Chapter 46
CHAPTER
FORTY-SIX
JULIAN
Last night was the tamest, but most enjoyable, bachelor party I’ve ever attended. We started the evening at TopGolf, a two-story driving range, hitting golf balls and mocking each other’s swing. We continued our evening at a dimly lit bourbon bar, sharing life updates and offering Cole our best wishes for his marriage to Ashleigh. No strippers. No women at all. Just seven guys enjoying the evening, and several of us missing our significant others. We called it a night before the clock struck midnight and went home. For me, that meant an empty bed in an apartment that isn’t much more personal than a hotel room. Harper joined the girls for a bachelorette party sleepover at Alexander's penthouse.
It was hard to fall asleep, knowing Harper was so close, only separated by three stories of steel and glass. There’s no denying my addiction to this girl. I wanted to sneak up there and steal her away, but I behaved myself. Look at me being all mature.
I wake to the scent of bacon, and the excitement of seeing Harper soon brightens my mood. Wait? Bacon.
I hop out of bed, throw on pants, and find my girl in the kitchen wearing a pair of pink silk pajamas. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Well, this is unexpected.” I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back into my chest. My hand palms her stomach, teasing the waistband of her tiny silk shorts.
“We had so much food, I thought I’d share,” she giggles as I nibble on her ear.
“I’d rather have you for breakfast,” I mumble.
“Are you always like this in the morning?” She reaches behind her, finding my erection ready and willing.
“Only when you’re around.” She turns around in my arms and kisses me, making me totally forget about the bacon.
I lift her up and set her on the counter, the perfect height to feast on her. I run my hand down the lapel of her pajama top, the buttons shouting at me to release them, and I obey, until her top hangs open, her breasts offering themselves to me for a taste. I kiss down her neck, to her collarbone, and give her breasts the attention they deserve.
“Did you have fun last night?” I ask between kisses. I’m taking my time enjoying her. Kissing her favorite places, I coax a quiet moan from her. My fingers dip below the waistband of her tiny shorts and my hand finds the promised land. I skim and tease her soaked slit.
“Um, hum,” she responds.
“Did you take the elevator in this?” Another wordless response that I take as a yes. “I hope no one saw you looking this delicious.” I’ve never been the jealous type, but Harper, well, she’s for my eyes only.
Her giggle flips my switch, and I go from slow and lazy to insatiable in less than a second. “I know you aren’t much of a morning person, but I’m going to change that.”
I pull her to the edge of the counter, and she leans back, her hands holding her up, giving me better access. I fill her with one finger, then two, while my thumb massages her clit, finger banging her like my life’s happiness depends on it. By the look on her face and the sounds she’s making, she’s happy too. When she comes, she throws her head back and moans my name in a way that I want to remember for the rest of my life.
With a smug smile, I lick my fingers clean, and I’m rewarded with a new surprised look. This one is seductive, sexy, and curious. I crave to see this one again and again.
“So much better than bacon,” I tease. My lips find hers, and I’m lost in Harper again. I lift her from the counter, her legs wrap around my waist, and I carry her back to the bed where I enjoy a full Harper breakfast buffet.
As she lays with her head on my chest, her fingers idly glide over my abs. We both got a full workout this morning, and we haven’t left the apartment. I can get used to this kind of cardio.
“What’s the plan for today?” she asks.
“Well, we need calories if we’re going to continue to function. Then I’ll give you options. Tyler has a ball game this morning. Xander, Matt, and Tripp coach the team, and it’s pretty fucking adorable. Or we can explore Charlotte if you want. I can show you where I had my first kiss.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and she laughs.
“Who was the lucky girl?”
“Paige Fulton. Sixth grade. We were in Freedom Park. Her brother threw a pinecone and hit my ear, cutting our make-out session short. It lasted about ten seconds.” That was a lifetime ago.
“I wonder where Paige is now.”
“Married to an IT guy with two kids and living in Wilimington.”
She sits up and throws me another one of those surprised looks. “Seriously? You keep up with your first kiss?” Her insecurity is showing a little. I think she’s still skeptical about my declaration of love. From her perspective, my public dating history doesn’t bode well, and I’m aware of that. I’m determined to show her I’m not the man she reads about on the internet.
“First of all, she was my first heartbreak too. She broke up with me the next day. Shredded me for a solid week. But yeah. Her twin brother is Maddox Fulton, a pitcher for the LA Stars. That pinecone was extremely accurate and painful. Maddox and I stayed friends throughout school, and he signed with the Decker Agency a few years ago.”
“Of course,” she laughs. “Six degrees of Julian Decker strikes again.” She gets up and makes her way to the bathroom. “I’m open to anything. I want you to enjoy this weekend with your family. Thanks for sharing it with me.”
Her thoughtfulness, putting my family first this weekend, makes me love her even more.
I’ve been a blubbering mess all day. I’m an emotional disaster, and once the floodgates opened, the tears haven’t stopped. My day has been a roller coaster of highs and more highs. My tears first appeared while watching my brother coach his son’s little league game. The way Xander loves on his wife and son is the most wholesome thing I’ve ever seen. He’s still a hard ass most of the time, except around them. And now my sister is standing in front of us, pledging her love to Cole, and it’s fucking poetry.
“Here,” Harper says under her breath as she hands me a tissue. I stopped apologizing for my crying after losing it when I saw Ashleigh in her wedding dress. Tears of pure, unrestrained happiness cascade down my face, a joyous overflow that I can’t contain. Harper hasn’t laughed or run away, so bonus points there.
I probably should have warned her I’m a crier. Most men get choked up one time or another. We’re raised to hold it down, keep the tears at bay. And I do most of the time. But a super-sentimental movie or commercial gets me every time. And my siblings living their best lives with their soulmates is the most sentimental thing I can imagine. Having Harper here is the icing on the cake. Because all I can see is our future. Our wedding. Our kids.
“Thanks.” I dab at my eyes.
She leans across me, hands a tissue to Chance, and I chuckle. At least I’m not alone. Harper takes my hand and squeezes. I’m so grateful she’s here to support me and share this moment with my family.
After the wedding, we take more pictures than necessary, and then we head to the reception for a gourmet dinner. With dinner and toasts concluded, Cole rises, takes the microphone, and presents Ashleigh with an unforgettable grand gesture that belongs in a romance novel. Ashleigh is stunned when Cole welcomes her favorite band, Pineapple Sunset, to the party. While the hottest boy band on the planet is used to performing in large stadiums, they jumped at the chance to play this small, personal event for Cole. They became friends after he wrote a few songs for them.
They congratulate the happy couple and open their set with a brand new song. As a wedding gift for Ashleigh, Cole wrote this love song, and Pineapple Sunset will release it as their next single. Since everyone at the wedding is close family or friends, there’s little chance this performance will go viral online.
Harper and the girls are on the dance floor, taking turns dancing with Tyler, the only child in attendance. I’m hanging in the back of the room at the bar. I can’t resist snapping a picture to capture the moment, watching Harper’s joyful and carefree expression light up the room.
My dad orders a whiskey and takes in the scene with me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Content. You’re always moving, searching. Work. Family. You keep reaching for more, like it’s never enough.” I’m sure that’s what it looks like from the outside.
I turn and look at my father. My same blue eyes look back at me. His usually stern face is less harsh now. The lines around his eyes are softer. It’s been an emotional day for him, for all of us. He didn’t hide his tears when he danced with Ashleigh, no doubt missing my mother. We always miss mom, but this momentous occasion hits harder, probably for my dad more than anyone. He’s never dated since Mom died fourteen years ago. I wonder if he ever will. They had the love story I write books about. That one true love. The happily ever after.
His comment hits me to the core. I’ve accomplished more than most in my thirty-one years. I’ve worked hard to build my highly lucrative business. I’m blessed with loving friends and family, more money and notoriety than I need. I’m living the good life. I’m happy.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean, Dad. I’m grateful for my life and all that I have. I don’t take it for granted.” Sure, I stay busy. But I’m aware of how fortunate I am. I work hard and play hard.
“I know. You have your mother’s humility.” His face is full of pride when he glances at me before turning his attention back to the dance floor. “Son, it’s wonderful to see you finally at peace, like you’ve realized you have all you need. I hope you’ll slow down and enjoy it all, especially your happily ever after. While you have it.” He smiles, a forlorn expression softening his features further, as he watches the women dancing.
“You’re right. She’s my missing piece.”
Harper’s laugh carries back to me, and I can’t look away. She’s captured my attention and I’m singularly focused.
“What about you, Dad? What’s it going to take for you to be content? Are you open to love again?” I’ve always admired his devotion to my mom, but today, it makes me sad for him. Wouldn’t it be amazing if he found love and joy again?
“I’m open, but unless she shows up at my door, I doubt I’ll go down that road again. I don’t want to be with a woman who merely wants me for my money.” This I understand completely. Being a billionaire can make it hard to find a woman not looking for a sugar daddy.
“Well, you never know,” I tease. “Call me if you need Team True Love to run a background check or something.”
His chuckle is music to my ears. I don’t hear that from him enough.
“Love looks good on you, Jules.” He cups my cheek, gives me a rare smile, takes his drink, and joins his friend Devin Millbanks. The two old friends sit back and watch the party from the sidelines.
I’m thinking about what my dad said when Chance escorts Harper to me at the bar. “I’m wiped. It’s like I’m playing in a double-overtime game.” He loosens his tie and guzzles a glass of water.
“You hockey players need more yoga and cardio. Ask Zac. He’s feeling the difference,” she teases him.
She settles into my side and fits perfectly. Yep, she’s my missing puzzle piece. Or missing peace? Maybe my dad is right. I’m content with Harper by my side. Content. I let that word sit with me. This peaceful, slower pace is definitely something I could get used to.
“The newlyweds are leaving soon, and then we need to head out too,” I tell Harper. “We’ve got a flight to catch tomorrow.”
“Headed back to New York?” Chance asks.
“No. Italy. We’ve got a cooking class to attend.” Cole isn’t the only one who can pull off a grand gesture.
“What?” And there it is. Her surprised expression that I’ll continue to chase, no matter how content I am.