Chapter 21 Ares
“The sex was that good to put such a dopey look on your face?”
Ares turned from trying to figure out the fancy espresso machine and glared at his brother. “I had a fantastic night. You have clothes on. I appreciate it.”
“I was reminded of your overnight guest as soon as I opened my eyes.” His brother strode over and turned something on the machine. “I don’t know how she operates this thing.” Xander kept turning dials and buttons until it got going.
“Makes my favourite coffee, though.”
Ares poured himself a cup of coffee and helped himself to a muffin from the box on the counter, thinking of how Josie looked when he woke up beside her, her black curls spilled on the pillow, she was curled on her side, a small smile on her face.
He was very fucking serious about making sure Josie woke up every day in his bed.
The fact that sweat broke out on his back in trepidation was stupid. But years of looking out for his brother and minding his own steps had its effect on him.
He also wanted Xander’s support and didn’t want to deal with any opposition.
“I’m so serious about her.” Ares took a seat across from Xander. “She’s great, Xander.”
“Do you think the pressure would get to her and she’d blab what she overheard to one of her co-workers?”
The way his brother said it with that steely tone had him curling his fist.
“Her co-workers are people she hired,” Ares bit into the muffin, trampling down his irritation. Josie could be trusted. He’d never do anything to risk Axis Management and Xander should know that.
“We’ve known her almost as long as we’ve known Harper.”
They met Josie when Xander asked Fleur for help in finding resources to help Harper through her trauma. They were some of Josie’s first customers.
“That was also pointed out to me. I like how things are now.”
Ares shuffled back his chair; his gaze swept over their modern but plain kitchen. The living room that looked like Christmas threw up. The touches that made the place feel like less than a mausoleum were due to Logan and Harper.
It’s not what he would have chosen. But for the last decade, he’d been living in this house because it’s what Xander wanted and for longer than that, he’s lived the life that accommodated his brother. That made it easier for Xander to shine.
He had no regrets.
But Xander wasn’t going to call the shots on his love life.
“I don’t. I’m ready for something new.”
“Hey, I know that things have to change, but not all at once.”
Ares chewed his muffin, trying not to let Xander know how pissed off that comment made him.
“You didn’t have to give up anything to be with Harper—”
“What are you talking about?”
“You only had to admit that you loved her and wanted her. That’s not giving up anything.”
“Yeah, because sharing the love of my life with a blond extroverted giant was on my wish list.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t. Please enlighten me. To have Josie, you’d have to give up something?”
Ares shook his head. He didn’t know where he was going with this conversation. Bad choice bringing it up now. He could feel the tension between him and his brother, like a string pulled taught, the fibres of their past threatening to pull it apart.
“Forget it.”
“You want to change something? Don’t let me stand in your way.”
“Noted.”
“Are you saying that I’m an obligation?”
Ares stood, pushing back his chair so hard it almost toppled to the ground. “That’s not what I said!”
“Then tell me what you really want to say.” Xander stood from his chair as if he had all the time in the world, and Ares resented how calm and cool he was. He was usually the one who kept it together.
“Good morning.”
Josie’s voice froze whatever comeback he was going to utter. His heartstrings pulled in a knot as he saw her sitting on the stairs.
“Are you okay?” He rushed over to her, kneeling on the step below her.
“I’m fine, Ares. Feeling a little sore from what we did last night.” Her cheeks turned bright red, and she ducked her head, her curls covering her face. “I kind of bummed down the stairs.”
He kissed her forehead, a feeling of inadequateness rushed over him. He couldn’t install an elevator in this without serious structural changes, despite his deep pockets. “Maybe I could install a chair lift. I didn’t think of that.”
“I said, I’m fine,” she pulled herself up from the stairs using the handrail and he stood, offering her his arm. “I am hungry, though.”
“Yeah?” he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
“Breakfast is my favourite meal.”
“You’re my favourite meal,” Ares slanted his lips against hers, tasting mint and a little of her lip gloss.
“I still want food.” Her wide smile made him feel like a lovesick puppy, and that was exactly what he was, and he didn’t care.
“Good morning, Josie. The coffee is still fresh and there are muffins on the counter.” Xander grabbed water from the fridge.
“Hi, Xander. These muffins look great, thanks.”
“Logan’s sister brought them over this morning.”
“I was wondering who the muffin fairy was.” Ares took a coffee cup down and slid it across the counter. Xander handed Josie a plate.
“Now you know.” Xander’s acute gaze took in Josie and Ares moved closer to her, as if he could shield her from Xander’s observations.
“I like cranberry and white chocolate. It’s a classic combination. Do you have a favourite flavour, Xander?”
“Blueberry.”
“I’ll make some for you.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Ares clenched his jaw. The idea of Josie making anything for Xander made him want to punch something.
“Thanks Josie. I’m always happy to eat your food.”
Why did he feel this boiling rage? This absolute need to shield Josie?
She wasn’t in any harm from Xander. But he couldn’t tone down the possessiveness that swarmed through him as he gazed at her.
“Ever since you’ve said yes to my brother, he’s had a dopey grin on his face. It’s a nice change of pace.”
“From what?” Ares raised an eyebrow.
“From you annoying me. You have someone else to focus on.” Xander clapped him on the shoulder. “Some of us must go to work. I’ll see you later. Have a good one, Josie.”
Xander strode out of the kitchen, whistling.
“He’s such an asshole.”
“Because he offered me coffee and a muffin?” Josie popped a piece of muffin into her mouth and swallowed.
“Yes. Because he’s here. I don’t know.” Ares shoved his hands in his pockets. “Because I don’t want anyone else to see you.”
“You want me to hide inside?”
“Yes, I think that’s the only solution.”
She laughed and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I’m not doing that, just so you know.”
He captured her mouth again in a deep, long kiss that left him breathless. Whatever he had to do to make sure that he’d start his mornings kissing this woman, he’d do it.
Josie smiled. “I got to go.”
“I don’t like that plan.”
“Got a business to run.”
“I know but it can-” his phone interrupted that thought. He pressed a kiss to her lips, then strode down the hall to the dining room.
“What is it?” He growled at his team leader.
“Hey, boss. The asset wants to talk more about the conditions of the plan.”
“There is no talk. No negotiation.”
“I needed to let you know. She seems different.”
“Different how?” Ares ran his hand through his hair. He needed this loose end tied up tightly and to never see the light of day.
“Crying a lot. Not the cold bitch she was when we first kept watch.”
That wasn’t wistfulness in Mack’s tone? He was one hardened, tough sonofabitch and there was no way his team leader would be swayed by a few tears.
“Stick to the plan.”
“You got it.”
Ares ended the call and marched out of the dining room to see Josie putting on her boots in the back entranceway.
“I don’t want to go either. But I have two employees and customers depending on me. If I don’t make a break for it now, I’ll stay here forever.”
Her words were like a punch to his gut. Whatever was on his schedule today, he was going to blow off. He needed to make the leap and check on the house he bought.
“Tonight?”
“I want to but…it’s Maisy’s night off and I promised I’d go shopping with her and her mom.”
“I get it.” He twirled a piece of her silky hair around his finger. “I want you to work if that’s what you want. But what are the chances of you being okay with me buying you a restaurant?”
“No thanks.”
“I could be an investor,” Ares leaned down and kissed her. The vibration of her giggle tickled his lips. “I don’t want you there with Carter.”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t think he’s a threat.”
Ares bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood. He wasn’t going to mention it to Josie, but he was going to put a call in to Stone’s Security to have a guy on Josie, at least while she was at work.
“Let me know if the asshole gets too close.” He took her chin between his thumb and index finger.
“Promise.”
He didn’t like it, but without being a total overbearing ogre, he had to accept it. There were things about his job she wouldn’t like.
If you could call managing a team of professional cleaners a “job.”
“Tomorrow. We can grab a quick dinner.”
“Yes we can,” Josie stood, shoved her hands in her pockets as if she didn’t know what to do with them, then grabbed her cane.
“I’m going to walk you to your car.”
“Okay.”
Ares threw on his jacket, held the door for her and took his time walking down the driveway. A cool drizzle was falling.
“I could drive you to work.
“Ares, I’ll be fine. We can’t be joined at the hip.”
“I guess not.”
But the words were hollow because being joined to her was exactly what he wanted to do.
“But I can tie you in rope, show off those pretty breasts and feast on them until you’re begging me to stop. I can make us a pair of handcuffs out of rope.”
“That’d be awkward in the kitchen,” Josie grinned at him, her eyes shining.
He didn’t want her to get in her car. Didn’t want these beautiful nights to only have a dash off to the reality of the mornings.
He caged her against her car, cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her with all the possession he felt. The sweetest gasp escaped her mouth as she kissed him back. He kissed her until her lips were tingling, her pulse jumping.
Her cane fell to the ground, he broke off the kiss, tracing her top lip with his finger. "I don't want to leave you."
"I know. " She brushed her fingertips along his arm.
He picked up her cane, passed it to her. “Text me when you get home and then text me when you get to work. And then when you’re done work.”
“Okay.” Her laugh made her curls bounce.
“I put the locator app on your phone, so I’ll know where you are.”
“That should make me feel freaked out. But it doesn’t.”
“Have a good day, my pretty girl,” he brushed a kiss against her forehead.
“Bye.” Josie unlocked her door and climbed in. He saw the tears gathered at the corners of her eyes and felt some kind of pride that this was as hard on her as it was on him.
“See you later.” She closed the door, waved, and he stood there, until she disappeared through the black gates, out of his view.
This might be their reality today, but not for long, not if he had anything to say about it.
He sent a text to his designer demanding an update.
His phone rang, and he cursed as he answered it.
“Yes Xander? I’m on my way in.”
He snapped his phone closed and, for the first time in decades, wondered why he signed onto his brother’s vision but didn’t make one of his own.