Chapter 39
thirty-nine
Five years ago
“You haven’t moved from that spot all morning?” I shut the front door and lift my messenger bag over my shoulder before dropping it on the couch.
I don’t like working on Saturdays, but I had to tour a residential builder from California around the city.
If things work out, Grayson & Wade will be partnering with them to develop a micro-apartment building on the old Printer’s Row parcel.
I’ll be taking our business to the next level by developing our first project.
“Sadly, it wasn’t because I was editing my thesis,” Cait says from her seat at the dining room table. Stacks of books surround her computer. In the darkened room, the screen illuminates her focused and achingly beautiful face.
When I stand behind her chair, she tips her head back, giving me an upside-down kiss. I love the way our faces connect like a puzzle, chins touching noses as our lips meet. I place my hands on her shoulders and rub.
“How was work?” She relaxes under my massage.
“Still not done. Just here for a quick stop.” I don’t want to talk about work when I only have a few minutes with her. I lean closer and check out her screen. “What’s this?”
“I’m obsessed with this house. I’ve been staring at it for hours. Look how cute it is.” She clicks through a series of images on a real estate website.
“Really? That house?” I laugh. It’s old and scary.
“Come on. It’s so cute. Looks at these photos.”
My hands fall away when she jumps up from the table, laptop balanced on her forearm, as if the closer I am to the photos, the better the house will look. She scrolls through using the track pad and stops to point out details.
“It needs work but has great bones, an enclosed porch, backyard, three bedrooms, two baths, and there are even peonies in the garden,” she says.
“What the hell is a peony?”
“All you need to know is I love it and we’re buying it.
” She sets her computer on the kitchen island and turns to me.
When her face glows like this, she knows full well I’ll give in.
I would do anything for her, and that’s how it’s been since the moment we met.
I’m content to be her whipped man, though I can’t let her know that.
“Is that so?” I slide my arms around her and squeeze her ass.
“I get what I want.” She lifts a mischievous brow.
“In that case, we better go check it out.”
“Really?” Cait jumps into my arms, her legs circling my waist.
Unprepared for her overzealous response, I stumble forward and set her butt on the edge of the table. Locking me between her thighs, she tugs my shirt to bring me closer until our lips connect. She tastes delicious, tangy and sweet.
My dick commandeers my brain when she deepens our kiss, and I lay her back while shoving her books off the table with a wide sweeping arm. They crash onto the floor, papers fluttering. With a cleared space, I can do what I want with her, and what I want to do is everything.
My kisses travel the angle of her jaw, the slope of her neck, and then drop to her stomach, where I press a circle of kisses.
My hands are on their own mission, roaming under her shirt, over her breasts, and traveling into her dampening panties.
She sighs and tenses before I even make it to her spot. She’s damn sexy, even in sweatpants.
My cell phone rings in my pocket, and I groan.
“Ignore it,” she pleads before prodding me on.
I allow it to go to voice mail and continue on my task, but when it starts to buzz with rapid-fire incoming texts, she smacks the tabletop with her palms and says, “Fine, get it.”
We both slump, defeated. I rest my head on her stomach for a moment.
With my ear pressed against her skin, I can hear my own heartbeat slowing and returning to normal.
These are the times being an adult sucks balls.
I reluctantly pull away to slip my cell from my pocket and see who the hell’s made my shit list now. Linden.
“California wants to meet at the Four Seasons in fifteen,” I gripe, even though I knew my time at home would be brief. When I’m with Cait, I tend to forget everything and everyone else.
Cait’s mouth settles into a deep frown as she sits upright, tugging her shirt into place.
She tilts her head, giving me her beautiful sad eyes, and I can’t help but feel guilty.
I’ve been working too much lately, and I miss her.
She squeezes her legs tighter, reeling me in.
She knows it drives me nuts when she breathes into my ear. The tingles get me worked up again.
“You’re playing dirty.” My hands are on her, touching her everywhere. My mind’s whirling to figure out what I can do to her in the few seconds I have before I have to leave.
“I just want you to remember what’s waiting for you,” she whispers, straightening my shirt and tie so I look presentable again. As she does, I focus on taking my horniness from sixty to zero. Not an easy task when she’s still touching me.
“How about this? I’ll try to make an appointment to see the house this evening. While I’m out, you get out and enjoy the weather,” I tell her, hoping it will lift her spirits and mine. I rub her arms as she ponders my suggestion.
“Steph texted earlier. She wants to go to the square and soak up some sun. I guess I could join her and edit my paper there.”
“Or you can go and pretend to edit while dreaming about me.” I grin.
“That’s my life. Dreaming of you.” She placates me with a smile and gives me a quick kiss, but the energy that surged between us a few moments ago has been zapped by our disappointment.
I pick up my bag and keys. At the door, I stop and turn to find she’s watching me like I’m now watching her. More than anything, I wish we could blow off everything and spend a lazy day tangled in the sheets.
“Tomorrow. We have tomorrow,” I say, knowing she’s thinking the same thing.
Taking her in, wearing a messy bun and sweats, I’m intoxicated with bliss.
I’m so in love with this woman, and I can’t wait to show her how much.
I already have the ring, an art deco antique with a sapphire and diamonds she admired at a store on vacation in Miami.
I slipped out to buy it without her knowing.
For a year, it’s been hidden in a coffee mug from Mr. Moon’s that she refuses to use because it’s shaped like a boob.
She graduates in a week, and I’ve planned to propose to her at our spot in Lincoln Park at the Lakefront.
But if she loves this house and we buy it, maybe I’ll propose there.
What better way to start a life together than the exact place where we’ll build a lifetime of memories?
With kids and family, and fights and make-up sex, and growing old together.
All of a sudden, I love that house too for what it represents—a future with the only person in the world for me.
“I have a surprise for you when you get home,” she says.
“I’m intrigued. Any hints?” I slip my bag over my shoulder.
“Only that it has to do with how much I love you.”
“I love you more.” I wink.
I meet Linden and the California partners at the Four Seasons’ bar.
Sometimes the best business relationships are forged in a relaxed setting.
Today’s no exception, and by the time the meeting concludes, there’s a promise by both parties to execute preliminary papers so we can hire an architectural firm to develop land studies.
And what’s even better? There’s an open house at the little white house today. Everything’s falling into place.
When I step outside, my mood is raised further by the perfect blue sky, white puffy clouds, and the prospect of spending the rest of the weekend with Cait. Eager to tell her about my meeting, I slip out my phone and text her.
Evan
Sorry I’m late. Be there soon. <3
The response bubbles bounce for a few seconds but disappear. No matter, she’s only a few blocks away.
That’s when I hear a strange noise. Waiting for a crosswalk light to turn, I swing my head to a snapping sound.
The pop, pop, pop reminds me of the fireworks they set off at Navy Pier.
The explosions are multiplied by the high-rise buildings downtown, creating a long-reaching echo effect.
I spin, searching to place the noise, but the troubling issue is they don’t set off fireworks in the middle of the day.
The traffic light changes, and I walk a little faster in the direction of the park. Even though the sounds are in the distance, my heart begins to beat rapidly when sirens wail. The closer I walk to campus, the louder the popping noises become. Anxiety consumes me.
When I’m a block away, my heart seizes so hard, I’m afraid it might explode, because I realize with horror what the sound is.
A bang. Another. Then a ripple of shots from a gun in prompt succession.
There are so many I can’t count, and they’re all coming from the direction of the Northwalton campus.
Fury clouds my mind and tightens my throat as I sprint toward the square, my dress shoes slapping the concrete. I pump my arms and lengthen my stride, feeling my muscles protest along with the threads in my suit for pushing them beyond their limit.
My gaze is focused, strained on the campus coming into view, and there’s only one person on my mind.
Cait. Cait. Cait!