Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Case
It took every ounce of restraint within me to sit through a meal with Maya and Tilly. All the two of them wanted to do was play catch up. I wanted out of there.
Three hours later and I’m finally done.
I stand at the door to my apartment with my key in hand.
Earlier this afternoon, I stopped by to drop off a box of condoms. I was sure to be in and out before Maya arrived so I could avoid the inevitable questions about my relationship with Emma.
Maya shot a few questions at me over dinner, but I expertly avoided them by changing the subject. Once I mentioned that Drake is moving to London, Maya picked up the conversation detailing how she hopes to surprise her husband with a trip there next year.
By the time dessert was placed in front of us, I was itching to call it a night and get back here.
An unexpected phone call from my assistant in California gave me an excuse to leave. I paid the check, kissed both women on their cheeks, and took off.
I step into the apartment and stop when I hear Emma’s voice.
Shit.
I know she’s made friends in the city, but I don’t want them here tonight.
It takes me a second to realize that the pause in the conversation is filled with silence. She’s on the phone.
Judging by the volume of her voice, I place her in the guestroom with the door ajar.
It’s not my place to wonder who she’s talking to, but Beauregard comes to mind. If she’s willing to give the chaste fool another chance when she heads back to Seattle, that’s her choice.
I tell myself that even though my gut is knotting from the thought of another man kissing her. I can’t picture another man fucking her without wanting to slam my fist through the wall, so I don’t go there.
She’s mine right now.
It’s temporary, but I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
“I’m grateful that you took the time to call me, Archibald,” she says evenly. “I’ll give your offer some thought.”
I take a step toward the hallway but stop when she continues. “No, I haven’t talked to Beauregard. I’m sorry to hear that, but…”
Her voice trails.
I inch closer to the hallway, hoping to catch her coming out of her room. I want her eyes on me when she’s talking about her ex-fiancé. I want her to think about a man who craves her. Hell, I can barely contain the desire I feel for her.
Beauregard Garrington has no idea what he lost.
“When do I have to make a decision?” Her voice quickens. “I should be back in Seattle in a few days. Can we talk then?”
A few days?
I want weeks, months. If life were different, I’d be all in for…
My mind can’t go there.
I don’t get to think about weeks from now or months. Some people won’t see tomorrow. I can’t lose sight of that. I will never lose sight of that.
“Okay.” Emma’s voice carries from the guestroom. “Thank you again, Archibald. Good night.”
I wait until I hear her footsteps approaching before I round the corner to the hallway.
She lets out a gasp when she sees me.
Her hand leaps to the center of her chest. “You scared me. I think my heart stopped.”
Mine sure as hell did.
She’s wearing a white strapless dress that skims the floor. Her dark hair is flowing around her shoulders.
She is so fucking beautiful that I literally ache inside when I look at her.
I drop my gaze.
I need to get a grip if I’m going to fuck her.
“Did your overhear me talking on the phone?”
Lying serves no purpose at any time, so I glance at her. “You were talking to Archie.”
That brings a bright smile to her lips. “I like that. I’d never call him that, but I like it.”
I like you. Jesus, I really like you.
I swallow those words because I’m not a fourteen-year-old kid with a crush. I’m an almost thirty-year-old man with an aching cock who wants to strip this woman bare.
“He offered me a job.” She shrugs. “It’s not the job I was hoping for, but I’ll be back at the Garrington Academy in September.”
“With Bonehead?”
She chews on the corner of her bottom lip. “He’ll be working in the classroom next to the one I’ll be in. I’ll be a teaching assistant, but it’s a prelude to taking over the class in the next year or two.”
It sounds like Archie isn’t willing to trust her to lead the kids on her own. What a fucking fool.
“Are you going for it?” I ask, wondering why I give a fuck about this.
I know why. My heart wants to know because it’s screwing me around.
I tap the middle of my chest.
Her hand follows my movement. “Do you have heartburn?”
Is that what you call this ache in my chest?
I shake my head. “It’s something like that.”
“How was dinner with Maya and her sister?” She changes the subject even though I’m far from done talking about her September plans.
“Fine,” I answer simply.
“I made a salad for dinner.” She bounces up to her toes. “It was très magnifique.”
I exhale a deep breath because every word out of her mouth is fucking adorable, including the French words she just said with a roll of her tongue.
“You’re all that and more.” I rake her from head-to-toe.
She tugs on her skirt with her hand, twirling in a circle. “I have to admit that it was delicious.”
I stalk toward her, catching her in my arms mid-twirl. “So are you.”
Her eyes skim my chest before they meet mine. “I bought condoms today.”
Of course she did. She’s practical. She wants to be safe.
“Me too,” I whisper as I skim my lips over hers.
“You can never be too careful,” she quips.
I’ve lived my life by that motto for the past seven years. I’ve been careful with every decision I’ve made. I’ve been mindful of how each of my actions impacts the people around me.
I’ve been so careful that I’ve stopped feeling.
She wraps a hand around the back of my neck to pull my head down until her lips brush against the curve of my ear. “You’re really handsome. Do you know that?”
Dipping her back, I trail my lips over her neck before I take her mouth in a soft kiss. All the air leaves my lungs when she presses a hand to my cheek. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Emma Owens.”
Her gaze travels over my face, stopping on my eyes. “I’m glad I came to New York.”
I straighten her, holding tightly to her waist. “I’m glad you came too.”
Running a fingertip over my jaw, she sighs. “I think tonight will be one of those nights I remember for a very long time.”
I’ll remember it until I take my last breath on this earth.