was a dead end, the sidewalk ending at the edge of the woods right next to the house.

  The location was perfect. It was town living but sure to be a quiet and unobtrusive street. The realtor told me she’d just put it on the market not even a few hours before I called her.

  I unlatched the little gate and went up the walkway. The front door stood ajar, but I knocked on it anyway. A smiling brunette woman wearing a dress suit opened it wide.

  “Hello,” I said. “Ms. Carrigan? I’m Jason Adler.”

  She extended a tanned hand. “Oh, Jason! So nice to meet you. You’re right on time. Come on in.”

  I followed her into the bright foyer, lit up by the tall windows on either side of the front door. It was just like in my dream — so much so I could still hardly believe it.

  I knew then that I would take the house. Some strange hand of fate had already decided so for me, months and months ago, at a time when the house wasn’t even on the market. At a time when I didn’t even possess the little ring box sitting in my pocket.

  I let her show me around, though, taking me into the back yard with a pool and gazebo and downstairs into the basement decked out with a pool table and bar. It sat empty, like it was waiting for me to fill it.

  Upstairs were six bedrooms, more than Gwen and I needed, of course. I knew deep inside of me that it was right, though. It was our house… our home.

  “I’ll take it,” I said as soon as the tour was finished.

  Ms. Carrigan looked at me in surprise, her perfectly arched eyebrows rising all the way to her hairline. “Are you sure? You don’t want to give it some thought?”

  “I’m sure. I already know this is the best house in Crystal Brook. You said earlier that I could move in right away. Is that still correct?”

  She nodded slowly, a smile breaking across her face. A sale like this — especially one accomplished so quickly — most likely made her year.

  “I can draw the papers up, and we can sign them on Monday,” she said. “If that’s all right for you.”

  I gave that a bit of thought, then realized there really was no need to wait. The house was vacant, I was offering the asking price, and I’d be writing a check, which could be cleared over the phone.

  “What about now?” I asked. “I’m only in town for the weekend, and I’d like to get closed on the place as soon as possible.”

  She smiled wider. “It’s wonderful to see you’re so eager. We can head back to my office now.”

  We shook hands on it and left the house, me following her out to her little Volvo parked in the drive.

  The ride to the office took us past Freddy’s, and I leaned forward in my seat, seeing if I could catch a glimpse of Gwen through the front window. The late afternoon glare of the sun was all I could catch, though, and we disappointingly zoomed by the shop.

  My hands shook slightly once the papers came out. The simple action of writing my name down made the whole process even more real than walking through the house had been. What if things didn’t work out according to my plan? Would I just end up reselling the house or living in it all by myself, sad, single, and lonely?

  I suppressed a shudder and put the last signature down with a flourish. I couldn’t think like that. Everything was working out perfectly, almost like it was all predestined. I just needed to have a bit more faith.

  The legalities for the day done with, Ms. Carrigan presented me with the keys. I left immediately, my errands for the day not yet finished.

  Harry picked me up at the corner in his truck ten minutes after I called him. Lugging my suitcase behind me, I climbed into the cab.

  “What’s with the being so secretive?” he asked by way of greeting.

  I grinned and adjusted the suitcase on the floor so I would have more leg room. “You’ll see.”

  I gave him the address, and he took me to the new house, pulling up to a stop on the street in front of it. He leaned forward, gazing up at the home from across the dashboard. “You’re managing properties in Crystal Brook now? What does this mean? Is Claire moving back?” He got a little excited at the end, his eyes sparkling.

  “No, sorry to disappoint you. I need Claire in New York.”

  “Ah,” he grumbled. “She’s happy there anyway, I guess.”

  I swallowed hard, the tension in my stomach winding into a tighter and tighter knot. “And as far as being in charge of properties in Crystal Brook, this is the only one. I just bought this house.”

  He looked at me, his mouth twitching like he was about to speak.

  “I’m going to live here,” I said. “Hopefully with Gwen.”

  A grin stretched from his one cheek to the other. “She didn’t tell me anything about this.”

  “She doesn’t know.” I cleared my throat. “I’m going to ask her to marry me. With your permission, of course.”

  Harry blinked and drew back slightly. “Oh, Jason,” he said, his voice deep and slow. “That’s wonderful. That’s just great.”

  “Really?” I said. I believed him of course, but his blessings made me feel so good I just wanted to hear them one more time.

  “Yes,” he said, his voice husky now.

  I looked down, the next part of what I wanted to say suddenly seeming even harder than asking a man for his daughter’s hand in marriage. “I want you to know,” I slowly said, “how much of a family you are to me. Not just you and Gwen. Susan too. Claire… Danny… I never even allowed myself to imagine what it could be like to have a normal and loving family. And then to suddenly find myself in the midst of one. It’s nothing short of amazing.”

  When I looked back up at him, he was nodding slowly. “No matter what, you’re a part of our family, Jason. Marriage or no marriage.”

  I blinked heavily, pushing back the tears. “Thank you,” I rasped.

  “So when are you going to do this?”

  “Today.” My pulse sped up at the promise. “Within the hour maybe.”

  He whistled low. “Wait till I tell Susan. She’ll be waiting by the phone.”

  I laughed. “I’m sure.”

  Opening the door, I grabbed my suitcase and hopped down onto the asphalt. “Thank you,” I told him through the open window. He saluted and turned the truck around to drive away, leaving only me and my big plans for the day.

  Bringing the suitcase inside, I laid it by the front door and unzipped the main part. The VHS player I’d brought from New York rested on top of the pile of clothes. I’d bought it online and then tested it out once it got to me with an old tape of Miles’ wedding to make sure it really did work.

  I was missing a television, of course, along with every other piece of electronics and furniture a house needed. It was the sentiment I was after, though.

  Taking it upstairs to the master bedroom, I plugged it into the wall and then stepped back to try and get an objective view.

  Should I have gotten more? Rose petals maybe? Champagne?

  I ran a hand through my hair and checked my wristwatch. There was no time. Gwen was expecting me to pick her up at work, and I needed to get a move on it.

  Leaving the suitcase downstairs and locking up the front door, I hurried down the front steps and headed for the shop.

  The seats outside of Freddy’s were all taken, the regular afternoon crowd sitting there with their mugs of coffee and newspapers. I knew half of them by name and the other half by sight. Sandy, one of the older men in a newsboy cap, waved at me as I opened the door to go inside.

  Jazz music played ove
r the stereo, and a group of teenage girls sat giggling on the couch. Immediately, my ears picked up Gwen’s voice. It floated to me across the space, sweet and crystal clear.

  I walked slowly, keeping to the wall as I went up to the counter. Her back was turned to me as she talked with Kieran.

  “They said the paper stirrers will be here either Monday or Tuesday,” she said. “When they get here, go ahead and open them if I’m not here, but text me. Also, did Emily talk to you about Tuesday? She needs someone to come in at two. She’s got a baby shower to go to.”

  “I can do that,” Kieran said. She caught sight of me over Gwen’s shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t give me away.

  I cleared my throat. “How much for a kiss?”

  Gwen turned around, her eyebrows bunched in irritation. When she saw me, she broke into a laugh. “Jason!” she gasped, reaching over the counter to swat my arm. “I thought you were some weird pervert!”

  I grinned. “People really say things like that?”

  Kieran rolled her eyes. “Oh, you have no idea.”

  “Wow,” I said. “Next time something like that happens, just tell me who the perp is and I’ll take care of him.”

  “Aw,” Kieran cooed. “Our knight in shining armor!”

  “Seriously, though,” I said, setting my gaze on Gwen. “What does it take to get a kiss around here?”

  She smirked and leaned across the counter. Our lips met halfway, the touch instantly making everything around us blur and disappear.

  Gwen broke it off. “How was your week?”

  “All right,” I whispered throatily. “But much better now.”

  It had only been a week since I’d last visited Crystal Brook, but each day that passed felt like a year. The hard little box in my pocket pressed against the counter, reminding me of the big secret I carried around.

  “When can you leave?” I asked.

  She bit her bottom lip suggestively. “Right now. Where have you been? I’ve been waiting around for your butt for the last hour.”