24. James
James
I think brownies are my new favorite treat. I coax Alex into eating one more before she’s shooing me away. All I had to do was show them to Ryder and he ate them all before I could blink.
Alex is chatting with Jaz and Ashlyn when her mom starts walking towards me. I meet her halfway. “Mrs. Lewis.”
“James, or should I say owner of The Edward Corporation?” I don’t acknowledge the jab, so she continues huffing her chest. “I can’t believe you didn’t bother to mention that little tidbit earlier.
Or that my daughter didn’t either in that case.
I’m truly surprised she would consider a relationship with you. ”
She’s clearly wanting some sort of reaction from me. “Why’s that?”
She scoffs. “Lord knows I’ve been trying to set that girl up with.” She looks me up and down, “someone of your standing for years, but she’s always denied me. Tonight, I had a few introductions planned for her, but then she shows up with you. It’s very peculiar.”
“I can assure you, ma’am, that Alex just learned about my business tonight.”
“Yeah, right. That girl.” Shaking her head, she looks over to Alex laughing with her friends.
“I love her and want the best for her. But she’s always had a dreamer’s mind.
She can’t be happy just pushing papers around and making a nice income, no.
Not my Alex. She wants to be risky and wild forever.
” She looks back to me, sadness creeping across her face. “Maybe you can finally tame her.”
I take in my girl in her red dress, black heels, her hair is getting wilder by the minute, and she can’t stop smiling and laughing with her friends. She’s lighting up the entire world without even realizing it.
“No. I don’t think I will.”
Mrs. Lewis starts to open her mouth again, but I interject.
“Magic like that deserves to be out in the world wild. It would be devastating to try and tame the flame that demands to burn uncontrolled. I will gladly burn with her and be a better man for it.” Her mouth hangs open like a goldfish.
“If you’ll excuse me, I see a business partner I need to talk to.
” Jake from Family Farms just walked up to our little group of misfits.
“—just show the man your current painting. He obviously wants to see what you can do,” Ashlyn says lightly, shoving Alex .
I watch that blush caress her neck as she pulls her phone out of her purse, sliding it open and handing the device to Jake. “It was recently rendered, and I’m still working on the digital file, but that’s how it looks?—”
“You painted this?” Jake looks up from the phone with wet eyes. Jake’s been through a lot, kind of like me, so it’s no surprise that Alex’s talent brought emotion out in him.
I stand near Alex, but I make sure I don’t overshadow her moment. I remember seeing her pour her heart and soul into that painting, and she deserves this moment. Seeing others in awe of her talent.
“I—uh yes. I did.”
“James,” Jake scolds me.
“Jake.”
“You didn’t mention you already found a new designer during our last discussion.” He looks to me then circles to Ryder and Alester who say nothing. Both of them shrug at me with a grin.
Okay assholes.
I sent them the half-assed photo I took of the canvas, but we’ve been too busy in crisis mode to really talk about anything. Seems like they’ve been talking plenty.
“Well, I haven’t had time to present her with a job offer…yet.”
Alex’s head whips to me. “You what!”
Jake looks between us. “Seems like you have some explaining to do. We can talk more at our meeting next week. But James, make no mistake, I want her on my accounts. I need that emotional depth within my designs. I won’t take no for an answer.”
With that he walks away.
Alex’s eyes bounce between the three of us. Ashlyn and Jaz are sipping from their drinks seemingly entertained. “What is happening?”
I pull Alex close to me, sick of the damn distance.
Finally. “Alex, my lovely, lovely girlfriend. Will you please come work with myself, Ryder, and Alester at The Edward Corporation and be our full-time designer? You will have an office with a view, your choice of medium, and whatever other gadgets you may need.” She stares, stunned, so I push my bottom lip out in a pout. “Pretty please?”
“You’re serious?” She looks to my cousins, who both nod in return. Then she comes back to me.
“Dead serious. We don’t joke about business.” Again, she says nothing.
“For fuck’s sake, Alex! Say yes! This is your fucking dream being laid out in front of you,” Jaz spouts. She looks like she might throw her drink at Alex if she tries to say no.
“Yeah, bitch. You know you want it. It’s all you’ve talked about since moving here. This is your chance to shine. Or paint or whatever.” Ashlyn says.
Alex takes in everyone around us, contemplating, maybe panicking.
“Come on, let’s take a walk.” I pull her with me across the floor.
When it’s just us, she relaxes in my arms. “You can say no if you want to. I wanted to gift you an impressive offer that you could take your time with and go through, but well, plans never really go how we expect them to.” I shrug, pulling us to a stop near a pillar away from prying eyes.
She lets go of the breath she was holding. “Two questions.”
“Shoot.”
“Is there a rule against inter-office dating?”
I throw my head back laughing and pull her tightly against my body, where we fit perfectly. “No, babe. And if there were, I’d shred it. Next.”
She smirks up at me, “How good is the benefits package? Because if I could get a bigger apartment that would be cool.”
I growl, “Alex…”
“James…”
I roll my eyes at her jokey tone. “I already told you. You’re moving in with me.
You scared me back there. I thought you were going to bolt or tell me to go fuck myself.
” I run my hands up and down her arms. “You’ll really take it?
Because your talent is unmatched, and I can’t think of another person who would fit this role and the company better than you and your wild self. ”
“Is there a dress code?” She wiggles in my arms when I attack her with tickles.
“Okay, okay! I yield! Sorry!” I halt my attacking fingers, pressing her against me, so she has to crane her neck back to look me in the eyes.
“Yes, I will help you and your family by making you the best damn designs you’ve ever seen. ”
“Thank God. You’re going to get spanked for drawing out the suspense.” I wink at her as we start wandering back towards our group.
“Maybe I’ll like it.” She winks.
What am I going to do with this woman?
“Well?” Ryder asks when we’re back.
“Yes, yes. I will be your lovely designer. I expect great parking and coffee.”
Ryder laughs, pulling her from me to hug her. Alester’s lips pull up, just barely. “Anything for you. I’m sure we can rearrange some spots.” His eyes shoot daggers at me over Alex’s head.
“Dammit.” I have a feeling I just lost my fancy parking spot. Not that it matters since Thomas drives me, but on the off chance I do drive myself, I had a spot. I pull Alex in close and kiss the top of her head then lean down to whisper in her ear, “Did you like your surprise?”
She turns in my arms, her eyes lined with confusion. “What surprise?”
It dawns on me then that I rushed out the door for the meetings and forgot to leave a note. “Shit.” I pull on the back of my neck.
“What is it?” she presses.
“It’s at the apartment. It will be better if you see it.”
The ball is in full swing, people mingling and dancing around.
Alex pouts. “You can’t just tell me? ”
“I—” I pause as a blonde woman comes rushing over.
“Alex! I can’t believe you’re actually here! I mean, when mom told me, I thought she was imagining it.” Alex steps towards the blonde as she smashes into her. They both teeter in their high heels but catch each other.
“Annabel, what are you doing here? Don’t you have classes?” Alex laughs as they pull apart.
“You know Mom. Classes can wait when there’s possible suitors. Speaking of suitors…” She peeks around Alex towards me. “Who is that?” she whispers.
Alex laughs then grabs my hand. “This is James. James, this is my sister, Annabel.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say as she rakes her eyes over me.
“Possibly nice to meet you too. Was this a mom set-up?” Annabel asks, suspiciously.
Alex giggles, but I respond, “No. Actually, we’ve been bumping into each other for the last week, until she finally decided I might be worth it.”
“He just met Mom tonight, and I don’t think she was very happy with the idea that she wasn’t the one to set me up again.”
“Sounds like her.” Annabel checks over her shoulder and groans. “Looks like she’s looking for me. I better get back, but you better call me and tell me all of the details soon!”
“I will,” Alex says as her sister scurries across the dance floor to their mother, who’s staring over at us like she’s about to tap her foot in annoyance. “Yikes. Can I go see that surprise now, or do you have more business things to do?”
“We can go.” I walk over to Ryder and tap him on the shoulder.
He spins from his conversation with Ashlyn.
“We are heading out. Let me know if there are any other meetings you manage to secure for tonight, but we should be fine for now if you want to just enjoy the evening.” I nod towards Ashlyn, but he subtly declines.
“Sounds good. I’ll probably wait for Alester then we can all head out,” Ryder says. I wish he would get out of his own head and take a chance on something long term. A relationship that’s more than a night in the sheets.
I stand off to the side and wait as Alex tells her friends bye. The twinkle in her eyes as she saunters over to me makes me want to throw her over my shoulder, but that would give the whole room a show. I’d rather keep Alex all to myself. “Are you ready, my love?”
Her smile grows, dimples forming in her cheeks as she loops her arm through mine. “Completely.”
We walk together across the room towards the front door and I wave at a few clients on our way. Thomas is chatting with some friends near the door when he spots us walking towards him. “Ready to go?” he asks.
“You can stay if you want, Thomas. We can take a cab,” I offer.
“Nonsense. These fellows know the job. Plus, then I can get home early to my girls.” He beams at me. “I’ll go get the vehicle while you two get your coats from the coat check.” Thomas makes his way through the ballroom doors and out front.
“Shall we?” I ask Alex.
“Sounds great.” We walk together to the coat check. I give the man in charge of them our names then fold my arms around Alex. “Eventually you’re going to get sick of constantly holding me.”
I squeeze her tighter. “There’s zero chance that could ever happen.”
“I guess we will see.”
The attendant comes back with our coats. I take Alex’s white wool trench coat and slip it over her arms. Then I slowly button her up and tie the sash. I kiss the tip of her nose before I slide my black coat over my tux.
“Are you going to tell me what this surprise is?”
I take her hand as we walk out to the waiting SUV. “Not a chance. It’s not that far away.” I help her into the backseat before I make my way around to the opposite side. Thomas slides into the driver’s seat. “You’re going to love it … Hopefully.”
Alex giggles, threading her fingers with mine. “I’m sure whatever it is will be amazing.” She rests her head on my shoulder for the twenty-minute drive to the apartment.
I’m itching with nervous energy. I hope I didn’t hype this up too much in my head. It’s too late now. I already told her about it, and Thomas is pulling up to the door. Surprises are a lot more nerve racking when you care so much about the person you’re doing it for .
We ride in silence up to the top floor, and through the front door. She looks around the main living space. “Well, where is this top-secret surprise?”
I smirk at her smart-ass response and show her to the spare room on the east side of the apartment. I tap on the door and slide out of the way so she can open it.
“James. Nothing better jump out at me or I’ll scream.
” She turns the door handle slowly, but I still stay silent.
Alex swings the door inward and gasps. I follow her into the room and watch as she traces her fingers over the rose petals lining her new desk.
Four bouquets of long stem roses are set up throughout the room.
Three easels propped in various locations.
She walks over to the shelving organizer against the wall that tried to best me this morning.
She lifts various tubes of new paint and brushes of every size.
“Why?” Alex whispers as she glances over her shoulder, her eyes wet with unshed tears.
“Because I want you here, with me. I want every messy piece of you. I want you to chase your dreams without a worry of what’s going to happen next. I can’t wait to see every work in progress as you spend hours in front of a new canvas … because I’m in love with you.”
Tears spill down her cheeks, and she rushes into my open arms. “I love you, too.”