She led the way, her thoughts still trying to wrap themselves around the situation. He was there. He’d tracked her down and offered exactly what she asked for. Maybe she was dreaming.
He let go of her the moment they were in the room, set the food on the table by the door, and stepped away from her.
That was a little disappointing. His fingers twitched at his side. When she stepped closer, he moved out of reach. She raised her eyebrows in question.
His shoulders slumped. “It’s taking all of my restraint not to strip you down, toss you on the bed, and ravage you until you’re too worn out to move.”
Her pulse kicked up a notch at the suggestion, and wetness grew between her legs. “Okay?”
“But…” He tapped his foot, still keeping his distance. “I want to make this work, and I need you to be happy with it long-term. So we have to set some ground rules first.”
“Like what?”
“I couldn’t even handle being away from you for two weeks. I know we weren’t talking at all, and that made it infinitely worse, but you’re right, long-distance is going to be tough.”
She nodded. None of that sounded like a solution, but it was a painful reminder of her doubts.
“So.” He grabbed her fingers again and pulled her toward the bed. He sat down and prompted her to do the same, hip and arm resting against hers. “I want to know everything about you, or at least as much as we can fill a weekend with. And I want to see you as often as possible. I want to at least give us a real chance.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “And then you’ll strip me down and have your way with me?”
He chuckled. “I might do that in between, but not unless you’ve told me one or two more ways to make sure our neighbors know what we’re up to.”
Heat spread across her cheeks at the implication. “You just have to ask the right questions.”
He slid from the bed and knelt at her feet. A pleasant tremor traveled through her when he ran his palms up her calves and back down again. He pulled off one shoe and then the other, setting them aside in the corner.
He stood and kicked off his own shoes, crawled to the head of the bed, fluffed the pillows, and sat so his back was to the headboard. He patted the comforter between his legs. “Join me?”
She climbed between his legs and sat with her back to his chest. His arms draped around her shoulders, and she snuggled into him more. “What now?”
“Now, we start simple. We’re both ruled by our jobs, so talking about work makes sense, right?”
The warmth of his arms was reassuring, and as much as she wanted to dive into the physical, she was content with what they were doing right now. “Sounds reasonable.”
“So I’ve got a couple of nibbles on a new agent. Two have made me offers, I’m just trying to narrow things down.”
She turned her head to the side as much as she could without pulling away from him. “That’s fantastic. Are you leaning toward one or the other?”
He rested his cheek against hers. “I’m getting close. They’ve both got an impressive client list, but once I’m done with more important things—you, namely—I’ll probably be making my call.”
“That’s fantastic, congratulations.” It felt incredible to be happy for someone else’s good news. She didn’t know if she could be more pleased if it had been her own. It was even better that it stemmed from the thing that had almost kept them apart to begin with.
He kissed her cheek. “Now, you tell me how you got into a job that keeps you on the road seventy percent of the time. Start with the bit about wanting to travel when you were younger.”
He’d remembered. That comment from the very first day they met. The realization warmed her as much as any of his flirting. “Well, when I was seven, I figured out the difference between a state and a country…”
* * * *
Conversations clattered off tile and stainless steel. Lines inched forward. Luggage slid along the footprint-covered floors. Jade didn’t care how crowded the airport was. She was a little disappointed to be there, but the warm body at her back made the looming separation easier to ignore.
She leaned back into Brandon, who was using a nearby wall for support. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. His voice was low, but so close to her ear it cut through all the noise at the gate for her flight. “What are you proposing?”
It had been an incredible week; not just the sex, but everything. “Joint apartment custody?”
He pushed the bottom of her shirt up, just enough to trace his thumb along her bare skin. She loved that sensation. He kissed along her neck. “Technically, that term doesn’t make any sense. It means we’re sharing an apartment, but not at the same time.”
She gave a fake growl, not able to wipe the smile off her face. She wasn’t looking forward to leaving this behind. “It sounded clever in my head, and you know what I mean.”
“You’re right, I do. And yes, you should come stay with me whenever you can get away with it, and I’ll do the same.”
She leaned her head back so she could rest her cheek against his. “Final boarding call.”
He nudged her away, grabbed her wrist, and spun her to face him. Hands at the small of her back, he tugged her in close again. “I’ll see you next weekend?”
She slid her body against his. She burned every contour into her memory to keep her company until they saw each other again. She draped her arms around his neck and kissed him. His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her captive for a moment.
When they broke apart, he still didn’t let her go. She gave him a sad smile. “Really. Final boarding call.”
He pecked her bottom lip, and his hands dropped away. “I love you.”
The three words shot through her like a spark. Neither of them had said that yet. She expected panic to follow, but all she felt was joy, relief, and rightness. She smiled. “I love you too.”
He gave her one more quick kiss and then spun her toward the gate. “Go. Before I talk myself out of letting you make your flight. Besides, I need to get to my gate.”
She fell into line with the last of the stragglers. She shuffled down the walkway to the plane like everyone else and found her seat. One perk of so much business travel was frequent first-class upgrades.
As she was getting comfortable, her phone buzzed. It was in her hand in a second. The text message was from Brandon.
One of these days I’m joining you on a flight.
Mile high club anyone?
She knew she was grinning like an idiot, and she didn’t care. She sent back a reply.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
And seconds later he buzzed her again.
I fully plan on keeping this promise.
The text banter kept up until the flight attendant made everyone shut off their phones. She leaned back in her seat, smile still cemented in place. “I love you.” The words echoed in her head, muffling the noise of the airplane wheels on the runway.
For so many years she’d struggled with, and eventually learned to avoid, any relationships that might lead to that conclusion. She’d reached the point where it hurt less to push aside that kind of affection rather than deal with another guy who didn’t understand her work schedule.
Now she had someone who not only understood but embraced the same things she did; the need to travel, the desire to see as much as possible of the world, and the passion for the experiences. And for her.
The realization tugged deep inside her chest and traveled through her, warming her heart and thoughts.
It would be tough to be apart, but he was worth it. They were worth it.
Epilogue
Six months later
Brandon made his way through the crowded airport, dodging slow movers and stepping aside for the speed walkers. Most bits of travel had become so commonplace, he didn’t even think about them anymore. It was part of the commute, which, thanks to his new agent, he’d been doing a lot more of an
d for better jobs than he’d ever lined up through Michelle.
But touching down in his hometown always filled him with a bit of apprehensive excitement. Knowing he’d be sleeping in his own bed, spending a few days in his own house. From the moment final descent was announced until he retrieved his car from long-term parking, it always sent a thrum of hyper-energy through him.
He pulled up an e-mail that had come in from Jade while he was flying. The subject was Just showing you what you’re missing. Heat rushed through him as the pictures loaded one by one, each of her in less clothing than the last. His cock throbbed in response.
At least it was late, so the airport wasn’t too crowded. Still, he wanted to be completely alone to enjoy those. There was one thing he could do, though. She was in an earlier time zone, so it was only nine there—no need to worry about waking her up. Besides, she’d be waiting for his call.
“Hey.” Her bright voice sent a combination of longing and lust through him. He loved talking to her, but he’d much rather be doing it in person. “You just get in?”
“Yup. Safe and sound.” He bypassed the luggage carousel and headed straight for the shuttles. It had been a short trip, and there was nothing to wait for. They exchanged banter and small talk—how was his trip…the basic stuff—while he made his way outside.
There was no one on the shuttle to the long-term parking. The silence, except for the sound of the heater, was pleasant. “So, what are you wearing?”
She laughed. “You’re horrible. And still in public.”
“Only kind of public.” Maybe she had a point. He shifted in his seat as his cock reminded him of the pictures waiting on his phone. And then something nagged him. Something was off about those pictures. What was it?
“In that case, one of your ties,” she replied.
All the blood rushed from his head at the thought of Jade in nothing but a tie. “Wait, do I own any ties? I don’t think I do.”
“Hmm…” A throaty, seductive tremor ran through her voice. “I guess I’m not wearing anything then.”
He knew she was just teasing, and he loved the sound of her voice when she did. The shuttle rumbled to a stop, he tipped the driver, and made his way across the lot to his car.
The flirting was fun, but there was something more important he needed to know. “How did it go at work?”
A long silence greeted him, and large chunks of his good mood shirked in response. “Jade?”
“I’m working on it.” The teasing cheer was gone from her voice. “I mean, they took the request, they’re thinking about it, and it doesn’t look like it will be a problem.”
That meant she didn’t have a yes yet. She was negotiating with her employer to let her do all of her job remotely since she was on the road so often anyway. Brandon spent most of the off-con-season at home, and that’s where most of his voice jobs were. So they’d both been hoping she could find a way to move in with him.
Still, it wasn’t a no.
“I’m pretty sure they’ll say yes.” Some of the sadness had vanished from her voice.
“I know.” He tossed his bag into the trunk, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. “I was just hoping…you know. Sooner rather than later?”
“I know.” Her tone was smooth and soothing. “Just give it a little more time. I have a feeling it’ll all be good.”
He nodded at the empty car interior, still not able to completely squash his disappointment. “I’m pulling onto the road. I have to let you go.”
“I understand. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”
He still hadn’t gotten tired of hearing that. “I love you too.”
He tossed the phone onto the passenger’s seat. Moments later, he was navigating the familiar route home. Empty home. He tried not to dwell on the thought, but he couldn’t help it. Every time he said goodbye to Jade, it got harder to walk away.
Within thirty minutes, he was pulling up to his condo. He trudged up the stairs to the second floor and down the hallway to his door. When he pushed inside, his heart leaped into his chest.
Jade looked up from the couch, the corner of her mouth tugged up, and her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “Surprise.” She wasn’t wearing a tie, but she was wearing one of his T-shirts and a pair of his shorts. Goddamn, she’d never looked sexier.
He dumped everything and crossed the few, short feet. He pulled her from the couch, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her off the ground. Her nails dug into the back of his neck, and she kissed him deeply, a whimper escaping from her throat.
He rested his forehead against hers. “You didn’t say anything.”
The impish smile was still there. “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
That’s what had been off about the pictures she’d sent him. It had been his condo in the background. He pushed up the hem of her shirt so he could rest his palm on her bare back. “How long are you here?”
She shifted against him, sending tremors of want through him. Her voice was soft, almost uncertain. “It depends on you.”
His brain clicked over the words, struggling to process them, which was made more difficult by the insistence below his waist. But he needed clarification. “Explain?”
She laid a series of light kisses across his lips. “I might have left a detail or two out about work when we talked.”
The gears in his head struggled to move forward and finally pushed the snag aside. “You mean…?”
She laughed. “Yes, I got permission to telecommute. So if you still think you can stand living with me…”
He kissed her hard again, focusing on the fact that this time he didn’t have to let her go nearly as often. She’s here. She’s moving in. This incredible woman who made his pulse race. The idea of spending every morning waking up next to her teased his thoughts. “I was starting to wonder how I might make it another week without you, so I’m pretty sure I can stand it.”
“Good.” She seemed to relax a little. “Then join me in our bedroom?”
The End
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About the Author
Allyson Lindt is a full-time geek, and an even fuller-time contemporary romance author. She was lucky enough to marry her muse and soul mate. Their cats are their children, and when they’re not spending way too much time gaming, they’re building new worlds together. She loves a sexy happily-ever-after and helping deserving cubicle dwellers find their futures together.
Table of Contents
Unconventional Fling
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
About the Author
Unconventional Fling (A Working Girl’s Guide, Book 1) Page 7
