Chapter 30
Reese
“Don’t be stupid, Reese. Just ask him,” I muttered to myself as I stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around my body. The words were easy enough to say, but there were so many damn thoughts running through my head I wouldn’t know what to ask him first.
Do you want to help us?
Are you leaving soon?
Do you want to stay?
What’s going to happen to us?
Do you want something to happen?
Is there an us?
I sort of thought there was, but then I called myself names and said that was simply crazy and of course there wasn’t an us.
Why would there be an us? I felt like Ever’s single line text messages…
all these thoughts scrolling through my head one after the other.
I hated them almost as much as I hated how she texted.
Leaning on the counter, I wiped the mirror down with my hand. My face looked distorted in the water-smeared glass. Like my emotions, nothing was clear. Dropping my gaze, I groaned.
“Just talk with him today. Ask and get it over with. Deal with whatever he says and figure out a way to move on.”
Easier said than done when my stupid heart got involved somewhere along the way.
I really wanted to convince myself I hadn’t fallen for the man, but I wasn’t doing a stellar job at it.
“Ughhhh,” I groaned. I didn’t think it was possible for me to have done something dumber.
If I had an ounce of professionalism and smarts in me, I would have stayed away from Clay and his sexy dimples and deep voice and ability to play his personality perfectly off mine.
“Who actually gets turned on by bickering with someone else?”
I think that’s pretty damn obvious.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the door handle. I’d go out there and suggest going for a walk to talk. Then maybe at least I could get some answers to the important things. Like business things. Not relationship things. Not sex things.
I straightened my shoulders and pulled open the door. “Cl—” his name froze on my lips as I realized he was still on a call.
The roaring in my head blocked out the whispered words coming from the computer, but only for a moment.
Until a woman’s voice rang loud and clear through the room.
“Ms. Henley, I won’t ask my grandson to introduce us right this moment, but I do expect to meet you soon.
New York City is lovely this time of year. ”
I scrambled back into the bathroom, making a noise that could only be classified as a squeak, and shut the door.
“Holy shit.”
The door opened again, and I spun around, clutching the towel to make sure it didn’t go anywhere.
“Clay,” I hissed. “Get out.”
“Grandmother and Lachlain have hung up.”
“Your brother saw too,” I screeched, sure someone would come running to see what bird had gotten into the house. I was going to die; that’s all there was to it. Turning from him, I paced two steps to the shower and back. “This bathroom is too damn small.”
“First, I would agree with you. These rooms should have spa-like bathrooms that indulge the guests, but we can discuss that later.” After a brush of his lips on my forehead as I neared him, he continued, “Second, there was nothing to see. You weren’t on camera.
All they did was hear you, but Grandmother is very serious about meeting you. ”
“Why?”
“Why is she serious?”
I shook my head. “No. Why does she want to meet me?”
“Well, you are your family’s spokesperson, and we would very much like to do business with you.”
Excitement shot through me at the confirmation that Clay wanted to help, but it quickly fizzled. It made sense Mrs. Conti wanted to meet me, but it sort of hurt that it would be the only reason. It hurts because, like an idiot, I fell for this man.
“However, I think it has more to do with the fact that she may suspect something is going on between us. I mean, you did walk out of my shower at nine in the morning.”
“She probably wants to tell me to stay away,” I joked, even though internally I believed it. There’s no way a woman like that would want me around her grandson.
It’s not like I thought I was good for him or anything. Or that I could compete with the women who likely threw themselves at him daily. I was nowhere near being in his league. Hell, I was so far out of it I was playing a different sport.
One of his large hands came out and smoothed back my hair.
I’d noticed since the night at Pour Decisions he always found little ways to touch me, like he wanted the certainty I was there even when he could see me.
No other man had ever been like that with me.
I loved it. The actions made me feel cherished and important, which could either be incredibly dumb or simply incredible.
“That is not it. The very opposite, in fact. Seems she likes the way I’m acting since I met you.”
“How is that? Exasperated? Frustrated? Annoyed?” Those were often the sentiments of people I dealt with. I guess it went along with being too much.
“Alive.”
“Huh?”
“Grandmother thinks I’ve come alive being around you, so you’re getting all the credit.
” He leaned closer, pressing me back against the vanity.
“Do you think she means my body, Little Trouble?” Placing his arms on either side of my hips, he effectively caged me in.
“Because that is alive and well when you’re around. ”
The pressure of his erection against my stomach had me squirming.
How did this man do it? How did the feel of him, the scent and sound of him, get my body hot, bothered, and ready for sex in zero-point-two seconds?
I might not know the answer, but I knew one thing: this would never happen again.
No one but Clay Montgomery would make me feel like this.
The mere thought of another man left a sour taste in my mouth, but it was the truth.
I don’t know how, but a man who was so different from me was the one person I could actually be myself around without fear. I didn’t have to dial anything back because he seemed to like it.
Ending this with Clay was going to destroy me. Leave me a broken mess, but I’d done it to myself.
Unless things don’t have to end.
I wish my inner voice made sense, but she didn’t. There was no way we could have more, no matter how much I wanted it.
“Did I lose you? I don’t think I like that.” He brushed his lips over mine once. Then again. Then another until we lost ourselves in an endless kiss. So often we raced to get our clothes off, but this time we reveled in a simple kiss. “That’s better. Now your mind is back where I want it. On me.”
It was on him way too much for my sanity and my heart.
“Reese,” Clay’s tone changed, and I knew the fun was over.
“My family called for a reason, though. I’m likely going to have to head back to the city in a few days.
There’s business I need to take care of.
I’d like—” he paused and cupped my face in his hands, waiting until I held his gaze. “—I’d like two things.”
“Okay. What?”
“I’d like you to hear my proposal and present it to your family. I’ll be right there along with you if you want. United front and all that.”
I wasn’t sure whether or not that was a good plan. Most of the parentals seemed to like Clay, so maybe they would hear what he had to say. Then again, they were a fickle group who could change as quickly as the winds in a storm, as Gramps used to say.
“You did your time down here, Clay Montgomery, or at least most of it. The least I could do is give your plans a shot.”
“That’s mighty fine of you, Reese Henley.”
I groaned. “No more spending time with Wally. You do not need to sound like him.” He smiled, those dimples coming out in full force, sending my stupid heart beating wildly. “What’s the second?”
“Come with me. Not because of business and not only to meet my grandmother, though that will absolutely happen if you’re in New York.”
“Then why?” I barely got the words out. I held my breath as I waited for his response.
Not since Billy Roller had tried to ask me out in sixth grade had I waited for a male to say something with as much anticipation.
I was likely an idiot for getting my hopes up, for thinking he wanted me there because he didn’t want to end what we had going on, but so be it.
“Because I want you to see where I’m from.
” He skimmed his lips over my forehead again.
“Because I want you to meet my family.” They found their way to my ear, where he licked the sensitive skin right below it.
“Because I’m not ready to leave you yet, for this to be over.
” My heart soared. As much as I hoped, I never truly imagined he would want this to continue, whatever this was.
I thought maybe I could convince him. Never did I think he’d be the one to bring it up.
“For us to be over.” Those lips captured my mouth again, while his hands grasped by hips, lifting me.
Three little words were on the tip of my tongue, but I held them back. I couldn’t give them a voice anywhere but in my head. They’d be easier to deny if he didn’t feel the same. Putting them out into the universe felt like too much, and for once in my life, I didn’t hate that phrase.
Because it’s protection.
It was and I would take it. At least for now.
As natural as could be, I wrapped my legs around his hips and held on as he carried me back to the bed.
“What are you doing? I thought we were going for a walk.”
“After.” He peeled back the towel and stared at my body.
“You are so fucking beautiful, Reese. I could look at you all day, every day, and never get my fill. Never see anything as breathtaking as you laid out for me.” My nipples pebbled, the hardened tips begging for his attention.
My pussy grew wet and needy, causing me to clench my thighs together hoping to get some relief.
“No, no, Little Trouble. That pussy is all mine.” He leaned over me, his body blocking out the light above and the sunlight streaming in.
“What’s your answer? Do you want to spend more time with me? ”
I should say no to protect myself, but in that moment, I realized that’s what I always did. I created ways to protect myself, and I didn’t even know what I was protecting myself from. In this case, I did know: heartbreak, pain, and wishing Clay could be mine until the day I died.
I was going to do it anyway. “Yes, I’ll go to New York with you.”
The grin that spread over his face was one I hadn’t seen before. Sure, the dimples were there, but it was different. No snark or flirtiness.
It screamed joy and something else. Something I really wanted but couldn’t believe.
God, I hoped I knew what I was doing.