Chapter 13
One lazy day turns into another.
Apart from a brief period where Pippa dashed home to get clothing for work, we spent the whole weekend together.
And my heart feels whole for the first time in a long time.
Things between us are better than ever—not that I have much to compare it to, but I can see this lasting.
I haven’t told her just how much that time period after Dad caught Mum in bed with Lucas messed me up. My relationship with my father intensified—we grew closer than ever, which made it all the harder when he died. But my mother messed with my head, and I still struggle with trusting people even now.
If I can protect Pippa from that, I will. The last thing I need is her doubting the way I’m feeling. Now she’s told me she knew nothing about what was going on back then, I feel more confident with her.
She wanted to take her car this morning, but I know that car. It’s the one Lucas got when he was sixteen. I’m not sure why Pippa’s still driving around in the heap of junk, but she won’t be for much longer if I can help it.
Instead, I insist that we travel in my car. She’ll be safer, and I want her with me. I also don’t care who knows about us. If they have an issue, they can take it up with me.
I don’t miss her intake of breath as we pull into my car park.
“You okay?”
Pippa nods. “Just nervous all over again arriving with you.”
Leaning over, I give her a tender kiss. “It’ll be fine. Trust me.”
After stepping out of the driver’s seat, I walk around the car. I open the passenger door and take her hand.
She blushes and grins. “Thank you.”
Keeping hold of her hand as she steps out, I push the door closed and use my fob to lock the car. “Come on.”
She tugs her hand out of mine—or tries to, but I hold on tighter.
As we approach the front door, her breathing quickens. “I’m not sure?—“
I squeeze her hand. “I’m making a public statement. I want the world to know that we’re together.”
Her hazel eyes widen in surprise. “I thought you’d want to keep it quiet.”
Shrugging, I raise her hand to my lips and place a kiss on the back of it. “I’m not hiding anything. There’s no company rule against us having a relationship.”
Pippa tenses as we enter reception. Every head turns and the whispering is blatantly obvious in the usually quiet area.
I tug her hand so she’s even closer. And I’m glad to see Mallory at the reception desk, her eyes glued on us.
“Morning.” I grin.
Her gaze flicks down to our joined hands and back. “Morning.”
We come to a stop, and I turn to Pippa. “Go on up to the office. I’ll grab a couple of coffees and be there in a few.”
Pippa nods. Her smile seems forced, but she holds it together.
I’m barely keeping my temper in check, but I can’t let her see how Mallory’s attempt to derail us is pissing me off. With another kiss to her hand, I let her go, and watch her all the way to the elevator.
“What’s your problem?” I turn my gaze back to Mallory, and she sets her jaw.
“What do you mean?”
She walks off in the direction of the coffee shop, and I trail along behind her. Pippa’s insecure enough without Mal getting in her ear about me.
Once our orders are placed, she heads toward a quiet corner of the shop.
“What do you want, Deacon?” She plants herself into a seat and glares at me across the table.
Oh, you know what you did.
“I wondered if we might have a word.” The chair scrapes across the floor as I pull it out, but I’m too wound up to care.
I’ll give her credit. She leans back in her seat and presses her fingertips together as if I’ve got a proposal for her to consider. “Regarding?”
“Why you tried to make Pippa believe I couldn’t possibly be interested in more with her.”
She rolls her eyes. “She’s a lovely girl, but she’s so young.”
“There are only seven years between us. And she’s mine now.”
Her eyes flash with irritation.
But before she can say anything further, I hold up my hand. “Pippa and I are together now. Just so you know. Whatever stunt you were trying to pull is done.” I stand and turn back toward the coffee pick-up.
“Deacon?”
I pause before looking back over my shoulder. “What?”
“I was just trying to protect her. I’ve known you for the past ten years, and?—”
“Pippa’s known me longer than you have. She knows me and she trusts me. What she doesn’t need is someone feeding into her insecurities.”
Mallory flinches as if she’s been hit. “I’m sorry.”
“Apologise to her.” I stalk away, and when my coffee order’s called, I grab the cups and make my way up to my office to see my girl.
My girl.
Now we’re together, nothing and no one will take her away from me.
* * *
It’s midmorning by the time I get to speak with Pippa again after dropping off the coffee earlier. The rest of the morning’s been full of dealing with issues—nothing major, but there are always those pesky little things that crop up, and right now I’ve got my web designer working on a new concept for our website.
When I get back into my office, Pippa’s sitting at her desk. Her expression is strained, and I hate it.
“Are you okay?”
Pippa rubs her temple. “I’m fine.”
Shaking my head, I lean over the other side of her desk, propping myself up on my elbows and studying her. “I know what that means. If it’s about Mallory, I took care of that.”
One of Pippa’s eyebrows dips. “I hope you didn’t get me offside with her. She’s still management.”
Reaching for her hand, I raise it to my lips and brush a kiss over her knuckles. “She was looking out for you. But I made it clear that you’re no one-night-stand for me.”
Her lips wobble, and for a moment I think she’s going to burst into tears.
“Thank you. But it’s not what’s giving me a headache.”
“Oh?”
I scoot around the side of her desk until I’m standing behind her. On her screen is a website full of evening dresses.
She scrambles to place her hands over the monitor, but I reach for them, pulling them down so I can get a better look. “Is this for the release party?”
“Yes,” she mumbles. “I was talking with a couple of the women in product development, and they told me it’s a good excuse to dress up. But I don’t really have anything that works.”
I scan the screen. “Are you ordering online? I’ll pay.”
Pippa shakes her head. “I was going to the store at lunchtime. And you don’t have to pay.”
Leaning my head against hers, I pop a kiss on her temple. “I’ll come with you.”
“Deacon.” She laughs. “Really? You want to come shopping with me?”
I shrug. “You’re my girlfriend. Those dresses are sexy as fuck. You bet I want to see you try them on. I’ll buy every one if I have to.”
Her eyes are wide as she stares at me. What the hell did I say?
“I’m your girlfriend?”
I probably shouldn’t kiss her in the office, but her lips are inches from mine and she’s irresistible. My gaze stays fixed on hers as I cover the gap and give her a tender kiss. “What do you think you are after our weekend together?”
Pippa’s smile is all I need to get me through the day. “I just hadn’t thought of it in those terms.”
“Well, get used to it. And schedule us both out of the office for a couple of hours around lunchtime because we have an appointment with a dress shop.”
Her laughter follows me into my office, and I could eat out on it for days.
My life couldn’t be sweeter. I’ve got the girl of my dreams, and everything’s better than it has been, well, ever.
She’s all I need.
When it hits midday, I head out to her desk and wait while she grabs her bag.
“You’re seriously coming with me?” she asks.
“Hell, yes.” I offer her my arm, and she takes it.
After a ten-minute walk, we reach the store, and as soon as I step in, I know I’m out of my depth.
I’ve never been shopping for women’s clothing before.
Pippa moves between the racks before picking out two dresses. I see a flash of colour before she turns to me. “There’s a bench over there by the changing room. You wait there and I’ll try the first one on.”
“Okay.”
She hands me her bag. “Look after this.”
“Love it when you’re bossy.” I grin.
She laughs then stalks toward the changing room, and I take a seat where she’s told me to.
The bell rings above the door, and Mallory walks in.
She walks toward me, eyebrows raised. “What are you doing here?”
Her bemused look makes me smile.
“Helping my girlfriend buy a dress. I guess you’re here for the same thing?”
She drops down onto the bench beside me. “You guessed right.”
“You don’t look so happy about it either.”
Mallory laughs. “I hate this side of things. But I know I have to?—”
I frown as she just cuts off, but then I turn my head and my mouth falls open. My woman is a goddess.
It’s a simple black dress, but it hugs her curves and accentuates that cleavage I adore.
“Turn around.” My voice is hoarse, and Mallory nudges my arm.
The back dips with black straps criss-crossing so she’s not completely bare. It’s nothing fancy, but she takes my breath away in all its simplicity.
“We are so buying that,” I say.
Pippa turns around and her brows knit. “Are you sure? I thought it might be too tight.”
“You look lovely,” Mallory says. “It’s perfect for the occasion. Dress it up with some strappy sandals and jewellery.”
“What she said,” I say. “Where’s the next dress?”
Pippa laughs. “I’m just buying one.”
I shake my head. “Nuh huh, I want to see you in both of them.”
With a smile, she stalks back to the changing room.
“I was wrong,” Mallory says.
Turning toward her, I frown. “About what?”
“You are good for her. And she’s good for you. I’m sorry. I really was just trying to look out for her.”
With a nod, I shift my gaze to the changing room. “I’m so crazy about her.”
“I’ve never seen you like this before.”
I shrug. “I’ve never felt like this before. She’s the one.”
Mallory grips my shoulder before rising from the seat. “I guess I should go and look for my own dress rather than watch you two.”
“If you’re quick, I’ll give you my opinion.” I grin.
She gives me a soft slap around the head. “I’m beginning to think there’s something wrong with you.”
“It’s what love does, Mal.”
Mallory rolls her eyes and takes off into the store.
The changing room door opens, and Pippa steps out. I catch my breath.
This dress is longer. It’s dark red with a plunging neckline and hugs Pippa’s hips like she was born to wear it. The hemline’s below the knee, but there’s a split up the side that stops just short of her panty line.
Holy shit.
“That’s it. That’s the one.”
Pippa smiles. “Are you sure?”
“I want the other one too, but this is the dress for the launch party. You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks flush with colour, and I rise to my feet, closing the gap between us.
“You are beautiful.”
“Deacon …” she murmurs.
“I’m serious. God I …” I stop myself before I tell her I love her. We’ve been together five minutes. The last thing I want to do is scare her off. But it’s how I feel. I’m head over heels for her.
“You …?” Her right eyebrow rises.
“I just … you look incredible. Let’s get both of them and get to work. I’ve got an errand to run this afternoon, but I’ll be back for my later meetings.”
Pippa frowns. “There’s nothing in the calendar.”
“I know. I just have to take care of something. So let’s get out of here.” I pop a kiss on her nose, and she screws it up as if she knows I’m full of it. But seeing her in that dress gave me an idea that she’ll love and hate all at the same time, and I want to show her just how much she means to me.
“Okay.” She pecks me on the cheek and disappears back into the changing room.
Mallory races into the cubicle next to her, and I sit down.
This is still going to take a while.