Ignoring me completely, she speaks to Renee about how delicious our dinner smells. I’m digging myself into a hole after the incident in the car and George’s loud mouth.
“I hear you write romance, Alayna. Is your pen Alexa by chance?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Renee brings her hand to her chest.
“I have two of your paperbacks and loved them. They were so sweet.”
I glance at Alayna and see she’s blushing.
“Thank you. It means a lot that you enjoyed them.”
“Do you have another coming out soon?” George asks. “I’ll buy it for Renee.” He smiles at both of them.
“Yes, but it’s racier.”
“It is?” I ask as my head snaps her way.
“Even better,” Renee says.
I can’t hide my grin. I’m fully aware she wrote that after staying at my penthouse. She looks at me with round eyes, warning me not to get into that conversation.
If she wasn’t upset with me, I’d take her in the bathroom and fuck that warning right off her gorgeous face. She turns her head and shoves a bite of chicken into her mouth.
“Let us know when it’s available,” George says. “I begged her not to read Damon’s. That would be too weird.” He’s chuckling now, but Alayna only smiles. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s afraid to laugh at my expense or because she’s overthinking and pissed.
“I will. Renee, I have to say that I’ve never seen a pregnant woman as fit and healthy as you.”
Renee glows from Alayna’s comment and pats her belly.
“Thank you. I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received. You feel like a whale when you’re pregnant. I worked out religiously before, so I’ve been able to continue throughout the pregnancy.”
“I don’t believe I could be that disciplined if I was pregnant.”
I cough on my bite of food. Alayna pregnant. I’m tempted to ask to see her birth control pills, but she would likely be furious. The memory of overwhelming disappointment from my past invades my mind, but I’m shutting it out.
“You alright there, buddy?” George asks with a smirk. Asshole. He knows why I’m choked up.
The rest of dinner is uneventful. I’m impressed with how Alayna carries herself, and it’s obvious my friends truly like her. Marshall is waiting at the door for us when we’re ready to leave.
“Please, drag Damon here again. I loved having you,” Renee says while giving Alayna a hug. “It’s hard to get the man over for dinner.”
“Damon, don’t get rid of this woman. She’s amazing,” she adds, pointing her finger at me.
“I don’t intend to,” I say as I practically push Alayna through the foyer.
Marshall is watching the area closely as Roger opens the door of the Mercedes for us. Alayna slides in first. As soon as I’m inside, my phone vibrates. It’s a text from George. What does he want already?
George: She’s incredible. Don’t screw this up. Tell her tonight.
Without replying, I slip my phone back into my pocket. She is incredible, and I don’t want to risk losing her.
Chapter Two
Alayna
I prop my elbow against the window and bite on my nail. I’m hoping Damon won’t notice. What the hell is he hiding from me? “You have lovely friends.”
“They’re a great couple. I’m indebted to George for how much he takes care of at Golding.”
I pull my finger from my mouth.
“Golding. What is your company named after? I never thought to ask.”
“It’s a complicated story.”
I swear it’s impossible to get anything out of him. Aggravated, I gaze out the window at the city lights, and neither of us breathes a word until we’re home.
“Would you like some wine?” he asks after we’re inside the penthouse. I’m on the sofa, trying to pull off my boots.
“No, thank you. I’ve had enough this evening. Can we talk?”
Damon seems uncomfortable as he blows out a heavy breath and sits next to me.
“I know you’re aware I heard your conversation with George.” Damon doesn’t respond. “Well, do you have something you need to tell me?”
“The present, Alayna. I need you to stay in it.”
“Obviously, George feels differently.” I struggle out of my second boot, and when I turn to Damon, he’s staring at me glacially.
“And obviously it was a private conversation,” he says, his words biting.
“Then obviously we’re finished talking,” I snap. Jumping up from the couch, I grab my boots from the floor and start toward the bedroom I’ve stayed in. He can sleep alone tonight.
I’m tired of his damn secrets, and there will be no fucking me into submission on this one. He will spill whatever it is he’s hiding or else.
“Alayna, don’t walk away from me!”
His repeated yells echo throughout the house as I march down the hallway. I’m getting out of the city tomorrow. Aside from Renee, I’ve been in the company of only men for days. It’s time I see my mother. Maybe she can give me some insight on how to get Damon to open up.
Damon
I keep forgetting to tell Helen not to buy these expensive ass pens. Also, I need to call Margaret. She’ll have to stock the pantry at my place in the Hamptons.
How many days will I be forced into hiding? I might have to throw Alayna over my shoulder to get her there.
“Dammit, Damon, are you even listening to me?” George asks.
I slam my pen down onto the conference room table.
“What?”
“I’ve been talking to you for five minutes. Did you hear a word I said?”
“I’m sorry, no.”
“PR and your legal team are going to come through that door in about five fucking minutes. You need to tell them what the hell you want to do, so I hope you’ve figured it out.”
“You’re not the one who is about to be thrust into the media in an extremely negative light,” I say angrily, pointing to him. “I was thinking about how long I’ll need to hide out in the Hamptons. It’s not another fucking day at the office, so get off my back.”
He holds his hands up in front of him.
“You’re right, but I’m one of the only people you have trying to help, so you need to fill me in. I have to know how we’re handling this.”
“I haven’t even informed my parents or sister yet. My father is going to lose his mind. They know nothing about Alayna, yet she’ll be all over the news, too, and on top of that, I pissed her off last night, and she’s not speaking to me.”
“How did that happen? She was in a great mood when you left my place?”
“She asked what I’m hiding, and I wouldn’t tell her.”
“You’re an idiot. Get your head out of your own ass for once. Your secret is not that bad. You keeping it from her is.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m calling Stan Vasser. I have to try to get through to him. If he won’t listen, then we’ll go public.”
“I think at this point that will only worsen things, Damon ...” he yells as I leave the conference room. I grab my desk phone and dial the asshole’s number.
“Stan, this is Damon Lear.”
“Well, well, well. It’s interesting how you were wining and dining me until you found it best to go from merger to take-over. Then you quit calling, but I had a feeling I’d hear from you soon. I wonder why that is.”
His old man, smoker voice knifes right through me.
“Cut the bullshit, Stan. I know you’re the one behind the emails. If you don’t want the authorities down your throat and up your ass, then you’ll tell me right now that you’re dropping this.”
“I don’t know what you’re speaking of, but you sound desperate. Do you have something to hide, Mr. Lear, or is it Mr. Golding? What name are you going by these days?”
“Fucker, if you weren’t a dishonest weasel, your own nephew and employees wouldn’t have want
ed to throw you under the bus. And if you weren’t such a greedy prick, you’d be walking away with a golden parachute that would’ve taken you to fucking mars.”
I try to catch a breath. I want to reach through this phone and tear his head off. “You’re only trying to seek revenge because you know damn good and well this takeover is coming to fruition. Well, go for it. I’m looking forward to seeing you behind bars.”
Slamming the phone down, I let out a long string of expletives. I knew he was behind this. When I walk out of my office, some executive employees are hanging out by their doorways looking mortified. I guess my choice of words weren’t appropriate for the office.
“Let’s do this,” I say as I storm back into the conference room. It’s full of our legal and public relations employees. “It was Vasser,” I say, glancing to George.
“He admitted it?” he asks, sounding surprised.
“No, but he said enough for me to know. He’s going to leak this, so I told him to go for it.”
George stands from his seat. “You did what?”
“He’s going to do it, so I wasn’t about to beg.”
“I agree, but you could’ve at least kept your damn mouth shut and bought us a little time to go to the media first. He probably has someone notifying them as we speak.”
“George is right, Damon,” Rita, head of PR, adds. “We need to get a statement out fast.”
I run my hands down my face. This is happening whether I like it or not, and it’s time to face it.
“Fine. Here’s what I’m willing to say ...”
Alayna
“I’m almost there,” Felicia says over the phone.
I get into her car after she pulls up in front of Damon’s building. “Thanks for letting me borrow your vehicle. I kept Quinn away for days last week. I can’t bring myself to ask for his help.”
Eyeing her, I notice how pretty she is in her slimming black pantsuit. Her blonde hair is down and curled. “Anyway, I’m hoping to get back before the gladiator discovers I’m gone and has time to wave his sword around.”
“Does he make a habit of waving his stiff sword?” Felicia glances over, wiggling her eyebrows and grinning.
I push her shoulder. “You’re as crude as he is. He’s hiding something, by the way.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Any clues?”
“I overheard George say to Damon that he needed to tell me whatever it is, but he refused, so I stormed to bed angry. Not my proudest moment, but I’m tired of the secrets.”
Eventually arriving at Felicia’s work, she gives me a hug before I take the driver seat. “I’ll see you this evening.” I give a brief wave before I pull out onto the busy road.
The ride to Long Island is stressful and feels like an eternity. I seriously do not want to live in the city. My mom, Judy, was thrilled when I called her this morning to say I’d be coming for a visit.
She retired two years ago as an administrative assistant due to some chronic health problems with her back. My father is a mailman, so he is at work. She hugs me as soon as she opens the door.
“Alayna, get in here. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, Mom. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”
“I’m over it since Curtis told me you’re moving back to New York. The only way your dad and I could be happier is if you moved to Long Island.”
“Can I at least sit before we get into that?”
“Well, of course.”
I take off my coat and make my way to the family room. My parents own a four bedroom, ranch style home. Looking around I see that nothing has changed.
Even their black and white cat, Domino, is soon in my lap. I’m glad I wore jeans and a blouse today, so it’ll be easy to dust the hair off. Mom brings me a cup of coffee before she sits down in her recliner.
She looks the same, too. I got my mess of curls and green eyes from my dad, but I have her red hair.
“So, I need to hear about this man that flew all the way to St. Louis to be there for you when your place was broken into. It was a relief to know you weren’t alone.”
I smile and take a sip of my coffee, along with a long breath after. “We met at Felicia and Seth’s wedding. He and Seth were roommates in college. He owns Golding R. Publishing but is a private man.”
“I imagine he has to be. He could be taken advantage of easily. Is he good to you?”
My eyes stray. She knows my nervous habits, so I won’t be able to hide everything from her.
“He wants to take care of me, and he’s done a lot for me already, but our stubborn personalities seem to clash at times.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Mom grants me one of her clever smiles.
“But we have untouchable chemistry, and I can’t seem to stay away from him. If you get to meet Damon, you won’t believe how intimidatingly handsome he is.”
“Why have you tried to stay away?”
“He gives me mixed signals. He stated in the beginning that we would never have a relationship, yet he’s possessive, not wanting me to date anyone else.”
“Maybe he’s changing his mind. Dear, it worked out best that Michael never proposed, but I can’t watch you waste another seven years on a man who isn’t going to marry you so be cautious.”
“I won’t allow that to happen again. I thought I was done with relationships altogether, but I want one with him if he can stop shutting me out emotionally. Have any suggestions on how to get a man to do that?”
“If you want him to open up, then he has to believe you will view him the same once he does. They want to feel needed and not weak. A lot of times, they think if they share feelings, it will demasculinize them.”
I stare at my mother in amazement. She described the exact way I believe Damon would feel or perceive himself if he opened up, but I had never thought about it before now.
“Geez, Mom, you should’ve been a therapist. I see why you and Dad have been happily married all these years.”
“They want attention like us but a different kind. I believe most want to feel tough, needed, and be shown a lot of physical affection.”
“That is definitely Damon. Maybe he’s only trying to have his needs met, too, and isn’t meaning to be difficult. The thing I don’t understand is he didn’t have anyone before me, so why is there this urgency to always have me near?”
“He finally has something important enough not to lose, sweetheart.” Is he afraid he’ll lose me? Is that the reason he’s so demanding? “Alayna, what’s wrong?”
A tear skips down my cheek, falling to the carpet I’ve been staring at before I look up from it.
“I love him in a way I’ve never loved anyone. He’s more dangerous to my heart than Michael ever was.”
She walks over and sits next to me on the couch. Her arms wrap around me, and I find myself leaning my head against her chest.
“I need to meet the man that has obviously stolen your heart. Have a little faith, dear. You’ve been running since you went to college. I’m glad this Damon is at least bringing you back to New York.”
I have been either running or hiding.
“I’m sorry that I’ve been gone all these years. I’m not trying to blame Curtis, but he controlled my younger years, so it was easy to want to get away from that. Then, after Michael left, I needed to prove I could stand on my own two feet.”
“And you’ve proven that. Now, you need to find a way to hang onto that strength and independence without running.”
Damn. I had forgotten how insightful my mother is.
“I love you, Mom. Thanks for the advice.”
Chapter Three
Damon
My meeting ends, and I go back to my office. I realize I’ve left my phone on the desk, so I pick it up to check it. I have three missed calls from our new security guy, Marshall, along with a couple from Quinn. What the hell’s going on?
“Quinn, what happened?”
“It’s Alayna, sir. She left with a lady
this morning, so Marshall followed her. She’s in Long Island.”
“Why didn’t she tell me? Did she take her things with her?”
“That I don’t know, sir. Is there anything you’d like me to do?”
“No, I’ll call her and Marshall, thank you.” I immediately dial her. “Alayna, where are you?”
“I’m visiting my mother.”
Rubbing my forehead, I sigh with relief. I thought she had left me again. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going somewhere?”
“Damon, I’m fine.”
“That could change at any time.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know since you won’t tell me what’s going on. How did you know I wasn’t home?”
“Marshall followed you.”
“What? He’s here?” She sounds surprised.
“Yes. When are you coming home?”
“I wasn’t going to leave until I see my father this evening.”
“I need you to stay with me at my home in the Hamptons for a few days.”
“Why?”
I’m quiet for a several seconds. “We need to talk. It’s important, and I–I should’ve done it last night.”
“But why do we have to go there?”
“I can’t tell you over the phone. Would I be overstepping to ask to meet your parents this soon?”
“They’d love to meet you.”
“Long Island’s within an hour to my other place, so I’ll gather some of your things and pick you up. I’ll bring Quinn, and he can drive Felicia’s car back.”
“Oh, that’s why you asked to meet them.”
I hear the disappointment in her voice, but I do want to meet them. I need to make an impression before they hear of my past.
“No, it’s important to me.”
“OK. Let me give you the address ...”
I see that my father is calling as soon as I hang up with Alayna. “Hello, this is Damon,” I say on purpose.
“Reed, what the hell have you done?”
“Hello to you, too, father.”
One Urge, One Plea, Keep Me Trilogy Page 21
