In the beginning, p.37
In The Beginning, page 37
“No, thank God. I don’t see what the point is. I never got his last name and he was here on business.” It had been the best night of my life, but when I woke the next morning, he was gone. No note…nothing.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet my nephew. He’s going to be the best-dressed baby out there.” I smile and walk into his waiting arms. “You know I’ll always be there for you. Even as your coach when you’re pushing him out.” He makes a disgusted face that makes me laugh.
“I know you will—that’s why this baby’s middle name is going to be Brandon.” He tears up the way he always does when I tell him that. He’s also going to be my son’s “fairy godfather,” or at least that’s what he’s calling himself.
When my dad first met him, he didn’t know what to make of him. Brandon is very flouncy and charismatic, and he loves laying it on thick sometimes. Now…well, now my dad, Mr. Big Bad Former Special Forces, loves him. I think it’s because my dad knows that Brandon keeps an eye on me. Hell, we keep an eye on each other.
“Does this look okay?” I signal to the form-fitting dress I’m wearing. My belly has popped out a lot in the last couple of weeks, but I’m not quite ready to start buying maternity clothes yet. The dress is emerald green with capped sleeves and a v-neck that shows off my ever-growing cleavage. My breasts have always been on the smaller side, but now they’re full. The dress hits me right above my knees.
“You look gorg. That color has always looked so great on you. Wear your hair up in a messy knot. Show off that rack.” He kisses my cheek and then leaves to get to his internship at the advertising agency where he hopes to work when he graduates.
I finish doing my hair and then slip a pair of heels on before grabbing my purse and heading out the door. It’s nice being close to the L train and not having far to walk. Luckily when I step on, there’s a seat that’s open. It normally takes about fifteen minutes to get to my stop, and while I wait, I pull out my phone, opening my Kindle app.
Reading romance is about the only romance for me these days. I’ve dated a little bit, but it never amounts to anything more than friendship. Plus, when they find out I’m pregnant, I pretty much become undesirable, like pregnancy is a disease or something.
The L approaches my stop and I stand up, holding on to the back of my seat. As soon as the doors open, I’m the first one out. I make my way down the stairs and to the street.
When I graduated from my online two-year college program with a degree in office management, my mom told me I was wasting my time and that it was a stupid choice. “You’re not smart enough to manage an office,” she said. Obviously, she enjoys making me feel like an idiot.
That’s why I moved to be by my dad, my biggest cheerleader. As soon as I graduated, he hired me to run his office. My dad is the best at what he does, but when I started, his office was a mess. It took me over a month to get everything cleaned up and organized.
I spent so many years separated from my dad, and now that we work together, I get to see him all the time. He knows what I dealt with living with my mom, and I know a part of him still feels guilty, but he was serving our country and I can’t be mad about that. When he got shot, I lost my shit. Especially since he was being treated overseas and I didn’t get to see him until he was finally back stateside.
When I found out I was pregnant, my mom screamed at me over the phone for two hours about how I was screwing my life up and I should abort it. Dad was upset, but got over it really quick when my morning, noon, and night sickness started freaking Brandon out and he called him.
For a month after my mom found out, she called me at least once a week asking if I’d had the abortion yet, and I’d just hang up on her. Finally, my dad got tired of seeing me so upset and told my mom that if she couldn’t be happy for me, or at least fake it, she didn’t need to bother calling.
That was two months ago, and I haven’t heard from her since. It hurts, but that’s what she loves doing—hurting me. Never physically, but she’s been the queen of emotional and mental pain for most of my life.
I enter the building and use my keycard to get on the elevator.
“Hey girlie, how are you feeling?” Carrie greets me. She’s two months further along than I am, and she and her husband are possibly the cutest couple I’ve seen.
“I’m good,” I tell her. “I actually feel great.”
“That dress looks so great on you. Your little belly is just the cutest.”
I smile and rub a hand over my tummy. “Thanks. I’m just not ready for a maternity wardrobe yet.”
“This little man likes to stretch his legs and poke me in the ribs.”
Since we’re both having boys, we’ve already decided they’re going to be best friends. I promise her we’ll have lunch later this week, then head toward the back and step inside my office. I’ve got HR stuff to do with a new employee today who also happens to be a friend of my dad’s. He’s currently out with Erik, the office flirt. He’s harmless, and I swear he only hits on me because it pisses my dad off.
Time to buckle down and get some work done before it’s time to do my HR gig.
Most of my morning is spent paying bills and setting up appointments for the guys. I love that part of my job is bossing around huge ex-military men. They listen, that’s for sure, and do what I say. Of course, it’s probably because they’re scared of my dad.
After stepping out for a quick sandwich that I eat on my way back to the office, I’m ready to meet the new guy. I grab the stack of papers and head down the hall to the conference room.
I give a knock, then open the door. He turns toward me, and I’m frozen in shock. “It’s you,” his deep voice rumbles.
Placing a protective hand over my belly, I don’t miss when his gaze slides down my body, stopping at my bump. He stands up and moves toward me. God, I forgot how big he is—so much taller than my five-foot-three frame. He rubs a hand over his head as he stands right in front of me.
I’ve yet to say anything, because what do I say to the man who gave me the best sex in my life, only for me to wake up and find him gone, leaving me with the greatest gift I’ve ever received? My mind immediately goes to that night six months ago.
Chapter Three
Delilah
Six Months Ago
It’s my twenty-first birthday, and I’m on my way to a bar called The Road Trip to have drinks with some friends. I’m not much of a partier, but Brandon said if I didn’t go out drinking on my twenty-first, then I’d never be allowed to step into any bars or clubs ever again. Of course he’s lying, but it’s not surprising that he’d use any tactic to make me come out. Hello…dramatic, much?
Brandon picked out my outfit for tonight. Since it’s cold out but unseasonably warm for Chicago in December, I’m wearing black leggings and black riding boots that come up to just below my knee. Up top, I’m wearing a form-fitting, white v-neck t-shirt and a thin, lavender duster. Silver necklaces hang down the front, and silver bangles jingle from my wrists as we walk up the sidewalk to the bar.
I left my dark blonde locks in their natural state—slightly wavy. My makeup is a little heavier than I’d planned, but if I hadn’t done it, Brandon would’ve tied me to a chair and tried to slather a full mask on my face.
My friends tried to convince me to go to a nightclub, but I hate them. It’s always loud and guys hit on us constantly, then it begins to not be any fun. I just want to drink some beer and eat some good food.
We step inside and find our friends all sitting around a large table. Hugs are exchanged, and Brandon and I take our seats across from each other.
Soon the beers have been flowing for a while, and I’ve had the best spicy shrimp tacos. Now we’re playing darts, which I suck at. Brandon left an hour ago to meet his boyfriend, Jose, for dinner. They should be back in an hour or so. Kelsey and Emily are flirting with the group of guys who conveniently took the table right by the dart board, so they could watch us.
They tried to buy me shots, but I declined. I may be only twenty-one, but I’m not an idiot—I don’t mix my alcoholic beverages, and I don’t take drinks from people I don’t know. I grab my purse, slip out into the main bar, and find an empty stool. The bartender stops in front of me. “What can I getcha?”
“I’ll take a Summer Shandy draft, please.” I pull out my phone and see a text from Brandon.
Brandon: We’ll be there in about an hour. Doing okay?
Delilah: Okay, sounds good. Say hi to Jose for me. I just ordered a beer so I’m doing fine.
Brandon: Jose says hi, and we’ll see you in a bit.
The bartender sticks my beer in front of me. “That’ll be four-fifty.” I grab my wallet to pay the bartender, but a deep voice speaks up beside me.
“Put it on my tab.” I turn to my right, and the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen is sitting beside me. His dark hair is shaved close to the scalp, and his eyes are a dark, mossy green. He glances at me with a warm smile. “I hope you don’t mind me doing that.”
“Um…not at all. Thank you. I’m Lilah, by the way.” I don’t know why I don’t give him my full name. His woodsy scent wraps around me as I reach my hand out to shake his.
His large hand feels rough, but strong, and it fills me with a strange but welcome tingly feeling. “Reece.” He turns on his stool so he faces me, and I do the same.
“Do you live here?” I ask before taking a sip of my beer.
He shakes his head. “Not yet. I was just here to talk to a buddy of mine about a job. What about you?”
“Yeah, I’ve lived here for two years now and love it. I live with my best friend and he’s crazy. He actually ditched me to have dinner with his boyfriend, but I can’t blame him for that. A couple of our friends are by the dart boards, but guys were starting to circle, and they were eating it up. I had to get out of there.”
He eyes me suspiciously. “You don’t like male attention?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, but when I go out with my friends, I want to be with my friends, not to be some random girl that they’re hoping to make a play for. It seems that if you don’t return their affection, then they just move on to the next one, and that’s just not okay with me.”
Reece nods his head. “I can respect that. A lot of women eat that shit up, but you don’t?”
“Not really. If I’m interested, then I’ll let you know. What about you? You’re obviously a good-looking guy. I’m sure the women in this place have been circling like vultures.”
His laugh is a deep, rich sound that causes my heart to race a little bit. “They might’ve, but I only stopped in here because the bar at my hotel is closed for renovations, plus they told me this place had the best nachos.”
As if he knew Reece was talking about it, the bartender sets a ginormous plate of nachos in front of him. “I’m gonna need your help eating these. I wasn’t expecting such a huge platter.”
I’ve never been shy around food, so I grab a chip loaded with seasoned shredded chicken, beans, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. I’m not embarrassed at all when I take a bite and moan. I find Reece staring at me; the look in his eyes makes my nipples hard.
“I love to see a woman who likes to eat.”
“Oh yeah, I love to cook, and even more I love to eat. When I was younger, my mom used to get on me, worried that I’d get fat, but I’m really active, so obviously she had nothing to worry about.” I pop the rest of my nacho in my mouth and finish off my beer.
Reece signals for the bartender and orders himself and me another beer. “I’m buying this round,” I tell him, but he waves me off.
“If I let you buy, my mom would whoop my ass if she found out.”
“Are you sure? That’s not why I’m still sitting here.”
He gives me a smile before handing me my glass. “I’m sure, and I’m aware of that because you didn’t even notice me sitting here when you sat down.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m very observant.” We both dig in with gusto, and before long, the entire plate of nachos is gone.
I’ve always been outgoing and have had no problem talking to people I don’t know, and with Reece, it’s like we’ve known each other forever. While we drink, he tells me that he’s got a younger sister, and they all live back in his tiny little hometown in central Illinois. I share a little bit about my mom and the revolving men in and out of our lives.
“We’re not very close now. She’s just very critical of everything I do. I’m convinced she thinks I ruined her life. She was only nineteen when she had me, and I used to hear all the time about the stuff she didn’t get to do because she was a mom.” I lower my head because sometimes I have verbal diarrhea. “Sorry to be a downer.”
His fingertips touch my chin and lift it, and I realize how close he is to me. I can see the gold flecks in his eyes. “Don’t apologize. I’ve enjoyed talking to you.”
I’ve never been forward with men before, but for some reason I’m not ready for my time to be over with him just yet. “I don’t know if you have to get back to your hotel now or not, but there’s this great diner about two blocks away that serves the best apple pie with a heaping scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream on top.”
He doesn’t even seem to think about it—Reece just signals for the bartender to close out his tab, signs the receipt, sticks his card back in his wallet, and stands up. I follow suit, and that’s when I realize how big he is compared to me. His shirt molds to defined muscles and shows off a slim waist. Reece’s jeans fit him like a second skin and highlight muscled legs. And don’t think I don’t notice the huge bulge in his pants…great. Now I’m horny.
“I’m going to tell my friends I’m leaving,” I say.
“Sure, I’ll be waiting right here,” he says with a smile that makes my knees weak.
With quick steps, I head toward the dart boards and spot Kelsey and Emily. “Hey guys, I’m taking off.”
“Where are you going?” Emily asks.
“Out for dessert with a guy named Reece. We’re walking down to Patty’s.”
“Okay, have fun and be safe,” Kelsey says before wrapping her arms around me. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, honey. I love you guys.” I hug and kiss them both before walking back out to the bar and smiling when I spot Reece standing there waiting for me. “Ready?”
“Yep, lead the way.”
We walk side by side down the street in a companionable silence. Up ahead I see Patty’s, and when we step inside, we grab a booth toward the back. When the waitress comes to us, we both order apple pie à la Mode and coffee. A few minutes later, she returns with two huge pieces of pie with heaping scoops of ice cream and two cups of coffee.
“You are in for a treat.” I dig in and take a huge bite, knowing I probably have ice cream in the corner of my mouth, but I’m rocking a nice buzz, so I don’t really care, moaning and groaning around the pie as I chew it.
He takes a bite himself and closes his eyes. I know that look—pure ecstasy. “This is the best fucking pie I’ve ever eaten.”
“I told you, didn’t I? This place is an institution.” I add cream and sugar to my coffee and take a generous sip. We finish our pie—well, I only ate half, and Reece finished mine as well as his.
I’ve never had this much fun talking to someone I just met before. It doesn’t hurt that there’s this underlying sexual tension that seems to be building between us.
I notice his lingering glances at my lips when we talk and the subtle glances at my chest. I, of course, have been checking him out too. When the check comes, I wrestle it away from him and pay it before he can. “I invited you for dessert, it’s the least I can do.”
Our waitress brings us a couple of to-go cups with coffee, and after I doctor mine up, we step outside. Right there on the street, Reece surprises me by cupping my face and pressing his lips to mine. The kiss is soft and tender, and my lips begin moving against his. He licks the seam of my lips and I allow him entrance into my mouth.
His kiss turns firm and seductive, and I swear I could come right now from this alone. Far too soon the kiss is over and he’s slowly pulling away. “Fuck, if I didn’t want to do that all night.”
“Me too.” My voice has taken on a breathy tone.
Reece reaches out, stroking my cheek so tenderly my eyes drift shut. Goosebumps break out across my skin as he whispers against my ear, “Come back to my hotel room with me?”
I’ve never had casual sex before. I’ve had two lovers, and both were about as inexperienced as I am. I feel like Reece is my one shot at spontaneous, uninhibited sex. “Okay,” I whisper as my eyes open and find him so close, his breath hits me in sweet-smelling puffs.
With one more addictive kiss, he laces his fingers with mine, and hand in hand we head to his hotel. Neither of us says anything as we enter the lobby and step onto the elevator. We reach his floor and walk toward his door. He produces his keycard and slips it into the slot, but before he opens it all the way, he turns to me.
“We don’t have to do anything. We can just hang out. I just wanted you to know that before we go inside.”
Maybe it’s the beer or maybe it’s the sugar high from the pie, but I move toward him and place my hand on his chest, letting it slide up around his neck. I pull him down until our lips touch in a soft kiss. He pulls back, and I smile at him before pushing his door open and pulling him inside.
The door shuts quietly, and I turn to face Reece. In two steps I’m in his arms and my back meets the wall. I wrap my legs around his waist and feel his hard cock. His lips are on mine, and I open my mouth to his seeking tongue. Mine meets his in that familiar dance and I moan into his mouth as I feel one of his hands cup my breast, plucking at the nipple through my bra.
He sets me down on my feet and pushes my duster off. Then it’s my shirt. I return the favor and slowly unbutton his, kissing every newly exposed inch of his chest. What a fine chest it is. All muscles and smooth skin that’s totally kissable. I finally slip his shirt off his shoulders, and it floats to the floor. Then in one smooth move, I’m up in the air and then my back is hitting the mattress with Reece following me down.
