Egotistical Executive: A Hero Club Novel

by K. L. Humphreys

  I shake my head, "Did you listen to a word I said?"

  "Yes..." His reply is clipped. "Of course I did. As I said, Ethan is my priority. I want to be a part of his life and that's a place I'm going to be forever. He's my son, I love him already. That doesn't mean that I can't love you too. So prepare yourself Mel, I'm not stopping until I get my family."

  I fight back that sob that's lodged in my throat. "I can't be what we were," I say softly, my eyes on Ethan, he's watching us with a curious gaze. "Whatever the hell it was."

  His arm tightens around my neck and he pulls me into his body. "What we were, was hot and heavy and it meant a fuck of a lot. That's why I acted like a dick and kicked you out. Had I known what I do now, I wouldn't have let you go and Mel, I'm not talking about Ethan."

  I swallow harshly, "This is too much." I can't focus, his words are everything and yet, I swore to myself that I wouldn't go there again.

  "That's okay. It's going to happen, it's just going to take some time for you to get used to it."

  I laugh, "God, you've changed and yet you haven't."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" He questions gruffly.

  "You're wanting more than a one night stand, I guess I'm flattered. You told me before that you only did one night and I was the lucky one to have two with you. I'm just wondering what happened to change your mind and want something..." I was going to say more but I don't know if that's even what he wants. "Different and yet, you're the same, Egotistical, Egocentric asshole that doesn't take no for an answer."

  "Yes, I am still the same man, Mel, that part of me isn't going to change. I wouldn't want it too, nor would you." I narrow my eyes at his words. "You run so hot with me, I bet if I get my hand into those panties, I'd find you soaking wet."

  What an asshole.

  I try my hardest not to squirm at his words. He's right, I am soaked, I can't help it. I'm attracted to the jerk but he doesn't need to know that.

  "And it's different, because you're different. You've been in my head since the very moment I saw you. You're beautiful, even more so now four years later, my wildest dreams don't compare to you. You're intelligent and quick witted, not to mention your snarky as hell but for some reason you have this hold over me, you call to me like a siren’s call. You don't believe that I want you for forever, that's okay. I've got the rest of our lives to make you see it."

  I shake my head. "Eli, God, you're a smooth talker. But let's get one thing straight. I don't believe a word out of your mouth because it's not true. You didn't want me until you found out about our son. So just leave it."

  "You're wrong, Buttercup. So fucking wrong. I jerk off to your face every night. You're a constant thought and my biggest regret. My brothers kept telling me I was in love but I wouldn't listen to them. Seeing you at that event, I knew right then I wasn't letting you go and that was before I found out about Ethan. So while you try to convince yourself that I'm full of shit, I'll be doing my damnedest to make you see that it's real. That we’re real. You can’t run from what you feel, Mel, I won’t let you."

  I’m speechless and before I’m able to recover from what he’s just siad, his phone beeps letting him know that he's got a message. The smile on his face when he reads it makes me freeze. “Looks as though our evening will be extended.” He tells me and shows me his cell phone. It’s a message from Chance. I’m going to kill him.

  Chance: Dinner at ours tonight, if you’re up for it.

  16

  Eli

  She was pissed, the way her jaw clenched along with the daggers she threw to both Chance and I, not to mention so was Aubrey. Seems like Chance hadn't told her I was also invited for dinner. But they both got over their anger and dinner has been great. I've met Chance and Aubrey's kids a couple of times, but fuck, I didn't realize they were cute and funny, they take after their father. Quick witted and full of laughter.

  Watching how they all interact with Ethan makes me happy, while I wasn't here for my son, they were. My boy is surrounded by love and for that I owe Chance and Aubrey more than they could ever know.

  I learned a lot about Mel while I've been here. She's a teacher, fuck, I didn't realize that. She told me when we first met that she was in college, I just didn't know she wanted to be a teacher. I get it. Totally. She's smart, kind, caring, and loving. It's the perfect job for her. I also learned how she and the Bateman's came to know each other. She was working in the local Starbucks while on a break from school and Chance and Aubrey were going through a thing. They'd broken up and Chance wanted Aubrey back, Mel played a part in helping Chance win her back. When she moved to LA, she and the Bateman's reconnected and she's been a part of their lives ever since.

  Chance and Aubrey have been the perfect hosts, retelling stories to both me and Mel about themselves as well as about times that either Mel or I were with them. Mel's laughter hits me every time. God, seeing her so happy makes me want to fuck her. But I know that she's not ready for that yet. She's been a mom for the past four years, her sole focus has been on our son and she's doing what every good mom does. Puts her son first. She wants to make sure that Ethan and I are good before she even lets herself see if there's anything between us. That's fucking bullshit. There's no if. The chemistry between us is as hot as the first day we met. There's one thing about Mel, she could wear a fucking burlap sack and I'd still want her. From the very get go, there was something different about her, something that made me crazy to have her.

  "How's your mom?" Chance asks Mel and I watch as she stiffens, sadness seeping out of her every pore. "Did you see her today?"

  She glances around, checking on the kids, they're in the sitting room watching the TV. She nods, "Yeah I went to see her this morning. She was awake and we talked." My throat burns at the raw emotions in her voice. I wonder what's wrong with her mom.

  "Are you taking Ethan to see her tomorrow?" Aubrey asks and I know that I'm missing something major here.

  "I'm not sure, I don't want him to see her like that. Not only that, dad's coming over tomorrow." The way she grinds her jaw when she mentions her dad has me pausing. I really don't know much about her, and yet, she's the mother of my child, the only woman I've ever thought about having a relationship with. We really need to talk. I've been such an asshole.

  "Pop's coming?" Ethan says and we all turn to see him, none of us realizing that he's no longer watching TV with CJ and Bree but standing in the dining room with us. Chance and Aubrey have open-plan living and we're able to see the kids while we relax and talk. While Mel may not like her father, Ethan certainly does.

  Mel's eyes soften as she looks at our son. "Yeah, baby, he called me earlier." God, I fucking love the way she loves our son. You can see it so clear in the way she looks at him.

  "Do you think it's because of..." Aubrey lets the words hang in the air, obviously not wanting to say much in front of the kids, even though they're focused on the TV, but she nods her head in my direction.

  Mel has asked me not to say anything to Ethan yet about me being his father. She wants him to get comfortable around me, she said that when he is, we'll tell him, and she's assured me that he'll be ecstatic. While I want Ethan to know who I am, I'm taking Mel's lead and letting her set the pace. She knows best and I trust her. Fuck, I never thought I'd actually say that about a woman, and yet here I am.

  "Yeah, I'd say so. I told mom about him and no doubt she's told dad." She shakes her head, "I still find it weird that those two are getting along." She grimaces as though the thought of her parents being close is weird.

  "Mel, the past four years have been tough, your dad's finally realized what he's lost. He's making amends," Aubrey says softly.

  Mel rolls her eyes, "Yeah I know, he's made amends with mom and I'm happy she's not holding onto that anger. He's fantastic with Ethan. I guess he figured out how to actually show a child that he cares."

  Ethan smiles, "Pop is my best friend."

  Mel giggles, "He sure is, baby. You are like two peas in a pod."


  "I don't like peas." Ethan grumbles, "Can Eli come to our house tomorrow? I promised him I'd show him my trucks."

  My heart fucking constricts. Damn, if that isn't the best thing I've ever heard in my life.

  "Of course, baby, I'll sort out a time for Eli to come over tomorrow." She glances at me and I see the fear in her eyes but I'm not sure what's the cause of it.

  "Eli, how long are you in town for?" Chance asks with a fucking grin. Mel straightens, her body freezing, ah, so this was the fear. She thinks I'm going to leave?

  "At the moment I don't have any plans to return to Seattle. I'm looking for a house to rent until I can buy one and get things sorted." I keep my gaze on Mel and I love the way her mouth opens in shock, but her eyes soften a bit and I'm going to make it my mission to have her give me more looks like that one.

  "You're moving here?" Mel asks, her voice husky as she whispers and I feel it in my gut. Did she really think I'd leave?

  "Of course I'm moving here." I can't help but look at Ethan when I say that. He's the reason I'm moving. I've been without him for four years, no more. I won't let him go another day without me.

  She frowns looking confused, "But you have a business in Seattle."

  Christ, she doesn't get it. "Mel, we have so much to talk about, including me moving here. How about tomorrow after Ethan goes to bed, we'll talk?"

  She nods, "Okay, that sounds good." Relief clear to see, her eyes are brighter and there's no longer stress lines on her forehead.

  "Mommy?" Ethan asks, sounding scared and I glance at my boy to see him climbing into Mel's lap.

  She strokes his head as he rests it on her chest. "What's wrong, baby?"

  Seeing her hold him shows me just what I've missed. She's fucking crazy if she thinks I'm going to walk away, everything I want is sitting right there in front of me. I didn't realize it until I saw her again, but fuck, my brothers did. I'm not giving up. My life is now in Los Angeles.

  He whispers something to her and tears form in her eyes. I'm on edge, what's happened? Why is he so scared and what's made her cry? When Mel glances at me and then back down to our son, there's a tightening in my stomach. I can't take my eyes off them. She nods and whispers something back to him, a bright smile on her lips.

  "Really?" he asks full of wonder.

  She nods, placing a kiss against his cheek. "Really, baby." She runs her hands down his face. She whispers something to him again and Ethan's gaze turns to me. He scrambles off of Mel's lap and slowly makes his way over to me. Mel gets to her feet and she's instantly wrapped into a hug by Chance.

  Ethan pulls on my pant leg, once again regaining my attention, "What's up, buddy?"

  He lifts his arms up. "Up," he tells me and I pull him into my arms, his tiny arms wrap around my neck. "Daddy," he sighs, his face shoved into my neck and I forget to breathe. My hands tighten around my son's body and I hold him tight, never wanting to let go of him. I was wrong, that's the fucking best thing I've ever heard in my life.

  Sobbing catches my attention and I turn to find Mel sobbing in Chance's arms. He's soothing her just as she did to Ethan, his hand stroking her hair but he's got a smile on his face as does Aubrey, although she too has tears in her eyes.

  "This is all I ever wanted," Mel whispers, her eyes on us. She looks happy. "It's perfect," she says on a sob.

  My throat constricts, as my eyes sting as tears form. Fuck. I can't remember the last time I cried.

  "Get over here," I demand, releasing one of my arms on Ethan's body and holding it out for her. She doesn't hesitate, she moves toward us and as soon as she hits us, she falls to her knees and much like our son, shoves her face into my neck. The wetness of her tears, soaking my skin. Closing my eyes, I breathe deeply, wanting this moment to last for forever. I have the two most important people in my arms and I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure that they don't go anywhere. This is where they belong.

  17

  Mel

  "Mom!" Ethan yells and I groan, turning over I glance at my alarm clock and see that it's almost eight. "Mom, are you awake?"

  "Yeah," I call back, throwing the covers off of me. He doesn't usually yell for me, if he needs me, he'll come into my room; it's usually only because he needs to go to the bathroom. "What's wrong?" I ask when I throw my bedroom door open and see him sitting down with his back against the wall. "Ethan, baby, what's wrong?"

  "Is dad going to leave?" He rests his head against his knees. I want to wrap him up into my arms but know that he needs to talk about this. "Why isn't he here?"

  Tears sting my eyes, God, I should have thought about this. I was just so shocked that he realized who Eli was that I couldn't lie to him. I should have spoken to him about Eli not living with us. "Baby boy. Your dad isn't going anywhere." I send a little prayer, hoping that Eli doesn't make a liar out of me. "He doesn't live here with us, but he'll be here later."

  He lifts his head, "Can he live here?"

  I take a deep steadying breath, trying to figure out how to answer my three year old without breaking his heart. "Your dad and I are working through some things. We want you to get to know him. Your dad is awesome and I know that you're going to love him. But right now, he has his house and we have ours. If that changes, we'll let you know, okay?"

  He nods, "Do you think he'll love me?"

  Fuck. Baby, you're killing me.

  "One hundred percent. There's no way he couldn't," I reply instantly.

  "Does he know that I love him?"

  The tears I tried to keep at bay fall. God, my son is the best. "Why don't you tell him that, baby? It's always good to hear it."

  He smiles as he gets to his feet, I hold out my arms and he falls into them. "Love you, baby, to the moon and back. Always and forever."

  "Love you, mommy."

  I close my eyes and soak in the hugs and love. Knowing that it won't last forever. I'm still having a hard time trying to come to terms with the fact that he's three. I'm wondering where the hell the time has gone?

  "Today, your pop and dad are coming over. First, let's get you to the toilet and then get you dressed."

  He pulls out of my arms and I miss him already. He doesn't really like being hugged but makes an exception for me and last night, Eli. But when he hugs, it doesn't last long so I always try and savor them. "Can I show dad my trucks?"

  I get to my feet and hold out my hand for him to take. "Of course you can. I'm sure your dad is looking forward to seeing them." I take him into the bathroom and wait for him to do his stuff. Before washing his hands, he brushes his teeth, grinning the entire time. My son has a thing for dental hygiene, he used to walk around with a toothbrush in his hand at all times. Making me or anyone closest to him, put the brush under the water so it got wet and he'd brush his teeth. Thankfully, that phase has sort of drifted, I tend to keep the toothbrushes out of his reach now.

  Once he's brushed his teeth, I get him dressed and let him play until I'm fully ready. I don't bother with any makeup today, I'll be going to see mom later and whenever I'm there, I always cry, thus, ruining the makeup I applied. So to save myself the embarrassment of looking like roadkill, I don't bother putting it on when I go see my mom unless I absolutely need to.

  I'm dressed in my denim skirt, a pale pink tank top, and matching flip flops. Ethan's dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. It's warm today and it's not even nine in the morning. I need to find the sunscreen, in this heat, Ethan will want to play in the yard and he burns, going redder than a tomato.

  Just as we reach the kitchen there's a knock at the door, I wasn't expecting anyone this early. Dad said he'd be here around ten. Opening the door, my heart stammers as I take Eli in. Gone is the suit. He's in a pair of jeans and a tight black t-shirt. It clings to his muscles like it's a second skin. He looks good, and I can't help but stare.

  "Morning, Buttercup. You look beautiful," he tells me, placing a kiss on my cheek, his hands gripping my hips. I can't help my reaction to his touch and
I lean into his body. His lips gently slide across my cheek and to just under my ear where he places yet another kiss. My body shivers under his intense gaze and I shut my eyes needing to control myself. Our son is inside and the way my nipples have tightened along with the lusty haze I'm in I'm close to kissing him and I'm not ready for that yet. It won't be fair to Ethan.

  "Morning, Eli," I whisper, unable to keep the lust out of my voice.

  "How are you?" He asks casually, acting as though what just happened hasn't affected him. Where the strain at the crotch of his jeans tells me otherwise.

  "I'm good, thanks. Come on in. Have you eaten? We're just about to make breakfast." I open the front door wider so that he can enter. As soon as he does, he smiles when he sees Ethan standing there waiting.

  "Hey, bud."

  Ethan's face lights up and he rushes at Eli, throwing his arms around his body. Eli doesn't hesitate, he scoops him up and holds him close. "Daddy, you came."

  Eli turns to me with Ethan still in his arms. "Told you he was coming over, baby. Hungry?" I ask them both and watch with fascination as both of them grin and nod.

  "Okay, what do you want?" I ask walking into the kitchen. "Ethan, baby, do you want scrambled egg and toast?"

  "Yes please, mommy. Daddy, are you going to have eggs and toast?"

  Turning, I can't help the giggle that escapes me. Ethan has Eli's head in his hands as he talks to him. "Mommy makes the best food."

  "Does she? What do you suggest I have?"

  My heart nearly explodes with love. Watching them interact just cements the fact that I was right to try and find him, I wanted this from the get go. I wanted Ethan to feel the love that Eli has shining in his eyes, for him.

  "Anything," Ethan replies, making me smile wider.

  Eli turns to me, "What do you want? I have eggs, sausages, bacon, toast, fruit loops..." I shrug, not knowing what he wants. "Coffee?"