Chapter Fourteen Connor
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CONNOR
Dinner was amazing. I couldn’t remember the last time we spent time at Laney’s parents’ house, enjoying a nice meal, playing cards, and laughing.
Her parents were a complete hoot and kind.
A stabbing, guilty feeling ached in my gut over my relationship with my dad, but I refused to let anything ruin this moment.
Laney was happy, looking beautiful in my shirt, and kept leaning her head on my shoulder.
Her mom yawned, covering her mouth as she eyed the clock. “Oh my, I’m gonna head upstairs to bed.”
“It’s only nine, woman.” Her dad laughed, but then they did a silent communication thing where her mom glared, he glared back, then she arched a brow, and he stood.
“Yup, I’m tired too.”
Laney snorted. “Be more subtle, please.”
“Subtle? About what?” Her mom winked and picked up the cards, placing them on a side table. “You two hang out. Talk. It’s just really nice seeing you both so happy.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Laney’s voice was soft and genuine, and she somehow snuggled closer to me without sitting on me. Disappointment hit me at the night ending. I wasn’t ready to go back to the silent house next door.
“You sure you both can’t handle another round?”
“No, dear.” Her mom grinned and jutted her head upstairs. “We’ll be up there. Hopefully, we’ll see you again soon, Connor.”
“Absolutely.”
Her parents went upstairs, leaving us alone. Her mom’s comment had to mean something good. If they wanted to see me again, that meant Laney wasn’t saying how awful I had been the last few years.
“That was fun,” I said, slowly standing so Laney wouldn’t fall down.
“Are you leaving?” Laney frowned and wrapped her arms around herself. Her gaze seemed sad, like she didn’t want me to leave.
“The night is wrapping up.”
“Yeah, but…” She stared at me a beat before sighing. “You need to go back and work, don’t you?”
“No.” I frowned. Was I playing this thing wrong? Was leaving after dates, giving her space, the wrong move? “Is that what you think I’ve been doing all these nights?”
Her eyes flicked to me, questions and doubt swirling in them. “You don’t tell me anything about work. Petra hinted at something today, and it hurt to not have any idea what she was talking about. And you always leave after we have a great time.”
“Honesty,” I whispered, my heart racing at how my plan had backfired. I crouched back down so we were eye to eye. “I want to surprise you with the changes, and they aren’t ready yet. I didn’t want to get your hopes up for something in case it didn’t happen.”
“I appreciate that, sure, but you used to run all those ideas by me at the start. It still feels like you’re cutting me out of the conversation. I know you run the business, but I liked when it felt like we were a team.”
Fuck.
I plopped onto the chair, gutted. I thought we were doing better. I thought we had made progress, and the worry that she could still ask me to sign the divorce papers was dwindling, but now the doubt fired right back.
“Laney, honey, I’m sorry. I never realized you would feel that way about it.”
“Honesty,” she said, swallowing. “I should’ve told you sooner.”
I nodded as she moved closer to me, running her fingers through my hair. Her touch felt so good, and I closed my eyes, leaning into her. She used to do this while watching a TV show, and every single time, I’d pass out.
“Why have you been leaving these past few nights after we have such a good time? If it’s not to work, then what do you do?”
“Literally replay the night and think of ways to make you smile the next time,” I said, keeping my eyes closed as her fingers made circles on my scalp. “I thought I was doing what you wanted, keeping my distance, dating you. Did I… play that wrong?”
Her fingers stilled, and I glanced at her. A blush covered her cheeks, and she cleared her throat. Now I was desperate to know what she was thinking. I knew that look.
“What if I don’t want the dates to end?”
The disappointment zapped out of me. “I don’t want them to end either. I hope you know I mean it when I say I want to spend every second with you.”
She smiled. “So… are you going back to the house alone or…”
She looked at me with those heated, gorgeous eyes.
She wet her lips, and while I also wanted to lick her entire body, my mind was working overtime.
Laney didn’t like the fact that Petra mentioned something that morning—I’d need to talk to her about that.
But Laney also didn’t like feeling that we weren’t a team.
To include her, I could share my plans. At least, part of my plans. I cupped her head softly, holding her as I kissed her.
“I think you should come over with me.”
“I think so too, Mr. Reynolds.”
“Mr. Reynolds?” I arched a brow. “Hmm, that was kinda hot.”
“Stop.” She swatted my hand and stood, the rosy blush still on her cheeks. “Let me grab my coat quick.”
Within a minute, we were buttoned up and walking toward the house next door.
My lust-filled brain knew Laney wanted to be touched.
We’d had a very healthy sex life, and I knew she had to be struggling.
I was too, but it was different. I didn’t want this to be about having sex and then she goes back to her parents and nothing changes.
This has to mean something.
“Still so weird to me that this house is for rent,” she said as we walked in. “I grew up coming here for some cookies and cocoa.”
“Yeah?”
“I loved the small-town life. It was warm and cozy.”
She spoke in the past tense, but I knew what she meant.
“It’s great here. I see why you love it so much. We really should visit more often. It’s only an hour or so drive.”
“Yeah. Visiting more would be… nice.”
I knew she wanted to move back here, but I refused to let that ruin the evening.
“Come here.”
She sucked in a breath as she walked toward me. I undid her coat and slid it off her shoulders, tossing it on the back of a chair before pulling her toward me by her belt.
“Did you want to tease me by wearing my shirt tonight?”
She nodded, her eyes lighting up with mischief.
“It worked.” I kissed her neck, inhaling her perfume. The way the oils mixed with her skin, oof. It drove me wild. My body ached for her.
“You’re so fucking pretty, Laney.”
“Connor.” Her voice was hoarse. She untucked my shirt, her hands landing on my stomach, and I hissed.
“Cold, cold,” I teased.
“Oh, stop it.” She giggled, and I wanted to eat the sound. I moved my lips from her neck to her mouth, slowing us down a beat.
“Baby,” I said between kisses, “I’m going to make you feel good, but I want to show you something first.”
She protested, and it was the cutest sound. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” I kissed her again, then leaned back. “We’re teammates, forever, and I need to treat you like one.”
Her lips parted, like my comment shocked her, but then she nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Then come with me.”
I’d never overlook or take for granted the way Laney took my hand and followed me.
She trusted me, even after months of heartbreak, and I’d never ruin that again.
I brought us toward the kitchen counter where all the papers and plans sat.
Petra had printed them all out—the ideas, the job description, and what a typical month would look like in her new role.
I even had a backup plan. If the board voted me out, with my dad’s and Dennis’s influence, then I’d need to start somewhere else. I’d learned a ton in my CEO role, and starting my own gig wouldn’t be too hard. Sure, long hours, but I could control them.
“I don’t like that Petra hinted at me keeping something from you.”
“No, it wasn’t like that.” Laney stopped at the edge of the counter, eyeing all the papers. “She actually told me you refused her help to win me back.”
I tried to see if there was a tone hidden in there or a worry or concern wedged deep. Scanning her face, I saw no signs of worry. I kissed her wrist, noting the way her lips parted at the gesture.
“You gave me a month to prove to you that I can be the spouse you need, and there was no way I was doing that with anyone’s help. If I couldn’t earn your trust back on my own, then I don’t deserve you.”
Laney swallowed as her gaze drifted from me to the papers. My words moved her. I could tell, but her quiet response had me shifting my weight.
“She also asked me to get coffee with her once a month.”
Okay, that surprised me. “What did you say?”
“Yes.” She laughed, meeting my gaze as her fingers ran over the counter. “She is a lot like you. She apologized for any role she played in our troubles, explained why she is so driven. I like her and can see why she’d be a huge asset. I just didn’t like feeling replaced.”
“You’d never be replaced.” I spun her around, pressing her back into the counter. Her eyes widened as I gripped her waist. “You are my wife, the best part of my life.”
“Connor,” she whispered, her heart in her eyes, “I know that, truly. I just—”
I kissed her neck, tugging her ear before sliding my hands under the plaid shirt. Her skin was so damn warm.
“I’m not done showing you how you are everything. Let me walk you through something.”
“With your mouth on me?”
“Mm-hmm.” I slowly dragged my hands over her ribs, cupping the underside of her breasts and groaning. She squirmed on the counter, the movement rubbing against my erection, and I leaned into her.
“Fuck, I’ve missed your body. You’re so sexy,” I said.
Her breathing picked up, and I grazed my palms over her hardened nipples, damn well knowing she’d like that. She jumped, and I pushed her bra out of the way and tugged on her pebbled tips. She had the best tits, and I loved to play with them.
“Take off your shirt for me, baby,” I murmured, watching the way her chest heaved. She whipped off the plaid shirt and bra and lay on the counter with her breasts bare.
“Goddamn.” I licked my lips, the only warning before I sucked one tip into my mouth. Laney arched her back and grabbed my hair, holding me tightly against her.
“Yes, oh yes.”