Page 104 of In Good Company

“Yes?”

“I also got a little push to stop wallowing and to do something about it.”

She smiles. “Was it also Jude?”

I shake my head, for some reason nervous to tell her the truth. “It was Ollie. He asked to meet at the club. We got to talking, and I told him how I felt about you. He’s the one who pushed me to come here…”

My words fall short as I try to gauge her reaction. She stares at me for a moment with an unreadable look on her face. Finally, her lips spread into a genuine smile. “That was nice of him.” She stands on her tiptoes again and places a soft kiss against my lips. Her mouth moves against mine with her next words. “I’m glad he did.”

I let out a breath, not realizing how tight my entire body was as I told her that. “The reason he wanted to talk to begin with was because he wanted to mend things between us. He seemed older, more mature. He asked me to be the best man at his wedding to Sophia.”

The last sentence comes out rushed. I’m nervous to see her reaction. I know she loves me, and she’s made it clear things with Ollie were never as serious as she once thought. I just don’t want her to be upset that he’s marrying her old best friend.

The smile doesn’t leave Lucy’s lips. Her hands tighten on the fabric of my shirt. “I’m happy for them, Cal. I can’t wait to be the hot best man’s plus-one.”

All the tension leaves my body at her words. “I’ll have the hottest date there.”

Her fingers begin to undo the buttons of my shirt. “I love you,” she tells me, her eyes focusing on her task.

“I love you too, baby,” I respond, groaning when her palms hit the bare skin of my chest. She slowly pushes the shirt off me.

“I choose you,” she adds with conviction. “I promise to always choose you.” Her fingers roam along my abs as she reacquaints herself with my body.

“Baby,” I rasp, trying to hold myself back as her fingers play with the waistband of my pants.

It appears she’s being a tease because her hands travel up my body before she wraps her arms around my neck. “I know I said this when my parents were with us…but thank you. For tonight. For everything.”

I tuck her hair behind her ear and really look at the woman I love. I’d do anything for her, and tonight was just the beginning of us planning a life together. “Don’t thank me. We’re in this together, Lucy Rae. I’m just so fucking relieved you’re letting me shoulder some of the responsibility with you.”

Her answer is to kiss me all over again, a small moan leaving her lips as my fingers tangle in her hair.

We’re still working things out, but it was clear after talking with her parents that the right thing to do is to ask Alec to take over the furniture store. He’s been with them all along and has more than earned his right to take it over. I told Lucy’s parents I could get them with the best business lawyers to talk about a partnership between them and Alec. I even already have ideas of some suppliers they could get into the store that would really make business boom. Lucy seemed relieved to pass on the store to Alec, mentioning that he deserves it more than she does and is far more equipped.

When we’d gotten to the discussion of Lucy coming back to the Hamptons for the summer and then to Manhattan to continue her work and be with me, she seemed unsure. Both her dad and mom insisted she get back out of Virginia, but Icould tell it made her uneasy. Finally, we came up with the idea of hiring help for them around the house as well. That way, Lucy’s mom can get a break when she needs it and won’t have to handle everything on her own.

I haven’t mentioned this to her yet, but I also plan on buying a house here in Virginia, close to her parents. That way, with a house nearby and my private jet, Lucy can come visit her parents any time she wants. I don’t want her to think that being together means she can’t spend time with them. Now, she’ll be able to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants.

“Want to break some rules with me?” Lucy asks, pulling away from the kiss. Her fingers skirt across the waistband of my chinos again.

Her father’s warning pops into my mind. He’d been adamant about us keeping the door open if I were to stay here with her tonight.

I groan, my head falling back as her fingers drift underneath my waistband. “I just met your dad. I don’t want him to hate me.”

Lucy laughs, her fingers undoing the button of my pants. “He won’t hate you. He loves you, I promise. Plus, we’ll be quiet.” Her eyes meet mine as she playfully bites her lip. “I’ve missed you, babe. I need you.”

I can’t say no to her. I grab the fabric of her shirt and hastily strip her of it, needing her just as badly as she needs me.

Neither one of us says a word as we continue to pull each other’s clothes off until we’re left with nothing between us.

We get lost in each other, in the feeling of being together once again. And once our desires are satisfied, at least for the moment, we lie awake all night talking. She tells me all about her life, her brothers, and answers any questions I ask. Neither one of us holds back as we fully get to know one another. We’reboth honest and open, and by the time we both drift off to sleep, I’m more in love with her than I’ve ever been.

Something I didn’t even know was possible.

FIFTY-FOUR

LUCY

“I have a gift I want to give you before we head out,” Cal announces, his arms wrapping around my middle as he brings my back to his front.

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