—Julian—
Day of Locke Enterprises Announcement
MSNBC, Fox Business, and Yahoo Finance were all setting up their camera equipment in my office on the ranch. Autumn wanted the world to know the man behind the expensive suits, and this was the perfect place for them to learn who I was.
Over the last three days, Autumn had kept her distance, and after what I shared, I knew that she would.
I’d spent most of my time with Capri—my daughter was the light of my life.
She was catching me up on the last nine years of hers, from all her favorite memories to her interests.
I was surprised when I learned of her love for classic cars, considering I owned several.
I had them imported from Miami, and now they were stored in the garage at our home.
We’d spent most of our time hanging out in the garage, her helping me fix up a few car projects that had kept my mind occupied when I needed to think of something other than work. Capri could barely hold in her excitement the day they’d arrived.
“Daddy!” She walked around the front of my 1967 Chevy Truck. “Are these all your cars?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“How do you have all these classic cars?”
“I’ve collected them over the years.”
“That’s so cool!”
“I’m glad you think so. Your mom wasn’t much of a fan of your old man’s addiction.”
“Oh my God!” Autumn chimed in, walking up behind me. “That is not true—don’t believe your father. I used to love all his cars. If you think these are something, he had an arsenal of them back in the day too.”
“Really?” Capri exclaimed. “How many cars do you think you’ve owned in all your life?”
I thought about it for a moment. “At least fifty, sixty maybe.”
Her eyes went wide. “Daddy, that’s a lot.”
“All those cars helped me figure out how to make an eco-friendly sports car.”
Capri nodded. “That makes sense. Can I help you in the garage with these that still need to be finished?”
“I’d love your help.” I gazed at Autumn. “Maybe your mom can help too?”
“Yesssss, Momma!”
“I think you guys can handle it on your own.”
She walked inside, and I turned my attention to our baby girl, trying to play it off like I wasn’t disappointed that Autumn didn’t want to help us.
The best part of my day was when I’d walk in the house, wearing jeans and a shirt covered in grease and motor oil, my hands covered in it too, and I swear the look in Autumn’s eyes had the power to bring me to my knees.
With a grin, I called her out, “Like what you see, kid?”
She instantly looked away, and I wasn’t going to let this one go. I came up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Julian! You’re all messy.”
“You used to love me all messy.”
She turned around, placing her hands on my chest. “That was when I wasn’t wearing a thousand-dollar dress.”
I smiled. “I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I don’t need you to buy me anything.”
“I know you don’t, but it doesn’t mean I won’t.”
“You need to take a shower.”
I grinned again. “You should join me. You know, to make sure I get everything off.”
“I have a feeling that isn’t the only thing you’d be getting off.”
I laughed and backed away, leaving her with the residual effect of my touch.
My appearance brought me back to another place and time when she undeniably loved me, immediately making me regret the choices I’d made when it came to us.
I tried not to let my mind wander to any of that.
She knew where I stood, and all I could do was wait for her to come to me.
After today, I hoped it’d lead her in the right direction.
Into my arms.
My life.
Our future as a family.
Capri walked into my office, where I’d be making the announcement of Locke Enterprises going public.
“Daddy, what does going public mean?”
I smiled. My daughter’s thirst for knowledge resembled mine. “It means my company is going from a private entity to a public one where people can buy shares to make money.”
“Oh…” She scratched her head. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a bit confusing. You’d have to learn about the stock market.”
“Daddy, will you teach me?”
“Of course, baby.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Because I want to be just like you.”
I beamed, hearing her say that made my heart soar every time.
“So you’re going to tell the cameras, and then what?”
“They’re going to ask questions.”
“What kinds of questions?”
“Number, stats, reports—boring stuff like that.”
“Are they going to ask you about us?”
“More than likely.”
She cocked her head to the side. “What are you going to tell them?”
“What would you like me to tell them?”
“Hmm…” She thought about it for a second. “I think you should tell them all about us.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Daddy.” She sat on my lap, playing with my tie. “Can I be in the announcement with you?”
“If you’d like.” At least one of my girls wanted to be seen with me.
Her eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course.”
“Yay! I’m going to go change into my pretty yellow dress!” She jumped off my lap and ran out of my office, almost running into Autumn on her way out.
“Why is she in such a hurry?”
“She’s—”
“Mr. Locke,” the reporter interrupted. “We’ll be ready to go soon.”
I nodded.
“You clean up nice,” Autumn coaxed, bringing my attention to her. “I’ve gotten used to you looking like you used to.”
“Do you still like me all messy, kid?”
She blushed, bowing her head. “Should we go over what you need to say?”
“No,” I replied, disappointed by her changing the subject yet again. “I can handle it.”
“Okay. I’m going to go answer a couple of emails. I’ll be back toward the end of the interview.”
“Or you could stay, be in the announcement with me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You’re right—it’s a great idea.”
“Julian…”
“What more of a family man can I portray with you sitting beside me? It’s what we’re aiming for, right?”
“Yes, but this is your business, and I don’t need to be involved in that.”
“I’d love to have you involved in everything. Including my company. All I have is for us.”
“Okay, Casanova, I’m going to get some work in. I’ll be back in a bit to check on how things are proceeding.”
Reluctantly, I let her go. What other choice did I have in the matter? At least our daughter would be present on one of the biggest days for my business. Capri hurried into my office, wearing a yellow sundress. Her hair was in pigtails, and she was holding the stuffed animal I’d bought her.
“I’m ready, Daddy.” She posed for me. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful, exactly like you’re mother.”
She smiled, sitting on my lap. “Okay, let’s do this.”
I chuckled, I couldn’t help myself. She was fucking adorable.
Lights.
Camera.
Action.
The reporters sat in their chairs while we were behind my desk.
For the next ten minutes, I made my announcement with Capri never moving from my lap.
She was smiling the entire time, nodding when she thought I’d said something important, really trying to understand what I was informing the world of.
She was a CEO in the making.
“Mr. Locke, how about we address the elephant in the room?” the MSNBC reporter stated. “Who is this gorgeous little girl who has taken over your announcement?”
They didn’t know how to mind their own business on a normal day, let alone on an occasion like today. Question after question about my personal life was about to be thrown in my face. This was what Autumn wanted, and it was the least I could do after what I’d been putting her through.
“This is my baby girl, Capri,” I hugged her close to my chest.
“Hi. I’m Capri, and I’m nine-years-old, but one day, when I’m bigger, I’m going to be just like my daddy.”
I grinned, honored I’d become her hero.
“Your baby girl?” the Yahoo journalist chimed in. “Oh wow, so not only are we learning about Locke Enterprises officially going public, but you’re also telling us you’re a father?”
I nodded. “No better time than the present.”
“And who is the mother of this lovely girl?” the same journalist questioned. “Although, I don’t think you need to tell us. She looks identical to Miss Troy.”
“Then I don’t need to tell you.”
“Tell us anyway,” he added.
“Yes,” Capri replied, handling them like a pro. She must get it from her mother. “My Momma is Autumn Troy, and she’s the best publicist in all the world. My daddy is her client, and now we’re a family.”
Bringing her little hand up to my mouth, I kissed it. “I worship the ground her Momma walks on. Have for as long as I can remember.”
“That’s right!” another Fox interviewer exclaimed. “We all read The New York Times article—you two have known each other all your lives. Your relationship started when she was young, correct?”
“Something like that.”
“We know you’re a very private man, Mr. Locke, but I think we can all say we’re loving this new you. Can you tell us about your first kiss?”
“Not with my daughter present.”
Everyone laughed.
Even the loud eruption of chatter in the room didn’t steal the memory of the first time I stole her mouth.
“To follow up on that question,” Yahoo added. “In the article you said you’ve always loved Miss Troy. When did you know it was true love and she was the one?”
“I gravitated toward her without even realizing it was happening. She consumed me, I’ve always been held captive by the beauty that is Autumn Troy.”
—Autumn—
I watched from the television in the other room with tears falling out of my eyes.
“As you read in the article, I was a foster kid. Her family is all I’ve ever known. If it weren’t for them, especially her brother who used to be my best friend, she’d already be carrying my last name. I was a different man back then. If could I go back and make things right, I would.”
My heart skipped a beat the second he went on with, “She’s always been my whole world.”
“Mr. Locke,” Fox Business addressed. “Can we expect to see more children in your guys’ future?”
“If it was my choice, she’d already be pregnant.”
I can’t believe he’s sharing this. I wiped away the tears.
“How do you feel about that, Capri?”
“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “As long as I can still have my own pony.”
Julian scoffed out a chuckle.
After all these years, all the bullshit we’d been through together, the ups and the downs. This moment seemed surreal.
Our spark.
Connection.
Love.
It was all wrapped into one.
The interview continued, and I prepared for the aftermath that was Julian Locke. Once everyone left, I walked into his office. Capri was in the farmhouse, feeding the baby chickens.
“I can’t believe you blindsided me. You couldn’t have told me that our daughter was going to be in the announcement with you?”
“She requested it. And as you know, I can’t say no to her.”
“I’ve spent years making sure the press didn’t find out I had a daughter, Julian. And you just throw her to the wolves without even discussing it with me first.”
“We both know why you didn’t want the press to know about Capri, and it has nothing to do with you protecting her from the world. You were hiding her from me.”
“It doesn’t matter. I still have the right to know what you’re planning on doing when it concerns her.”
“What do you want from me, sweetheart? You wanted the world to know the man behind the expensive suits, and I gave you exactly what you asked for. Now, you’re giving me shit for it? You need to learn how to pick and choose your battles. This is a war in which you fucking started.”
“Julian—”
“I’m not going to sit here and have you come for my balls. I did nothing wrong. You got what you asked for—end of story.”
“Listen, you stubborn asshole—”
He slammed his fist on his desk before he was in my face, backing me up against the wall. Caging me in with his arms on either side of my face, he leaned forward close to my lips. “Why can’t you just admit the real reason you’re giving me shit, kid?”
His scent was making me dizzy, the smell of his cologne driving me insane.
“What’s worse, Autumn? The fact that I told the world how much you own every last part of me, or the fact that you want me to kiss you right now?”
My eyes followed the movement of his mouth, and I swallowed hard, unable to wait any longer.
In less than a second, I kissed him for the first time in what felt like a lifetime.
He didn’t hesitate, gripping onto my ass and wrapping my legs around his waist. Pinning my back against the wall, he devoured my mouth.
Our battle was far from over. We’d fight again, but for a moment, his words had me surrendering.
To him.
To us.
To our family.
Our kiss took on a life of its own. Something neither one of us could understand or deny.
Something neither one of us could control.
It seemed like all we had to do was look at each other and sparks flew from here to kingdom come.
My lips parted as he slipped his tongue into my mouth, demanding a response that only he stirred within me.
He kissed me deeper.
Harder.
Slower.
My breathing picked up, engulfing him in nothing but my need to keep going and have him claim my body the way he used to.
But…
This time it wasn’t me who stopped.
It was him.
He pulled away, dropping me on the ground to my feet. I lost my footing, trying to catch my balance. My legs were unsteady, wobbling from his embrace.
“Fuck,” he rasped, backing away. “I won’t play this game of cat and mouse with you anymore.”
“Julian—”
“There’s more at stake now, Autumn. You either want me, or you don’t. I won’t mess with Capri’s emotions because you can’t make up your mind.”
I bowed my head. “I just… I don’t want you to hurt me again. I won’t survive it.”
He tugged on the ends of my hair. “I love you, Autumn. I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll love you always.”
“Do you have any idea how long I waited for you to say that to me?”
“I know. I couldn’t say it back then, but I can say it now. And I’ll say it to you every single day for the rest of my life to make up for the years I didn’t.”
“Momma!” Capri ran into his office, breaking our intense conversation. “Did you see? I did the announcement with Daddy!”
“I did, baby. You were perfect.”
She ran into her father’s arms. “Thank you, Daddy. I’m so happy to have you in our lives. Promise me you won’t leave this time?”
The pained expression on Julian’s face rendered me speechless as he crouched to the floor, getting eye level with her.
Capri caressed his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you sad. I just don’t want you to leave Momma again. Cause then you’re leaving me too this time.”
He kissed her hand. “You’re stuck with me, baby girl. I love you more than anything.”
She smiled while tears rimmed my eyes. “I love you too, Daddy.” Throwing her arms around his neck, she hugged him tight.
He embraced her, except his gaze was locked with mine when he mouthed…
“I love you,” to me.