“Then, why did you fuck his best friend?” My hands and move to my hips as I pour out my anger on this horrible, shallow, sorry excuse for a woman.

  “Was it ladylike when the closest thing your fiancé had to a brother was mounting you from behind on top of this desk… in the office at the company that he built from the ground up?” Her look turns too shocked. Gasping, she puts her hand against her chest is if I smacked her.

  “Save the dramatics, Scarlett. No one here gives a damn,” I spit out, fist pumping internally.

  She looks at me in confusion. “Yeah, I know all about it. I also know what you're really after. State school education or not, I'm smart enough to know that this is about HALtech, nothing more.”

  “What do you know about it?” she questions.

  I realize I've already said too much, potentially giving away what Ben has been finalizing before the ink even has had a chance to dry on the merger.

  “Nothing,” I lie.

  She seems satisfied with my answer, smug even. “Figures. He would never discuss business with you, MBA student or not,” she digs. I’m uneasy with how much she seems to know about me.

  “I think it's time for you to go,” I tell her, ready to have her gone and figure out where Ben is.

  “Just as well…I have an appointment, and I really should be going. Punctuality is a very important quality to possess.” She looks up at me, setting down her cup.

  “Thanks again for the coffee,” she says like I offered it. Crazy. “I always loved this coffee maker,” she adds, standing and catching my startled expression. “I should know; I picked it out,” she giggles, as if she’s letting me in on some secret joke.

  Reading the confusion on my face like a supermarket tabloid, she says, “Oh, dear…he didn't tell you this was our place before he decided to turn it into his little bachelor pad?”

  "Leave." The whisper barely escapes my lips, as tears sting my eyes. “Ben will be here any moment.”

  “Actually, he won't. We have brunch plans with my parents. Why do you think he’s gone, silly?” I’m going to be sick.

  “Are you delusional?” I ask, honestly convinced that she is.

  “It seems to me that you're the one living in a fantasy,” she criticizes, waving her hand in the general direction of me, then allowing the wave to encompass the room.

  “I truly hate to see how invested in him you have become. Your little dance the other night almost had me fooled.” I suck in a quick breath; of course, she was there.

  “Don’t worry…he made sure I kept my distance. But that’s only because he didn’t want me telling you what I’m telling you now. I saw the way you looked at him, and woman to woman, I knew I had to come to you,’ she goes on, and I can barely hear anything because of the anger ringing in my ears.

  “He made his point – he got even. Enough games; we have a life to move on with. And, it would seem you do too. Here…this should say at all.” She hands me an envelope she pulls from her handbag, which probably cost more than a year’s worth of tips.

  While the white, thick stationary is heavy in my hands, my heart is what is feeling the heaviest. I’m afraid to open it.

  “He's not coming back,” she adds, patting my arm.

  I jerk away from her so hard, I nearly lose my balance. “Don’t touch me, you bitch.”

  “That should be enough to start over,” she says.

  “I don't believe you,” I whisper. Peeking into the envelope, I see a check written out to me. No!

  I don't want to believe her, but my heart shatters even more, knowing that she knows. Eyes filled with tears, I look up to see her smiling.

  “Of course, I knew, dear. Whose idea do you think it was?” She responds to a question that was lodged in my throat.

  “It wasn’t about the money for me.” Not anymore. A tear slides down my cheek.

  “For him, it wasn’t either. It was about settling a score. And I would say he got more than even when he got what he wanted from you. Don’t be a fool; take the money. He has plenty.” I hate Tess more with every passing word.

  I still don't believe her until I take out the check and see his signature scrawled on the bottom.

  Benjamin Hamilton.

  “Get! Out!” I scream, and my chest and throat ache so bad, I’m certain the shards of glass from my fractured heart must be flying out of my mouth.

  Damage done, she prances to the door, gently closing it behind her. The check flutters to the ground as I reach for something to throw. Grabbing the precious coffee carafe, I hurl it after her, and it hits the door with a crash. Shattered glass and hot dripping liquid slide down the heavy wood door.

  The rational part of me says wait for Ben. Give him a chance. But the insecure me says…wake up! He signed the check. He was only using you!

  They say you can’t buy love. But, he did… he just doesn’t know it yet. And now, he never will.

  Falling for him was never part of the arrangement. Neither was sharing his bed. But, I did both.

  Now, I’ll be the one paying the price.

  I need to figure out what to do about it all… But I need to be alone. I can’t think clearly while surrounded by the scent of him, memories of us curled up watching Netflix, or flashbacks of when he pressed me against that window and conquered me.

  I need to get out of here and clear my head. Throwing on my clothes, I grab my bag and head for the park.

  Chapter 15

  Ben

  Everything in me screamed that this is a bad idea. Never mix business with pleasure. But I did anyway. Hell, who am I kidding? It was always pleasure with Alexa.

  The uncertainty of what could be going through her mind weighs heavy on my chest, crushing me. It’s growing dark, and I’m worried.

  Squeezing my eyes tightly shut in hopes of relieving the tension, my mind wanders to the memories of the last time I saw her – sprawled out in my bed, Alexa's blond hair wild and cascading around her satin skin and a faint trace of red on her lips. Lips that I kissed all night. Lips that tasted like cherries and hope. Lips that told secrets and jokes. Lips that marked me, made me want more. Made me think I could be more.

  I left to get us breakfast but got an emergency call and had to run by the office, and I tried texting her to let her know. I assumed she was sleeping, but then, when I arrived at work and found out the call was from Tess, I knew something was up. So I raced home.

  When I walked in the door and saw the broken glass, I freaked out. Then, all the pieces fell into place…once I saw the check laying on the floor. A check she was never supposed to see, not yet, anyway. The amount was just coincidental. I was going to surprise her later when I told her about NYU. That bitch must have stolen it from my desk.

  I texted and called her about a hundred more times, afraid to leave for fear of missing seeing her. I had her gift delivered. I’m hoping that she doesn’t throw away the opportunity because she’s upset with me.

  A noise brings me back to the present. Sucking in a harsh breath I stand. Alexa.

  I hear her come in, but I don’t rush to her the way I want to. “Alexa.”

  She is avoiding eye contact, but I continue anyway. “I'm so glad you’re back.”

  *****

  Alexa

  “Well, I never back out of a commitment,” I explain, avoiding his gaze, knowing that’s not the only reason.

  I feel the heat of his eyes on me, never leaving me, as if he’s afraid I’m going to disappear. “Is that what I am? What we are?” he asks, his voice laced with hope.

  Hope. As for what I’m feeling, I don’t know how to feel. Or, how to think. I only know I want to be in his arms, but I can’t pretend this morning never happened.

  “Lex, please, baby, talk to me,” he pleads, and hearing his term of endearment softens the ice that formed on my heart when it was fractured.

  Brushing past him, I walk over to the window. “You can’t imagine what it felt like.”

  “Oh, can’t I?” His voice sounds like he’s holding back anger. I inwardly cringe, knowing he’s referring to Tess and his best friend, the third “letter” in HALtech, screwing on his desk.”

  Sighing, I turn, lifting my eyes up to meet his. “You’re right. You have experienced pain of your own, and I’m not childish enough to sit here and pretend otherwise.”

  He steps closer, nodding for me to continue, hands tucked away in his pockets, a nervous habit of his that I’ve picked up on.

  “When I walked in and saw her sitting there…” I begin, pointing to the couch, “Well, for starters, it scared me. It didn’t take long after that to figure out who she was. But her being here wasn’t the biggest shock. Not by a long shot. Even when she told me this was her apartment with you.” I risk glancing at him.

  “She was lying. She never lived here with me. Yes, it was my place when we were together, but honestly, this was my get away from her when in town. So, anytime we were in the city, she either stayed with her parents, friends or at the Ritz. I would never have brought you to this place if I had been here with her here. Even when it was just an arrangement.” I can see him clenching his fists in his pockets, and the desperation in his voice guts me.

  “Was?” I question him, but it’s a very loaded question.

  “Do you want it to be? I thought we were past all that.” He walks toward me.

  My heart is hammering in my chest. “So are you saying our deal is off?” Please say yes.

  “I’m saying the deal has been off for me since that first kiss,” he confesses.

  My eyes fill with tears. “It was never about the money for me either. But why did you have a check made out to me? And how the hell did she know? That’s what I need to understand. That part hurt the most.” The tears start to fall, and he’s in front of me in an instant, kissing every single one away.

  “That was for something else. Look at the date, I made it out that first day. She must have taken it from the office. I’m so sorry. Do you trust me?” I nod, and he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder, carrying me to the bedroom.

  “Wait, Ben. I don’t think this is the best idea.” I slap at his back lightly, knowing my panties are already growing wet. And, with every step, the anger melts, the drama from today fading, and what’s left is him. This must be love, the really crazy sexy, consuming kind of love. Love-on-the-brain love. Love-you-through-it love. Because even when I don’t want to, I love this man.

  Setting me on my feet, he turns me toward the bed, and I find my black, Calvin Klein power suit he bought me for my interview tomorrow, draped across the bottom.

  “So you knew I would come back?” I tease.

  “Knew? No, not for sure. Hoped? Yes,” he explains, smiling. “And just in case, I wanted you to have something else to go with it. A good luck charm. Not that you need luck!” he quickly corrects himself, grabbing a box from the closest and handing it to me.

  Taking the box, I climb up to the head of the bed and pat the spot next to me. “What could it be?” I shake it.

  “Something that reminded me of you.” He kisses against my cheek. “Just open it.”

  Tearing the black glossy paper off, I lift the lid, scooting aside the gold tissue, and see the most incredible pair of red stilettos, complete with pleated bows on the toes. “Ben,” I cry, “I’m speechless. These are amazing. I love them.” My heart beats against my chest like a drumline. I’m so moved by his thoughtfulness.

  “I thought since red is supposed to be a power color, it would be a good move. Plus, they are sexy as hell. And they remind me of the shoes you had on when we first met… And.” He remembers. Sigh.

  “Ketchup,” we say in unison before our lips meet.

  “There is more,” he says, pulling away and grabbing an envelope from the box, passing it to me.

  “I don’t want your money,” I warn.

  “It’s not what you think,” he urges.

  Turning the envelope over, I see his handwriting.

  Thought you could use a kick ass pair of shoes to chase your dreams in.

  The words nearly blur from tears. Inside the envelope is an acceptance letter and packet to NYU – Stern School of Business. My hand trembles, shaking the paper.

  “How? I can’t—“

  “It’s my Alma Mater, and my father has a friend on the board. It’s just a matter of bumping your application to the top of the pile. It was still all you. Your brilliant mind, your high test scores, your hard work. All you.

  “Are you mad?” he asks because I’m still speechless. I shake my head, willing the words to come. “That check was meant to help pay part of your first year. It was a gift, not a payment.”

  Dropping everything, I climb into his lap and say the only words I can think of, “I love you, Benjamin Hamilton.”

  He looks at me like I just handed him the whole world and replies, “I love you to, Alexa James.”

  His fingertips caress my cheeks, wiping away my tears.

  “Raccoon eyes,” I joke.

  “I happen to think raccoons are adorable,” he reminds me before sealing our love with a kiss.

  “Thank you, Ben, for chasing me, for catching me and for not letting me go.” I moan into his mouth, the kiss deepening.

  “You want to try on your shoes?” he asks, running his hands down my sides. “With nothing else,” he adds, and I lift my arms as he pulls my shirt over my head.

  “What? No pillow talk tonight?” I tease him.

  “You know what comes before pillow talk,” he answers me before flipping me onto my back.

  A gasp escapes my lips as he drags my leggings down my body. Ironically enough, I’m wearing my red lingerie, which earns me an exasperated groan from Ben.

  He pulls my bare legs on either side of him. Taking the shoes in his hand, he gently slides them on my feet. One, then the other. “Perfect fit.” He leans forward and devours my mouth.

  Yes, we are.

  Epilogue

  Ben

  “Alexa Elizabeth James - Magna Cum Laude.” The Dean reads her name and my chest swells with pride. She accepts her diploma, smiles over her shoulder, then walks across the stage in those fuck-me red heels like she runs the world. And she does…run mine.

  I clap and whistle. Screw holding the applause till the end…that’s my girl up there! Suddenly, a bullhorn blasts next to me, and I turn to my left to find Vince shrugging and Dottie dabbing her eye’s with a tissue I’m pretty sure she pulled out of her bra.

  I’m so grateful they agreed to fly out and surprise Alexa. They are really the only family she has. Feeling thankful for my own family, I turn to my right and see my parents clapping, my mother with tears of her own. Seems in the last 13 months, they have fallen in love with Alexa as well.

  The only friends who couldn’t make it are Kami, who she has recently reconnected with but is in rehab, getting the help she needs; and Noah and Olivia, who have become great friends since Lex landed the job at Tate & Cane, and we both relocated to Manhattan permanently.

  I started my own business and often work with her firm, but being the independent woman that she is, she won’t come to work for me. I keep trying to talk her into getting a bigger place, but she seems pretty partial to the view from the windows of our loft. I say ours because it is. Everything I have is hers, and we’re about to make that legal.

  When the ceremony is finally over, and she makes her way to me, I grab her in my arms and kiss those ruby red lips, not caring if her lipstick smudges. Setting her down, I hand her a box as our family surrounds us, snapping pictures. She says her hello’s and is thrilled about Dottie and Vince. When everyone is finished, she begins to unwrap her gift. The anticipation is killing me.

  Opening the black box, tearing aside the gold tissue, she lifts out a pearl and jewel incrusted pair of heels with red soles. “Ben!” she gasps. “They are incredible!”

  “There’s more,” I tell her.

  “There always is,” she mumbles, digging into the box as I get into position.

  Reading the card, her voice waivers, “I know it’s supposed to be something blue, but red is more your style. I’m hoping you’ll wear these for me as you walk down the aisle.”

  She looks down at me on my knees…fitting, because I worship this woman. “Alexa Elizabeth James, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Yes!” she cries, “a million yesses!” She throws her arms around my neck and nearly topples me to the ground, showering me with kisses. “Took you long enough,” she teases.

  “I was waiting.” I tell her, standing and pulling her with me.

  “For what?” She asks, beaming.

  “For you to get your degree. I didn’t want anything to stop you, and I wanted your name to be on that certificate because I know how much that means to you,” I explain, and I see tears shining in her eyes.

  “Who says I’m changing my name, you pig?” she laughs as I take her into my arms.

  “Lex…” I growl.

  “Kidding…just kidding,” she says.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something,” I ask.

  “What’s that?” She eyes me curiously.

  “The ring,” I say, taking her hand and sliding on the 5 carat emerald cut diamond, flanked by rubies, and I kiss her breathless before she can say a word. I can feel her excitement poured into the kiss, and if we don’t get out of here, everyone is going to see my excitement.

  I never expected to find love when I wandered into that diner, and she wasn’t looking for love either; but it found us, and I’m thankful for that every day.

  Just because your dream changes, doesn’t mean it can’t still come true.

  The End

  About the Author

  Brittany Holland is a leggings wearing, Starbucks drinking, Spotify addicted, self- proclaimed book nerd. My love of reading and an active imagination inspired me to pursue my dream of writing. I write intense contemporary romance blending chemistry, suspense and wit. When I'm not creating worlds on the page I enjoy traveling, catching up on my favorite TV shows and photography.

 

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