Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
ALISON
My phone pings later that night just as I’m getting ready for bed. I grab it from my nightstand as I flop down onto the soft floral comforter.
My heart kicks in my chest cavity when I see what pops up onto the screen.
Tristan Lucas
Hey, Ali. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend. Friday night was a blast
My teeth press into my bottom lip as I stare at the message. I can’t help but wonder if he’s been thinking about me as much as I’ve been thinking about him.
The chemistry we shared was off the charts and I never, in my wildest dreams, ever expected to have a filthy rendezvous with someone like him.
I find myself unable to wait before typing back.
Me
Hi Tristan. I’ve just been hanging out with Clementine and enjoying the sunshine. I hope you enjoyed your Sunday.
I hit send and snuggle under my covers while I wait for him to reply.
I turn off my bedside lamp and lay back on my king-sized pillows.
My house is a modest Malibu cottage I bought a couple years back after the divorce.
I used some of my inheritance from my grandparents to bring the charming little place back up to scratch.
I love shabby chic and anything that can be reclaimed, mixed with modern conveniences.
I love being so close to the beach and so does Clem.
We often go for long walks together and check out the washed up shells on the beach and enjoy the ocean air.
My phone buzzes again.
Tristan Lucas
I had dinner with my kids tonight. They were asking about the reunion
My heart rate kicks up even further.
Me
Oh, that sounds nice. The dinner part… What did you say to them about the reunion?
Tristan Lucas
I tried to downplay it as much as possible. But my youngest Noah has a friend that knows that dreadful woman Barbara’s kid. She spilled some shit about us
I stare at his words and swallow hard. Oh no.
Tristan Lucas
Don’t worry, I waved it all off
My heart suddenly sinks like an elephant sat on it. And I shouldn’t have that reaction. I should be happy he doesn’t want to out us to the nation. But something about him not wanting anyone to know makes me feel a little deflated. I don’t want to have to hide, but I know it’s for the best.
Me
I guess it’s a little difficult to explain to your kids
I sigh into the darkness, staring at the little glow my screen provides as it stares back at me. The little gray bubble appears and disappears again. Then after a few moments, it appears again and I anxiously wait for his reply.
Tristan Lucas
I can’t stop thinking about you
My breath catches in my throat and I feel an instant rosy glow to my face from those few little words. But they’re what I’ve needed because I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I got back from Palm Springs.
Me
I can’t stop thinking about you either
Tristan Lucas
Maybe we could catch up during the week?
Catch up? Oh boy…
Me
I have Clem until next weekend
Tristan Lucas
Okay. Well, we can sort something out, a coffee or something
Me
Sounds good
Tristan Lucas
Goodnight, Ali
Me
Goodnight, Lucas
I place my phone onto the nightstand and plug the charger in with a shaky hand in the dark.
Shit. He wants to meet up? I mean, that’s not a bad thing, but I don’t know if he really means to have a casual coffee…
or some more casual sex? I think I’m in way over my head here.
I know if I see him again, I’m going to have to keep my cool and be a professional.
But how am I supposed to do that? Not with the places I recently ventured with him.
How in the hell did I think this was going to work?
On Wednesday I have an open house for some clients that have already vacated the property and moved to Florida.
It's a beautiful single family home in Malibu with a lap pool and tropical gardens you could get lost in.
The showing has had a crazy amount of people and realtors through, and I know it will get snapped up in no time.
I have almost caught up on everything from the weekend, thanks to Lexi reminding me and following up with our daily meetings.
She smells a definitive rat from my night in Palm Springs, but I’ve kept her at bay so far with the details.
I’m not sure how long I’m going to be able to hold off on my dirty little Tristan Lucas secret, especially when she gets her crystals out.
I’m about to close up the property after the last broker vacates for the day and plan on heading home to relieve my afternoon sitter.
I pick Clementine up from school most days, but she also catches the bus when I have appointments or an open house and lets herself in.
I have help where I need it, even though Clem insists she’s old enough to be on her own for a few hours.
That’s probably true, but I still don’t like the idea of it.
It’s just as I’m bolting the door that my nostrils do a double take, I smell something familiar… Musk? A slightly spicy top note? A powerful, masculine mix of Tristan Lucas… When my eyes flick up I’m staring into his deep blue irises and it’s like they’ve never left me from Palm Springs.
They twinkle with amusement and his sexy mouth twitches.
“Am I too late for the viewing?” He cocks his head in that oh-so-sexy way he has that’s purely effortless, I’m sure.
“Afraid so.” I shrug, feeling the heat rise to my neck with a bloom dusting over my cheeks.
He chuckles, lowering his voice. “Are you sure I can’t have a five-minute quickie?”
“Tristan!” It’s so strange seeing him for the first time after our sexy weekend together.
It’s hard for me not to think about shoving that lime wedge in his mouth after doing shots, and him shoving his in mine…
and that morning in the shower when I got on my knees and he shoved something else in my mouth…
“I meant a five-minute quickie look over the house for my clients.”
I narrow my eyes. “Sure you did.”
He shrugs and I find myself taking a step back to let him in. I bolt the front door because I’ll head out through the garage where I parked. “Business is business.”
“Which clients are they?” I inquire. I’m buying for time, busily trying to gather my wits about me because I was not expecting to see him.
That and my traitorous body is already humming at the sight of his gorgeous frame in his Hugo Boss suit and polished shoes.
And that hair… it’s styled to perfection like always.
He’s delicious, there’s no two ways about it.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” He keeps walking toward me as I shuffle backwards down the hall, hoping I don’t snag my heel and tumble backwards. “You look a little flushed, Ali. Are you okay?”
I turn quickly and walk through to the enormous open plan living and dining area where my briefcase and papers await on the large chestnut dining table. Pull yourself together!
“I’m fine. I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all.”
“Good surprise or bad surprise?”
When I spin around, he’s standing close to me. For what would be considered appropriate for work colleagues? We both fail on all levels.
I stutter my words at first, which makes his lips twitch again, like he’s fighting a smile.
“H-how could it be bad?” I breathe, pressing my palms against the table for dear life. I need to do something with them other than reach out and grab him by the tie and yank him close, which is what I want to do.
He cocks his head again and takes another step. “I just needed to see you. This past weekend at the reunion? I can’t stop thinking about it.”
My heart thunders so hard it’s more like a jackhammer, my pulse soaring through the roof at his admission. “Me too. But we agreed, it’s business as usual.”
“I agreed to nothing,” he states.
“We have to work in the same town, we can’t—” I’m struggling to breathe. Does it sound like I’m panting right now?
“We can,” he says. “I have to touch you, kiss you, at least one more time.”
I reflexively reach my hand to his tie but instead of pulling it, I smooth my hand over it. And I shouldn’t, because I can feel his chiseled chest underneath and I know what awaits there… Oh, lord have mercy.
“Won’t you let me?” He presses.
“Here?” I balk.
He looks around. “Not a bad idea, you dirty girl. It’s vacant anyway, right? So there’s no chance we’d get caught.”
My heart feels like it’s actually beating on the outside. He wants to have sex with me right now? He’s such a dirty man. “Tris, we can’t!” I wonder if my protest sounds believable because it’s really only half-hearted.
“You keep saying that, but we both know we can.”
“We need to talk.”
He brushes his fingertips down my arms, sending shivers down my spine. “So, let’s talk?”
He doesn't mean a word of it, because talking is the last thing on his mind.
I know by the way he takes another step and I feel my ass hit the edge of the table.
His hand drops to my waist and he pulls me flush against him in one rapid movement.
The first thing I feel is his hard cock pressing into my hip.
I gasp and look down. “H—happy to see me?”
“Always.” He grins, moving some of my fallen hair away from my face. His fingers stroking my shoulder gently. “I’ll be much happier when I’m inside you.”