by Alice Ward
“He’s sad,” I said. “Of course, he is. His father just died.”
“But they weren’t exactly close, were they?” Niki asked. She switched hands, letting the manicurist start on her left.
“No,” I said. “They weren’t, but they put all that aside in the end. Remember, Ray left the entire company to Sean. You should have seen Zach’s face when the lawyer read that part of the will. I’ve never seen anyone look that pissed.”
“Good,” Niki said. “If anyone deserves it, it’s that asshole.”
“True.” I nodded. “He practically ran that company into the ground. The only reason it’s still afloat is because of Ray and me. Plus, Sean really deserves this opportunity. He doesn’t really have the business mind, but his heart is always in the right place. He’ll do the right thing, which is more than anyone can say for Zach. With Sean in charge, I really think the company will be better than it’s ever been.”
As I spoke, I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. Whenever I talked about Sean, I got butterflies. Even when he wasn’t around me, he had such a profound effect on me. In our short time together, we’d managed to bond so deeply that I knew we would never be able to leave each other’s lives.
“You’re glowing,” Niki pointed out. “You’re happy.”
“I am,” I admitted. “We’re all still grieving for Ray, but Sean makes me happy. Sean and Paisley.”
“How are things going with you two?” Niki asked. “Really.”
“Things are amazing,” I said. “I can’t think of a better word to describe it. After Ray died, I wasn’t sure if Sean would want me around, you know? I thought he might need some time to make peace with the loss on his own, but he didn’t. He and Paisley have both made every effort to see me and include me in their day to day lives. If we go even a day without having dinner together, Paisley gets upset. It’s nice to be missed that much, you know? To be cared about so deeply.”
“Hey, I care about you,” Niki teased.
“Ha. Ha.” I laughed. “You know what I mean. It’s like we’re becoming a real family.”
“A family, huh?” Niki asked. Her tone suggested concern, but it didn’t bother me. Niki always had my best interests at heart, and I knew she only worried about me because she loved me so much.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “A family. It’s amazing, Niki. It really is.”
“You know,” Niki began slowly. “When you first started seeing Sean, I was really skeptical. From everything you told me about him, he did not seem like your type. At all. Now, though… I can see how happy he makes you. And if you two can survive the death of his father, then you can probably survive anything.”
“I hope so,” I said.
“It’s nice to see,” Niki said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“You in love again.” Niki smiled slyly.
I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn’t know what to say. Did I want to argue? Did I want to confirm her suspicions? I hadn’t even told Sean that I loved him yet. Should I really admit that to Niki first? I looked in her eyes and knew that it didn’t matter. Whether I said it or not, Niki knew me too well. I couldn’t have hidden my feelings from her even if I wanted to.
“He’s really great,” I said simply. The smile on my face said everything. Niki smiled back at me just as her manicurist finished her final finger. She leaned back in her chair to let her nails dry, and our conversation changed smoothly to another topic. We spent the rest of the hour talking about Niki’s job and her latest crush, but my mind never completely left Sean. I saw him the night before, but I already missed him.
***
When I made it to Sean’s that night, he and Paisley already had dinner on the table. I grinned as I let myself inside and walked into the kitchen. Paisley jumped out of her seat to hug me quickly, and Sean leaned down to kiss me. We all sat down together and enjoyed our meal, talking about the day. When I told Niki that we were starting to feel like a family, I’d been telling the truth. Every time I walked inside Sean’s house, I felt like I was walking into my own.
We finished eating and cleaned the kitchen together. Paisley was itching to go for a ride on Sean’s motorcycle, but he made her help with the dishes first. Her little body vibrated with energy as she hurried to finish her job. She loaded the dishwasher at lightning speed, almost breaking a few dishes in the process. Sean pretended to scold her, but I could tell he wasn’t angry. He loved how eager she was to spend time with him. It seemed that, after everything, Sean and Paisley had become the true definition of father and daughter. It was everything Sean wanted, and everything I wanted for him.
“Okay,” Sean said as he turned on the dishwasher. “Let’s go.”
“Yes!” Paisley squealed.
We all left through the front door and made our way to the driveway. Paisley climbed in the front of the bike and Sean sat behind her with his arms forming a protective cage around her. I smiled and hopped on behind him. It was a tight fit with all of us on the bike, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I wrapped my arms tightly around Sean’s waist and felt him shiver slightly at my touch. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to the back of his neck, and he inhaled sharply. I grinned and laid my head on his back. It was little moments like these that made me the happiest.
Sean drove us a few blocks until we reached the neighborhood park. He parked the bike, and we all climbed off. Paisley ran toward the playground without giving us a backward glance. I grinned and followed Sean over to an empty bench. We sat down, making sure we could still see Paisley clearly from where we sat. Sean held my hand in his and we sat silently together, enjoying the sounds of the park and the beauty of an Arizona sunset.
“There’s something I’ve been curious about,” Sean said, finally breaking our blissful silence.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Why did you go to work for my father?” he asked. “I never asked how you got involved with Yates’.”
“Well,” I said slowly. “You know I have a business degree, right?”
“Right.” He nodded. “It’s just… You don’t exactly strike me as the corporate type, you know? If I didn’t know any better, I would have pictured you doing something completely different.”
“You sound like Niki.” I laughed. “She’s always called me a sellout.”
“A sellout?” Sean asked. “Really?”
I sighed. “There was a time when I hated the corporate world. Niki still does and she can’t believe that I ever went over to the dark side.”
“So, why did you?” Sean asked.
“Because I realized that I had to grow up.” I shrugged. “At some point, we all have to become adults, you know? I realized I couldn’t live my entire life flitting from job to job, living a life without any real responsibilities. As much as I wished I could, I knew it wasn’t smart. I watched my parents struggle for too long for me to follow that path.”
“What do you mean?” Sean asked.
“We weren’t wealthy,” I said. “Not at all. My father’s love of motorcycles sometimes set us back too far. He spent money we didn’t have, and my mother loved him so much that she never fought him on it. It was okay. We survived, but it wasn’t easy. I always told myself I wouldn’t live that way, that I would never have to struggle that much again. And, luckily, I haven’t. I got my business degree, and I’ve been working ever since.”
“Makes sense.” Sean nodded. “I understand now.”
I smiled and turned my attention back to Paisley. She was sliding down a twisty slide, laughing the whole way down. I envied her ability to just be blindly happy, to not have any stresses or worries to cloud her mind. After losing both her mother and her grandfather in one summer, she still managed to be positive and lively. She was an inspiration to me, and as I sat there watching her, I couldn’t ever imagine my life without her in it.
“Besides,” I said suddenly, looking back at Sean. “If I had never gone to work at Yates’ Motorcycles, I wouldn’t be
here.”
“And where is here?” Sean asked.
“With you,” I smiled. “With you and Paisley. If I never got my business degree, if I never applied at Yates’ Motorcycles, if your father never hired me… then I wouldn’t have been in the boardroom on the day Ray asked for new ideas to build profits, and I wouldn’t have found your picture. You would never have come to work for the company, and we never would have met.”
“I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten the chance to forgive my dad,” Sean said sadly. “I owe that to you.”
“Everything happened for a reason,” I said, squeezing his hand. “One thing led to another, that led to one more, and that led us here. The entire universe conspired to put us together, don’t you think?”
“I do.” Sean smiled. “I’m glad it did.”
“Despite Niki’s protestations, applying at Yates’ was the best decision I’ve ever made,” I said with confidence. “I can’t imagine having never met you. You and Paisley are… You’re my favorite people.”
“She loves you, you know?” Sean said, gesturing toward Paisley.
“I love her, too,” I promised. I looked at Sean and wanted to tell him that it wasn’t just Paisley I felt so strongly for. I loved Paisley, but I also loved him. The way he looked at me in that moment told me I didn’t need to say it. On some level, he already knew.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Tara
Sean looked at me with more desire than ever before. He climbed on top of me, and I could already feel myself getting wet. I had been thinking about this moment all night, just fantasizing about the things he would do to me. Now that we were finally alone, I never wanted the moment to end.
His lips found mine, and he kissed me deeply. It was a kiss full of meaning, and it made my heart ache for him. I loosened his tie and pulled it over his head, breaking away from his lips just long enough to discard it. While we kissed, I lifted my legs around him and he caressed my thighs. I shivered and searched frantically for the buttons on his shirt. I was lying beneath him, completely naked, and I wanted to feel his skin against mine.
I unbuttoned his shirt and shoved it off his shoulders. He shook it free and tossed it away. I could finally feel his bare skin, and it made me moan against his lips. We kissed faster, and I ran my fingers down his ab muscles. No matter how many times I saw him naked, no matter how many times I was lucky enough to touch him, I never got over the novelty of it. I felt like I was living inside a dream. The only thing that was real to me was Sean. Sean’s lips. Sean’s chest. Sean’s body. Sean.
I slid my hands down to his pants and quickly unbuttoned them. The zipper slid down easily and I began pushing them off his hips. Sean got the hint quickly. He jumped up and slipped them off, along with his boxers. When he climbed back on top of me, his erection pressed against my leg, and I longed to touch it. I moved my hand down, but Sean had other ideas.
He kissed me again, trailing his fingers down my neck. I was breathless in an instant, and then he moved down my neck to my breasts. His lips found my nipples, and he teased me softly. His movements were gentle, slow. It felt like he wanted to make this night last forever. I wanted exactly the same thing. I was desperate to feel him inside of me, but I wanted to feel every single inch of him. I wanted the passion we felt to overwhelm us both until he just couldn’t take it anymore.
While he kissed my breasts, I held onto him tightly. My arms and legs wrapped around his body. I never wanted to let him go, but he untangled my legs gently. With one hand, he trailed his fingers up my thighs, stopping only to push my legs apart. I gasped when he touched me. He didn’t slide inside me. Instead, he stroked me between my legs. He moved his face up to kiss me again while his fingers continued to play with me. I moaned and squirmed beneath him. Every time he moved, a fresh wave of pleasure washed through me. I wasn’t close to an orgasm, but just feeling his body against mine was so delicious, I could have spent the entire night lying there letting him tease me.
“God, Tara,” Sean moaned against my lips.
I reached down to wrap my fingers around his cock. It was hard and pulsing in my hand. I groaned and tugged on him gently. I wanted to feel him inside of me more than anything. Sean got the hint and sat up slightly. He positioned himself perfectly and slowly slid inside me. I moaned deeply when he entered me. I could feel every single inch of him, and I still wanted more. I lifted my hips, trying to press him further in.
Sean’s eyes closed, and he let his body fall against mine. He moved inside me with his hands wrapped protectively around my shoulders and his lips just centimeters from mine. He moved slowly, barely thrusting, but each motion was hard and deliberate. He wasn’t in it for a fast release. He wanted to feel me just as badly as I wanted to feel him.
Sean held onto my shoulder and moved his hips. With every thrust, I lifted my hips to meet him, and he hit my pleasure spot perfectly. It didn’t matter how slowly we moved. Every movement sent waves of desire cascading through my body, and I was soon breathing heavy. Sean’s lips found mine and he kissed me slowly, his tongue slipping into my mouth.
He licked my lips, tasting me.
“Oh my god,” I moaned against him when he hit my spot again. My legs were already starting to shake. I had to fight the urge to pick up the speed. My body was desperate for release, but Sean was determined to make this last.
He slowed down even more, and I groaned in protest. My nails dug into the skin on his back so hard that I worried I might hurt him. He panted in my ear, thrusting slower and harder than ever. My head pressed against the headboard, and with each, rough thrust, I banged against it. I didn’t care. I didn’t even notice. My entire body was on fire.
“Sean,” I breathed. “I can’t take it anymore. I’m so close.”
“Shh, baby,” Sean whispered in my ear. His tongue slipped inside my ear, and I shivered uncontrollably. “I want to enjoy this. You feel so goddamn amazing.”
I moaned louder than ever. His words and his body overwhelmed me. I could feel my orgasm building, preparing to spill over and take me over.
Sean thrusted even harder, picking up the pace just slightly. I heard him growl, and he moved his lips to mine again. He kissed me hard and fast, and his body soon followed suit. He couldn’t take it anymore, either.
He moved faster and faster, thrusting so hard that my head hit the headboard harder each time. I could barely feel it. Sean was moving faster, sliding in and out so quickly I barely knew what was happening. Our slow, sensual sex was becoming fast and hungry. Sean grunted and moaned against my lips, and I could barely breathe.
I bit his bottom lip and tried to keep from screaming. The sensations coursing through my body were so strong I thought I might explode.
“I’m so close,” I moaned. “Oh my god, don’t stop. Please. Please don’t stop. Please.”
At the sound of my begging words, Sean moved faster than ever. He braced himself with his hands and threw his body against mine so hard that I saw stars. My body shook, and my legs tightened. I moaned louder than ever, and I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t scream. Sean continued to pound against me until finally, the release I’d been begging for found me. Ecstasy flooded my body, and I jerked violently. Sean didn’t stop. He kept his movements hard and fast, making my pleasure last longer than ever. I whimpered and writhed beneath him, giving myself over to him completely.
When Sean finished, I felt him pulsing inside of me, and I wrapped my legs tighter around his waist. He held me against him, breathing heavily. I felt his heart pounding against mine, and I never wanted him to let me go. When he did, it was only to pull out of me and roll over to the side. He pulled me with him so my head was on his chest. I threw my leg over his waist and nestled closer to him.
In that moment, I felt safer and more at peace than I ever had. My body still vibrated with the after effects of sex, but what made me happier was knowing that Sean was still right there beside me. I closed my eyes and stroked his skin, wanting to live forever in the fee
l of him.
“You’re amazing,” Sean said softly.
“I was just thinking the same thing about you.” I laughed.
“I want you to have the company,” Sean said suddenly.
I blinked, pushing myself up to look him in the eye. His words were so far from what I thought they’d be that I couldn’t quite process them.
“What?” I asked lamely.
“The company,” he said. “It should be yours. I know my dad left it to me, but I don’t want it. Not really. I’ve never been one for the corporate world. You, of all people, know that. I’m not built that way, and I don’t want to try to be. I don’t want to run Yates’. I never have.”
“But,” I stammered. “It’s yours. It’s your company. He gave it to you.”
“Which means I can do whatever I want to with it,” Sean said. “And this is what I want. I want you to have it. I want you to run it.”
“But Sean—” I began.
“No.” Sean shook his head firmly. “I’ve thought about this a lot and I’m sure. I would never be able to run things like he did. I wouldn’t even know where to begin, Tara.”
“I could teach you,” I suggested.
“But why?” Sean laughed. “Why take the time for all that when I don’t even want it? I don’t want it, but you do.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.” Sean smiled. “Tara, I know you. You’ve always hoped that, one day, Yates’ would be yours. Well, I’m saying it can be.”
“I’m not a Yates,” I said weakly. “Ray always wanted it to be a family business. That was always his dream.”
“And you are family,” Sean said simply. “He felt that way and so do I. Tara, you have earned the right to run this company. You’ve worked so hard for so long. It should be yours. I’m more sure of that than I am of almost anything in the world.”
“Sean,” I began. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say yes,” Sean said. “Say yes.”
“This isn’t because we just had amazing sex, is it?” I asked with a nervous laugh. I was stalling, and he knew it. I never imagined Sean would offer me the company. Ray left it to Sean, and I thought that was an amazing decision. I knew Sean didn’t have the mind for business, but I did. I would help him in any way he needed.
