Текст книги "Only You"

Автор книги: Stephanie Rose

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

“You sure you’re ready for this?” I raised my eyebrows at Evan as I pulled his hand back.

Evan shrugged at me. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’ve been around your family for years. You aren’t ashamed of me or anything, are you?” He cocked an eyebrow at me as he pulled me closer.

I glanced over his shoulder at my aunt and uncle’s front door. They were throwing Jack and Ellie a big baby shower, and my entire family would be there—and know Evan and I were together. They all loved him, so they would be thrilled—too thrilled. I wanted to make sure we could define what was going on between us before I got their hopes up. I told my mother I was “seeing” someone and was bringing him with me today, but wouldn’t give her any other details.

“Never, babe. Just brace yourself, okay?” Evan chuckled and kissed the tip of my nose.

I led him up the outside steps and opened the screen door. The house was already bustling with noise and activity. My extended family was loud, and big. Blue streamers and “It’s a Boy!” signs were everywhere. Jack wasn’t crazy about taking part in what he considered a girly tradition, but I had a feeling my aunt and uncle threw this co-ed shower to celebrate with their son as much as they could. Today was a happy day, focusing on the good things.

“Well it’s about time. I thought you said you’d be here earlier.” My mother pursed her lips as we strolled inside. As usual, I was in trouble with her before I even entered the room.

“It’s 12:10; the shower started at noon. Nice to see you too, Mom.” She fought a smile as she gave me a big hug. It had always just been me and my mother since my father died when I was a baby. We were opposites in every way and sometimes bickered like sisters.

My mom had dark chestnut hair and brown eyes, while I took after my father with my blonde hair and green eyes. I was also almost a full head taller. Being a single parent, she never could give up her hovering habit. I was always chewed out for never calling or visiting enough, but I never spent one second of my life unsure whether she loved me. After hearing stories from Evan about his father, I grew a new appreciation for my mom’s helicopter style of parenting.

“Evan! How are you, honey?” My mother pulled Evan into a hug; she still hadn’t realized we were here together.

“Good to see you, Mrs. Taylor.” Evan stepped back and put his arm around me. She furrowed her brow as she looked between us.

“Paige, you got too skinny. And you look tired. You need to learn to stop burning the candle at both ends.” Mom shook her head at me as I rolled my eyes.

“I tell her that all the time.” Evan nodded at my mother, who now looked even more confused.

“Paige, didn’t you say you were bringing the new guy you were seeing? Because it looks like you’re here with—” I gave her a sheepish smile as I glanced over at Evan. He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. My mother’s eyes bugged out of her head as she covered her mouth with her hands.

“Oh my God! Finally! After all these years of praying and lighting candles that you would finally find someone decent. I never thought I’d see the day!” I groaned and put my face in my hands. This was going to be the longest baby shower ever.

“Paige, I thought that was you!” Great-Aunt Rose hobbled out of the kitchen as she rushed over to me.

“Hi Aunt Rose! You remember Evan?” She smiled and squeezed Evan’s hands.

“Sure I do. Nice of you to be here for your friend today.”

“Well, Aunt Rose . . . he’s actually—”

“He’s here with Paige, Rose. Can you believe it?” My mother nudged her shoulder as my aunt’s mouth opened wide.

“Paige, we’ve all been so worried about you. I was afraid you’d end up marrying that small boy you were engaged to, but now you finally found someone nice!” Aunt Rose gave Evan a creepy once over. “And he’s cute, too!”

“He’s also standing right here, Rosie—and he’s not cute and deaf.” I wanted to crawl into the corner, but Evan just laughed.

“All right, leave them alone.” My uncle strode over to where we were all standing and put his arm around me. He’d always babied me since I had no father and didn’t seem surprised at all, so I guessed Jack told him already. I was grateful he was awesome as usual and didn’t spill the beans before I was ready.

“You knew, John? And you never told me?” He shrugged as my mother cast me a glance.

“It wasn’t my place to tell you, Tess. Maybe Paige felt you would, I don’t know, get too excited or something.” I laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

“Hey, Big John.” Evan shook Uncle John’s hand and squeezed his shoulder.

“Good to see to see you, son.” My uncle grinned as he pounded Evan on the back. Evan was the only one he let get away with the nickname.

“Oh they’re here! It’s so nice to see you both together!” Aunt Marie sprinted over and tackled us. I peeked at Evan over her bear-like embrace and shook my head. He still found this horrifying ordeal hysterical.

“Another one who kept it from me,” my mother noted to Aunt Rose over her shoulder.

“Stop, Tess! This is wonderful! I couldn’t be happier right now. I have a grandchild on the way, my son is here, and these kids make a fantastic couple” Aunt Marie grabbed both our chins and gave them a squeeze. It’s nice to have someone call you a kid when you’re past thirty.

“Hey, hello! Having a baby over here. Jesus.” Jack strode over with Ellie, who was also beaming at us. “They totally took our thunder, babe.”

“I don’t want the thunder. Please, by all means, take it back.” I held my hands up in surrender.

“Paige I expect, but why didn’t you say anything?” My mother smacked Jack’s shoulder, making him wince.

“Ow, Aunt Tess! Paige wanted to be the one to tell you. And bad enough I have to watch them suck face all the time at the office, I don’t need to keep talking about it—”

“Jack! Geez!” I hit his other shoulder. Jack huffed at me and shook his head.

“Ignored, then beaten up.” He turned to Ellie. “I have to say, not liking my first shower so far.”

Everyone went back in the kitchen as Ellie waddled into the living room, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that the first round of interrogations were over. I suspected the “don’t screw things up” and the “are you engaged yet” talks were right around the corner.

Evan wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed the top of my head.

“So we’re outed. How does it feel?”

“Feels good. Not so good that my family likes you more than me, but . . . nice.” I rubbed the back of his hand as he tightened his embrace.

“Does the fact that I’m here today with you mean I made the cut? I’m a keeper?” I smiled and turned around.

“Oh, yes. Most definitely a keeper.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a soft kiss. “You’re stuck with me, well, for as long as you want me.” I gave him a sideways glance and he pulled me closer.

“There would be nothing I’d love more than to be stuck with you.” Evan tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, then took my face in his hands. As his thumbs moved back and forth on my cheeks, the tender expression on his face melted my insides. We hadn’t actually said the words yet. Lots of “I’m crazy about yous” and “I adore yous” got tossed around, but hearing Evan say the word love in reference to me made my heart flutter.

“Oh for God’s sake. Dad, does the hose in the yard stretch inside? I think these two need to cool off.” I buried my head in Evan’s chest and groaned.

“Your cousin has a white dress on, Jack, so if you want to bring in the hose—”

I picked up my head and smacked Evan’s chest. “Don’t encourage him!”

Evan laughed as Jack grimaced at us. He motioned to the large heap of baby gifts in the corner.

“Think you could pry yourself off from my cousin to give me a hand?” Evan nodded at Jack and carried a couple of large gifts into the living room.

Jack came over to me and grabbed my hand.

“You know I’m only busting your chops right? Seeing you guys together is nice. I’ve never seen either of you this happy. It . . . eases my mind more than you know.” My stomach turned as I absorbed what he was trying to say. Knowing I was with Evan eased his mind because he could watch out for me if Jack . . . couldn’t. Instead of blowing it off like I usually did so I could deny it, I kissed his cheek and flung my arms around his neck. My eyes watered as I pulled away. Jack gave my hand a squeeze as he left to join Ellie in the living room. I sent up a silent prayer that he’d still be this healthy when the baby was born. He deserved to meet his son.

I wrapped my arms around myself and wished I could freeze time. I wanted it to always be like this: Jack teasing everyone, Evan by my side, and excitement swirling in my belly for the future we could all have, if we could just hold on to it.

I had the office all to myself this morning, and I had to admit it was a little creepy. Usually, the noise of guys coming in and out combined with Jack busting everyone’s balls filled the room. I’d stopped at a job site early and then headed to the office to catch up on the back end of business stuff that I hated with a fucking passion.

Jack said I shouldn’t let paperwork pile up because I’d kick myself later—just like I was doing now. I cranked up my Beatles playlist on Spotify to make this mind-numbingly monotonous task go quicker.

It didn’t help that my mind kept drifting to memories of Paige last night, handcuffed to my bedpost and screaming as she came in my mouth. I was hooked on the gorgeous woman I shared a bed with most nights. We spent almost every night together, at either her place or mine, yet I still couldn’t get enough of her.

I jumped when my phone dinged with a text. I swiped the screen and there was my beautiful girl, naked and spread eagle on my bed. My eyes bugged out; I didn’t know where to look first. The perfect tits still red from me sucking on them for a good part of the night; the toned legs that had wrapped around me as I rocked into her; or the sweet, wet heat between her legs that drove me to constant distraction.

Holy fucking shit. I fell back in my chair, weak from all my blood rushing to my painfully hard cock, which now strained against my zipper.

Me: Is this in real time? If it is, I’m coming home right fucking now.

Paige: LOL no. This was me before I got dressed and left. I thought it would make your day go by faster.

Me: Nope. Now I’ll just be counting the seconds until I get out of here and back inside my beautiful girlfriend.

Paige: I can’t wait for that either. Maybe I’ll stop by later.

Me: Unless you want to be pushed into the supply closet I would wait a little bit.

“Hey, Jacobs. Where’s Jack?” So much for my good mood. Sean sauntered into the office and sat in Jack’s chair. I couldn’t take the arrogant fucker. I got the impression he wanted Jack to ask him to be partner rather than me since he was always making digs here and there. He had rocks in his head if he thought that would ever happen. Jack tolerated him because he was good at what he did, but lately he’d gotten lazy and we’d had a few complaints. Jack was supposed to have him come in and set him straight, so maybe that’s why he was looking for him today.

“At a doctor’s appointment with Ellie. Need something?”

I looked up from my coffee mug, annoyed at the smirk on Sean’s face. He came up to my desk and shrugged.

“So how does this work? You’re his partner but Jack still runs things. Sweet deal you got–hey is that Paige?” Fuck. He came in so fast I forgot to close the text message. I grabbed my phone and threw it into the desk drawer. That picture was for my eyes only, and having Sean get even a glimpse of it made me want to knock his teeth down his throat even more than I already did.

“Goddamn, you’re a lucky man. I had a little thing with Paige once.” He glared wistfully over my shoulder as I balled my fists. He was baiting me, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Oh really?” I spit out at him through gritted teeth. My face heated up as I glowered at the bastard.

“Yep.” Sean nodded, his smile growing wide. “We were in high school. She was a tense little thing but once she got going, well, I’m sure you know by now. I knew you liked her back then. Shame it took you all these years to grow the balls to do something about it.” He laughed as he strolled back to Jack’s desk. I seethed with rage, my knuckles white as my fists clenched tighter. It didn’t matter that it was over ten years ago. It drove me insane to think he may have touched her, and the son of a bitch knew it.

“So, tell me, does she still do that thing with her tongue when she sucks—”

I fucking had enough. I shot out of my chair and grabbed Sean by the collar.

“You watch your fucking mouth when you talk about my girl. I have no problem wiping the floor with you, you piece of shit.”

“What the hell is going on?” Jack yelled to the both of us. I looked up and Paige was standing with him, staring at us with wide eyes.

“Hey Paige,” Sean gazed back at her and winked. “You never told your boyfriend here about us? I was just reminding him what a lucky man he was.”

Jack ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. Paige folded her arms as she gave Sean an icy glare.

“That was a long time ago, Sean. I barely remember to be honest with you.” So it was true. She dismissed him, but I was still furious. I was being an irrational caveman, but confirmation that they did anything together made me see red. She should have been mine from the fucking beginning, not messing around with jerkoffs like Sean.

“I’m sure my partner wouldn’t have you in a chokehold if that’s all you said. Maybe you should leave. I’ll call you if you’re ever needed again.” Jack raised his eyebrows at Sean. I shoved him one more time before I let him go.

“Fine. I’ll see you guys around. Paige, always a pleasure.” Was he serious? Still goading me after we threw him out. I took a step back toward him and Jack very slightly shook his head. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t some hothead who flew off the handle so easily. Sean strutted out the door and I turned toward Paige.

“Sean Parker. Really? Your standards were that fucking low? Any other guys we have on the payroll who will shove being with you in my face?” The second the words came out of my mouth, I regretted them. Paige’s face fell, and she mouthed “wow” as she stepped back from me.

“Easy, dude.” Jack growled at me, but Paige shook her head.

“It’s fine, Jack. I’m going to go.” Paige spoke to Jack but kept her gaze trained on me. “I wanted to surprise you today, but my sordid past and I should have stayed the hell home.” She turned to leave and I grabbed her arm.

“Daisy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it, I was just . . .” She yanked her arm away and wouldn’t turn around.

“I dated a lot of jerks, Sean and some others. You knew that. But none of them made me feel like shit the way you just did.” She met my gaze before she stormed out the door. What the hell just happened? Jealousy brought out the asshole in me.

I moped back to my desk and put my face in my hands, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“I shouldn’t have said that. Fuck.”

“No. You shouldn’t have.” Jack glared at me as he threw the newspaper on top of his desk and sat down. I was his best friend, but he would kick my ass same as anyone else if I hurt Paige.

“I didn’t mean it, Jack. You know damn well how I feel about Paige. I let Sean get the best of me. The thought of him touching her . . .” I was so twisted that I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Sean wasn’t even a blip to Paige. I know you didn’t mean to get all alpha stupid just now. How do you feel about Paige?” He leaned back and crossed his arms.

“Isn’t it obvious? She should know that.”

Jack laughed and shook his head. “Never assume people know anything, most of all women. She should know what, Ev?” Jack cocked an eyebrow at me as I let out a long, frustrated sigh.

“Fine. You want me to say it out loud? I love her. I’ve probably always loved her. I hate how I hurt her just now.” I wanted nothing more than to be the man she deserved, but today I was no better than any of the idiots I’d seen her with over the years.

“Then you need to tell her. Take it from me, life is way too fucking short. You wasted all that time just admiring her from afar. Don’t blow it by letting jerks like Sean get under your skin.”

I sent text after text to Paige, with phone calls in between that went straight to voice mail. I got sick of waiting for a response and bolted out of the office as soon as I could.

Jack was right, I was done wasting time.

I spent most of the walk back from Jack and Evan’s office with a sour stomach and trying not to cry. I hated that whenever I got really angry, it came out in blubbering tears. I wanted to be able to fight, scream and yell. Another problem was, I wasn’t sure who exactly I was so furious with—Sean, for being such a jerk and saying anything to Evan in the first place; Evan for basically calling me a whore, or myself.

Truth was, no one had to really fight for my affections in my younger days. Maybe ‘fatherless daughter syndrome’ was to blame. Any guy who paid attention to me and said the right things had easy entry into my Catholic school uniform blouse. Thankfully, the little self-respect I did have prevented me from letting things get too far.

I’d planned a sweet day of romance for us, first sending the naked selfie and then surprising Evan at his office. I imagined I’d be exhausted and delightfully sore from an afternoon of lovemaking by now, not curled up on my couch, regretting the day my seventeen-year-old self let Sean Parker put his hand down my pants. The anger coursing through my veins turned into stifling guilt. I sabotaged my own happiness all those years ago, letting the Seans of the world take advantage of me when I could have been with someone worthwhile, who actually cared.

I ignored Evan’s frantic attempts to apologize all day. I was still mad as hell, but couldn’t face him. I loved how he treated me like a princess and lit up whenever I walked into a room. He’d had a front seat to my shit show of a love life when we were kids, but now, after hearing whatever Sean revealed, I was afraid he didn’t think of me the same way way anymore–and it saddened me down to my bones.

My doorbell rang. I curled further into the couch and put a pillow over my head to drown out the noise and this crap day. Once the ringing turned into banging, I figured out who it was and trudged over to the door. I glanced out my window and spotted Evan’s silver truck parked across the street. As much as I didn’t want to at the moment, I needed to deal with hothead boyfriend.

“Can I help you?” I’d worn a blue dress that Evan always said was his favorite to the office. It had been tossed in exchange for the yoga pants and oversized off the shoulder T-shirt I wore as I leaned against the doorframe.

“You can’t answer a text or return a phone call? I’ve been trying to talk to you all day. You can’t avoid me forever, Paige.” His hay-colored eyes still glared at me. I sighed in defeat as I moved to the side to let him in, and tried to ignore the sting of being called Paige, not Daisy.

“No not forever, but was hoping for a day or two.” I didn’t turn around as I went back to my couch and plopped down on my usual spot in the corner.

I pretended to stare at the TV as Evan sat next to me with his elbows on his knees and rubbed his neck.

“Could you at least look at me? Please, Daisy. You have to know I didn’t mean what I said. Sean just had me in such a rage I couldn’t think straight. First he made a crack about the picture you sent me—”

My head jerked in his direction. “He saw the picture?! Of all people . . .” I dropped my face to my hands. How much humiliation could I take in one day?

“Only a glimpse. I threw my phone into my drawer, but he knew he had me agitated so he kept going, talking about how you had a thing once.” The quivering in his voice told me he was still just as pissed off.

“A thing? He’s delusional. It was one night at a party—”

Evan put his hand up and shook his head. “I’m not interested in details. I want to rip his face off as it is. The less I know, the better.” I nodded and turned my attention back to the TV. Evan huffed, picked up the remote and shut it off.

“Shouldn’t you be checking with the guys on your payroll to see if I had ‘things’ with them too?” My tone was clipped and nasty. He wasn’t the only one still irritated from this morning.

Evan leaned forward and narrowed his eyes at me. “When it comes to you, I don’t think rationally. I fucking hate knowing anyone else touched you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Newsflash, I’m over thirty years old. Both of us aren’t innocent little kids. I’m not exactly proud of my shitty history with men, but . . .”

“I know, I know. But I should have been with you all that time. And it kills me to know that because I never had the balls to tell you, guys like Sean got the chance they never should’ve had. Well, that stops right now.” Evan rose from the couch and stood in front of me. I took a deep breath and stood to face him.

I shrugged. “You said it yourself; things happen in their own time. You can’t blame yourself for my bad judgement when I was kid.”

“I love you.” His eyes twinkled as one side of his mouth turned up in a smirk.

The air whooshed out of my lungs. I’d been waiting for him to say it for so long, but I was afraid this was his way of groveling.

“Evan, I get it. You were upset. I don’t even want to know what Sean said to make you—”

“I love you.” Evan took my face in his hands. “I’ll never make the mistake of holding back with you ever again. You’re mine. You’re everything. I. Love. You. So. Fucking. Much.” Evan’s hands drifted down my arms to my waist and pulled me closer. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My vision got cloudy as my eyes filled with tears. It wasn’t the first ‘I love you’ I’d heard from a man, but for the first time, it felt like the truth.

“I don’t want you to think I’m some kind of—”

Evan put his finger over my lips. “I would never, ever think that. I’m so sorry I hurt you today. I love you.” I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. Evan moaned into my mouth as his fingers tangled in my hair. My hands didn’t know where to go first as they drifted down his back and lifted the hem of his shirt. Evan broke the kiss long enough to pull his shirt over his head.

Clutching the nape of my neck, he pulled me back and crashed his lips on mine. His tongue darted in and out in the same motion he used when he moved inside me. My knees wobbled as the tingles grew between my legs. Evan’s hands got just as busy, and yanked the shoulder of my T-shirt as his lips dipped down to trail open mouth kisses across my collarbone, then over the tops of my breasts. He ran his tongue up my neck and bit my earlobe.

“Everything off. Now.” Evan was a man possessed with primal need, and it was hot as hell. I lifted my shirt over my head and unfastened my bra as Evan stripped my pants and panties off in one move. After I kicked them off, he dropped to his knees and hooked one leg over his shoulder. He kissed me like before with his tongue making the same delicious strokes across my clit and dipping inside me. I whimpered and pulled his head closer. I leaned against the arm of my couch so I wouldn’t fall over.

“Evan . . . shit, right there . . . you’re going to make me co—” Evan shot up and backed me against the couch until I fell backwards. He unbuckled his pants and kicked them off when they fell down his legs. My mouth watered when he pulled off his boxer briefs and his rigid cock sprang free. I sat up and pulled him closer by his waist. I greedily sucked the tip of him and a growl escaped his throat.

“No, Daisy. I’m already hanging on by a thread. I want to feel you come when I’m inside you.” Evan climbed on top of me, dragged his tongue up my stomach and landed on my breast. My hips bucked off the couch as he sucked my nipple into his mouth and let it go with a loud pop. I grabbed his face and devoured his lips. I was dripping wet by the time he slid inside me. Thanks to the pill, we didn’t have to worry about stopping to roll on a condom anymore. Nothing compared to feeling all of Evan as he moved deeper inside. He rocked back and forth at an achingly slow pace at first, but then picked up speed as he moved deeper. My nails raked his back as he found every sweet spot. His light eyes held my gaze as he sucked on his finger and then reached between us to trace circles around my clit. I came with a scream and he pulsed inside me almost immediately. Evan collapsed on top of me and buried his head in my neck.

“I love you so much.” I wrapped my arms around him as he picked his head up to look at me.

“I wondered when you were going to say it back.” A slow smile spread across his face as he kissed my forehead and trailed his lips across my cheek and back to mine. I giggled and pulled him closer.

“Makeup sex is fucking hot. Remind me to pick a fight with you again soon.” I laughed but Evan caught my gaze with a sad smile.

“I’m so sorry about today, Daisy.” I put my finger on his lips and shook my head.

“It’s okay. Besides, seeing you get all caveman like that is a huge turn-on.” He shook his head and gave me a chaste peck as he sat up from the couch.

“I get a little crazy. You’re all mine, I waited long enough for you.”

I sat up to kiss his cheek and leaned my forehead against his. “Me too.”