Crown's Chance at Love (61 page)

“Mmm,” she sighs stirring slightly, her eyes partially open. “Are you okay? Am I squishing you, should I move?” she asks, and I just tighten my hold on her, feeling a little bad that I have awaken her.

“No baby, just go back to sleep,” I tell her and I see a small sweet smile fall onto her lips. “I love you Sabrina,” I whisper as I kiss her forehead again, and when I look at her, she is already back to sleep. I want this for the rest of my life. This is when it hits me. I know exactly what I have to do. With a plan in mind I drift off to sleep with a smile on my face and my beautiful girl in my arms.

Sabrina

It’s raining when I arrive in Seattle. I love the rain. It is nature’s way of cleaning the slate and starting over, and isn’t that what I am doing with Mike? He wants a future… with me. I can’t help but smile at the thought.

I think about how he had insisted in taking me to the airport, saying there was no way his girl would take a cab. He had looked like he hadn’t wanted to let me go when we had reached security, but he did, and when he did, he took out an envelope from his suit jacket, telling me to read it once I got to my hotel. I stared at him from the escalator. He looked so damn good in his black suit, bright blue dress shirt and black tie, all dressed up for his work day. He waved and I blew him a kiss goodbye.

So many questions flying through my mind. Why was I leaving? Would I be able to take this job, not only leaving my family but Mike as well? Business wise he is pretty settled in California; would we have a long distance relationship until what? One of us got tired and gave up. Or until one of us gave something up and moved to the other? I take a deep breath as I hail a cab and have it take me to my hotel.

The W Seattle Hotel is beautiful and in downtown Seattle. Perk Events have put me up in a suite, and it is gorgeous. Floor to ceiling windows looking out to the city, comfortable furniture, it is all beautiful. I text my mom and Mike and let them know I have got in fine. Sitting on one of the most comfortable couches I took out the envelope Mike had given me.

Sabrina,

I love you. I want you to know that as you read this, you can bet money I am thinking about you. Thank you for giving me another chance.

All yours,

Mike

I smiled at his sweet note tucking it into my bag, I heard my phone chime.

I
MISS YOU,

Mike instantly replies and I smile.

I
MISS YOU TOO,

I reply and start to unpack. My first interview is in a couple of hours and I want to make sure my dress isn’t wrinkled. My phone rings and I pick it up smiling at the fact that the screen says
“Mike Calling.”

“Shouldn’t you be working?” I ask when I pick up.

“I should be, but this beautiful woman keeps texting me,” he says chuckling.

“I only texted you once, in response to your text,” I say smiling. I love when Mike is playful.

“I needed to hear your voice,” he says seriously.

“Good, because I needed to hear yours. I just didn’t want to bother you when you are in the middle of such a big deal.” I look at myself in the mirror. I really look at myself. My hair slightly frizzing, my skin flushed and even then I think:
I look happy.
More importanly I feel happy.

“You never bother me. So I have a question for you.”

“I got an answer,” I say smiling.

“Why didn’t you tell me your brother Jake, is the same Jake that is the CEO to Maxwell Financial?” I frown. Ugh. My brother.

“I don’t know. Like I said, we aren’t close.”

“Baby…” he starts to say and I know he is going to end up dragging it out of me.

“Okay condensed version, we used to be really close. He was my best friend. He was a baseball player at USC, he hurt his shoulder, got really depressed and shut all of us out. He graduated from school, then from business school. Then one day to another he just left to London. Didn’t tell any of us, Hell he didn’t even invite us to his graduation from grad school, not even my parents. When Sean died, he didn’t even come to the funeral and I know Cara told him. I have tried to reach out to him, but honestly as you know I don’t have tons of spare time. When Cara mentioned he had moved back to Los Angeles, I tried to reach him at the beginning of the year, but he didn’t even return my call. He hardly even calls my mom to say hi,”  I say quickly, trying not to let it get to me.

My brother has made decisions on how he wants to live his life and I have to respect them.

“Wow,” he says almost like he is holding back a little bit.

“So my turn for a question, how did you know he was my brother?” I ask slightly worried at what Jake has done.

“This morning when he walked in here, his panties were in a ruffle asking me just what the hell I thought I was doing with his sister.” I groan at the image of my brother doing that.

“Mike I am so sorry! I should have told you yesterday. I just thought there was no way he even knew there was a connection between us.”

“Well he knows quite a bit actually… I guess he was at the Gala this weekend” he mumbles, completely taking me by surprise.

“Are you serious?” We had attended the same event, but he couldn’t be bothered to talk to me?

“Yeah. He brought up what happened with my mom and then my little shouting match with Garibaldi.”

“I’m so sorry Mike. Is this going to be a problem, like I mean for the deal you guys are working on?” I ask. I want to ask if it is going to be a problem for him and I, and what he had told Jake, but I don’t.

“No honey don’t worry about that. I was just caught off guard. Do you want to know what I told him?” He asks me, his voice sounding playful almost as if he is smiling.

“If you want to tell me.”

“Well when he walked in here all worked up about me dating his sister, and after clearing up who his sister was to begin with. Which babe, I don’t think he was too happy knowing I didn’t know he was your brother. I told him I’m completely in love with his sister, and in not so many words, that I intend to make his sister utterly happy for as long as I’m breathing,” he says and I smile big.

“What did he say to that?”

“He looked surprised. Believe it or not I am not known in the business world as a softy, and he knows that. He mumbled that he could bet money Nick hated me, and I laughed. That broke whatever tension there was when he first came in. Then he said he probably should give you a call, so heads up.”

“Well that’s good, and Nick doesn’t hate you. I mean right now he thinks you’re an idiot, but that will work itself out. He even sounded happy we were back together last night,” I say without thinking.

“I’m glad. I’m glad he was there for Penny’s recital,” he says and I stand still.

“How did you know he was there for Penny’s recital Mike?” I ask and he stays silent for a long minute and sighs.

“I was there. I had promised her… I couldn’t break that promise. I’m pretty sure she saw me. Baby… I am so sorry about everything…” I could hear the guilt eating at him. He needs to know that for me, when we worked through stuff it is done and I won’t be holding it up over his head later on.

“Don’t babe, we will work through it all okay. Plus I thought she saw you but when I looked over, I didn’t see anyone there, and before you ask, the boys loved the game, Nick took them.”

“I should probably let you rest before your big interview. I miss you baby. Call me later?” he says, his voice sweet and maybe laced with a little sadness. He doesn’t like to say good bye. I don’t either. Being here so far away from him, I wonder if I will even be able to leave his side to come work here.

***

Mike

“Okay baby. Miss you. I’ll call you later. Make sure to eat something okay.” she says to me her voice sounding a little sad.

I hated being so far away from her, especially after I had just got her back. I couldn’t lie to myself and say I wasn’t worried, because I sure as hell was.
I just had to breath
, I reminded myself. I knew she loved me, regardless of the fact that she hadn’t said the words back. I knew she did with the confidence that I knew that the sky was freaking blue. I cleared my mind and got up to head to another meeting I was already running late to.

I couldn’t wait till this evening. My plan was already in motion. I had already taken steps to making sure that she would know completely what she meant to me. How much I loved her and the kids.

Mike

Standing in front of her parents house, my heart beats furiously. Her mom opens the door and smiles at me.

“Mike. What a nice surprise.” Mary Thompson stands there smiling at me.

“Hi Mrs. Thompson, I was wondering if I could speak with you and Mr. Thompson, and the kids.”

“It’s Mary honey, please come in,” she says smiling. “You know the kids are here?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“By that smile on your face, should I assume you made things right? Or am I going to have to smack you across the head?” she asked jokingly, trying to scowl, and I laugh.

“Yes Ma’am I fixed things with Sabrina.” I am surprised when I see relief wash over her face.

“Thank God,” she whispers, then clears her voice. “Come in,” she says.

“Joe! We got company,” she yells and smiles at me. “Come with me to the kitchen. Would you like something to drink?”

“No I am okay thank you.” She nods, and I follow her into the kitchen. Joe Thompson looks surprised to see me then frowns.

“Mike, how are you son?” he asks extending his hand. I reach over to shake it and wince when he grips mine hard.

”I’m good sir.”

“Good, how can we help you?” he asks, still not letting go on the death grip he has around my hand. Guessing by that alone, I am pretty sure he knows I had hurt Sabrina.

“Joe let the boy sit down. I’m sorry Mike. Please sit down. You sure you don’t want anything to eat or drink? I just made a fresh pot of coffee and made some chocolate cake with Penny earlier.”

“It sounds good, but I’m okay,” I say sitting down. The three of us around their family table, I look at them and take a deep breath.

“I know you are both aware that Sabrina and I have been getting to know one another, and that well…”

“You broke her heart?” Joe says looking me straight in the eyes. Joe Thompson isn’t someone that beats around the bush, and I should have been a little more prepared, but I am here now, and need to tread through.

“I … yes, I hurt her…”

“Why?” Joe asks, looking sternly at me. Mary picks up her coffee mug sipping it quietly. She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t look embarrassed over her husband’s questions, which in reality, makes me happy to think that Sabrina and the kids have such strong people that watch over them, and a thought strikes me. If Sabrina and I have kids, they will be just as protective and I want to smile at this thought but don’t.