Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Lake
I woke up with strong arms wrapped around my body, holding me close.
This was different than before. Different than any morning, and yet it felt like home. As if this was what we should have been doing our entire lives.
Or perhaps I was reading too much into it.
This couldn’t be my life.
His arm tightened slightly and I sank into him, breathing softly as the light peeking between the blinds shone on my face and I yawned.
“Good morning.”
I hummed softly at the feel of the vibrations of his chest against my back. There was just something so primal and sexy about that. That he was so close to me, holding me. This felt right.
And yet, it was still so new. Had we fallen into this in the weeks we had been together?
Or was this what it should have been this entire time?
I didn’t have answers for myself. And perhaps I should have. And yet, it was hard for me to focus with his hard length pressed against my backside and my body held tightly by him.
His hand slid between my breasts, cupping me, before sliding right back down in between my thighs. I arched against him, groaning, and then our alarm went off.
This time we groaned for an entirely different reason before I turned and looked at him. “Hi.”
“Good morning,” he replied. He slid my hair from my face and something clutched in my heart. I wanted to say something. Anything. To tell him what I felt. Only, it was too early. I made that mistake before, with Zach, and while I would never compare the two situations or the two men because there was nothing to compare, I couldn’t help it.
“I have a tattoo appointment at 8:00 a.m. because I’m an idiot.”
My lips twitched and I ran my hands over his brow, his shoulders. I needed to stop touching him but I didn’t want to.
“You have it at 8:00 a.m. because your client has appointments with their doctors and then time with their kids every afternoon and for the rest of the week. And many people start work at 8:00. I usually start even earlier than this.”
“We did have a late night,” he grumbled, kissing me softly.
“Just a little.”
The night before had been spent wrapped in each other, tasting one another, and forgetting all of our worries and responsibilities. I knew we would have to actually deal with those worries and responsibilities decently soon.
If we didn’t, it was going to be a problem.
“Okay, I guess I should get up and go get ready for the day.”
He reached around and gripped my hip.
“It would probably be prudent.”
I smiled. “Really. Prudent?”
He rolled his eyes. “Look at you, rubbing off on me with all your smart words.”
“Why do you say it like that? Why do you think that I am smarter than you?” I sat up, the sheet falling down so my breasts were bare in front of him. But I wasn’t really thinking about that, I was thinking about him. And the fact that I might have hurt him.
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t have coffee yet.”
“That’s not an answer. We both have the same degrees, you know.”
“And we also both know that school has nothing to do with being smart or not.”
“That’s true. So I don’t know why we’re having a problem.”
“I’m not having a problem. I’m just not awake yet. We’re good, Lake. Breathe.” He sat up, kissed my nipple, then my lips, and I rolled my eyes before he pulled away.
“I’m going to go use the guest shower if that’s okay.”
Cold, I stared at him. “Oh.”
There was a world of hurt in that oh , and I hated myself for letting it slip.
He shook his head, grabbed his clothes, then kissed me again. “The reason I’m doing that is because we both have meetings this morning and if I go in that shower with you, I’m going to fuck you against the wall and then eat you out until you’re coming all over my face and I’m going to need two showers to clean up. So rather than licking your pussy and fingering you until your knees go weak and you have to spend another hour getting ready, I’m going to go shower by myself.”
I blinked, looked down at his very hard cock straining against his boxer briefs, and swallowed hard.
“Oh.” And that was a new wealth of information in that oh .
“Yeah. Oh. Let me go stop thinking about you on your knees as I fuck your mouth. I have things to do, and I can’t do that with a hard-on.”
“That does sound like an issue.”
He growled at me, sending shivers down my spine and right to my pussy, and then he left.
There was something seriously wrong with me, but I honestly didn’t want to fix it.
* * *
I was on my second cup of coffee, while also trying to stay hydrated because I knew with the amount of caffeine I needed this week, I would probably hurt myself.
My phone rang and I smiled at Susanna’s name.
I answered quickly, leaning back in my chair.
“Susanna. I’m so glad that you called.”
“Me too. We need to schedule a retreat where it’s just the two of us, maybe our families. You can bring that big man of yours. One where we’re out of the prying eyes of everyone that wants to cannibalize our companies, or think they’re better than us.”
“That sounds amazing. I should probably try to schedule that in, along with a few other trips with my friends and family that I’ve been wanting to take.”
“There’s never enough time, but as someone who’s been doing this a couple of more years than you, make sure you make time.”
I scoffed. “You’re not that much older than me, you know that right?”
“I do know that, but with those years comes a wealth of responsibilities and experience. So my advice to you is take those moments. Work will always be there, and it will always seem like you can’t put it to the side, but our lives can’t be solely based around what we can do to achieve greatness. We also need to think about the rest of our lives and what that encompasses. So make sure you take those weekends. Enjoy time with your boyfriend, your family. And when and if you ever decide to have children, with your children as well. They’re going to have more memories of you as a person that loves them than what you can give them financially. And now that I’m off my soapbox, let’s talk about work.”
My heart warmed and I smiled. “That’s very good advice.”
“I’m sure others have given you similar advice, because I know your father, and he is always very kind to me.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I’ve only met him twice, and your mother once, and they were always the greatest. And I know that they take time for themselves and their children. So, you do the same. Now, let’s talk about our next charity function. Because I have a few ideas for the school.”
Elated, I pulled out my notes and we went through what financial things we would have to worry about, as well as the process of setting up the board of trustees and advisers.
It took a couple of hours, and I was exhausted by the end of it, but thrilled at the same time.
Afterward, I smiled into the phone as we discussed things that had nothing to do with work.
“So, I noticed earlier when I mentioned that big hunk of yours, Nick, you didn’t contradict me. I wasn’t sure the two of you were actually together last time, as it wasn’t my business, and it still isn’t, but I am being nosy now. How’s it going?”
I blushed even though she couldn’t see me. “Things are…well…good.”
Susanna chuckled. “Oh my, all those pauses. Good is good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“I know your husband has this whole career of his and does amazing things with it, but how do you balance both? How do you make sure that you are putting yourself first where you need to, but not forgetting others along the way?” I paused. “That sounds selfish when I say it.”
“It’s not selfish at all. We were just talking about you taking time for yourself and your family, but remember, I said yourself as well. You are your own boss, you have control. And you need to fight for it more than some others might. Finding the balance between who you are as a woman, a boss, an entrepreneur, a family member, and everything else isn’t easy, but you’ll find it. We each have our own paths that we’ve had to travel, and I know that yours hasn’t been easy. None of us have had it easy, just some varying degrees of difficulty. But just know that we are here for you. Always. And I’m proud of you.”
I smiled, trying to unravel the thoughts that kept binding together in my brain.
I was in love with Nick. I just didn’t know if he loved me back, and if we would be good for each other in the end. Because all we did was fight when we weren’t sleeping together, and while sometimes we could be sweet to one another, we butted heads more often than not. I didn’t know if that was conducive to a future, but the scary part was that I didn’t know if he wanted a future at all.
And that’s what made me hold back. Because I had been the one to start this, hadn’t I? It was my trip that had started things. I had asked him for help more than once. Something I would prefer to have never done. So now I didn’t know how to come back from that. How to change things.
I would have to ask. Only, that sounded like the worst thing to do ever.
I packed up my things for the day, and because I had a long meeting the next day I would work a little bit at home, before doing what Susanna said and actually relax. My phone rang and I frowned, recognizing Reynolds’s number. He was the contact for my restraining order on Zach, and I stiffened, my body growing cold. I answered, telling myself I was just thinking the worst. That this wasn’t the end of the world. That I could handle this.
“Ms. Montgomery?”
“Hello, Reynolds. What can I do to help you?”
“It’s about your shop down here.”
I froze. “Did somebody put more blood on it?”
“That and more. I’m sorry. The entire place looks destroyed. It’s been severely vandalized.”
My vision began to gray and I swallowed hard. “Did they figure out who it is?”
“My team’s out now, and it looks like we might have video surveillance. I know you were putting some up, but this guy was smart, too fucking smart. Sorry for the language.”
“Don’t be. I’m coming down there.”
“Thank you. We’re going to have a few questions for you.”
“Okay. Is Diana there?”
“She is. She needs you, which isn’t something that I would normally say.”
Reynolds was usually pretty stoic, which was what I liked. I didn’t need a man to see me cry and tell me everything was okay. I needed a man to get things done, and he had gotten Zach away from me as much as possible.
“I’m on my way.”
I hung up and made my way to the café, my hands shaking.
Who was doing this? Who would try to ruin this place? It didn’t make any sense. As I pulled up and looked at the roped-off section of the street, I wanted to throw up.
He said it was bad, but I didn’t realize it was this bad. Red paint or blood or whatever it was, was thrown all over the sidewalk and street and the building. They had broken windows, put bricks and boards all around it. They wrote words I didn’t even want to say out loud, and all I could do was stand there and wonder who had so much hatred in their heart that they would do this.
I parked a ways away, and walked towards the roped-off section.
“Ma’am, this is a closed scene.”
“This is my building, Reynolds asked me to come. I’m Lake Montgomery.”
The man spoke into his radio, and nodded, lifting the tape so I could get through.
Diana was on the other side of the building, her eyes wide, and when she saw me, she ran to me, flinging her arms around my shoulders.
“Who’s doing this? Who hates us so much?”
I held her back, and though my eyes were dry, my hands still shook.
“I don’t know, Diana. But they’re going to figure it out. We will figure it out.”
“We can rebuild. Right? We’re not going to let this stop us.”
I saw the determination in the set of her jaw and I nodded tightly.
“Oh, we’re not backing down. As soon as they let us, we’re going to make this place shine.”
“Ms. Montgomery,” Reynold said as he came forward. “I’m going to need you to see this.”
Bile filled my throat, as my hands trembled.
“Did you figure out who it is?” I asked, though I’d already knew. Some part of me had always known. He cleared his throat and held out a photo. It was grainy, most likely taken from the camera next door. I didn’t want to touch it.
“Who is that?” Diana asked, leaning forward.
“His name is Zach. He’s my ex-boyfriend. And you have him on camera doing this?”
Reynolds nodded. “He was slick last time, was able to use the shadows so no one could see, but this took a little more effort and he was spotted. Even in the late afternoon like this, with the way that your building is positioned, people walking by wouldn’t have seen it until the very end. So yes, it seems to be him. We’re going to take a few statements and look for him.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, then I looked at Diana.
“This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.”
Diana blinked and shook her head. “Your ex-boyfriend did this? The one who…” her voice trailed off, and then I remembered that we had spoken of what had happened to me in the past, because it had come up. We went to a similar support group, and so the subject had naturally come up into conversation.
So she knew of Zach, and I hated myself for it.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeated.
“No. It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out. You know this man? Are you actually going to do something about it this time?” Diana asked Reynolds, her voice snapping.
“Diana,” I whispered, and then I realized that no, this wasn’t my fault. I was going to tell her to back down. Ice slid in my veins and I knew that ice would help me not panic. And that’s what I needed to do.
“We’re going to do our best. We’re going to find him. He’s not going to hurt you anymore.”
I held back a scoff. “Find him. Make the law do what it needs to do to make sure he never does this again. I’ll say whatever I need to, answer all your questions, but find him.”
It took over an hour of questions which had answers I didn’t have.
No, I didn’t know where Zach was. No, I didn’t know what he was doing.
No, I hadn’t spoken to him since he tried to call months ago.
He wasn’t in my life, and yet he kept doing this. He kept coming at me.
I just wanted this to be done.
When Reynolds walked away, and Diana took out her phone to talk to her children, I turned and saw a familiar scowling face at the end of the tape.
Reynolds waved him in, having spoken to him before, and I pressed my lips together as Nick walked forward.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Nick asked.
“Those are the first words out of your mouth?” I asked, my voice ice, devoid of emotion. There was something wrong with me, but I didn’t want to name it.
“You could have gotten hurt, Lake.”
“I wasn’t here when it happened. I came here when the cops were already here. I’m safe. But this shop isn’t, but they’re going to find Zach and they’re going to fix it.”
“It’s fucking Zach?” he asked, now yelling.
People were starting to stare and I raised my chin. “Stop it. This isn’t on you.”
“Then it isn’t on you, either.”
“Fine!” I let out a breath, my hands fisting at my sides. “I don’t know why he’s doing this, but they need to find him, and every time that I’m almost happy, he gets here and I just, I need a minute, okay, Nick?”
He looked at me then. “A minute. Are you kidding me right now?”
“I just need a minute to be okay.”
“Okay, I’m going to stand right here.”
“Nick…” I whispered, afraid. I didn’t want him to see me break. I didn’t want this to be on his shoulders. Because Nick put everything on his shoulders. His family, his friends, me. I didn’t want to be a burden.
“I’m not going to let you be alone right now, Lake.”
I turned to him. “I called my dad. He’ll be here soon with one of my uncles. I won’t be alone.”
He looked at me then, his eyes so unreadable that I was afraid that I had broken everything. “Fine. But this isn’t over. You know that, right?”
A single crack in my heart, breaking ever so slightly, my lungs tightening. “I know it’s not. But Zach…Zach did this.”
“And you didn’t.”
“I know. But I just need to breathe, Nick. This is all too fast and I’m scared.”
He cupped my face and kissed me hard on the mouth.
“Breathe. Then we’ll talk.”
My father walked up and Nick began to walk away. I reached out, gripping his arm. “I’m not breaking up with you. You know that, right? I just need to focus.”
He laughed without any humor. “I know. You need to be alone and think. I get that. It’s what I do too. Then I’m going to fight anyway.”
He left and I stared at my dad, wondering how the hell everything had changed from this morning, how everything had gone wrong.
And what the hell was I doing right now?