Текст книги "Beauty and the Boss"

Автор книги: Diane Alberts

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

Chapter Seventeen

A week and a half later, on December Twenty-third, Maggie stood outside in the cool sunlight, wearing jeans and a plaid shirt and feeling anything but merry. They’d been busily cleaning out the house ever since she’d arrived, brokenhearted after realizing that Benjamin hadn’t cared about her, and never would. He’d used her to get his fiancée back, and she’d fallen for every single word he’d said.

Like the stupid, naive idiot she was. Well, not anymore. She was done. With New York City. And him. Just…done. She didn’t belong in that city, or his world.

Since she wasn’t going back to New York, she would never have to see him or his deep blue eyes ever again. And she couldn’t be happier about that. Ecstatic. Thrilled. Happy as a pig in mud, or a horse with a fresh pile of straw.

Rolling her eyes, she tossed the garbage in the can.

Even she didn’t believe herself.

She was miserable, flat out miserable, and she missed him more than she’d have ever thought possible. He’d left a hole in her soul that she was beginning to suspect would never be filled, and he didn’t even know how much he broke her heart.

And that hurt, too.

But for the sake of her parents, she’d been doing her best to act as if there was nowhere she’d rather be than back home, because if she didn’t, they would feel bad. They’d been through enough already.

Mrs. Gale, for her part, had held to the bargain…so far.

She’d offered an extremely generous buying price, and her parents had accepted. They were now looking for a new home to buy with the profits, and had also started a job search. Everything was working out the best that it possibly could, and everyone was happy, all things considered.

Everyone except Maggie.

Benjamin kept calling and leaving voicemails on her cell, but she hadn’t listened to any of them. If he left long messages thanking her for giving him what he’d always wanted…she’d throw up all over herself. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy for him. She was. But she would rather die than listen to him tell her how happy he was.

Especially when she so wasn’t.

The farm truck flew up the driveway and skidded to a stop. Maggie squinted and held a hand over her brows, shielding her vision from the sun. “What the—?”

“Maggie!” Her mom hopped out like the freaking Energizer bunny on crack, brandishing a piece of paper over her head like some kind of award. “Look! Come look!”

She dusted off her hands and bolted to her mother’s side, her heart leaping. If Helen had backed out last minute… “What? What is it?”

“We’ve been awarded a grant. Some big league heavy hitter in New York paid off our debt and is letting us keep the farm.” She waved the paper again. “Some sort of new forgiveness program for little food-producing farms like ours. Can you believe it?”

No. She couldn’t believe it.

Not at all.

She snatched the letter out of her hand, skimming over it. Sure enough, she saw exactly what she expected to see. Benjamin Gale’s name on the letter. But…why would he do that? He’d done the very thing she’d asked him not to do. He paid her off.

After breaking her heart.

The anger and hurt rose up, choking her, but she forced a smile for her mother’s benefit, because now that he’d done it, there was no going back. Her parents got to keep the farm, which was great, but it had come from the man who’d ruined her…which was not so freaking great. “Wow. Go tell Dad. He’ll be so happy.”

“I know.” Her mother hugged her, and ran off for the house. “Glen!”

She let the smile fade as soon as her mom went inside. How dare he pay off her debt, as if that made up for all the lies he’d told her? All the pain he’d caused?

It didn’t.

And she would tell him as much.

She took her phone out of her pocket at the same time as an unfamiliar SUV pulled up the driveway. She watched, dread settling in the pit of her stomach as it slowed down and stopped. The driver’s brown hair…

It looked a heck of a lot like Benjamin’s hair.

But it couldn’t be him.

The Benjamin she knew wouldn’t have left the office if a tornado swept through it. He would have chained himself to the desk and kept on working, so there was no way he was here, in South Dakota.

Then the door popped open and out he came, wearing an expensive three-piece gray suit, shiny black loafers, and a pair of Gucci shades. He looked as out of place on her farm as he possibly could. Utterly ridiculous. Stupid, even.

And yet the suit hugged his hard biceps and tapered in at his six-pack abs, and God, he looked delicious at the same time. And that made her even angrier.

How dare he come here? How dare he?

After all he’d done, after how he’d made her feel, he had the nerve to show his face on her turf, looking handsome as the devil himself and staring at her as if he’d been as hungry for the sight of her as she’d been for him, which was a big, fat lie.

Just as all the other things he’d told her had been.

She wrapped her arms around herself, not approaching him, and called out, “You can get right back in that car and drive off. You’re not welcome here, Mr. Gale.”

“No.” He came around the front of his shiny Cadillac, his jaw hard and his hands curled into fists. God, he looked so good. It wasn’t fair. None of this was. “I’m not going anywhere. Not until you hear me out. My messages—”

“You shouldn’t have come here.” She lifted her chin. “What would Elizabeth say?”

“I don’t give a damn what she would say.” He had the audacity to look confused. He stopped just short of arm’s reach, but close enough for her to smell his familiar cologne. She breathed it in deeply, closing her eyes against the pain it caused and the incredibly strong longing it brought to life. “Why should I?”

“Where is she? Did you tell her you were coming here?”

He blinked. “No. I didn’t feel the need to inform her of my whereabouts.”

“But you– It doesn’t matter.” Uncrossing her arms, she backed up. “If you won’t go, I will.”

“Wait.” He caught her arm. She hissed, because his touch burned through the fabric of her shirt, searing her. “Please, Maggie.”

“No.” She yanked free, stumbling back. He made as if to reach for her, but she scowled him off. “Don’t touch me.”

His fingers flexed, but he remained still. “I bought the farm for your parents. It’s safe now. They can stay here, and you can come home to New York.”

She shook her head. “I’m not going home, because it’s not my home. This is. Not that city. New York is for people like you, not me.”

“But—” Something that looked a lot like pain crossed his expression. “Did you listen to any of my messages?”

No. And she wouldn’t. But she lifted her chin and lied. After all, he was so good at it, so she might as well try her hand at it, too. “Yes. Every one of them. Twice.”

His jaw flexed. “And you still hate me, after all that I said?”

She didn’t answer him. She couldn’t. As hard as she’d tried, she couldn’t find it in her heart to hate him because she loved him. And that’s what made this even worse.

She loved him, and he was engaged to someone else.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” His nostrils flared. “And I meant every word I said in those messages. I’d do anything to go back. To do things differently.”

To do what differently?

Never ask me to be your fiancée?

“Just go, Benjamin. It’s over.”

“I—I see.” Reaching out, he brushed his knuckles across her cheekbone, sadness taking over his features. But why would he be sad? “I’m sorry, darling. I never meant to hurt you. Or to be like all the other guys in your life. And I never wanted you to hate me.”

She closed her eyes, shutting out him and his touch. “Go home, Benjamin. You don’t belong here any more than I belong in the city.”

“Can’t you forgive me? We could at least be friends.” He swallowed. “I don’t want to lose you completely, darling. Please.”

She shook her head once. “No.”

“I’m so fucking sorry, Maggie.” His touch lingered, and he moved closer, pressing his mouth against her forehead. “You were my one chance at happiness. My one shot at true love. Guess it just goes to show that guys like me don’t deserve love, or happiness. And I certainly don’t deserve you.”

With that, he got in his car and drove away.

By the time his words pierced through the thick shield of pain surrounding her, he was gone. Wait…had he just said he loved her? That she’d made him happy?

But what about Elizabeth? His mother hadn’t lied about that. She saw them kissing with her own eyes. So why was he talking about being in love with Maggie?

She ran her arm across her forehead, took a deep breath, and pulled her phone out. Swiping her finger across the screen, she opened her voicemail and braced herself to listen to them all. He’d called once a day, every day, and it was time to hear to what he had to say…like she should have done before sending him away.

She hit play on the newest message.

“Hey. It’s me again. I hope you’re not mad at me for doing what I did. I figured if your parents were safe and settled, maybe you’d be ready to come back home. You don’t want to talk to me, and I was an asshole the last time you saw me, but I…” He paused, and she held her breath. “I miss you, Maggie. I miss you so damn much it hurts. I’m alone again, and I should be used to that after being alone for years, but after having you in my life…I’m not. Come home to me. I’ll be waiting. I’ll wait for you forever, if that’s what it takes. You know what? Screw that. I’m coming to you, and I’m not leaving without you unless you tell me to. Even then, I won’t give up on you. I need you, darling.”

Click.

Hands shaking, she played the second newest message. “I’m miserable without you, Maggie. I’m even more of a beast than before. I’m sorry my mother did what she did to you, and I’m going to fix it. I’m going to save your farm. It’s not what you wanted, or what you expected, but I miss you. And I need you to come back to me and be mine again. Please.”

Click.

She listened to the rest of the messages, each one more or less the same. He missed her. He wanted her back. He was sorry. He didn’t love Elizabeth. He didn’t want to marry Elizabeth, and he never had, and she kissed him, not the other way around. It was all a ruse devised by his mother.

Of freaking course.

And she’d fallen for it.

Maggie collapsed into the rocking chair, since her legs would no longer support her, and stared up at the bright blue sky, phone held to her heart. He didn’t love Elizabeth. He wasn’t with her—and he wanted Maggie to come home to him.

God, she wanted to, because she loved him, and maybe he loved her, too.

Sure, he hadn’t said as much, but he’d left her ten messages begging her to come back because he missed her. And he’d taken a break from work, flown out here, and tried to get her to come back when she refused to answer his calls.

If that wasn’t love, she wasn’t sure what was.

Chapter Eighteen

Benjamin made his way toward the door as he fought through the crowd at the Met, trying his best not to look utterly bored and miserable. But he probably failed because he was both of those things, and he wasn’t in the fucking mood to pretend otherwise. While he used to be good at hiding his feelings, lately…well, he sucked ass at it.

He missed Maggie and her smile and her laugh and the way she made him laugh. Hell, he missed every damn thing about her. He’d been falling for her before she’d climbed under his table and announced he was her fiancé, and he’d fallen even harder after that. There was no coming back from that, and he didn’t want to.

He just wanted her to come back—into his arms and never leave again. But she made it pretty damn clear she wouldn’t. She was finished with him. Over him.

And he’d never be over her.

Paying off her parents’ debt like that had been a gamble. Going to see her had been an even bigger one. She didn’t like when he threw his money around, but they had been about to lose their farm, thanks to his mother. He couldn’t just do nothing. He’d done the right thing.

But she hated him. And he loved her.

Wasn’t that just fucking lovely?

Pushing the doors open, he stepped out into the cool night air, pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked for a reply from Maggie. A reply he wouldn’t get, but that didn’t stop him from hoping like a damn fool anyway. He’d sent her another text a couple of hours ago. She’d read it, but hadn’t replied.

The story of his life.

Dropping his phone back into his pocket, he sighed and leaned against the railing, staring out into the night. The snow fell from the sky in big flakes, and covered the streets below. Central park was lit up with Christmas lights, and that had always been his favorite part of the elaborate decorations, but he couldn’t enjoy it tonight. The city was picturesque at Christmas, but he didn’t even care.

He missed Maggie too damn much.

He hadn’t been lying when he told her he would wait forever if he had to…but he’d rather it not be that long. They’d already lost enough time together. “I’m coming back to you, and this time, I won’t leave until you love me, too,” he muttered under his breath. “And now I’m talking to myself, like you. Perfect.”

Taking his phone out, he called her. It, of course, went to voicemail. “I shouldn’t have left yesterday. I shouldn’t have listened to you. You might hate me, and you might never want to see me again, but I’m going to change that. Just watch me.”

He laughed and rubbed his jaw.

“I miss you so much that I’m talking to myself now. Yeah. You heard me right. So, guess what? Tomorrow, I’m getting back on a plane, and I’m coming out there. I’m going to find you, kiss you, and never let you go again. And I’m going to make you love me as much as I love you, one way or another, even if it takes a million years. So…there. See you soon. Merry Christmas, darling.”

He hung up, smiling for the first time in a week and a half. He was winning his Maggie back. One way or the other…she’d be his. For real, this time.

No make-believe. No pretend rings. Just them.

The door opened, and he stepped to the side to let whoever was exiting enjoy the balcony. When he smiled at them, ready to pass, he froze. “Andrew? What are you doing out here?”

“I wanted to talk to you.” Andrew shut the door and leaned against it, his gaze focused on Benjamin. “After what Mother pulled, I feel I owe you an explanation.”

Benjamin nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

“I never wanted to take your job, and when Mother had that dinner, I had no idea what I was walking into until it was too late. Next thing I know, she’s talking about motions, and people were agreeing with her, and I froze.”

Benjamin tried to ignore the dull pain at the idea of his brother silently letting people plot his termination, but it was impossible. “It’s okay.”

“But I never would have done it. You have to believe me.” Andrew stepped forward. “I wouldn’t have taken your job. You blame yourself for what happened with Father, but I never did. It happened quickly. It wasn’t your fault you weren’t there.”

“I know. And I believe you.”

Andrew blinked. “You do?”

“Yeah.”

He sagged against the door again. “Oh, thank God.”

“All’s well that ends well, right?” Benjamin asked.

“Right.”

“Did she tell you her other secret?” he asked.

Andrew cocked his head. “No. What secret?”

“Turns out, I’m not hers.” He laughed. “I’m his secretary’s son. Dad had an affair, apparently, and got me out of it. Mother covered it up out of shame.”

Andrew’s jaw dropped. “I had no idea. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. If anything, I’m happy.” He shrugged. “It’s not as if she loved me. She didn’t.”

“That’s not true,” Andrew argued weakly.

He stared at his brother, not arguing. They both knew she hated him. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m leaving soon, to find Maggie.”

Andrew perked up. “Speaking of which, she’s—”

“I’m going to get her back.” He stared at Central Park, smiling for the first time in a long time. “No matter how far I have to go, or what I have to do, I will get her back, and she’ll forgive me. I won’t live my life as miserable as our mother was.”

“I bet it won’t be as hard as you might think, brother.” Andrew opened the door, smiling. “Go get her.”

Dragging a hand through his hair, he went back inside, squeezing his brother’s shoulder as he passed. The second he stepped foot in the crowded ballroom, women his mother had “personally invited” converged on him, like ants fighting over the last crumb at a picnic. They were wasting their time. He wasn’t interested.

Not unless one of them was Maggie.

“I got you a whiskey,” a blonde said.

“Can we dance?” a brunette asked. “I love this song.”

He tugged on his bowtie and scanned the crowd, looking for the coat check area. “I’m sorry, but I—” He cut off mid-sentence, because he caught a flash of midnight blue. Midnight blue that looked an awful lot like… “Maggie.”

It was her. It had to be.

She had her back to him, but he’d recognize her anywhere. And she was wearing his dress. The one he’d bought for her to wear tonight. Her hair was swept up, and tendrils slipped out in artful disarray. She looked hauntingly beautiful.

And he missed her so damn much.

“Maggie,” he repeated, unable to believe she was here, in the same room as him. “Maggie.”

“No. My name’s Julia.” A woman reached up and rested her hand on his arm. “Julia Edgerton.”

“Let go of me.” He shrugged her off, his focus locked on to that flash of blue in the distance. “I have to go.”

Ignoring the horrified gasp behind him, he fought his way through the crowd as the clock struck twelve behind him. It was officially Christmas. He elbowed his way toward the vision in blue, his heart pounding so hard it was all he heard. Halfway across the floor, she turned.

He hadn’t imagined it. She was there. Standing across the room from him.

“My Maggie,” he breathed again, smiling.

As if by magnetism, her gaze latched on to his. Her lips quirked into a tiny smile, and she started across the floor, too. Benjamin sped up his steps, because now that she’d seen him, and he’d seen her, he knew what this meant.

She’d come home.

They met in the middle of the floor, and the crowd parted for them, like they sensed something huge was happening here. And it was. If she’d come back to him, he was never letting her go again. He caught her hands in his. “You’re here. You came home to me.”

She turned her face up to him, all bright smiles and shining gray eyes with blue specks. “Did you ever think I wouldn’t?”

“Well…yeah.” He let out a laugh. “After you sent me home alone, I kind of did.”

She laughed, too. “Fair enough. I shouldn’t have sent you away. I lied. I hadn’t listened to those messages.”

“Oh.” He paused, running his thumb over the back of her knuckles. It felt as if it had been years since he’d been able to touch her, and he’d been starving for it. Having her in his arms made the earth stop trembling, and it was as if he’d never let her go in the first place. All the fear, pain, and hurt faded away. “Are you still mad at me?”

She shook her head once. “Nope.”

“Good.” He stepped closer. “Can you forgive me for being an asshole that day? I’d just found out I lost everything—which was a lie, but I’ll get to that later. And you were leaving, and I thought it was because—”

She pressed two fingers against his lips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but yes. I forgive you. Do you forgive me for believing your mother’s lies in the first place, and for not telling you the whole story when you came to see me?”

“Maggie…” He hauled her into his arms and hugged her so tight she squealed. “What do you think?”

“I think you should kiss me,” she whispered.

Relief and desire surged through him, warring with one another for control. “Darling? I thought you’d never ask.”

The second his lips touched hers, the past week and a half faded away. She’d never left, and he’d never lost her, and they were happy. He fisted the soft fabric of her dress, inhaled deeply, and forced himself to step back when all he wanted was to pull her closer. But not here, where they couldn’t finish what they started. Once he started…

She wouldn’t be getting out of his bed for hours. Days, even.

“I missed you so damn much,” he whispered into her ear, swaying to the music since they were in the middle of the dance floor. “Everything about you haunted me, killed me, hurt me. This all started with a lie, and was for pretend, but please don’t ever leave me like that again.”

She tightened her grip on his tux jacket and nodded. “I missed you, too. So much.”

“I lo—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Shit. Not here. There’s so much to say. Will you come home with me?”

Nodding, she smiled. “Yes. I’ll go home with you, Benji.”

“Good. But first…” He cleared his throat. “Maggie Donovan, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”

She let out a little laugh. “No more fake fiancée or diamond rings?”

“No. Mother and I had a little talk, and I went above her head about the stunt she pulled.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear ad kissed her temple. “Needless to say, my position is currently very secure, and she got a slap on the wrist.”

“Should have gotten more. Or at the very least, I should’ve been the one to do it,” she muttered under her breath. Then, out loud, she said, “Uh…I mean, good.”

“And next time I give you a ring, it’ll be for real.” He pulled back and locked eyes with her, still dancing. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Loving you. Holding you.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and she smiled at him.

He splayed his hand across the small of her back. “Be mine, darling. For real this time. No more games. No lies. Just us. Together.”

“Just us,” she echoed, cupping his cheek. “Yes, Benji.”

He smiled so big he probably looked ridiculous, but he didn’t give a damn. He didn’t even care that she’d used that annoying nickname again. It was music to his ears. The clock finished chiming, and he pulled her even closer. It still wasn’t close enough. “I’ve never been so happy to hear that ridiculous name as I am now.”

“By the way?” Leaning up on tiptoe, she whispered in his ear, “I’m naked under this dress. Completely. Naked.”

His cock came to life, painfully and insistently, reminding him just how much he’d missed her, in every possible way. Screw dancing. It was time to go home. “Maggie.”

When she just grinned and held her hand out for him, he grabbed it and dragged her toward the door. They made it outside and into the limo in record time. He didn’t even care that he left his coat behind. Screw it. He had plenty.

There was only one Maggie Donovan, though.

The second the door closed behind them, he pulled her onto his lap, pounded on the glass of the limo he’d rented for the night, and called out, “Home, Jeff.”

His driver pulled away from the curve, and Benjamin brought his mouth to hers, kissing her as if she alone could save him. And he had a feeling that was true.

He’d learned as much when she’d walked away from him.

She slid her tongue into his mouth, moaning while he shoved her dress out of his way, baring the pale skin he’d dreamt about every night for the past three weeks. He skimmed his fingers over her soft thighs, slipping them inward as he arched his hips up.

“I thought I’d never get to touch you like this again.” He tightened his hold on her, kissing the side of her temple. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. So damn sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She cradled his face and smiled down at him. “We just had our first fight, that’s all.”

He closed the distance between them, his mouth brushing against hers ever so slightly. “And we made it through.”

“Yep.” She entwined her hands with his. “Together.”

He grinned. “Together.”

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I mean, we’re still very different. And your mother is still going to hate me, and she’ll still try to get you kicked out for picking me. And she’ll still make our life a living hell because—”

“I don’t give a damn. Not anymore.” He laughed because it was true, and the knowledge that she no longer held any sort of power over him was so fucking freeing. Maggie had helped him get that freedom, and he’d never be able to thank her enough for that. “Besides, she’s not even really my mother.”

Maggie’s jaw dropped. “Wait. What?”

“I’ll tell you the story.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “But I don’t want to talk about that now. All that matters is here and now. Us.”

Her wide eyes pinned him, searching his soul. “But are you okay?”

“I’m fucking ecstatic because you’re here.” He smiled. “I’m not familiar with the emotion, but if you let me, I’ll love you with all of my heart, mind, body, soul, and life. And even after that, I’ll keep on loving you, darling. I swear it. I love you so damn much, Maggie. So. Damn. Much.”

Her eyes widened. “You…you’re…I…”

“It’s okay. I know it’s quick and all.” He laughed and kissed her. “You don’t have to say anything back. I’ll wait. I’m a patient man.”

“But—” She shook her head and slowly, beautifully, a smile spread across her face. “I love you, too.”

He froze. “You do?”

“I do.”

“Well, shit.” He laughed and kissed her, keeping it short. “That officially makes me the happiest guy on earth. Where’s my trophy?” He cupped the back of her neck. “Oh. Right. She’s here, in my arms already.” He lowered her face to his, stopping just short of kissing her. “Say it again, darling.”

She fisted his tux, her breath hitching in her throat. “I love you, Benji.”

“I love you, too.”

Unable to resist, the happiness practically bursting out of him, he pulled her down for a passionate, long, deep kiss. And he never wanted to stop. But then the limo did.

He picked her up and set her down, straightening her dress over her thighs. “You good, darling?”

“Y-Yeah.” Maggie watched him, smoothing her hair. “We’re home, aren’t we?”

Home. Such a simple word that held so much meaning. He’d found his home, but it wasn’t in the traditional sense. He’d found it in her. He opened the door and climbed out, offering her his hand. “Yeah. We’re home.”

She slid her fingers into his, grinning as she followed him out. They walked into the building hand-in-hand, and come what may—whatever they might have to face or fight their way through—they could make it.

Together.