Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
SALVATORE
My flight lands thirty minutes later than planned, so by the time I get to my apartment, it’s a little after nine p.m. in San Francisco.
I’m about to pour myself a glass of whiskey, guilt swirling around me for canceling on Paige and Isaac, when I remember Keeley’s request…and her subsequent reasoning. “You know I’m a mother type.”
To think I basically told Easton to get fucked when he questioned me about my future with Keels, and he wasn’t wrong to ask.
She is a mother type. She cares for every one of those guys on the team, she looks after Isaac, and her eyes light up every time she sees him.
I don’t want more kids. I couldn’t imagine chasing after a two-year-old in my fifties.
And on top of that, I can’t have them. Camilla made me have a vasectomy the second we had Marc. It should be a no-brainer to stay away from Keeley.
I’m not even great with my grandkid. I was supposed to be home for Paige to bring Isaac around today but I failed her again. I’m not cut out for this.
The problem is that when I imagine my fifties, Keeley’s there, by my side where she should be. Fuck. We should have talked about this before I left.
No, I shouldn’t have left.
Since it’s late, I text Keeley instead of calling, massaging my temples before pouring my drink.
SALVATORE: I’m here safe.
My phone lights up before I’ve had the chance to open the bottle of Macallan, and when I read Keeley’s reply, I frown.
KEELEY: Where is ‘here’?
SALVATORE: New York.
I swear I told her where I was going.
My phone rings, and my heart jolts at the sight of Keeley’s name flashing back at me. I have so much to say, so many questions to ask, but I want to talk to her face-to-face.
If I wasn’t certain she’d say no, I’d send Jeffrey to pick her up and arrange for her to fly here. In fact, if I was able to think straight around her these days, I would have brought her with me.
“Keeley,” I answer, attempting to keep my tone light.
“You don’t send check-in messages that often, do you?”
I pause before answering, trying to recall the last time I told anyone I’d arrived somewhere safely. And it hits me.
“Never.”
“What do you mean, never?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever sent one.”
“Not even to Camilla?”
“Definitely not.” She requested it. Often. My stomach knots as memories assault my mind. I was always too busy to remember, and in the end, she gave up asking.
“That explains it.” Keeley cuts into my thoughts.
“Explains what?”
“Why you gave me such little information. It’s quiet, so I’m assuming you’re not on the tarmac or in the airport. Are you home?”
“Sorry, yes. I’m home. In my apartment. Safe and sound.”
“Good. Thank you for letting me know.”
“Have you been sitting up waiting?” My lips curl into a smirk as I picture her waiting by the phone until she scoffs.
“It’s only nine p.m.”
“True, but aren’t you exhausted after last night? Since you missed your Nanna night for the wedding, I thought you might swap it to tonight.”
Keeley laughs. “I should have. I can’t believe you remembered that.”
I remember everything when it comes to you.
“How could I forget? I’ve still got the visual you painted in my mind. An image of you curled up in an armchair, plaid pajamas on, a mug of hot tea in your hands, your legs covered by a hand-knitted blanket.”
“Wow. Close. Only, it’s summer, so I’m wearing silk pajamas and I have a glass of Merlot in my hand. No blanket. But while we’re on the topic of a blanket, I don’t own a hand-knitted one, and now I kind of want to.”
“Do you know anyone that knits?”
“No, but I’m more than happy to buy one.”
“Good idea. Are you reading or watching mindless TV?”
“I’ll have you know I’m watching something incredibly intellectual.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yes. It’s a true crime documentary.”
“You too? Camilla was hooked on those things, and what the fuck am I doing?”
I groan while Keeley bursts out laughing. “You’re allowed to talk about her. I promise I’ll only get a little bit jealous.”
“You’ll what?” My heart jolts, and I’m not sure if it’s because I feel bad or like the fact that she’s jealous. It’s a little of both. Only, surely, she’s joking.
“You heard what I said. Does that surprise you?”
“Yes. You have nothing to be jealous about. Camilla and I have been over for a decade.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t still have feelings for her.”
“You’re right. Time doesn’t change that. Finding someone else does.”
“I was kidding. It’s okay. It’s just a lot of history to compete with.”
“There’s no competition. And kidding or not, I want to make something very clear.
I thought I’d always love Camilla. Our relationship ended before I was ready for it to end, and we have children together.
I see her in Paige’s eyes almost every single day.
I also thought I was done with love and relationships after her.
I was wrong. On both counts. I will always care about Camilla as the mother of my children, but that love faded the second I developed feelings for you. ”
Keeley gasps and I curse internally. We should be having this conversation in person.
“I hate that you’re so far away, Keeley. And that alone is proof that my feelings for you are real. My business is in an actual crisis, and I’m thinking about you. Actually, not just thinking about you—seriously contemplating forcing you to come here.”
“Forcing me?”
“Yes. Would it work?”
“I’m not sure. But you have my interest piqued. What would forcing me sound like? I bet it’s hot.”
“Keel-ley,” I warn. “That’s not helping.”
“You started it.”
“I know. Sorry. I’m being selfish. I want you here because I want to talk, and for the first time in my life, I actually want to be distracted from work. But that’s not exactly fair.”
“We can talk now. Although, something tells me you’re the kind of guy that wants to do that in person.”
I almost laugh. My thoughts exactly. “I am. But only because I want to make sure we’re both honest and open with one another. It’s easier to pretend over the phone.”
“I agree. So let me help with the distraction then. That I can definitely do over the phone.”
“Oh, yeah?” I chuckle to myself. “I’d like that. So, tell me, how was your day?”
Keeley laughs out loud, and it’s a good thirty seconds before she stops. “Mr. D’Angelo. Sir. Please tell me you did not think I meant I was going to distract you with boring talk about my day?”
Fuck, when she calls me Sir, I want to throw her over my knees. She knows exactly what she’s doing. “How are you going to distract me then?”
“Phone sex.”
“What?” I choke on the word as my cock instantly hardens. How did I not see that coming? Oh, that’s right, I haven’t had sex in years. “Ahh…” I scratch my neck as I try not to picture Keeley naked. Though, naked or not, I want her here. Now.
“Ahh, what?”
“How about I arrange for Jeffrey to pick you up? You could be here by early morning. You won’t even miss work. You can call into your meetings from my office tomorrow.”
Keeley giggles softly, and the sounds don’t help my cause as my cock twitches. “That’s too long. It’s too late for that.”
“Too late?”
“The idea’s already in my head. It’s happening.”
Fuuck. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
Jesus. I don’t even know what I’m saying.
“Have you ever had phone sex before?”
“I can’t say I have.” I suck in a breath as I laugh. Not only have I not had it, I’ve never even thought about it.
“Why not?” Keeley asks, her voice inquisitive while seemingly free of judgment.
“I don’t know. I guess it just never came up.”
“Is it up now?”
I snort and choke at the same time, while Keeley’s voice remains even. I can imagine the smile on her face, and it brings about my own.
“It’s getting there. What are you doing?”
“I think we should try it. What better way to take your mind off what’s happening?”
“You might be right. I don’t know… Maybe we should wait until I’m home in a few days.”
“Why?”
Because the idea of not being there when you come is not sitting well with me. I want to taste you, tease you, fuck you for the first time. “I’d just prefer to be there with you.”
“You are here. You’ll be talking me through it. Let me try, and if you don’t like it, we’ll stop.”
If I don’t like it? I doubt that’s going to be an issue. I’d still rather be with her in person.
“I—” A thought hits me and I pause, an irrational jealousy coursing through me. “Have you had phone sex before?”
My chest burns as I wait for a response.
“No.”
“No?” Thank God.
“I want you to be my first.”
Fuuuck. My cock swells even more, pressing against the zipper of my dress pants, making me unbearably uncomfortable. I wish I’d been all her goddamn firsts. But I never considered this.
“Please,” she whispers after I’ve been silent for too long and I blurt, “Yes,” so quickly her laughter fills the air.
“Thank you. Are you sitting somewhere comfortable? Or lying down?” she asks before I hear a muffled sound over the line.
“Are you? Where are you?” Is that what’s happening? Is she getting comfortable now?
“Where do you want me?”
Holy fuck. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t? Come on, where?”
“Not the bed,” I rush out, the request sounding more demanding than I mean for it to sound. I want to be there the first time she comes with me on a bed. I want my cock buried deep inside her. I want to be staring into her eyes.
“Okay. No bed.” Keeley’s breath picks up speed, her words coming out a little frantic, and the sound is like a switch going off for me. I want to hear more. “Where?—”
“In your armchair,” I tell her. “Feet planted on the edge with your legs spread.” The visual hits my mind as I say the words, and I have to fight not to palm my cock over my pants as it begs for action.
“Okay.” Keeley hisses under her breath and it doesn’t help my situation. “I want you on the couch, pants off, briefs around your ankles.”
Jesus Christ. Instead of doing as she asked, I finally pour myself a drink, watching the brown liquid swirl around my glass.
“Are you ready?” Keeley asks, amusement in her tone.