16. Chapter Sixteen
The quaint little cafe is bustling with the gentle hum of conversation and the clink of ceramic mugs against saucers. Sunlight pours in through the large front windows, casting everything in a warm, inviting glow. Potted plants and chalkboard menus lend an earthy, rustic vibe to the cozy space.
I shift in the plush armchair, gaze skittering past the eclectic art on the exposed brick walls as Maddy and Lily chatter animatedly across from me. My phone burns a hole in my pocket, the persistent buzz of messages sending tingles of anticipation dancing along my skin.
“Earth to Steph!” Lily’s voice cuts through my wandering thoughts with a teasing lilt. “You’re doing it again—that thousand-yard stare that says your mind is firmly elsewhere.”
Heat creeps up the back of my neck as I meet her mirthful green eyes. “Sorry, what? I was just...uh, admiring the decor.”
The lie feels flimsy on my tongue, but Maddy laughs, taking a sip of her latte. Her gaze zeroes in on my fidgeting hands. “More like admiring the persistent buzzing in your pocket, am I right?”
Shit. Abruptly I still my fingers, pressing my thighs together against the insistent throb between them. Get it together, Steph.
“What?” I feign ignorance with an airy wave of my hand. “Oh, that’s nothing. Just some spam texts, probably.”
Lily arches one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “If you say so. But you’ve been real jumpy and...flushed, lately.” Her eyes narrow playfully. “Almost like there’s a certain someone occupying your thoughts a little more than usual.”
I force out a breezy chuckle, even as my pulse kicks up a notch. “You two have such overactive imaginations. Maybe I’m just warm from all this…” I gesture vaguely at the sunlight streaming through the windows. “Lovely weather we’ve been having.”
The buzz vibrates against my thigh yet again, and I have to grit my teeth against a full-body shiver. Dammit, why does he have to be so persistently distracting?
“Uh huh, sure.” Maddy doesn’t look even remotely convinced, exchanging a loaded glance with Lily. “And I’m a world-renowned supermodel.”
“For real, though.” Lily leans in with that gossipy spark in her eyes that signals she’s on the scent of something juicy. “He’s not being a stalker? He’s treating you right?”
If they only knew how right Jacob is treating me. My heart does a weird bobbing thing in my chest. He’s treating me so right he drives me to the brink of insanity with nothing more than a text or a message from that sinfully textured voice. One who knows just where to lave his tongue to have me arching into him, chasing that incendiary bliss that only he can give.
I fight against the heated memories that rush dizzyingly through my mind. Down girl. Not the time nor place.
“Steph?” Maddy prods when my silence stretches too long.
Plastering on what I hope is a convincing look of nonchalance, I meet their expectant gazes evenly. “Really, you guys, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me or my love life.”
Well, not entirely true, but voicing that particular fib keeps the peace and sanity for now.
Lily looks utterly unconvinced, but seems to accept my rebuttal with a shrug. “Okay, if you say so.” The pointed look she shares with Maddy says they’ll be revisiting this topic again soon.
Making a concentrated effort to still my restless hands, I take a fortifying sip of my latte and quickly change the subject.
“So, do you guys think Dad and Adeline are having a good time in Italy so far?” I try to steer the conversation away from Jacob and my still-hot cheeks.
Maddy arches an eyebrow, clearly not buying my subject change, but seems to go along with it. I’m going to have to be careful around her. She might only be twenty, but she’s as shrewd as someone double her age. “I’m sure they’re having a blast. Though your dad’s probably cracking open his laptop every few hours to sneak in some work.”
“Ugh, I hope not!” Lily groans with feeling. “That’s like, the ultimate romance-killer on your honeymoon. If I was Adeline, I’d toss that laptop right out the window.”
“That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?” I laugh, relaxing slightly as the focus shifts away from me. “I hope Dad can resist his workaholic tendencies, just this once,” I continue, keeping my tone light and casual. They know the difficult path that led Dad here, to this new beginning with Adeline. “He and Adeline deserve to just...unwind and be in that newlywed bliss bubble for a little while, you know?”
Maddy nods. “Absolutely. No distractions, no responsibilities, just pure romantic indulgence. If anyone deserves that, it’s your dad and Adeline.”
She shoots me a sly look. “Speaking of romantic indulgences—”
“Don’t start,” I warn, holding up a hand. I can see the gleam of mischief sparking in her eyes.
Lily laughs, squeezing my arm. “Aw, c’mon, we’re just teasing. We all know you’re still...unattached.” The knowing lilt in her voice clearly conveys she doesn’t fully believe that.
I bare my teeth in the semblance of a smile, trying not to let my frustration show. We lapse into a comfortable conversation, and my phone buzzes in my pocket. That familiar tingle heads straight to my core as I pull it out surreptitiously under the table and see Jacob’s name flash across the screen. His texts swiftly follow.
Jacob: Can’t wait to get you alone again. My bed has been awfully empty without you in it.
My cell pings again.
Jacob: Been thinking about the way you tremble when I kiss that spot behind your ear...how you cling to me when I’m deep inside you.
Pure, undisguised want sears through me, stoking the slow burn of arousal he’s fanned with just his words. I swallow hard, darting a glance across the table to make sure my friends are still engrossed in their conversation before typing out a reply with shaky fingers.
Me: I miss your hands on me too...your mouth...
Sending the text, I quickly pocket my phone again as Lily’s bright laughter pulls my attention back to the present moment. I force a smile, nodding along as she recounts some silly story about Tristan being a love-lost tease.
But as much as I try to stay engaged, Jacob’s texts have me constantly stealing glances at my phone, unable to resist the magnetic pull of mental images playing through my mind—his smoldering gaze pinning me in place, the brush of his stubbled jaw against my inner thighs, the delicious feeling of him sheathed inside me as we move together in perfect rhythm.
God, I need him. Not just his hands and mouth bringing me to that shattering peak over and over until I’m boneless and sated. But him—all of him, the way he quiets the perpetual thrum of anxiety humming in my veins.
The way he looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.
Jacob is the one thing in my life that makes sense.
But there’s an undercurrent to his messages and I know he’s holding back. We have a time limit. In a matter of months, I’ll be graduating, and part of me suspects that Jacob plans to leave this thing between us when I do.
As incredible and inevitable as the connection between us feels, he doesn’t want forever with me. He’s my professor, sixteen years my senior, and in a completely different stage of life to me. Our passionate fling is finite, destined to remain a heavy secret with an ending already penned in invisible ink.
I fight the sudden sting of tears as my phone buzzes again.
Jacob: You okay, beautiful? You’ve gone quiet on me...
My heart clenches because even through the detached medium of text, I can hear the gentle concern lacing his words. In my mind’s eye, I can vividly picture the little crease between his brows, that soft look in his whiskey-warm eyes as he wordlessly conveys how much he cares.
Despite my silent pleas and hunger for more—for everything—with him, I already know the truth. For Jacob, I’m just another bright shooting star destined to blaze through his sky for a finite moment before inevitably burning out.
With a sinking heart, I swallow hard and force a light, reassuring reply.
Me: All good, just dealing with the grueling torture of girl talk over here. You know how it is.
I paste on a bright smile as Maddy’s attention swivels toward me, her keen eyes narrowing shrewdly.
“Well, you’re certainly looking flushed and flustered over there, girlfriend,” she observes with a sly grin. “Hot and bothered by someone’s texts, hmm?”
The mischievous gleam in her eyes ricochets off the rawness of my emotions, hitting me square in the chest. I blink rapidly, suddenly overwhelmed by the stark reality crashing over me in waves. This thing with Jacob is temporary—I know that. But God, does it have to be?
Why does the thought of him being out of my life for good make my heart feel so splintered?
“Just a little warm,” I deflect with a tight smile, my tone sounding fraught even to my own ears. Grabbing my latte, I take a hasty sip to disguise the tremor of my lips.
Lily frowns, instinctively picking up on my sudden shift in demeanor even if she doesn’t understand the cause. “You okay, Steph?”
Her soft concern is nearly my undoing. Because no, I’m not okay—not at all. I’m falling deeper and harder for Jacob with each passing moment. And very soon, I’ll have to untangle myself from this beautiful, sublime thing we’ve created.
The thought is devastating. Shattering. Because he’s become my gravity, drawing me in with an inescapable pull. And I fear what losing that grounding force will do to me.
Mustering all my strength, I force a watery smile and nod. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me.”
Even as the platitude rolls off my tongue, my phone buzzes again with Jacob’s next text, making my chest ache with longing for him—for more. I bury the sting of rejection and stand. “Just need to find the bathroom. I’ll be back in a sec.”
I ignore their looks and hurry through people sitting at tables chatting and eating. Some glances catch and linger, probably because I’m charging past like a whirlwind. They all look so happy. So carefree, and for a moment I’m jealous. I want to be like they are. Lost to easy relationships and free to love who they want. I squash that thought as soon as I have it. No one’s relationships are easy. There are no exceptions.
I’m so lost in my world, I don’t notice a figure block my path until I nearly slam into him. “I’m sorry.” I think it’s a waiter and step back to let them pass.
Hard hands grab my elbows and I look up into Daniel’s face. My breath punches from my body and my mind stutters. I should be yelling for help. For Lily and Maddy. But nothing comes out except a wheeze. “Why are you here? How did you find me?”
He picks up his employee lanyard. “Not hard to find out where the daughter of the boss is going to be.”
“I don’t want to talk to you here,” I hiss. I want Daniel far, far away from here. I’m aware of several glances in our direction and a couple of raised voices. I could cause a scene, but I don’t want anyone to know I’m talking to Daniel. Don’t want any more connections made between us than necessary. “Anything you want, you can ask at Midwestern when I’m back.”
Daniel quirks a brow and my stomach sinks. He wants something else. I’ve already given him so much. There’s never going to be an end to it.
“I heard on the grapevine Tim Hodgers is retiring. Going to live in Barbados for a year or so after he gives up working life.”
Tim has been with Blue Sky since the beginning. He’s known me since I was little and is like an uncle to me.
“What about Tim?” I don’t need to ask but I’m going to make him say it anyway. I see the greed sparking in his flat eyes.
A slow smile plays on his lips. “I’ll spell it out for you. I want you to put in a word to dear old Dad about me taking his position.”
“Tim is the COO. You need a degree in Business Administration, a proven track record of outstanding performance, proven experience, an understanding of HR, finance and marketing, working knowledge of data analysis, an aptitude in decision making and organization and leadership skills.” Not to mention Daniel has none of those attributes. He can barely keep up in class. In fact, I’ve overheard complaints from fellow classmates how they’re rewriting the mistakes he makes so they can actually pass the group assignments.
“Lucky I don’t need any of that when I have the good word you’re going to be putting in for me,” he says.
“You can’t do the job, Daniel,” I snap.
His gaze flicks to somewhere behind me. “Then I’ll just have to give you a little taste of reality to help you work out a way.”
My blood goes cold. “What do you mean?”
“Steph. You mentioned the word pee and then we realized we can’t possibly go shopping on a full bladder,” Maddy calls over the crowd.
I turn to see Lily and Maddy approaching. I spin back to see the empty space where Daniel once was and the gentlemen’s bathroom door closing.
“Was that Daniel Adam?” Lily says. She’d know him. She’s been coming to Blue Sky with Tristan on a regular basis.
“Yeah. He had to tell me something. Not urgent. Just a wedding-y thing they’re doing at work for Dad.” I add, when a frown creases her brow.
She pins me with a direct stare. “He looked kind of serious. I know it’s none of my business but…”
“But what?” Maddy says.
Lily seems to choose her words carefully. “The guy isn’t as professional as others at Blue Sky…you’d tell me if anything was wrong. Wouldn’t you?”
She’s far too perceptive for her own good. And mine. I avert my face and wind my arm about her waist so she can’t see my expression. “Of course I would. Now, shall we get to the bathroom? We have shopping to do!”
I swallow hard against the roiling nausea in my gut, because one thing is abhorrently clear—I’ve severely underestimated just how far Daniel is willing to go to get what he wants from me. And now I’m left teetering on the precipice of a grim reckoning, his ultimatum hanging over my head like the blade of a guillotine.
Do what he asks, betraying everything I believe in to pave his way into a life he doesn’t deserve. Or refuse, and face the consequences of his retaliation against me, suffering through whatever torment he deems “motivating” enough to bend me to his will.
Neither option is acceptable, which means I’m officially out of options.