Page 78 of Hold You Close
“I get that.”
She places the bottle down and sighs. “I didn’t plan on you again. I didn’t plan for Chris, Morgan, and Ruby to be this important to my entire life. I love them, I always have, but they’re like my own children now. I never would’ve put my career on the back burner, and that’s what I’ve done.”
I pull her a little closer to me since her guard is down a bit. “Is that what happened today?”
London shakes her head. “Yes and no. I was reminded in a not-so-subtle way that over the last month, I’ve let my personal life overshadow the furthering of my career. I’m late, I leave early, I’m unable to complete tasks on time, and they’ve noticed.”
This is why I could never work for someone else. I am a smart enough man not to say that to her though. I’ve never seen her this depressed about work. London loves her boring-ass job. For whatever reason, she gets off on all that accounting crap. I would rather be with people, but that’s not her. Never has been.
She’s a perfectionist and it must be eating her alive to have them point out her slips.
“What can I do?” I decide to be the man, give her support and options. I want to fix this for her, but I learned a long time ago that London will say no, even if it’s the best plan ever. “Tell me how to make this better for you.”
Her hand touches my chest and I watch her guard drop. “You’re so sweet. Well, most of the time.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy with you, Ian. You make me happy, and God, I’m such a bitch for snapping like that. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
And I’m the hero again. Take that, Morgan.
“Don’t apologize. I’ve missed fighting with you.”
She shakes her head with a smile. “You would.”
“I do,” I explain. “You’re fucking sexy as hell when you’re pissed off.”
London’s hands move up my chest. “So all those years were what? Foreplay?”
“Pretty much.” I’m not ashamed to say it. I love a woman who will stand her ground, can fight back, and the fact that she’s hot as fuck doesn’t hurt either.
“You’re such a dick.” London’s conviction is lacking.
“If the kids weren’t outside, I’d lay you on this countertop and fuck you so hard,” I tell her as my cock gets hard.
It doesn’t take much when it comes to her.
London brings her lips to mine, brushing them softly but not touching completely. “I have another idea.”
“Yeah?” I ask, trying to gather any self-control I have.
“Uh huh. They can’t see through those windows,” she reminds me and then drops to her knees, while I look outside. “The island gives us another layer to let me blow your mind.”
Then London pulls my bathing suit down and does exactly what she promised, while I thank God I came inside the house to find her.
Eighteen
London
Three weeks later, I get the promotion.
“What am I going to do, Eli?” I ask him as he rubs against my ankle. “What the fuck am I going to do?”
The offer validates all my hard work. It means my entire career meant something. But I have to lose everything personal to have it.
Ian and I will never work cross-country. He has his club so there’s not a chance in hell he’s coming to New Jersey. I’m going to have to leave the kids that I love more than my own life. It’s just . . . impossible.
How do I choose?
