by Johnson, Cat
Could she understand why I hadn't wanted to spoil the day? If I'd told her the truth right away, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to show her who I really was, who I still was. But spending a few hours with a girl I'd known as a child and not telling her, not allowing her to access our shared past and make her own decisions about our contentious present...well, what kind of guy did that make me?
Not a good guy.
Probably every bit the man she had already assumed I was.
* * *
"Everything set?" I asked Olivia as I arrived at the office. Olivia ran the entirety of the St. Vienne Enterprises office. Nothing happened without her knowledge, and she was the one I relied on heavily for almost everything.
"Conference room set, coffee brewing and pastries from Toast were just delivered."
"Perfect," I said.
"Why do you sound nervous?"
"I'm not nervous."
"Bull." But she let me get away with the lie, even though she raised an eyebrow.
"It's fine," I assured her. But when the receptionist called in to announce that Camille and Ronald Alfonsi had arrived, "fine" was not exactly how I felt.
And when Olivia went out to greet them, ushering them into the conference room, things were far from fine.
Camille looked lovelier than ever in a light blue sheath dress with a fitted cream cardigan and fashionable heels. Her legs were slim and toned, and her bright eyes caught the blue of her dress and twinkled—until she spotted me. Then her gaze narrowed and her mouth dropped open in confusion before some level of understanding seemed to wash over her.
"Hello," I said, reaching a hand toward Ronald to shake. "Welcome. I'm so pleased you could both come." I waved them to chairs at the conference table, and had an irrational hope that perhaps we could just go on with the meeting as imagined, that Camille wasn't going to recognize me from the day before.
"But you're..." she trailed off and shook her head lightly. "You're not a waiter."
Ronald was watching her. Camille had called him from my cell phone. A phone from which I'd made half the calls that had resulted in our meeting today. I had been shocked when she hadn't questioned me about his name popping up as a contact when she typed in his phone number, but I'd counted my blessings. Now, it just seemed like I'd missed yet another opportunity to come clean. He must have figured out whom she'd been out with the night before, and he must also have guessed that she didn't know quite who I was.
"I'm a waiter sometimes," I tried, realizing just how lame the words were as soon as they'd fallen from my lips.
Her cheeks reddened slightly and she popped up from the chair where she'd been seated. "I should have known. Your name is Xander. For Alexander. Your brother is Jonah. The dark hair, the eyes... How dense am I?"
"Can I get you some coffee?" Olivia stepped tentatively between Camille and me.
"I'd love some," Ronald ventured, settling into his seat as if he was about to watch a favorite television show.
"Maybe we could talk," I suggested.
"I don't think that's necessary," Camille turned to leave the room.
I followed her out into the hallway. "Please, let me explain."
"Can you explain? How?"
She had a point. "Maybe in my office?"
She stared at me as if I'd suggested we take off our clothes and skinny dip in the fountain in front of the building.
"Please. Just five minutes."
Her arms crossed over her chest, but she didn't say no. I motioned her down the hall to the office I'd made my second home. "Why didn't you tell me who you are?" she hissed.
I walked farther into the space, a big room flanked with floor-to-ceiling windows and bookcases. "I wanted to," I told her. "I meant to."
She stared at me.
"The thing is, you were pretty clear how you felt about me when you talked about the meeting today, about the acquisition."
Camille blew out a frustrated breath and threw her hands up, turning away from me. She walked slowly along my bookcases, looking at the pictures and books there, probably thinking. Suddenly, her whole body went rigid, and I knew she'd spotted the photo of our mothers together, us at their feet on the beach. She drew in a sharp breath as she saw it and then threw a glance over her shoulder at me.
"You'd already decided to hate me," I tried feebly. "I thought if I gave you a chance to know me apart from work, as a different person, you might change your mind."
"It wasn't fair," she said, her voice still icy. "You knew exactly who I was the whole time."
"Not the whole time. Not for sure until we were talking about your meeting today."
"And why didn't you say something then?"
I dropped my hands to my desktop, looked down at the dark wood. "I didn't want to ruin everything. I wanted the chance to spend a little more time with you. I wanted to remember how it used to be between us."
"We were eight." It was a whisper.
"I loved you." My heart was already a mess, what difference would it make to humiliate myself as well?
She shook her head and sank into the long gray leather couch in the center of the room. "That's ridiculous. We were children."
"You accepted my ring," I reminded her. "You loved me too. We made a pact, remember?"
"I didn't know any better." There was nothing in her voice to make me think she believed that. A tiny glimmer of hope sprang to life inside me, and I crossed the room to sit beside her. She stiffened.
"Tell me you didn't feel it yesterday."
"Feel what?" She fidgeted with the slim silver watch around her perfect wrist.
"The connection. The familiarity. The sense of coming home."
She squinted at me, and I could see her rational side about to insist that I was crazy, that this was ridiculous. But then the lines around her beautiful eyes softened, and she sank back into the couch. "I felt something," she admitted. "It was strange—I never get wrapped up in people I've just met. I'm never very interested in the men I date. But yesterday..." she trailed off. "It was different."
I scooted closer, throwing everything on the line now, and reached for her hand. "Because we already know one another," I said. "Because maybe the universe put us back together for a reason."
She laughed, a single scoffing sound with no mirth. "You sound like our crazy mothers."
"Maybe they weren't so crazy after all.”
A long moment passed, and I felt like I was holding my breath.
She pulled her hand from mine. "It doesn't matter. You're going to be my boss."
My mind spun, looking for a way around that simple truth.
"We should get back. There are details to finalize," she said, her voice sad and tired.
11
Camille
I wasn't sure it was possible to feel heartbroken over the loss of a relationship you hadn't had for seventeen years, but as I walked back to the conference room, I did. Even if I could look past the dishonesty—and I thought I could—I still couldn’t have a relationship with my boss. It was inappropriate, and I loved my job far too much to consider walking away for a chance at love.
"I appreciate your patience," Alexander said, addressing my father.
Dad wore an amused smile and part of me wanted to kick him for enjoying this little drama, and another part of me wanted to question him loudly about the fact that he'd known exactly whom I'd spent the previous day with. It took me a while to think of it, but when I'd used Xander‘s phone, Dad's name had come up as a contact. I was so used to seeing it when I dialed on my own phone that I hadn't thought anything about it. But they'd clearly talked before—they'd arranged an entire acquisition over email and phone calls.
"I'd like to propose a change to the initial agreement," Alexander went on.
As he talked, I let myself really look at him, taking in the way the boy I had loved as a child had grown into his soulful dark eyes, the pushed back sable hair and the broad shoulders. I should have recognized him when he'd flashed the w
icked smile I remembered from childhood, but he'd been guarded yesterday, keeping part of himself back. Now I understood why.
I loved you, he'd said.
I'd loved him too. And listening to him now, seeing the way his graceful long fingers twirled the golden pen as he spoke, it was possible I loved him still.
"...A separate business unit," he was saying, and I realized I'd gotten distracted, stopped listening.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I'd like to form a separate business unit for our conservation efforts," he said. "A separate company under the umbrella of St. Vienne. I'd like you to be CEO of that company, Camille. We'd be partners."
He wouldn't be my boss.
"It makes perfect sense," Dad said.
How could he accept everything so quickly? But it did make sense. It solved the issue I’d worried about since we’d first begun talking about acquisition. And it solved the new issue too—the one that had arisen when I’d learned I’d be working for someone I might have feelings for. It was sudden, maybe a bit untraditional, but it felt right.
We signed the agreement Alexander put in front of us and a few days later signed the new papers the lawyers drafted, creating a separate company called Ark Conservation. I accepted the position of CEO.
A week later, I was setting up my new office on the corner opposite Alexander's, but on the same floor. We hadn't spoken much in the week that had passed, except to hand each other work files and attend meetings with other people. But now, as I positioned my lucky cactus on the corner of my new desk, a light knock came at the door.
"Can I come in?" Alexander stood in the doorway; tall and utterly sophisticated in a dark slate suit and deep green tie.
"Of course," I still wasn't sure exactly how I felt, but my initial anger had disappeared, and as he strode into my office, I had to acknowledge the attraction stirring inside me.
"I owe you an apology for being dishonest. I wondered," he said, dropping my gaze for a moment, "if you might like to go to dinner with me. Maybe start again? On a more open and honest note?"
"Okay," I said, my voice a breath as I moved nearer to where he stood. "But no secrets this time."
"Total honesty," he confirmed.
Alex reached out and took my hand, and tucked something into my palm, but kept his own hand covering the object. "I need to tell you that I really did love you when I was eight, and if I'm really being honest, I don't think I ever stopped. I've never met anyone who compares to you. No one else is as curious, as smart, or as devoted to being authentic as you are, and no one else has eyes as beautiful as yours."
Warmth climbed my cheeks.
"I wondered if you might accept this ring," he said, moving his hand away to reveal the object in my palm.
A laugh escaped my throat. "I love it," I told him, unwrapping the Ring Pop and slipping it on. The purple candy towered above my hand and brought back a rush of warm memories. "This isn't an engagement pop or anything, though, right? I mean...we're not there yet."
"I love that you said ‘yet,’" he said, smiling. "And for now, we can call it a promise pop. Or a potential pop."
"A promise pop." Happiness spread warmth across my chest and down my arms as Alexander pulled me gently into his embrace.
He smiled and in his eyes I saw both the past and the future, and when his lips met mine, I felt the incredible promise of our present flowing around us. The Ring Pop weighed heavy on my hand as I pressed my palm against the hard plane of muscle on his back and let the kiss wash away everything else.
About the Author
Delancey Stewart is a USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance author who writes from her home in Denver, CO. She believes all stories need a happy ending, and focuses on delivering heat, humor and heart. You can sign up for her newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/FancyForm
Embracing Her One
Danielle Pays
He destroyed her. Now he wants another chance.
1
Lily Waters let out a sigh as she pushed opened the door to Brannigan’s Pub. She’d never wanted to set foot in Fisher Springs again, but life had a funny way of working out.
Her sister, Kate, sat at the bar, talking to the bartender.
“Lily! I’m so happy you’re here.”
Well, that makes one of us.
After her college graduation two weeks ago, Lily was supposed to start her new job at the Coolidge Foundation. But then her fiancé, Gavin, threw a curveball into her plans by ending their relationship the day before graduation.
At first, she’d thought he was giving her the old ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech. Nope. It was all her. Apparently, she was a cold-hearted bitch who would never give him her heart. He was done trying.
And where did that leave her? Homeless, since she’d been living in his condo, jobless, since it was his family’s foundation she was set to work at, and now back in the small town she’d said she would never come back to.
“Hi, Kate. Thanks for meeting me here before I face Mom and Dad.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry you have to deal with their shit. Here, I got you a beer.”
Yeah, ‘their shit’ all right. Their dad was the mayor of this fine town, and their mother was all about appearances. And Lily’s latest breakup wasn’t good for appearances.
She took a sip of the beer. “Thanks.”
“Zach, this is my little sister Lily. And, Lily, this is my good friend and owner of this establishment, Zach.”
Zach nodded in her direction. “Nice to meet you.”
“Lily graduated from college and is back home,” Kate explained.
“For now,” Lily added.
Until she found a job in Seattle and could get the hell out again. There were too many reminders of her first love in this town. Driving down Main Street, she’d seen the bench where they’d carved their initials.
“I’d love it if you stayed,” Kate said. “I’ve missed you.”
“You know why I can’t.”
Kate’s smile fell. “About that. There’s something I need to tell you.”
Lily laughed. “What? Did Ryker get married or something?”
A door creaked behind her.
“No, not married. Zach, I got the pipe fixed.”
The voice she hadn’t heard in over two years. The voice she’d never expected to hear again.
She turned and found herself eye to eye with Ryker McCormick. The man who’d shattered her into a million pieces. She’d loved him with everything she had… until the day the letter arrived. He’d ended it all by letter. And since he had been deployed, she couldn’t even demand more answers.
“Lily, it’s good to see you.” Ryker smiled.
The man looked good. Too good. He’d filled out since she’d last seen him, but he still had that sexy smile and those piercing gray eyes. And those damn dimples. His nearly black hair was shorter now, which made him even sexier.
All those feelings she had tamped down came rushing back, along with the hurt. Gavin had been right; he never would have her heart. It belonged entirely to this man in front of her. The man she now hated.
“I can’t say the same.” She slid off the barstool and made her way to the door.
A large hand engulfed her wrist, spinning her around and sending tingles throughout her body.
“Lily, don’t—”
“Don’t what? Don’t run from you? Don’t leave and not let you get a chance to say anything? You ended us with a letter. A fucking letter.”
He flinched. “I’m sorry.”
“And I never understood why. All you said was it would be best for us.”
His hand trembled against her wrist. “I thought it was. I was wrong.”
She yanked out of his grip. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. You destroyed me, and now all you have to say is, what? ‘Oops’? Go fuck yourself, Ryker McCormick.” She raced out the door before he could see her tears.
Dammit. Why did she still have
to love him?
She drove halfway to her parents’ house before she asked herself what the hell she was doing. The last person she wanted to see right now was her mom; she’d already gone ten rounds with her over Gavin.
If it were up to her mom, she’d already be on her knees, groveling for him to take her back. Between his manners and his family money, Mother had deemed him her perfect mate.
Lily couldn’t tell her mom the real reason Gavin left her. One word about Ryker, and she’d never hear the end of it. Her parents had been relieved when that relationship ended. She remembered her mother’s words while her heart broke into pieces.
“Really, Lily, you can do better than that boy. Get yourself a college-educated boy. You’ll thank me later.”
As she pulled up to her childhood home, her mom came out of the house.
“Lily! I’m so happy you’re home.” She gave her usual kissy cheek welcome.
“Thanks for letting me stay in my old room.“
“Of course. You need time to figure out a solid plan. But don’t worry. I’ll help you get Gavin back.”
Lily sighed. “Mom, Gavin and I are through. He won’t take me back. And he had good reasons for ending things. Now please, I need you to move on. I need to move on.”
Mom pursed her lips like she always did when she was forced to agree, even when she really didn’t. “All right, Lily. Whatever you need.”
Hopefully, she would drop it.
“I saw Kate on my way over.” Maybe a change of subject would divert her attention.
“Kate? Oh, that’s lovely. I haven’t seen her in weeks. How is she?”
Only weeks?
It was no secret Kate had a hostile relationship with their parents. They never seemed to approve of anything she’d done, from her first boyfriend — well, only boyfriend — to her job, and to the fact she had no interest in marriage.
