Feeling guilty, she refilled his coffee. He probably missed his insanely comfortable California King. “I can sleep in the Airstream. You shouldn’t be kicked out of your own bed.”
“Thanks, but it doesn’t matter where I sleep, the result is the same.” He looked up and saw the concern on her face. “Excuse my crankiness. It takes me about thirty minutes until I’m myself in the morning. I forgot you’re always so—chipper.”
She smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to sleep in and take my time. I’m always late, running out the door, posting on It’s Handled social media before my eyes even open.”
After breakfast, he switched on his computer with dual twenty-inch monitors and started on his emails.
She created her own work area at the dining table and began reading off current headlines out loud, as she usually did before the morning meeting to get everyone talking and productive.
“Hot topics of the day. A UK microchip manufacturer is on the verge of being bought out by a Japanese company. Some reality star is having a Twitter war with some pop star. Wildfires continue to eat up southern California. And a panda is pregnant at the zoo.”
“Read the articles to me.”
“About the panda too?”
He chuckled. “Why not?”
For the next hour, she read to him, though at first he didn’t appear to be listening. Whenever she paused, however, he’d turn around and ask why she stopped. Apparently, he enjoyed hearing her read to him.
Later on, his cell phone rang. “It’s Chloe,” he said.
She jerked her gaze to him, as if they’d been caught, her pulse racing as he answered the call and put it on speaker. Justin, however, was nonplussed.
“Hey, Chloe. What’s new?”
“The natives are getting restless,” she said without preamble. “Especially now that Antonia is gone.”
Justin swiveled in his chair and raised a brow. “What do you mean ‘restless’?”
Chloe went on. “With you out, nothing really changed around here, but without Antonia, some of the employees seem lost. Out of the blue, she said she had to take a week off for a personal matter. Didn’t she message you about it?”
“Of course she did. I saw her email this morning,” he fibbed.
“Well, not for nothing, but with you and her gone, the office seems a little out of sorts. Every day before our meetings she makes us play a game of Guess-Which-Celebrity-I-Am to wake everyone up out of their morning stupor. Even people who thought it was silly are hooked on the tradition. When I told them we wouldn’t be playing any games without Antonia here, they looked at me like I’d stolen Christmas.”
While Chloe continued to give details about the office staff, he placed her on mute. “I didn’t approve this game.”
She shrugged. “When the cat’s away…”
He gave her a chastising look before unmuting his assistant. Once she finished, he asked, “Anything else to report?”
“Shawn is demanding a conference call.”
“Set it up for tomorrow.”
“Really? He’ll be ecstatic.”
“And let everyone know I’ll be back in the office on Monday.”
“Monday? Oh, thank God. You and Antonia will both be back at the same time. She’ll be so happy. She misses having you here.”
A hot blush fired up Antonia’s cheeks. Why did Chloe have to say it like that?
“She does? How do you know?” he asked, stroking his beard with a smug smile.
“I can just tell. We miss listening to you two hash it out in your office like David and Maggie from Moonlighting. Without the door slamming. You don’t let anyone else talk to you the way she does. Have you ever noticed that?”
Antonia shook her head and avoided Justin’s amused gaze. She had no idea people paid attention to their dynamic, but she guessed with sharing space in a huge, loft-like area, it was hard not to notice when the CEO and VP of Public Relations raised their voices.
Mostly, she was embarrassed because Chloe was right; she’d missed Justin more than she’d ever admit out loud. Every day, she woke up excited to go to work. Not just because she loved her job, but because of him. He challenged her and vexed her, when most men at her previous jobs had degraded her. She’d finally found a position she loved, where she could be herself all day. She finally worked for someone she truly respected…and wanted more than she could bear.
Yes, she thought wearily, she might be just a little in love with him.
Justin answered a few questions from Chloe regarding his schedule, then ended the call. There was a long stretch of silence between them, and she felt more exposed than ever.
“Antonia…” he started, then frowned, as though debating. Raising his gaze to hers, he finally said, “Pack us a quick lunch. We’re going outside. I need to talk to you.”
Oh, God. Could he see how she felt all over her face?
She didn’t ask questions, even when he said she needed to change into something more suitable for going out on the boat. After switching from pants to shorts, she went to the kitchen to make sandwiches and cut up some fruit. She loaded their lunch in a backpack with two bottled waters.
When she made her way to the beach, she found Justin pushing the boat farther into the water, and she reveled in how cut his calves looked as they strained from the effort.
“Need help?”
He glanced over his shoulder and shook his head. He flattened his hands on the edge and hoisted himself up, then untied the rope.
She waited on the dock. He held out his arms, grasped her by the waist and set her down with ease.
God, he is so strong. She tried not to think about how easily he could hoist her up against a wall and—
The engine roared to life and they eased out to the lake. Antonia closed her eyes and let the wind blow her hair. He took them around a bend to the right, and anchored the boat near a shaded spot under an overgrown tree.
“I thought we could use some fresh air,” he said. “I like to come out here and be on the water. Helps me think.”
She leaned back on her elbows, heart thumping. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
He remained standing and crossed his arms, looking like a bearded god with his defined biceps and chest. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about since I came out here. Something…I haven’t told anyone.”
And yet she was going to be the first person he shared it with? She took off her sunglasses, and set them aside. “Sounds important.”
“Could be nothing. Could be something. Something new.”
Excited, she grinned. “Tell me.”
He smiled too, as though happy to see her enthusiasm. “At the core, we rent out co-working space for the wandering professional so they can work from virtually any major city. That’s it. We’re a leasing middle man, which by-and-large is a success in its own right. What if we went bigger? What if…what if we also offered co-living space to rent out to those same customers? Apartment living beyond the basics. Offer a community vibe that the average, on-the-go, isolated joe can call home for a day, a week, or even longer. What do you think so far?”
It was kind of brilliant. “Tell me more.”
“Picture this: we offer it all. Beds, couches, kitchen. Month-to-month flexibility with benefits. Wi-Fi, cable, and basic utilities. All the beer, tea, and coffee they want—”
She sprung up, inspired. “And then add communal spaces like meditation and yoga rooms. And…a community chef’s kitchen. Laundry rooms with karaoke.”
“Ha! I like it! They’ll have access to It’s Handled Community events.”
“Full-time housekeeping,” she suggested.
“A concierge on-site.”
“And encourage social engagement with an It’s Living app.”
He cocked his head. “It’s Living?”
She flinched. “Sorry. What did you call it?”
“It didn’t have a name yet.” He shook his head and grinned. �
�It has a name now.”
She laughed. “Just like that? This was your idea! You should christen it.”
“No way can I top that. It’s Handled for work. It’s Living for non-work.” He paused. “I’ve been thinking about this for months. You know how risky it is? Flipping the script on traditional apartment living could be huge. It could also be a huge disaster for us.”
“As far as ideas go, it’s just an embryo right now. We’ll beta test the hell out of it first and go from there.”
“You’re right. It can start out as an experiment.”
“Exactly. We’ll use our own city. If an idea like this is going to thrive or dive anywhere, it’d be Seattle. Or San Francisco. That’d be a good place to test with the traveling techies coming and going.”
He cupped her cheek. “I’m glad you get it. I knew you would, Antonia.”
His smile made her smile, and for a second, time stopped…a new connection formed. How come at the office they acted like brats, but out here, they were practically in sync? Maybe their attraction was the problem. They had to fight it, hide it, and tension could never be released. Not at work.
He took a step closer, jaw clenched.
The nearness of him had her heart creating a tattoo against her ribcage, and she parted her lips, finding it hard to breathe.
Just kiss me, Justin. Please just do it.
It was as if he heard her. “If I kiss you, I won’t stop. I’ll go on and on and then I’ll want more than kissing. I’ll want you naked, open for me, in every way I can have you. But I don’t want to do that on this boat. Not for our first time.”
Her throat was drier than the Sahara. She had to swallow to make her tongue work and form a coherent word. “Okay.” That was all she could mutter.
He turned then, grabbed the backpack, unzipped it, and began taking the items out. The moment was broken, and her legs were weak as she groped behind her to sit down again.
They resumed their conversation about It’s Living, shooting pros and cons back and forth for an hour. How easily they could flip from blistering sexual tension to a productive conversation. She was frankly amazed it was possible, and how easy it could be with him. If she hadn’t fallen for him yet, she had now.
Later that afternoon, they cruised around the lake for a bit, and headed back to the house. Clouds were coming in, and it looked like it might storm, winds disturbing the peaceful trees.
Once he docked the boat, he helped her out and they walked toward the house.
He stayed behind as she climbed the steps. “I have to go into town. I’ll be gone maybe a good hour or so,” he said. “Need anything?”
What could he have to go into town for that he didn’t already have stocked twice? She shook her head. “Nothing I can think of. What do you want for dinner?”
“You don’t have to make every meal for me.”
“A word of advice. If a woman asks you what you want for dinner, it’s because she wants to cook for you.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ll be happy with whatever you whip up.”
“I know.” She smiled and resumed her climb.
“Antonia?”
She stopped and met his gaze.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“For the perfect day.”
Over an hour later, she was setting down the plates on the dining table when the first rumble of thunder shook through the house.
She’d showered, let her hair air dry in untamed waves and put on a comfortable, form-hugging cotton dress. Tonight was the night she was going to give herself to him. They both knew it.
It started to rain, then pour, and soon after, the thunder and lightning interrupted the night. Fletch whined and hid under the table. She soothed him as best she could, and kept an eye out for Justin.
She switched off all the lights and the TV. It was amazing to listen and watch the rain in a glass house with the fire going. She tried not to look at the clock, but it’d been over two hours.
What if something had happened? Who would she call? Where would she go to look for him? She paced, fiddled with her hands, tormented with each passing second.
The dog barked once, and she saw headlights coming up the driveway. At first she was beyond relieved, then she was pissed.
Worrying about him was something a girlfriend or wife would do. She had no right. She didn’t like how it made her feel.
When he came in the door, completely soaked, she gaped at the mud all over his clothes. “What happened?”
He began peeling off his jacket. “There was a flash flood on the main road, so I had to go around the entire county to come in from the other direction. Then I saw a couple stuck in a ditch, so I tried to help them, and ended up like this.”
Well, she couldn’t really be mad, since he’d basically been a hero while she was in there, warm and dry. “I’ll get you a towel.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll need more than that.” He untied his muddy shoes and set them on a mat. “I didn’t realize how late it was. I missed dinner.”
“Yep.” She shuffled to the kitchen. “It’s no big deal. Just spaghetti and garlic bread. I kept a plate in the oven for you.”
While he went to shower, she sat in front of the fire on the sofa, finally able to relax.
Minutes later he came out, and touched her shoulder from behind. “Something wrong?”
She decided to be honest. “I was worried about you. I’m just glad you’re home.”
“No one has been worried about me in a long time.”
He came around the couch, and she softly gasped. No shirt. Just pajama pants and a bare chest. He sat down in the corner of the sofa with a languid grace, stretching his arms out. “Come here.”
Eager to do just that, she scooted between his legs and laid back, the heat and strength of his body warming every inch of her.
It was comfortable too. Oh so comfortable. She gathered the giant blanket over her and watched the flames jump in the fireplace. He felt good. It felt like home. “Did you get what you needed in town?” She didn’t notice any bags or items in his hands when he walked in.
“I did,” he said. “Everything I need.”
They didn’t talk for a while, until he broke the silence with a question she knew he was eventually going to ask.
“How did you find me? I want to know.”
“Why? So the next time you disappear I won’t be able to locate you with the same method?”
“Come on, tell me. I thought I’d covered my tracks. How did you manage to make me look like a fool who thought he could hide from everyone?”
“That wasn’t my intention.” She sighed, wondering how loca she’d sound divulging her research skills. “All right. I was borrowing Chloe’s computer because mine had crashed, and spotted a message from your Gmail account to her. I remembered a trick IT showed me, about how to display the email header. It shows your IP address. I copied-and-pasted it onto an IP-finder website, and it gave me your approximate location. Karakoh, Washington.” She paused, waiting for his reaction.
“Go on. I know there’s more. You didn’t just drive around and happen upon my well-hidden home.”
She sighed. “Right. Well, from there I did research. I looked for any property or homes that’d been purchased within a year, since there were no hotels in town, and I knew you took your Airstream with you. It took me a whole Sunday of research, but I finally found a very expensive piece of land on a lake that had been purchased recently. Your name came up in the public records. I got in the car, drove all day, and boom. That’s how I found you. Mystery revealed.”
A moment passed. “Impressive.”
“Not really. Without all of that available information on the internet, I would’ve never stood a chance.”
“Even so, I’m in awe. I guess you really wanted to find me.”
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you? I would.”
He pressed a kiss on that place between her neck an
d shoulder. “I think you’re incredibly clever and resourceful. I’ve never met a woman like you.”
She closed her eyes, heart pounding. “I know.”
Slowly, he slid his hand down her arm, and linked their fingers together. “If you hadn’t found me, this would’ve never happened. Ever. I would’ve come back to Seattle and things between us would’ve stayed the same. I would still want you…” he traced his mouth along the curve of her neck, “and I’d still fight it. Every day. We’d still be apart. Every day. Instead of this. No, Antonia, this is where we should be.”
With a helpless sound, she shoved the blanket to the floor, sat up and turned around, hiking her dress to straddle him. There was heat and desire in his gaze, and she knew there was no going back.
She kissed him, and instantly he came alive from his languid state, sitting up and grasping her face. His beard scraped her chin, his mustache tickled her nose. His lips, however, were soft, and he tasted like mint and warm male.
He moved down her throat, and she dropped her head back, enjoying the rough sensation of his beard scratching along her sensitive neck. His hands settled on her thighs, pushing her dress to her waist.
“I want you so much it hurts,” he uttered. “What do you want? Be honest.”
She made a noise of surrender. “I want to touch you, and taste you, and make you want no one but me,” she whispered.
She lifted her arms. He pulled the dress up and sent it to the floor. Her bra was undone quickly, and before she could take her next breath, Justin’s mouth was on her nipple, his hand gripping her butt.
Closer. She needed him closer, strong and alive, and holding her. His cock was hard and big through his pants, pressing against her sex. She started moving on him while he sucked and bit on each nipple and groaned with every pump of her hips.
She held his face and brought his lips back to hers, hungrily opening her mouth over his. His hands roamed along her back and cupped her backside, his breathing becoming ragged. Pulling back, she kissed either side of his mouth and eyes before sliding to her knees on the floor. “Don’t move,” she whispered.
She kissed each of his nipples, planting her hands on his chest, and making her way down. Once she found the end of the drawstring, she used her teeth to undo it.
