One to Keep (One to Hold) (20 page)

She met my gaze. “I was actually thinking about the school and my job.”

“You’re so good at it. I was very impressed.”

A little smile crossed her lips. “I do love it, but I’m so distracted this year.”

“Why?”

“My thoughts just go to the most unexpected places.” My arms were still tight around her, and she shook her head, looking down. “There’s a little boy, Cooper, in my class, and he has this light brown hair and hazel eyes. He’s so cute, and every time I look at him, I catch myself thinking of you.”

I kissed her cheek. “You want to play sexy teacher?”

“Not like that,” she laughed a little, but her voice was thoughtful. “I think about how he could be yours.”

I smiled and kissed her forehead. “I’m pretty sure I don’t have any children.”

“But you will.”

“Wait…” The realization of what she was saying hit me then. “You’re thinking about my children?”

Her cheeks turned the softest shade of pink. “I don’t know,” she said. “Cooper just made me think about it.”

“When I get back I’m going to talk to Derek about relocating to Wilmington.” The idea had been in my head, but I wasn’t ready to say the words until now. “I’ll get my own place, of course.”

“What?” Her brow was lined, but her eyes were shining. “You’d do that?”

“Yes.” Nothing had ever felt more certain in my life. “I like the coast, I can telecommute easily—”

A smile curled the side of her mouth. “You like the coast? That’s your reason?”

“And I’m in love with you.”

She laughed and hugged me closer. Her happiness was contagious. I was happier than I’d been in a long time as I held her, kissed her lips, her neck, glanced around and cursed the several beachcombers sharing the location with us.

In that moment, all my issues felt settled. The search ended here. I was where I belonged in Elaine’s arms, and nothing would ever change that. What I’d dealt with these past few days only solidified that fact in my mind. She was my forever.

Chapter 18 – Blue Suede Shoes

My decision, our last day on the beach, our first night at her apartment, all of it was on my mind the entire week. Derek was in Dallas following up with our phishing client, and Nikki was visiting a sick relative, so I was alone in the office with plenty of time to work out the details. By Friday, when he returned, I was ready to lay out a timeline for my relocation.

It would take at least a month to get my business in order, find a place in Wilmington, and see if I could get out of my lease here. I could keep up with our cases from both locations, Derek and I could meet regularly for teleconferences, audio-only or with video, and we could use email and texting for anything urgent. If something major happened, I could always drive in. Firms did it all the time. Besides, with the way he traveled, I was alone in the office most of the time anyway. I hoped my plans would come together easily and I could be in the same city with Elaine by Christmas. I wanted to spend every moment of that holiday with her.

When I heard him making noises down the hall, I hit the button on my office phone. “Got any plans for lunch?” I asked when he answered. I’d give him the morning to catch up before springing the news.

“Building C?” I heard his fingers clicking on the laptop keys.

“Meet you out front at noon.”

As always, Derek was in a suit and tie, I was in jeans and a thin, navy sweater. November wasn’t cold enough for outerwear, but as we crossed the pentagon-shaped courtyard, I could feel the change coming. A few trees still held shades of red, yellow, orange, and gold. Autumn was ending—the best time of year here. Of course, everything felt like the best to me now.

“What’s on your mind?” Derek glanced over, and I noticed a different light in his blue eyes, like something had happened. I was curious, but I had to talk to him about my plans first. Saying it straight out felt like the best approach.

“I’m moving to Wilmington.”

He nodded as we approached Building C. I caught the handle on the glass doors and held it as he entered.

“I expected that was coming,” he said.

“But I’d like to stay on with the firm.”

He didn’t answer as we glanced over the menu selection. Then we each ordered the bacon club.

“While you were gone this week, I worked out the details,” I continued. “It shouldn’t be a problem. We can keep up by video and emails, and who knows…”

I was about to say he might be joining me before long, but I didn’t want to cloud the issue. Still, with Melissa back in her hometown, minutes away from Elaine, anything was possible.

We paid for lunch and took a seat at the stainless bar that ran around the glass outer wall. Derek didn’t speak as he unwrapped the large sandwich, and I followed suit, waiting. I took a bite, and the savory tang of bacon on top of turkey and cheddar filled my mouth. As much as he and Nikki complained about this place, I’d never had a bad meal here.

After a few more bites, Derek finally responded. “I think it’s a good idea.”

My eyebrows rose. I’d prepared for a little debate before he caved to my expert planning. I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. The change in his expression was on my mind, and I wondered if it had anything to do with his easy concession.

“How’d it go in Dallas?” I asked, snagging a chip and popping it in my mouth. Greasy, salty, good.

He nodded, finishing another bite. “They’re very happy with our work. Want us to consider handling all their online security going forward.”

“Hell, yeah,” I said with a smile. That corporation was worth several billion and was multi-national. We could both retire on an account like that. “I guess that’s why you’re onboard with whatever.”

“Yeah.” He lifted the soft drink he’d ordered and took a sip, and since he wasn’t arguing with me, I was ready to get to the bottom of his change.

“So what happened?” I sat back.

He glanced up and then shrugged. “I just presented what we’d found, showed them all the steps we’d taken to prevent future problems—”

“I’m talking about you. You’re not so… devastated anymore. If that’s the right word.”

He picked up a salt packet and tilted it back and forth between his fingers. I waited a few moments, wondering if he was going to tell me.

“Melissa’s back in Wilmington,” he said.

I remembered my encounter with her last week. She looked really good when we’d talked—worried that I had Derek with me, but good. Confident. The dark suit and professional demeanor helped. She wasn’t the timid little kitten she’d been in Scottsdale. Studying the massive guy in front of me, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the hold she had on him. She was tiny, but she was powerful.

“Right,” I finally said. “Maybe one day we can relocate the entire office.”

His dark brows lifted slightly, and he shook his head. “I don’t know.”

I couldn’t resist. The anticipation of moving, of being so close to Elaine, had me wanting to brighten everyone’s day. “She’ll come around. Elaine says she still has feelings for you. It’s just a matter of time.”

His blue eyes snapped to me then. “Watch what you say to Elaine. I’m pretty sure Melissa doesn’t like being told what to do.”

That made me laugh. “No, she does
not
. Which should make you her perfect match.”

He stood and took a few bills from his pocket. “I don’t need good intentions backfiring.”

I followed suit, clearing out so the busboys could prep for the next round of customers. Outside, the breeze had picked up, and it was starting to look like rain. I wished Elaine and I were spending the weekend together, but she had a teaching workshop all day Saturday. And I figured I’d get started on the relocation process.

Derek was quiet as we approached our building. I still wasn’t satisfied with the answer he’d given me, why he was so changed. “So Melissa in Wilmington is the only reason you’re better?”

“I’ve been watching Sloan Reynolds,” he said. “Their divorce is going through, and his behavior is growing more erratic. It won’t be long before he steps out of line again, and I’m going to nail him.”

“And Melissa will forgive you.”

He exhaled heavily as the doors opened. “I hope it’ll show her how much she means to me” The hint of sadness was back.

“How do you know that guy again?” We waited for the elevators and he looked down.

“When I taught at Princeton, they had this volunteer program. He showed me the ropes—where everything was. They called it mentoring, but it was really just an orientation.”

“So you weren’t friends?” We were outside the office, and I felt like I understood their connection better.

“I don’t know,” he continued. “We went for drinks a few times. I told him about my business, offered to do a free analysis of his family’s networks.”

“Yeah, but that’s just run-of-the mill marketing.”

He nodded. “When he emailed me… I would never have thought to investigate
him
before agreeing to track Melissa.” It sounded like an argument he’d told himself before. “He was worried his wife was having an affair. It seemed so cut and dried.”

I patted him on the back as we entered the glass doors. “It’s going to work out,” I said. “Let me know if I can help. I’ll do whatever I can.”

“Thanks.”

* * *

My phone was vibrating as I walked up to my apartment. Seeing Elaine’s name on the face made me smile.

Where are you?
her text said.

Just getting home
, I typed back.
Wish you were here.

The air had grown thicker since lunch, and I could taste the pending rain. Damn. Nothing would be sweeter than spending a long, stormy weekend wrapped in Elaine’s arms. Another buzz. I paused when I saw Kenny’s name flashing on the screen, and at the same time I remembered Elaine still thought Kenny was a guy. I needed to clear that up next time we were together.

Hello—you alive? Hot weekend plans?
I couldn’t help a smile. I’d give her a call later and catch her up. Way too much had happened for texting.

Solo weekend
, I wrote back.
Lots to do and tell you.

Ditto
, she replied.

I was just lowering the phone when two cool hands covered my eyes. “Whoa!” I reached up to catch them, but the owner jumped around in front of me in a glint of green and golden blonde.

Elaine’s arms were around my neck and her mouth pressed to mine before I could say another word. Warmth flooded my chest, and I quickly shoved the phone in my back pocket and pulled her to me, pressing her back against the door as our mouths opened, tongues entwining.

“What are you doing here?” I breathed, breaking our kiss just long enough to unlock my apartment.

“Are you surprised?” Her lips were right at my ear, and her breath tickled my skin before she kissed me, sending her soft, almost-rose scent all around me.

“Yes.” Surprised and all kinds of awake from my head to my toes. I pushed the door closed and lifted her off the floor, my hands cupping her ass. “And now I’m horny as hell.”

She laughed, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her nose wrinkled with her smile. “I don’t really have a school workshop. I called a sub and drove all day so I could do this.” She held my face as she peppered kisses over my cheeks, my nose, my lips. Everything she did was burning me up. “Surprise!”

“Let me help you get it exactly right,” I said, carrying her straight to the bedroom.

She laughed again, and our bodies never lost contact as we slid back onto my bed. My hands fumbled down to the edge of her skirt and then under it. I curled a finger around the string of her thong and pulled it aside. She exhaled a moan, and the sound was like electricity straight to my cock. I was hard as flint and ready to be deep inside her.

“Damn, girl, you’re already wet.” My mouth was against her neck and her fingers were quickly undoing the buttons on her blouse.

“I’ve been thinking about you,” she said. “And how you’ll like this…”

Her shirt was open and she swept it back. My brow collapsed at the sight of a hot-red, lacy bra barely covering her breasts. “Fuck me,” I groaned.

“That’s exactly why I got it.” She gave me that naughty smile I loved.

“Thank you,” I said, kissing the soft peaks, pushed up and together in perfect mounds. I could just see the dark tops of her nipples peeking above the shallow cups, and it took all my strength not to lose it, to go slow, keep her with me.

A little noise came from her throat as my tongue slid around one of the pink buds, and her fingers were at my waist, quickly unfastening my pants. My hand hadn’t left her clit, massaging softly but firmly with my thumb, while my fingers slid in and out of her. Her hips faintly rocked with my movements, and it was all fucking hot as hell. But my thoughts scrambled when her hand wrapped around my cock and started stroking, moving quickly up and down.

Mouths back together, my groan was lost in her kiss, in her soft lips pushing mine apart as our tongues met. I felt her hand getting slicker as it moved up and down my dick. I was starting to come, and my hips flexed as I held it back, trying to think of something other than her gorgeous body, her perfect tits, her lips covering mine.