28. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Jemima
When he offered lunch, I couldn’t say no. Firstly, I want to spend more time alone with him, but secondly, my brain is fried from all the interviews. Luckily, my afternoon work is now clear that the main task is done. I will call everyone for trial periods over the next couple of weeks. Then decide which members I’ll keep. I’m hopeful I’ll find two good employees.
We head downstairs, and I raise an eyebrow when I spot his car. “I thought we’d just go somewhere nearby.”
His smile is mischievous. “I have a better idea.”
“Of course you do.” I sigh, but a smile tugs at my lips.
He opens the car door, and I slip in. We don’t drive far, and when we pull up to a bar, I can’t deny my bubbling excitement.
As we enter, the staff greets him by name straight away.
“Do you bring all your dates here?” I joke, ignoring the hardness in my stomach.
“Sure do,” he replies nonchalantly, which makes my jaw drop.
He quickly chuckles. “Kidding. I come with my friends and brothers sometimes.”
My shoulders drop away from my ears, and we’re led to a private table in the corner. There’s a big, dark wooden bar along the back, and it’s filled with people. It seems like a popular hangout spot. The warm lighting in here makes it difficult to see any familiar faces. Walking past the ping-pong tables brings a smile to my face. I snap a quick picture and send it to Mom with a message: Look what I found in Manhattan. I know she’ll appreciate the character and charm of this place; it’s the kind of spot she’d love to visit. We used to play when I was a kid.
I put the phone away when the server approaches and takes our drink orders. Harvey opts for a beer, and I get a Coke. The way we’re seated, our thighs brush, and I can feel the heat radiating from his body. The urge to reach out and hold his hand is strong, but something is bugging me.
“I had a big delivery of clothes last night,” I start as the server returns to deliver our drinks.
“Mmm,” he mumbles, before signaling the server that we’re ready to order and asking for it to be delivered to our ping-pong table.
“I haven’t even looked at the menu,” I whisper, a bit flustered.
“Look, then yell at me,” he teases with a wolfish grin. He’s clearly enjoying my discomfort.
Pinching my lips together, I glance down at the menu, quickly deciding on a four-cheese pizza. Since Harvey’s been around and the business has started picking up, I’ve been able to buy more food for myself, which has been helping with my sleep and the dizzy spells I’d been struggling with.
Once we place our orders, we carry our drinks to our table, the soft music playing around us.
I ignore the buzzes through me, knowing I’m playing a game I haven’t played in years. Deciding it’s time to address the elephant in the room, I take a deep breath.
“I don’t like you buying me a whole new wardrobe.”
He grabs a ball and hits it to me. “But you didn’t spend enough the other day.”
I hit it back. “I did… on Chad.”
“Not on yourself, Jem.”
I miss the ball, and it drops on the ground. “Don’t call me Jem,” I blurt out, sharper than I intended.
His eyebrows knit together.
I pick it up and hit the ball again. “My ex-husband called me that.”
He stiffens and misses the ball, caught off guard. But he’s never called me that until now.
“Chad’s was a lot of money,” I say as he hits the ball, and I hit it back.
“But I asked you to spend it on yourself, and you refused.”
Grabbing the ball, I lower my paddle to the table and pull out my wallet, sliding his black card back to him. He shakes his head, leaving it on the table between us. “Keep it.”
“No,” I say firmly. His posture stiffens, his hand still resting near the card, as if he’s challenging me to push back. His gaze never wavers, a mix of determination and something unreadable flickering in his expression.
I stare at him with a tightness in my chest. I feel hot, like the walls are closing in around me. This is too much. “I need some air,” I murmur, immediately heading outside. The fresh air hits my face, and I breathe deeply, trying to calm my racing heart.
He’s beside me in an instant, his eyes wild and frantic. “Are you okay?”
“No, you can’t keep rescuing me,” I say, my voice trembling.
“I care about you,” he replies softly.
“I know, but I promised myself I’d never depend on a man for money again. So please, don’t make me take your card.” My voice breaks as I plead.
Guilt flashes across his face. “I had no idea.”
“I’m not ready for this step.”
He’s only trying to be nice, but he needs to understand how smothered I feel and like he’s trying to control me.
“I can go slow,” he assures me, his voice gentle.
“Not too slow…” I tease, trying to lighten the mood again.
His eyebrow raises, stepping closer until our shoes touch. He takes my chin in his strong hand, lifting my head up to meet his gaze. When he kisses me, I melt into him, feeling his warmth seep into my skin.
It’s been so long since I’ve felt desired, and my whole body responds to his tender touch.
When he pulls away, I whimper, not wanting him to stop. He chuckles softly, his eyes filled with longing as he gazes down at me. “Do you have any meetings this afternoon?”
I sigh, remembering the responsibilities waiting for me. “I need to work.”
“And I need you,” he says, and the words send electricity through me.
I blink at him, stunned. No one has ever said that to me before, and I can’t deny the pull I feel toward him. I want more. I’m not usually one to take risks, but with him, I’m willing to jump off the cliff and see where we land.
There’s nothing pressing that can’t wait an hour…
“Where are we going?” I ask when we abandon the food.
He grins. “My place.” Taking my hand, he walks me back to his car. I don’t argue. The thought about food is completely forgotten because I’m only hungry for him.
“At least you didn’t say a motel, but I guess your penthouse is the same thing,” I joke as I get in the car.
His eyebrows lift, amusement sparking in his eyes. He leans in, bracing a hand on the car's roof, his face inches from mine. "For the record," he says, his voice low and deliberate, "you’re the first woman I’ve ever brought back there."
With a wink, he shuts the door, leaving me stunned as I settle into the leather seat, loving that new piece of information. I trust him. He’s never lied to me, and for once, I want to be selfish and indulge in what I want. I deserve this.
Twenty minutes later, we step into his penthouse, and the familiar scent of him hits me. It’s comforting, and the energy between us intensifies. My eyes drift over the light wooden floors and the open-plan space, where floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer a spectacular view of New York. Sunlight floods the entire floor, casting a warm glow over the cream leather sofas that look invitingly cozy to sleep on, yet I’m sure he wouldn’t need to sleep there.
Soon, I’ll have my own place. Nothing grand as this, but it’ll be all mine.
I take in the large wooden dining table, big enough for eight, and a sleek kitchen along the back brick wall, with dark wood, marble countertops, and chandeliers hanging above the island. When I came here the first time, after I fainted, I didn’t get the chance to have a good look around. Today, I soak it all in.
“This is insane. How long have you lived here?” I ask, unable to keep the awe out of my voice.
“Since I moved out of my parents’ house,” he replies casually, as if it’s just another part of his life, something that’s always been.
“To be born into money,” I murmur, momentarily lost in thought. I wonder what that must be like to never have to struggle.
He shifts slightly, his tone changing, becoming more serious. “I’ve worked hard since I was a kid, always trying to prove myself. Fuck, I still feel like I need to,” he says with a huff.
My heart breaks for him. Despite his money, he’s always been so supportive, offering encouragement when I needed it most. “You deserve everything you have. I’ve seen how much you work and how much you care about your businesses.”
“Well, I was kinda forced to help yours, but I’m glad I did; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here,” he says, the teasing edge in his voice returning. But then his hand reaches up to trace my bottom lip with his finger, and the tenderness in the gesture makes me forget everything else. His eyes darken with desire, and I feel the electricity spark between us.
Our gazes lock, and everything fades away. He leans in, capturing my mouth in a firm kiss. For once, the world feels peaceful, and I let myself follow my heart's desires. “Harvey?” I whisper against his lips, my breath shallow.
“Yes, baby,” he murmurs back between kisses, the intensity of the moment consuming us both.
“I need you.”
He groans into my mouth before pulling back slightly, but he keeps our bodies pressed together.
“Take me,” I command.
Without hesitation, he grabs my hand and leads me up a flight of stairs near the kitchen. If I thought the view was stunning downstairs, it’s even more magnificent up here. His beige leather bed faces the city scape, no plaster walls to block the city views. He moves to hold me, but I’ve had my fill of the view. What I want now is him. I want to be consumed by his affection, to forget the everyday chaos that is my life right now.
I twist in his arms to face him, and he shrugs out of his jacket. My hands move to untuck his shirt, eager to strip it away. This time, I’m not slow… I want him naked as quickly as possible.
“In a hurry to leave?” he teases.
“Not at all,” I reply, my voice husky with desire. “I just want you naked as fast as possible.”
“Well, let me help with that.” He grins and rips his shirt off.
“Your shirt…” I gasp.
He shrugs. “I can grab another one.”
Right, we’re at his place. “Be careful with mine. I don’t have any spare clothes.”
“You could borrow a shirt,” he offers.
“And what do I tell Molly or Chad?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Molly won’t care, but Chad… yeah, that’s awkward.” He looks a bit nervous at the mention of Chad.
I smile, amused. “Exactly.”