Hardline (23 page)

  
“You didn’t mention it.”
 

  
“I didn’t, but I am now.” I looked into his eyes, trying to convey that this too was progress, even if it was packaged in news that he didn’t like. “I didn’t want to upset you, and I wanted to think through it a little on my own also. He wants to advertise with us. It wouldn’t be a small account either. It would span all the publications relevant to our market, which would be an enormous coup for us.”

  
“You can’t bring him on as an advertiser.” His voice was flat, without a shred of doubt.
 

  
“I had a feeling you’d say that, and I understand your reasons. Obviously I share them. For what it’s worth, he seemed genuinely sorry. Outside of that incident, he seems fairly harmless.”
 

  
“Anyone with that much money and power is far from harmless.”

  
“Then with all your money and power, what makes you any different?”

  
He lifted his eyebrows. “Do I come across as harmless to you? Because I’m in love with you doesn’t mean I’d hesitate dismantling someone who threatened you, me, or either of our businesses.”

  
“True enough. It would help us bridge the revenue gap while we roll out these changes with Alex, but I suppose it’s not a risk worth taking.”

  
“You’d pay for it later, I can guarantee it. Everything comes with a price.”
 

  
I studied him a moment. “What’s between you two?”

  
“As if trying to force himself onto you isn’t enough of a reason to hate the man?”

  
I slanted my head, a silent call for his honesty. “I know there’s more. You knew him before we met, and you didn’t like him much then.”
 

  
He sighed and released his hold on me. He patted my ass in a way that said,
Shoo
.
 

  
I frowned. “No. You can tell me right here while I’m on your lap.”

  
His expression didn’t change for a moment, and I worried he might not agree. Finally he blew out a breath and began to speak.
 

  
“As long as I knew Sophia, Isaac had been in her circle of friends. She modeled for his shoots and they’d known each other for a while. When I ended things with her, he came to her rescue. He played the hero, and oh, did he play the part. I’m certain he only wanted to fuck her, and who knows, maybe he did. When we broke up, he made a point to demonize me to her and others. I didn’t really care what everyone else thought. I cared more that she felt like I abandoned her.”

  
“But you didn’t abandon her.”

  
“I told you before, she didn’t take it well. She was clean when we broke up, and she couldn’t understand. It took a lot of willpower for me to not go back to her if only to see her stop hurting. But it wasn’t just the drugs. In reality it was the last straw. The distance when she was in rehab just polarized how different we were. How it would have never worked.”

  
“Did you love her?”

  
He drew his lips drew together. “I don’t know. We said it, but I can’t tell you if what I felt then was love. I wanted to take care of her, and she thrived on being taken care of. It worked for a while, but I can’t say that was love. It wasn’t anything close to what we have, Erica.”
 

  
I chewed my lip, trying like hell to ignore the jealousy that coursed through me.
 

  
“I’ve thought about what you said, about exiting from her agency. Financially, it could be damaging for her if I did. I own more stake in it than anyone. I invested heavily when she started to help get her off the ground. Beyond that, Heath is also invested. I’m not sure what his thoughts are on the matter, but he seems hesitant. Their relationship is different. They have more of a friendship, a connection that she and I didn’t. Maybe because they went through a difficult time in their lives together and have come out of it. I don’t know, but a part of me doesn’t want to push Heath on it if I don’t have to.”

  
I looked past him, trying to hide my disappointment. Making James work from home wasn’t exactly convenient for me either. I tightened my lips into a firm line as resentment set in. Blake slid his palm over my cheek and turned me slightly, regaining my attention.
 

  
“I understand why it bothers you, so I’m going to see what I can do. Maybe it can be done more gradually so it doesn’t impact her business so dramatically.”
 

  
“You baby her still.”
 

  
He tensed slightly. “Maybe. Old habits die hard.”

  
“She’s not as helpless as she seems. If you’d seen how she spoke to me…she can be truly vicious. If she uses that personality in her business life, she’ll do fine.”

  
“Jealousy can turn people into very ugly versions of themselves.”
 

  
My thoughts swirled around the sentiment. I’d been forced to expel James from our office to satisfy Blake’s own jealousy. I pushed off of him abruptly, despite his effort to keep me there.
 

  
By the time I reached the kitchen with every intention of cleaning until I wasn’t so pissed anymore, he was behind me. He spun me and pushed me back to the counter.
 

  
“Stop.”

  
“Stop what?” I snapped.
 

  
“What do you want me to do? Destroy her business?”
“You’re smart, Blake. I think you can figure it out. Put her on a payment plan. Make her take out a loan. Maybe she can start selling what I imagine is a sizeable designer shoe collection. But I don’t want her claws in you,
at all, in any way
.”

  
He rolled his eyes. “Her claws are not in me. Yours are. Like, right this fucking minute.”

  
I gave him a hard stare. I didn’t care what he said. His assurances were a waste of air if whenever I crossed paths with Sophia, the look on her face told a different story. Until he’d severed their connection, she’d always dangle it in front of me.
 

  
“You’re mine, and the next time I see her face, I want her to know it. Call me jealous, and if that makes me ugly, then so be it.”
 

  
He pushed my hair back behind my ear. “I like that you’re protective. It doesn’t make you ugly.”

  
“Then end it with her. Please.” I softened in his arms, wishing he’d just do the right thing.

  
A long moment passed between. My resentment melted into a pile of disappointment.
 

  
“Okay.”
 

  
I lifted my gaze, but before I could say anything, his lips were on me, silencing me, giving me everything I wanted.
 

Marie stood behind me, curling small sections of my hair. Alli had a concentrated look on her face as she brushed some color onto my cheeks.
 

  
“You’re fussing too much, Alli. This is an engagement party, not the big day. I’m fine.”

  
She stood back, head cocked to the side. “You are now. You look perfect. Also, you should get used to it. Getting married is like prom on steroids.”
 

  
My lips lifted with a smile. “That’s what I’m afraid of. You keep saying things like that, I’m going to take Blake up on his offer to elope.”

  
Fiona looked up from her seat, another bridal magazine in her lap. “You wouldn’t!”
 

  
“No,” I relented. “You’re the only friends I have, and if I deprived you of this wedding, I’m sure neither of you would ever speak to me again.”
 

  
“Nonsense.” Alli fluffed a spiral of hair that Marie had just released. “We should go dress shopping soon though. I think that’s the key to getting you into wedding mode.”
 

  
I sighed. “You could be right. Maybe I should start looking at those magazines for ideas. I don’t even know where to start.”

  
“Well, don’t look too hard, because Alli and I have picked just about everything out for you already,” Fiona chimed in, her eyes glittering with humor.
 

  
I laughed. “Okay.”

  
“Satin and strapless.” Fiona opened it to a page, showing me a photo of a beautiful model bride.
 

  
“Hmm, pretty. What about lace?”

  
Alli widened her eyes a bit. “Is that what you want?”

  
“I don’t know, maybe. I think Blake likes lace.”
 

  
“Must run in the family,” Alli quipped, her eyes alight.
 

  
I laughed, trying to keep myself still so Marie wouldn’t inadvertently catch me with the hot iron.
 

  
Fiona did little to mask her look of disgust. “Oh my God, this conversation has to end. Please. You’ll give me nightmares.”

  
Alli and I laughed, sharing a look.
 

  
The door opened then, and Heath poked his head in. “Mom wanted me to tell you guys that people are starting to show up, so come out whenever you’re ready. Don’t make them wait too long to meet our guest of honor.” He winked.

  
“Go away, Heath. You’re going to make her nervous,” Fiona said.
 

  
“It’s fine. I have my liquid charisma right here.” I lifted my nearly empty champagne flute.

  
Marie loosened the last curl. “You don’t need liquid charisma. Everyone will love you.”

  
I warmed at her words. Of all the people here, Marie was my only family, though the more I thought of it, the more that line between Blake’s family and mine began to blur. Alli lived in both worlds right along with me, and I was far from an outsider in the Landons’ lives. They were a warm and welcoming family that I was belonging to a little more each day. The absence of my own relatives mattered less, and the times when I mourned not having a more normal family were fewer.

  
“We’ll be out soon. As soon as we’re beautiful.” Alli ran her fingers through her already perfectly straight hair.
 

  
“You’re already beautiful, gorgeous.” Heath smirked, his eyes fixed on Alli.
 

  
She blushed, pretending to ignore him.
 

  
“Gross, get out.” Fiona tossed a throw pillow at the door, missing her target as she closed the door shut, his laughter audible from the other side.

  
Marie curled the last piece of my hair. “You’re all set, baby girl.”

  
I stood, taking in my appearance once more. I wasn’t as concerned about how I looked as I was about holding my own in front of all of the Landons’ friends and family. This was going to be family overload, but I was as ready as I ever would be.

  
Alli hooked her arm through mine and gave me a little nudge. “Let’s go charm the hell out of the Landon family tree.”
 

  
“I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  
Blake met us as we left the spare room where the girls and I had stationed ourselves to get ready. He looked delectable in dark jeans and a pin-striped collared shirt rolled up at the sleeves and loose at the waist. He’d look good in a burlap sack, a toga, basically anything. While everyone else meandered farther into the house, I stayed back to steal a moment with him.
 

  
“You look stunning. I can’t wait to show you off,” he said, his eyes darkening.
 

  
“You like it?” I glanced down at the cream-colored strapless dress I wore. Covered lace at the top met sheer layers of the skirt that fell just below my knees.
 

  
“Love it. Very bridal. But of course, I love you more.”
 

  
He caught me up to his body and leaned down for a kiss, gentle and filled with devotion. That awareness, the ever-present arc of energy, crackled between us. His lips brushed against mine almost reverently. I closed my eyes and sank into the embrace. He traced the seam of my lips with his tongue. I sighed and opened to him, welcoming the sweet taste of him.
 

  
His tongue lashed deeper, seeking and nibbling. I moaned softly, pressing myself up to my toes. He pulled away slightly, shaking his head.

  
“Let’s go before I decide to steal you away from here and make love to you instead.”

  
I wouldn’t argue one bit, if I hadn’t known his parents were expecting us and had already put so much time into planning the party.
 

  
“Alli spent at least twenty minutes on my makeup. She’d kill me. Not to mention your parents and everyone else.”

  
He paused. “Are you nervous?”

  
I shrugged. “Maybe a little. I won’t know most of the people.”

  
“You will soon. They’re mostly my parents’ friends from when I was growing up. They’ll love you.” He clasped our hands together, lacing our fingers. Chest to chest, we made no effort to move. I could stay this way, hiding away in his arms all day. As if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
 

  
“I love you, Blake. We say it all the time, but sometimes I wish I could show you more. Nothing seems to do the words justice.”