Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
HARRISON
LATER THAT NIGHT
W hat was I doing? How was it that the one guy who got under my skin was the only one I wanted?
It only took me a half hour to drive from my condo downtown to Aaron’s house in Broadmoor, but I was running late. I wasn’t sure I should be heading there at all. I had plenty of time to turn the car around and go back home. To act sensible. To stop whatever this was between us.
But I didn’t.
Over the past three weeks I’d gone out to several clubs to try to put Aaron behind me, but it was pointless. No other man interested me, and it was no surprise why. I’d never met anyone who sparred with me like Aaron did, in bed and out. It wasn’t just my dick talking. He’d said that I was possessive of him, and it turns out, he was right. My gut knew that he was mine. And I was protective of him too. I only felt that way about a handful of people. And for some crazy reason, he was now one of them. Maybe because Aaron tried to hide his vulnerabilities behind his corporate mask. But I saw them and I knew that there was so much more I wanted to see.
That knowledge hit me right in the chest, somewhere painfully close to my heart. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but I didn’t want to fight this, or him, anymore.
As if in agreement with my thoughts, Chewie let out a loud bark. I glanced over at my dog, sitting in the front seat next to me, vibrating like he was about to take off with the zoomies. He loved riding in the car but when we took an unfamiliar route, like tonight, he got nervous. He wasn’t the only one…
“We’re not going to the vet,” I reassured my dog. “This is someplace new, so no chewing on the furniture, alright? Oh, and there’s a cat. I’m sorry in advance.”
Chewie placed an understanding paw on my arm and barked again.
“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
Aaron’s home was located in a secluded gated community that housed some of Seattle’s wealthiest families. I gave my name to the security guard and was waved through. The winding route ran along the waterfront, but given the darkness and with the surrounding trees, there wasn’t much to see in terms of the neighborhood.
Aaron’s house, on the other hand, sat at the end of the road and was lit up with numerous outdoor lights. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. The two-story home was modern but not a mansion by any means. The house fit right in with the scenic landscape, built of wood and glass, with wild grasses that grew around it. It was beautiful and peaceful and some of my anxiety settled.
I parked the car, but I didn’t get out right away. I knew, I just knew, that somehow, everything was about to change. Or maybe it already had. I wanted to take that step towards Aaron, but fear hit me. I had no experience with relationships so what the hell was I doing here?
Aaron stepped out of his house, clad in blue jeans and a gray t-shirt. He looked beautiful but exhausted. The man needed a fucking keeper. And me? I couldn’t resist doing just that. I slid out of the car, slammed the door, and stalked up the gravel path to meet him, pulling him into my arms.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“I thought maybe you’d changed your mind,” he whispered as he kissed me.
I gently bit his lower lip in retaliation.
“I told you I’d be here and I’m always a man of my word.”
“You do like to use a lot of them,” Aaron quipped. “And loudly.”
“Are you calling me mouthy?” I teased.
“Yes. But in a good way.”
A muffled bark echoed behind us.
“Speaking of loud, that’s my Chewie. He’s just a little bit excited to be here.”
“He’s not alone,” Aaron replied. “Endor’s been pacing for hours. She knows something’s up.”
“Things are about to get fucking crazy,” I warned him.
Aaron squeezed my waist tightly and stared into my eyes.
“I’m ready for it if you are.”
We both knew we weren’t talking about the dog and the cat.
Chewie was more than happy to meet Aaron, but less so when it came to Endor. As predicted, there was a lot of barking and hissing as the two animals circled each other for ages. Yep, it was me and Aaron all over again.
Aaron and I gave up after ten minutes and left our fur babies to their own tussle while we settled into his dining room, with a bottle of wine and a delicious chicken stew, courtesy of his housekeeper.
“Are you really resigning?” Aaron finally asked. “Because your email only said ‘I regret to inform you’ and nothing else. It was rather dramatic but incomplete.”
I shrugged. “I needed to start the conversation with you, but I didn’t know how.”
“You?” Aaron chuckled. “You’ve never had a problem telling me what you think.”
“It’s different now. I’m conflicted,” I admitted.
“Why?”
I sighed. “I signed the contract. Like I said, I’m a man of my word. I don’t want to break it.”
“But this still leaves us with a problem. I mean, if we continue to?—”
“Date?” I offered.
Aaron flushed. “I was going to say ‘fuck’.”
“That too.” I winked.
“I’m still your boss, and you’re my employee.”
“I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can come up with a solution.”
“Harry, sex is the reason we’re in this mess to begin with,” Aaron quipped.
I chuckled and reached for his hand. I had to touch him. Couldn’t wait. And when he interlocked our fingers tightly, I could hardly breathe.
“What’s your plan once the year is up?” he asked, changing the subject.
“I’m going to launch a consulting business.”
Aaron nodded. “Be your own boss for a change?”
“Fuck yes.”
“Could you do that now instead of waiting?”
“I could, in theory. But I was counting on my commission from this year to ensure I had a bigger financial cushion. Maybe that’s just me being overly cautious. I don’t know,” I paused and took a sip of wine. “I told you my dad left when I was ten. My mom’s job at a local factory wasn’t enough to support four kids, and when he skipped town, he never paid child support. Everyone in my family had to pitch in to survive, and as soon as I was old enough to take jobs, I did. I’ve worked hard for my financial security but there’s always that fear in the back of my mind that I never have enough.”
Aaron squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry your father walked out like that. That’s a horrible thing for any child to endure.”
I nodded.
“In hindsight, it was better that he left. Dad was a lazy ass. A terrible husband and father. And, as they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
“True,” Aaron replied and nervously licked his lips. “You seem like you’re close to your brother. Has it always been that way?”
“I’m close with all my siblings, but yeah, Morgan and I have always been tight.” I smiled. “As you could probably tell, we’ve got opposite temperaments. Don’t get me wrong, he’s demanding too, but in a quieter way. And we have the same outlook on life in that we’re always striving to be better, you know? Both of us are relentless when we want something. But we’ve had our share of disagreements, and disappointments, too. Only, it doesn’t stop us; it pushes us to work harder.”
“I know what you mean about working harder. In my case, I still wonder whether my efforts are enough. Do I have what it takes to lead this company? So many people are depending on me, so I keep pushing myself to do more. But the nagging doubts in my head never seem to go away,” he admitted. “I think part of my issue has to do with self-confidence and the fact that I’ve never fully accepted who I am. But I think I’m ready to change that. I’m ready to come out.”
I squeezed his hand tighter.
“That’s a huge step, Aaron. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t get easier. But you will feel empowered. And yes, embracing who you are will change everything.”
Aaron bit his lower lip and nodded. I could see the determination in his eyes. He’d reached his decision and was going to go for it.
“Going back to our dilemma, I still think I should quit,” I offered.
“Shane told me something similar. Either I had to fire you or—” Aaron paused and licked his lips.
“Or?”
“Marry you.”
I nearly knocked over my wine glass.
“Marry me?” I let out a strangled laugh. “That would give the board something to talk about.”
“Could you imagine the look on my father’s face?” Aaron chuckled. “Too bad I don’t believe in marriage. I’m firmly in the happily never after category.”
“I used to think the same,” I replied. “But I’m not sure anymore.”
“Really?” Aaron’s voice cracked. He coughed and cleared his throat. “Why?”
“There’s the remote possibility that I’ll fall in love,” I continued as I stared at Aaron. “It’s never happened before, but who knows?”
I knew. Fuck, did I know. Did Aaron?
He reached for his glass, and I noticed the slight tremble in his hand that mirrored mine.
“And you’d want that?” he asked. “To get married?”
I nodded. “With the right man, yes. I think I’d make a fantastic husband.”
Aaron finally let out a grin and shook his head.
“I almost forgot about the size of your ego,” he muttered as he took a sip of wine.
“I’m happy to give you a reminder.”
“Are you flirting with me?” Aaron asked.
“Pretty sure we’ve been doing that all along.”
Aaron raised one eyebrow.
“What? Arguing, flirting, it’s the same thing,” I reasoned. “And you know, Shane’s idea has merit.”
I watched the look of surprise flit across Aaron’s face.
“What?”
“Not firing me, that’s a horrible idea,” I quipped. “No, I meant, if we get married, its public news, and there’s no way your father can go running to the board to fire you. You could hit him, and the company, with a countersuit.”
Aaron put his wine glass down. “For discrimination.”
“Exactly.”
I could almost see the wheels turning in Aaron’s mind, his CEO brain working out all the logistics. My heart was about to fly right out of my chest, but not from fear. It was excitement. Me, as Aaron’s husband? I should’ve bolted for the door at the very idea. But somehow, I was happy to stay right where I was.
“That’s a wild idea,” he whispered.
“Maybe. Maybe not,” I countered. “Make me an offer, Aaron.”
“An offer?”
“Yes.” I leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “I’m ready to negotiate if you are.”