Chapter Eighteen
brIELLE
I crossed my arms across my chest. “Well?”
“You tell me,” he told me.
I stepped close to him. “It’s true. We literally just ran into each other; nothing is going on between us.” I laughed. “He’s telling the truth. I wasn’t planning on meeting him, especially behind your back.”
“Shit. I need to apologize to him.”
“He’s gone now. Why are you here, Jameson?”
“You were just going to leave and not say anything?”
“I don’t like goodbyes.”
“Why are you here, Brielle?”
I took a step back and looked at my feet before meeting his gaze again. “I’m here for work, you fool.”
“You are?”
“Yes.” I shoved him. “Do you really think that low of me, Jameson? Do you think I would sneak and come here to see Chris behind your back?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Well, you’re an asshole.” I turned to walk away from him.
“I love you, Brielle Delaney.”
My breathing hitched, and I turned to face Jameson again. “What?”
He closed the distance between us, cupped my face, and looked deep into my eyes, it was like he could see my soul. “I don’t want to lose you, Brielle.” His voice cracked. “I fucking love you.”
Tears streaked my cheeks.
“Brielle, say something.”
I couldn’t breathe, and I felt dizzy. I couldn’t see anything or anyone moving around us. It was just Jameson and me. “I love you too.”
I cried. Jameson took his thumb and swiped my tears. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m pregnant. I found out this morning, and I knew you wouldn’t want anything to do with me. That’s the real reason why I left and took the job.”
Jameson’s face contorted. “What? Are you that delusional that you’d think I would abandon you and my baby?” He was smiling.
“Why are smiling like a fool?”
“You just told me you are pregnant with my baby. It is mine, right?”
I playfully punched him in the chest. “Yes!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overreact.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I’m not trying to make excuses, but it just goes back to my childhood and into my adulthood. I never got close to anyone because everyone left. And you left, and I was looking everywhere for you. I even called Kali.”
“You did?” I was surprised to hear he went to the lengths he did to find me.
“I did. I had to find you and tell you I loved you. And I was going to ask if you would move in with me.”
“And now?”
“Brielle, will you move with me? And we can start our life together.”
“Yes. Yes, I will. It seems like we still have a lot to learn about each other.”
He smiled. “I can agree with that. Now where are you headed?”
“I was just going to rent a car.”
***
When we were in the car, Jameson texted Chris while I drove us, and he apologized and said, “We are still free to use the house.”
I didn’t know how to feel going back there.
“We can rent a place there ourselves if it makes you feel uncomfortable going there.”
“No. Chris isn’t there, we might as well take advantage of the place if it’s fine with you.”
“Okay.”
We arrived at the house, and I was ready to make new memories with Jameson. He dropped my bags at the door and closed the distance between us. I loved when he cupped my face while he kissed me.
When he pulled away, his hands still cupped my face. “Tell me you’re in this for the long haul,” he told me as he looked deep into my eyes.
“I’m in this with you for the long haul.” I smiled.
“Good. Now let’s order some food. Chris told me his staff was off for the week he’s planning to be away, and we have to fend for ourselves.”
Jameson put his arm across my shoulders and kissed the side of my face.
“I’d rather be here alone with you anyway.”
“Me too.”
It was late evening, and we sat at the table eating takeout with the chopsticks they provided.
“You know I never saw your place,” he said.
“I just rent a studio apartment, it’s all I could ever afford just outside the city. My lease is up next month.”
“Perfect timing since you are moving in.”
“Tell me how you found me.” I rested my chin in my hand while I listened to him tell me.
“Gosh, I freaked out at the office, and something settled in the pit of my stomach, and I couldn’t wait to see you, since you said you’d stop at the office. But I couldn’t wait, I needed to see you. I realized I didn’t even know where you lived so I couldn’t check there, my next thought was to look at Brews Bats, but the bartender said he hadn’t seen a brunette woman there. I sat in my car and looked up your firm’s website to get the number. I called your office, you weren’t there, then I asked for Kali.”
“That was smart.”
“She told me you were at the airport, and I went there, I couldn’t find you there. I called Kali again to see where you were going exactly. And she told me Lake Tahoe. When I heard that, I had all kinds of thoughts running through my mind. I called my pilot to get my plane ready. And when I saw you and Chris, I saw red.
“I’d never do that to you.”
“I know. I know that now.” He reached over and touched my stomach.
“Have you been to the doctor?”
“First thing this morning.”
“Everything is good then?”
“All good.” I placed my hand over his. “It’s early though. Only four weeks in.”
“I can’t believe you are having my kid. But I’m so happy.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
“I’m sorry about earlier. I wanted to tell you how I felt about you, that I couldn’t live without you in my life. I was planning to ask you to move in. And I messed it up.”
“You didn’t mess it up. You just overreacted a bit. Poor Chris didn’t know what happened.”
“Yeah, I feel bad about that. I make it up to him, somehow”
“You should. And I’m sorry I left so abruptly. I know you said you wanted kids in the future, but I thought you wouldn’t want any now. Especially since you are taking over Titan Enterprises. Speaking of which, does anyone know you’re here?”
“I called my mom. Supposedly she saw me leaving in a hurry and assumed it had something to do with you. I told her it did, and she said not to worry about work right now. It’ll be there when I get back.”
“Anyway, what’s your next job?”
“For a celebrity brat. The worst kind of client, but it pays well.”
“For how long?”
“Shouldn’t be long. Maybe a couple of weeks.”
“I have a proportion for you.”
My eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
“First, let’s go sit outside.”
Smiling, Jameson handed a bottle of water, while he grabbed a beer from the fridge. On the deck, he leaned against the railing while I sat in a comfy chair.
“How do you feel about becoming a consultant for Titan Enterprises? When the baby comes you could even work from home if you wanted. You wouldn’t have to deal with difficult clients like me.” He chuckled.
I laughed. “You’re serious?”
“I am. I don’t want to go one day without being with you.”
I rose from the chair, walked over to him, and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“What do you say?”
“I don’t want to put Kali in an uncomfortable spot, so I’d want to at least her transition the company without me.”
“You’ll do it?”
I looked up at him while my arms were still wrapped around him. “I will.”