by Diane Thorne
She exited the highway and drove through the city until she reached her neighborhood. Joggers passed by and several groups of kids were playing outside. The bliss flowing within her began to dwindle as she approached her empty driveway. Where was Phillip’s vehicle?
She drove into the garage with her pulse beating excitedly. Had he left already for Toronto? She had checked her phone before she’d left work and she’d had zero messages or missed calls. Surely, he would’ve communicated to her if he had to leave.
Hurrying, she cut the engine and grabbed her purse. She slammed the door on her car and strode to the entrance of her home. Her heart raced. She wondered if he’d left a note for her. The keys jingled as she quickly inserted them into the lock. With a twist of her wrist, she unlocked and pushed the door open.
“Phillip,” she called out as she headed for the center island.
The house was silent. She surveyed the kitchen, looking for a message from him. The refrigerator had the usual photos of her daughters. The countertops were clean. Nothing stood out as clue to where he’d gone.
She left her keys and purse in the kitchen and strolled into the dining area. “Phillip?”
She stopped and waited for sounds of movements upstairs. Hearing nothing, she searched for his laptop. He’d always left it in the kitchen or on the dining table. She found nothing. No computer bag or a single clue to indicate where he’d gone.
Heart pounding, she dashed for the stairs. Maybe he’d left something for her in the bedroom. She climbed the staircase then rushed into her room. The bed appeared the same as it had when she’d left it, with the covers tangled. Spotting the reading chair empty gave cause for alarm. Her chest felt as if something was pressing a ton of weight upon it. He’d brought one piece of luggage with his clothes and shaving supplies and had placed it on the cushioned seat. Now, the bag was gone along with the jeans and shirts he’d strewn over the chair. Not good.
With a sliver of hope still thriving, she checked the nightstands. After finding nothing new on them, she glanced in the bathroom. Again, she saw no signs of a note and his shaving supplies had disappeared. Damn it.
Gwen returned to her bed and sat on it. Dread coursed through her and ignited a light throb in her head. He’d left and hadn't bothered to let her know. Why? She suspected the Toronto issue would have forced him to go, but he could’ve sent her a message. If he truly loved her, he would’ve notified her. And that was the worst part. Since he’d failed to communicate with her, it was clear love wasn’t part of the equation. It was a passionate sexual relationship between friends. Nothing more.
She pressed her lips together as tears filled her eyes. She shouldn’t have gotten involved with him. He was a busy billionaire. She didn’t fit into his lifestyle. His company was his priority and it always would be. She was stupid to think he had feelings for her, other than carnal ones.
A tear rolled down each cheek and she wiped them away. The time they’d shared had been nice. Well, more than nice. But she needed to move on just as he had. She guessed he’d contact her later and fill her in on what had happened. Maybe they’d find a way to meet again for some naughty adventures in bed. If they did, she’d keep her heart out of their relationship and remember they were only friendly lovers.
“Gwen?”
The male voice jarred her head toward the door. Her heart pounded.
“Gwen?”
She wondered if she were in a dream.
“I’m up here,” she finally replied.
Footsteps thudded on the staircase. Anxiety coursed through her, spiking her pulse. She held her breath as she listened and waited. Why was he back? Where were his bags? Why hadn’t he sent her a message as to what was going on?
He stepped into the room and she fought the urge to jump into his arms. He’d donned a pair of jeans, and a blazer covered most of his green button-down—sexy as always.
“Sorry I’m late. I was stuck in traffic,” he said as he walked toward her.
Gwen stood and stared at him. She swallowed hard since didn’t know what to say. If she complained about the lack of a note or his missing clothes he might take offense.
“I know what that’s like,” she said as he came to stand in front of her.
He narrowed his gaze and took her face into his hands. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
His soft voice made her heart leap and her eyes teary. “It’s nothing.” She lowered her head, but he gently nudged it back up.
“Your eyes are red and your cheeks are damp. Something’s wrong.”
“It’s stupid really. I didn’t see your car so I thought you’d left. And when I didn’t see your bag or clothes or shaving supplies…”
He pressed his mouth to hers. “I’m so sorry.” He kissed her again, then each cheek. “I had to take a video conference call this afternoon and the Internet wasn’t working right. I took my laptop with me and thought I’d be home before you, but I had to make a stop at the store too. Anyway, before I left I tossed all my clothes in the laundry. My bag is in the laundry room. And I moved my razor to the bathroom in the hall. I kept making a mess in yours, so I thought I’d switch to the other room. I’ll still clean it, though.”
A smile slowly formed on her face. “I guess I overreacted a bit.”
He covered his mouth over hers and wrapped his arms around her. Warmth spread through her as she leaned against him and tenderly stroked his tongue. But the kiss didn’t last as long as she would’ve liked.
He slackened his arms, but held them around her waist. “I would’ve told you if I had to go. More importantly, I would’ve begged you to come with me.”
“Beg is a strong word.”
“But accurate. I want you, Gwen. I want what we have now to last every night. You’re the only woman who has ever made me truly happy.”
His words stunned her and she stared at him, speechless.
He took a step back and gathered her hands into his. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I have a plan that might work for us.”
Adrenaline surged through her. She wanted to scream with joy. “What is it?”
“You mentioned selling your house soon. Right?”
She nodded.
“I’d like for you to quit your job and list your house for sale. I’ll move in here and pay the mortgage and bills until the house is sold. Meanwhile, we look for a home of our own, wherever you’d like. And when I have to travel, you’ll come with me.”
Thudding in her ears stemmed from her pounding heart. “Quit my job?”
“I’ll pay bills. I’m sure I can afford them.” He grinned.
“But, I won’t have any income.”
“Well, I’m going to hire you as an assistant. I’m looking for two, actually. One to help me with the minor details of my company. The other, you, will help me branch out into another business. And keep me company every night. Are you interested?”
Her head started spinning. “I need to sit down.”
She backed up to the bed and sat. She was dizzy. She’d never thought he’d ask her to quit or work for him.
He claimed one of her hands and knelt before her. “Gwen, I’m in love with you. There. I said it. But I know this is…sudden. It’s a big change for both of us. When I think about leaving you… I can’t do it again. I don’t want to. I couldn’t stop thinking about you after we parted in London. I wanted to contact you, but I didn’t know if you were interested in a relationship. I knew you valued your freedom, so I let work carry me away as it always does. Then, you contacted me. I wanted to hop on a plane that minute. I love you, Gwen. We can take this slow. We should take it slow. But in my heart, I know you’re the right woman for me.”
Tears filled her eyes. A man had never swept her away like Phillip did. Her ex-husband had been a school friend, lover, and later he had become the father of her children. He’d never given her affection the way Phillip did. Phillip was the real deal, a gentleman with strong passion in his heart. And other places. She’d gladly retu
rn such deep heart-felt love to him, and only him.
Concern for her daughters popped into her mind. She feared they might not agree with her choices. With time and after getting to know Phillip, they should be able to accept him. And if everything worked out between her and Phillip and they moved away, she could probably hop on a plane to visit her daughters whenever she wanted. She would miss being close to them, but they had their own busy lives. They would be a phone call away if she needed to hear their voices, just as it was now. In the end, she deserved to be happy as much as they did. Phillip was an honorable man. Surely they would see it and how much joy he brought to her.
Gwen gazed into his blue eyes. “I want this. I want you. I love you.”
He swallowed. “Are you sure? I know it’s a major—”
“I’m one hundred and fifty percent positive. The question is, are you sure?”
His lips curled. “I’m two hundred percent positive.”
“Two hundred?”
“If you can go over one hundred, so can I.”
She chuckled and placed her palm to the side of his face. “I love you, my naughty man.” She kissed him.
“I love you, my naughty woman.”
He pressed his lips to hers and started a kiss rich with love. Her heart swelled as bliss consumed her. He belonged to her and she was his. They both had what they wanted. Together, they would work through all the changes. Gwen couldn’t wait to begin her new life with him. Moreover, she couldn’t wait to spend every night in his passionate embrace.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Destined for Love
Diane Thorne
Excerpt
Chapter One
Valerie stared at the lay-off notice in her hands. Her jaw hung low and tears swelled in her eyes. Her day had been a complete disaster since she’d left the apartment. A train had delayed her arrival at work because she’d had to wait at a railroad crossing for twenty minutes. A co-worker’s coffee had spilled on her beige slacks. She’d lost her last two dollars to the vending machine gremlin. Lastly, she’d fought computer issues all day long. Not a single good thing had occurred. She’d thought the worst had been over, but apparently not.
“Hey, Val, did you get the incentive…?” Terri’s bright and cheerful expression transformed to a grim one. “What’s wrong?”
Val placed the small pink piece of paper on the desk then slid it towards her. Terri’s eyes widened immediately. She picked it up and held the notice closer.
While Terri read the layoff slip, Val dug her purse from her lower drawer. She removed a round mirror and checked herself. Tears in her blue eyes begged for release. Biting her lip, she strengthened her dam to keep from crying. Besides, she didn’t want her eyeliner to smear, nor did she want to appear weak to her co-workers. Val was strong, independent, always in control, and at the top of her game. She supported others, portrayed what she believed to be a good leader, and consistently gave positive feedback to maintain good morale. Everyone in her department came to her for questions and advice—even employees from other departments sought her assistance. She was the queen of the help desk, and proud to perform her duties. Come hell or high water, she would not let anyone besides Terri see her in despair.
She ran two fingers through her wavy brown hair then tucked the strands behind her ears before snapping the compact together.
“This has to be a mistake.” Terri placed the paper on her desk. “We should go see Mr Williams. I just can’t believe this.”
Val rose from her chair then placed her hand on her best friend’s shoulder. “The form is complete with all my credentials, including the date I started here. I don’t think it’s a mistake.”
She forced a slight smile as she held her emotions in check. Val would miss Terri. They’d started with the company at the same time and had grown close within a few months. They’d soon discovered they enjoyed the same kind of men, movies, music, and munchies. It was as if fate had brought them together, and they were destined to be best friends. They had moved into an apartment together and double-dated several times. That was how Terri had met Sam and Val had met Thomas. Six months ago, Sam had put a ring on Terri’s finger and she’d moved out. Val missed her friend’s company, but they always saw each other at work. Now, Val doubted she would see her friend much. While Terri’s life was travelling up to better opportunities, Val’s seemed to be heading south.
“Someone made an error.” Terri grabbed Val’s hand and tugged it. “Come on. We’re putting this to bed right now.”
Val grinned as her friend led her down the centre aisle. Their co-workers were chatting on the phones or too busy staring at their computer monitors to notice them holding hands as they passed by. Approaching the director’s office, fear crept into Val’s mind and she considered turning around. What if the layoff notice was valid? Could she handle looking into her boss’s eyes and hearing him tell her she had to get out? He was a reasonable man and had always given her good evaluations. He’d recommended her for promotions plenty of times, or so he had said. So why was she getting the pink slip? Terri had to be right—someone had made a mistake.
“Let me handle this.” Val quickened her pace to reach the office before Terri.
“Are you sure?” Terri asked softly.
Lips pressed together, Val nodded over her shoulder. In all honesty, she wasn’t certain about anything anymore. She’d always thought she had her life under control and knew where she was heading. The road of her life was a smooth one without many potholes. But now a crater had destroyed her path, forcing her off course to an unknown territory. She didn’t know what to expect next.
She stopped in her boss’s open doorway. Terri came to a halt beside her. Mr Williams was sat behind his large, cherry-wood desk. He had a neat and casual appearance with trimmed short hair and a blue, striped polo shirt. Bits of grey in his dark hair along with a few wrinkles on his face revealed his middle age. His average build and blue eyes attracted most of the women in the office. While Val thought he was handsome, she had never once considered flirting with him. The ring on his finger was an instant deterrent.
Val knocked lightly on the door. “Excuse me, Mr Williams.”
He glanced up from the two computer monitors on the corner of his desk, then back at them. “Valerie, what can I do for you?” Not a hint of a smile reflected on his face.
She hesitantly stepped into his office. The fact that he had spoken in a low and flat tone had given her cause for concern. He’d always been a polite, outgoing, and chipper man.
“Mr Williams, I’m sorry to bother you.” She stopped in front of his desk, glanced over her shoulder to find Terri at the door, then shifted her attention to her boss. “I received a pink slip a few minutes ago, and I thought maybe it was a mistake.”
He stopped typing and looked up at her. “I wish I could say that it was, but unfortunately…”
Val’s heart sank, yet she held her composure. “But why?”
“Upper management made the decision. I tried to talk them out of it. I told them how valuable you are to the department, but they’d already selected people.”
Questions swarmed in her head. Why would upper management want to lay me off? What have I done to deserve the boot? Who else got a notice? In the last four years of her employment, she’d only spoken to the directors briefly. She’d assisted them with questions. As far as she knew, no one had ever complained about her. What logic did they have for getting rid of her?
“I’m sorry, Val. Really, I am.”
His blank expression confused her. Had he really spoken for her, or was he making it up? But why would he lie? Her frustration intensified as no one had provided a logical answer yet.
“Mr Williams, with all due respect, why would management select me? I’m not a bad employee. I’m always here early, always helping others with questions—”
He lifted his hand to stop her from continuing. “I wish I could say more. I hate to see you go, but m
anagement has made the determination. There’s nothing I can do.”
His words were like nails sealing a coffin. Swallowing hard, she nodded and headed for the door.
Terri stepped out of her way as Val exited the office. “What did he say?”
Val strode towards her desk. “He said he was aware, and upper management made the decision.”
“What?”
Terri's high-pitched voice halted Val. She turned to face her friend.
“Why would…?”
Val shrugged. “I don’t know. I asked and he didn’t have an answer.”
Terri crossed her arms. “This is ridiculous.”
Movement in the distance behind Terri stole Val’s attention. Mr Williams stepped out of his office and walked towards them. He fixed his gaze on Val.
“Here he comes,” Val said. “We better get back to work.”
Terri lowered her head and walked away. Val took a deep breath and headed for her cubicle. Her friend was right about the matter being absurd. She’d yet to hear a good reason for her dismissal. But what could she do? Nothing. She couldn’t do a damn thing except leave with her chin up.
Val returned to her desk and sat down. The last hour before five o’clock would undoubtedly seem like an eternity, but she refused to let her mood dive south. Somewhere in the world children were starving. Troops were in harm’s way. Cancer patients were undergoing treatments. A job loss seemed so insignificant compared to what other people had to endure.
“Valerie?” Mr Williams said as he drew near to her.
She gave him her full attention. “Yes.”
“I spoke with HR and they said you could leave now and the company would pay you for completing the day. You don’t need to stay until five.”
Talk about a company wanting to push employees out of the door.
“I appreciate it, but I’ll stay. I’d hate to disappoint anyone.”
Mr Williams stepped closer and put his hand on the back of her chair. He bent near her ear. “I don’t think you understand, and I don’t want to make this difficult.”
