Here for You (12 page)

“Are you going to wear my jersey to bed every night?”

She laughs and the sound hits me as much as her kisses. “Maybe.”

“I prefer nothing, but I’ll accept the jersey as long as there’s nothing underneath it.”

“How will you know what I’m wearing to bed?”

“Because I intend to convince you to stay here.”

I slide part of my body weight off her knowing I’ve got to be crushing her, and she smiles up at me. She rolls and jumps off the bed, heading into the bathroom. I see her disappear behind the door, and I groan as I try to will away my painful desire for her.

I make my way out to the kitchen. Even though I’m normally up earlier, I need coffee this morning. I turn on the Keurig and I hear her walk into the kitchen while I’m waiting for it to heat up.

“Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

I reach into the cupboard and pull out two cups. When I turn, I see that she’s still wearing just the jersey, and it makes me groan again.

She circles her hand in a motion over me. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous this body is?”

I chuckle. “No. Can’t say anyone ever says that to me.”

“Real funny. I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times. You need to put a shirt on, or I’m going to start drooling all over your place.”

I set the mugs down on the counter by the Keurig and walk over to her. I lift her up on to the counter and move to stand between her legs. “Ash, I was serious when I said I don’t hear that. And if you’re going to run around my house in just my jersey, then I think it’s only fair if you have to suffer too.”

Something changes in her expression. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“No way. You look damn hot.”

She cocks her head to the side. “Not about that, about you. Do you really not know how absolutely perfect you are?”

“Far from it.”

“Cam, I’m being serious.”

“Well, you’re one of one in that camp.”

She’s tracing circles on my chest, and it’s taking all my willpower not to haul her off into my bedroom for the entire day. I can’t explain what it is but I just want to be around her. I’d love to be doing those things, but even if I’m not I just want her near me. It’s selfish because I can’t offer her what she deserves, but damn if she doesn’t make my world right.

I turn away from her to make a cup of coffee. I hand her the first one and turn back to make a second cup.

“I have meetings this morning, and then after my workout, I’m going to head up to the beach house to hang with Cameron and Monica. Any interest?”

“I’d love to, but I have to go in to work for a while today. Someone has caused me to slack off the last couple of days.”

I know she has a company to run and I’ve taken her out of her normal routine, but I immediately feel empty knowing I will not see her the rest of the day.

“Not to make the conversation awkward, but I would love to have you at whatever games you can make it to. Do you need to look at your schedule?”

“What is your schedule next week?”

“We’re on the road Monday through Wednesday and back in town Friday through Sunday. I fly tonight to Boston. I’ll be home by Thursday afternoon.”

“Are you pitching at all?”

“I need to confirm with Coach today but probably not.” I grab my cup off the maker and walk over closer to her.

“Is it possible for me to steal you on Saturday night just for an hour or two, assuming you don’t have to pitch Sunday?”

“Of course. What do you have in mind?”

“It’s a work function. Sorry. But it’s a launch party for a new brand that we’ve been working on. I put Charlie in charge of the account, which I now regret. Anyhow, I’d feel much better if I had you with me.”

I set my cup down on the counter and wrap my arms around her pulling her to the edge of the counter close to me. “Is that the only reason you want me to come?”

“No. I want you to come as my date. What if I tell you I will come to the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?”

“Only if you want to. I’ll make it work either way.”

“Will you tell me if you’re going to pitch Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday? I’ll try to make it fit in my schedule if you’re going to be pitching.”

“Highly unlikely that I pitch during those games. Although I’m tempted to tell you I might just so you come stay with me.”

“Wouldn’t that be a distraction?”

“Last night is the first time I’ve slept through the night since the accident. So I think any distraction you provide will be more than countered by helping me sleep all night.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Apparently just having you in my arms was enough.”

She wraps her legs around my waist, and I love the feel of her body against mine.

“I’m glad I could be of help.”

I press my lips to her forehead and just hold them there for a while, knowing I’m going to have to leave for the day very soon. I want to take in the feel and smell of her so it’s in my memory.

“Everything about you helps me.”

I hate calling Lizzy on the weekend, but I really need her to rearrange my schedule next week so I can spend at least one night on the road with Cam. It nearly broke my heart when he told me he hasn’t slept through the night since the accident. Knowing I can provide a full night of sleep for him is more than enough reason for me to adjust my schedule. I have a meeting scheduled with a big client late in the week in New York, so I just need to try and push that up to early in the week. The rest of my schedule can be managed around my travel.

When I hear her voice in my doorway, I cringe. I have successfully avoided her most of the last month, but I have no excuse to run from my office on a Sunday. Hardly anyone else is in the building, so I can’t say I’m late for a meeting.

“Yes, Amber?” I sigh.

“Why are you avoiding Charlie?”

I look up at her. Sometimes I wonder how it’s possible that we were raised in the same household. The only similarity we have is in physical appearance. Our hair is almost the same shade of blonde. Her eyes lean more toward brown than green, but they’re still a similar unique color. She’s a couple inches shorter, but we have the same lean build. It’s no wonder Charlie turned to her.

The biggest difference between us is that I run the company and have always been involved. We’re lucky if she graces us with her presence once a week at the office. Even though she inherited a large percentage of the ownership, she does absolutely nothing to help other than sit in on board meetings. She pretends to help on accounts, but I’m not naïve enough to believe she’s actually contributing anything of value other than her appearance at select events.

“Do I really need to justify that question with an answer?”

She moves into my office so she’s standing just on the other side of my desk. “Yes, you do. Just because we slept together one time doesn’t mean you should shut him out.”

I close my eyes before I respond. A couple deep breaths should help. “Amber, I’m not sure if you’re here because Charlie sent you or because you woke up this morning with a conscience. But either way, I don’t care what you think. You slept with my fiancé. I don’t know how much more black and white this can get. I’m not taking him back. Ever.”

“But I just think—”

“Amber. End of discussion.”

“Fine. He says you’re hiding something from him.”

I roll me eyes. “I’m sure there are many
somethings
I’m keeping from him because he is no longer my fiancé and not someone I choose to share things with.”

“He thinks you’re doing something to sabotage him.”

Shit
. I’m going to need Advil after this conversation. I put my head down and circle my fingertips around my temples. “He works for me and his failure would mean a failure at the company. Do you think I’m that broken up over Charlie to sabotage something at my own company?”

“Our company.” She puts her hand on her hip and cocks her head at me.

“Seriously? Just because Dad left you a percentage of the ownership doesn’t make this company yours. Yes, you have a financial stake, but you don’t provide any value, so it’s my company. You just happen to own part of it.”

I’m convinced this company is what put a bigger wedge between us. She never felt like she was good enough in our dad’s eyes. She hated that I worked alongside him and he praised me when I did something successful at work. By the time she was old enough to work at the company, she didn’t even bother trying to prove herself capable.

She had already made the decision to hate both Dad and me. Even though you would think our parents dying the way they did maybe would have brought us closer, it did the opposite. At first I was so busy trying to make sure the company didn’t falter that I didn’t have time to grieve or to be there for my sister. She resented that just like she resented my success.

I do regret that I couldn’t be there for her at first, but I’m done trying to make up for something we’ve never had. Nothing I’ve done deserved my sister sleeping with my fiancé. I can’t continue to hold all the guilt or put the full blame on myself because she’s the one that intentionally lashed out. My focus on the company was a necessity for the stability of our future, and nothing I’ve ever done that’s hurt her has been intentional.

“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “Either way I want to know what you’re doing that has Charlie suspicious.”

“I’m going to need some details so I can narrow it down. If I sat and told you everything I’m doing, we would be here until tomorrow. Somehow I don’t think you can find that kind of time in your social calendar.”

“We’re both keeping an eye on you, Ashley.”

I manage to hold in the burst of laughter that almost flies out. This girl is such a spoiled brat and doesn’t know a damn thing about the company. Anyone else, I mean
anyone
, could keep a better eye on me than she can.

I roll my eyes. “I hear ya loud and clear. I’ll be sure to watch what I’m doing now.”

She knows there is absolutely nothing she can say, so she turns and starts stomping out of my office. Yes. She really is stomping like a pouting spoiled brat. “Oh, and Amber. You might want to be nicer to your sister considering I control your monthly stipend. For example, sleeping with my significant other is not a wise decision.”

She turns and laughs, but I can see the fear in her eyes. She stares at me for a few seconds, probably deciding if she wants to push me or not. “Good thing for me you only ever had one significant other. It should be a while before you find time to let another one into your life, so I guess I’m safe for a while.”

“Consider this a fair warning either way. One more incident like that and you will be cut off.”

Her mouth opens, but she wisely chooses to close it. She whips her head around and continues storming out of my office.

At least the threat of no money will keep her quiet and out of my hair for a while. Charlie is another issue that I’m sick of dealing with. I’m not going to do anything before the launch party because the recognition we’re going to receive is too valuable to me. But after that I have to do something. I can’t have him harassing me anymore.

I call Mr. Roberts to reschedule my meeting. Thankfully he’s able to accommodate earlier in the week. I email the details to Lizzy so she can move around my flights and hotel rooms. Realizing it’s almost five, I pack up my laptop and the documents I’m going to need for the week. I’m flying out first thing in the morning and will not be back until Thursday evening. I plan on going to the home games later in the week and with the event on Saturday night, I know it’s going to be an exhausting week.

I stop to pick up take-out from one of my favorite Chinese restaurants so I don’t have to cook. As I pull up to my house I see a figure on my front porch. When I realize who it is, I try to keep my anger in check. I changed the locks on my house and the security code, but I still haven’t changed the gate lock, which means Charlie is able to get onto my porch. I keep driving and pull over a block later. I grab my phone out of my purse. Knowing he will eventually need to leave, I call Quinn so I can head to her place for a while.

“Hey, Ash. What’s up?”

“Can I come over to your place for a few hours?”

“Sure. No problem.” She hesitates. “Can you make it like an hour from now?” I want to roll my eyes at her but actually I’m happy for my friend that she seems to have found someone that has kept her hooked. “Johnny is leaving for the airport then.”

I sigh. Not because I’m upset with her in the least but because I’m annoyed Charlie continues to interrupt my life. “Yeah, I’ll be over in an hour. Thanks.”

She must sense the annoyance in my voice. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Charlie is sitting on my porch, and I don’t feel like dealing with him right now.”

“Ash, don’t you think you need to do something about this? He can’t show up at your house all the time. I know he just wants to talk, but you shouldn’t have to avoid your own home.”

“I’ll deal with it next week after the launch party.”

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

“Yeah.”

I hang up with Quinn and debate my options for the next hour. I could call Cam and see if he’s back from the beach house, but I don’t want to feel needy. Screw it. I’m going back to my house and dealing with this. I can’t let him control my life.

Before I pull away from the curb my phone rings. I know it’s Cam calling when the music starts playing. Slightly suspicious that he’s calling so soon after my conversation with Quinn, I cautiously pick it up.

“Hey,” I say with a little too much forced enthusiasm.

“
Ashley
.”

Even though I know I’m about to get scolded I can’t help myself. “Yes,
Cameron
.”