Secret Crush Seduction, page 11
“I dig that. Let’s do it,” Mona said with a fist pump. And every member of the design team echoed her sentiment.
“Wow, that was easy. You guys are awesome,” Adelaide said with a broad smile. “Now let’s get back to work.”
Adelaide had some kinks to get out of last night’s sketches before uploading them to her design program. Her excitement resurfaced as she worked on her design again. She didn’t lift her head from her desk until her cell phone rang. It was Colin.
“Hey, cuz,” she said, raising one arm over her head for a much-needed stretch. “What’s up?”
“Do you want to meet up tonight? We haven’t hung out properly in ages.”
“I’d love to.” Adelaide paused. They definitely needed to catch up, but she’d been counting the minutes until she saw Michael this evening. She looked around the now nearly empty studio and glanced at her watch. It was almost eight. Michael must be waiting. “But I can’t tonight. I pulled an all-nighter last night and I’m about to keel over.”
“You’re boring when you’re unconscious.”
“Right? Will you be at Pendulum tomorrow night? I could come by the club with dinner,” she offered, feeling guilty for ditching her cousin. But she needed to see Michael or she might go mad.
“Why don’t you come by in a couple nights? I’ve been neglecting my clubs getting CS Productions off the ground. I’ll be making the rounds at my other clubs tomorrow night.”
“Got it. I’ll see you soon then,” she said, sounding sheepish.
“Yeah, catch you later.”
As soon as they hung up, Adelaide texted Michael:
I didn’t realize it was so late. I’m leaving the office now.
Her heart pounded with giddy excitement. She was going to be with him soon, but the impatience zooming through her insisted it wasn’t soon enough.
Oh, boy. I’m in so much trouble.
* * *
Michael had been checking his phone for the eleventh time in the last ten minutes when it dinged with Adelaide’s text. He sighed in relief. She would be here soon. It was nearly eight so the traffic shouldn’t be horrendous. Just hang on for thirty-five minutes, Reynolds.
He was out of control. Knowing this had to end made him desperate to cherish every second with Adelaide. Stolen time. Time that shouldn’t be his.
Michael couldn’t give her children—her own family to cherish. And he refused to put her in the heartbreaking position of having to choose adoption or not having children. Even if she was willing to adopt in order to stay with him, her grandmother would never approve. Both James and Mrs. Song wanted grandchildren. If Adelaide chose to be with him despite his infertility, it would create a rift between her and her family when she was so close to achieving her dream. He couldn’t be the reason she lost her chance to work at Hansol—to head the sensory-friendly apparel line.
But he needed her. If they did everything right, he would still have the friendship of the Song family and his work to fill his days. But he needed Adelaide to warm his soul. He wanted to collect memories of her sweetness, her strength and her passion to carry with him once she was no longer his. That didn’t make him any less of a selfish bastard.
His front door rang and Michael’s heart thumped against his rib cage, but it was too soon for it to be Adelaide. It had only been five minutes since her text.
“Coming,” he yelled as he took long strides toward the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Colin.”
Michael yanked open the door to find that it was indeed Colin Song. Surprise staining his words, he asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I know it’s been a while since I’ve dropped by, but I’ve come unannounced before. Why do you look so panicked?”
“I’m nothing of the sort, but like you said, it’s been a long time,” he said, bumping shoulders with his guest as they clapped each other’s backs. “Come in.”
They walked to the open kitchen, and Colin took a seat on the counter stool while Michael went around the island and reached into the fridge. “IPA or lager?”
“IPA,” Colin replied, eyeing the champagne chilling on ice on the counter. “Are you expecting company? A hot date?”
Hell. Adelaide. She would be here in less than half an hour. From Colin’s teasing at the dinner with Mrs. Song, he already knew something was up between Michael and Adelaide. But Adelaide had wanted absolute secrecy, so Michael wasn’t certain how she wanted to handle the situation with her cousin. Hopefully, he’d be able to send Colin off before Adelaide got here, but lying would only make things messier if they ran into each other tonight.
“Not exactly.” He took a slow breath.
“Adelaide’s the one coming over,” Colin said in a solemn voice. “When will she be here?”
“Not for another thirty minutes,” Michael admitted, eyeing the other man warily.
“Good. That’ll give me plenty of time to say what I came here to say, then be out of your hair.”
Michael paused with the beer halfway up to his mouth. He forced himself to take a sip and put the bottle down, pasting an easy grin on his face. “Well, that sounds intriguing. Let’s hear it then.”
“I know I’m younger than you and was a pesky kid that tagged along after you and Garrett.”
“Wherever you’re going with that, that was when we all were kids. Now you’re nobody’s tag-along.”
“Good. Thanks for that, because you could think of me as Garrett’s stand-in for what I’m about to say.” Colin looked a little pained but determined. “I don’t know how serious it is between you and Adelaide, but I want to know your intentions toward her.”
“You what?” Michael didn’t know whether to laugh or throw Colin out of the house.
“You’re both adults and I don’t want to interfere with your relationship.” Colin held up his hand when Michael opened his mouth to interrupt. “And please don’t bother denying there is anything between the two of you. This is uncomfortable enough as it is without me pointing out how obvious you guys are.”
Oh, hell. So much for discretion.
“Look Mike, I don’t think you realize how much Adelaide cares for you. She has hero-worshipped you since she was four, and she was crazy about you well into high school until you got married. She was devastated and heartbroken, and I thought she’d never be the same again. It wasn’t a cute crush like people thought.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then you’re an idiot. Adelaide has been in love with you for years. When you got married, she tried to forget you by jumping from boyfriend to boyfriend. Her wild-girl years were her attempt to get over you because her heart refused to heal after your wedding. It took her a long time to get past her heartbreak and get her life back in order. Now she finally has this incredible opportunity to prove herself as the competent, brilliant woman she is. I can’t stand by and do nothing when you have the power to ruin everything for her.”
“I would never hurt her. In any way,” Michael bit out, a muscle jumping in his jaw.
“Not intentionally. But if she falls in love with you and you break her heart again, I don’t know what it would do to her.”
“She’s a grown woman who knows her own mind. Neither you nor Garrett have a say in whom she decides to see.” His hands fisted by his sides and he carefully unclenched them. “I understand that the older-brother syndrome turns you and Garrett into overbearing bastards, so I’ll let this conversation slide. But if you ever attempt to interfere with our relationship again, I assure you I won’t sit and listen politely.”
“I hope never to have to say something like this again. It’s not exactly my cup of tea. Besides, if I feel the need to interfere again, I doubt there will be much talking during the ass kicking.”
Michael had to chuckle. Colin was dead serious. He didn’t blame him, but he was way off the mark. Adelaide had never been in love with him. His chest tightened almost painfully at the thought, but he refused to entertain the possibility. She’d had a crush on him when she believed in unicorns and mermaids. He used to have a crush on his thirty-year-old nanny when he was that age.
“Are you finished with your male relative duties now? Because it looks like you and I need another bottle of beer.”
“Yes, I’m done.” Colin said, accepting another cold one. “And please don’t tell Adelaide I said anything to you. She’d kill me if she found out.”
“You sound pretty petrified. I’m surprised you took the risk of earning her wrath.”
“Because I love her more than I fear her. But after Grandmother, Adelaide is the most badass human being in the world. Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t mess with her.”
The doorbell rang again, and both their eyes shot toward the main entrance. “Well, look at that. Adelaide is here early.”
“Goddammit,” Colin muttered. “Tell her I came over to talk to you about PR for my clubs.”
“Like hell, I’m covering for you. I took your browbeating like a gentleman, but the rest is up to you.”
Michael left Colin mumbling curses under his breath to let Adelaide in. The sight of her took his breath away, and it took all his willpower not to kiss her senseless on his doorstep.
“Adelaide,” he said in a low voice, stepping back to allow her in.
“Michael,” she replied coyly, lifting up on her toes as though to kiss him.
He put a hand on her shoulder, shook his head and said rather loudly, “You wouldn’t believe who’s here, drinking my good beer.”
She raised her eyebrows and mouthed, Who?
“Colin,” he whispered. Then he said louder, “Let me show you who it is.”
Adelaide tugged on his sleeve and whisper-screamed, “Oh, God. What’s he doing here? He asked me out to dinner and I blew him off saying I pulled an all-nighter. What is he going to think?”
“He’s going to think I insisted you visit despite your fatigue so we could celebrate your ingenious design ideas.”
“Colin already knows. He would never breathe a word of it to anyone, but I’m not ready to talk to anyone about us. I want it to be our secret only. I don’t want to share a single slice of it.”
She was too adorable to resist, and he kissed her hard before stepping back quickly.
“I needed that,” she said, sounding winded. “Okay. Let’s all go ignore the elephant in the room.”
When they arrived at the kitchen, Colin half stood from his counter stool and gave Adelaide a hug. “Fancy meeting you here, cuz.”
“I’m so glad we all ended up here tonight. We can have a hearty dinner and talk business before I collapse.”
“Who said I had enough for our uninvited guest?” Michael half teased. He wanted Adelaide to himself, and frustration threatened to darken his mood. “I’ll butterfly the steak for the three of us to share, and grill some shrimp on the side.”
Adelaide sat to his right during dinner, and he could feel the heat coming off her. He needed to bring up his deepest reserve of self-control in order not to touch her under the table, because he didn’t want to disrespect Colin after their talk. But he did lightly squeeze her knee to let her know he wanted her. She ran her hands down his thigh in response, and he almost choked on his steak.
“You okay, Mike?” Colin asked with concern.
“I’m fine,” he answered, taking two big gulps of wine.
The cause of his troubles ducked her head to her plate and stuffed shrimp in her mouth to hide her smirk. Mischievous little fox.
When the excitement settled—only to half-mast for Michael—the dinner conversation turned naturally toward the fashion show.
“My design team has a little less than a month to turn in their final designs,” Adelaide said. “I don’t know how I’ll choose one of them as the winner when they’re all so amazing.”
“That sounds tough,” said Colin. “I have good news for you, though. I heard back from some of my DJ friends, and they would love to attend the charity event.”
“Oh, my gosh. That’s incredible news,” she gushed. “Some of them are big-name artists. The online audience will go through the roof.”
“It’s going to be a fantastic event.” Colin smiled.
“Thank you,” said Adelaide, with affection lighting up her lovely face.
“Good work, Colin.” Michael nodded in approval. “Anyone need a refill?”
“I think we’re all a bite away from bursting. Right?” Colin answered then turned to Adelaide. “I’ll drive you home then take a taxi back to pick up my car. You okay with that, Mike?”
“Of course.” Like hell he was. The conniving little bastard was playing chaperon again, and there was no way out of it that wouldn’t look suspicious.
“What? I—” Adelaide protested.
“You pulled an all-nighter last night, and had two glasses of wine. I’m not letting you drive home.”
“I could drive her—” Michael said in a last-ditch effort.
“With all due respect, you look like you haven’t slept in a week yourself. I’ll take her home and you get some rest. Sorry I can’t stay to help you clean up, but she looks like she’s about to face-plant into the shrimp tails.”
Adelaide huffed beside him but stayed quiet otherwise. They both knew Colin was on to them.
“Thanks, Colin.” Admitting defeat, Michael followed the two Songs to the door. “Drive safe.”
“Will do.” With a handshake and a forearm bump, Colin walked toward Adelaide’s car, giving them a minute. That was decent of him.
“I can’t believe he’s chaperoning me!” She blew up as soon as he was out of earshot.
“Can you expect any less from a Song male?” Michael teased, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She shivered at his touch, and sighed deep and long.
“Phone sex in an hour?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t tease,” he groaned. “But Colin’s right. We both need rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Fine. Tomorrow,” she sighed, and gave him two lingering kisses on the corners of his mouth.
“Go,” he said hoarsely. “While I can let you go.”
Eleven
“It’s good to hear your voice, baby.”
The butterflies in Adelaide’s stomach launched into flight. It was hard to believe Michael was saying these words to her. Her dearest friend. Her forever crush. Her soul flushed with shy pleasure, then flooded with the sounds of the universal language of love—Puccini. One sleepy-voiced sentence was all it took.
Wait. Love?
There was no love. This wasn’t forever. She’d drawn a firm line between them. This would be over once the fashion show ended. She couldn’t let her relationship with Michael become the center of her world. Her grandmother was seeing the tip of her potential, but that was only the beginning. She had so much more in her. Adelaide couldn’t lose sight of that even for a little while. Her fling with Michael was just that—a fling. She couldn’t risk her future on a man who only had now to offer.
“Imagine how good it would be to see me in person,” she quipped with false bravado.
“You really want to put me through this first thing in the morning?”
She laughed, feeling a bit abashed for calling him the moment she had opened her eyes that morning. But she wasn’t trying to turn him on or anything. Well, maybe a little. “I just wanted to hear your voice, too. And to invite you to come with me to my meeting with the set designers. Your presence isn’t strictly necessary, but I miss you.”
The silence from his end of the line seemed to stretch on. “I...can’t. It seems my more impulsive clients need my attention today. I swear they’re giving me premature grays.”
“Oh, of course. You do have a company to run.” Adelaide did her best to hide the disappointment in her voice. “Will I see you tonight? Without Colin?”
“I would love to, but I have to see how my day goes.” Michael’s chuckle sounded stilted. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
Adelaide moved like a robot through her morning routine to get herself ready for work. When she went down to the kitchen, her grandmother was already finishing her coffee and half a buttered bagel—her go-to weekday breakfast.
“Good morning, Hal-muh-nee.”
“Come and eat. You look thin.”
“I’m just tired. I had to work straight through the night a couple days ago, and I’m still recovering.”
“Ah, yes. The passion of youth.” She smiled with a faraway look.
Adelaide felt her face redden with guilt at her grandmother’s unintentional innuendo. The passion of youth, indeed. “What are your plans for the day?”
“I’m meeting with some board members for lunch. I need to see them in person to get an accurate read on their positions on the Hansol-Vivotex partnership. They praise Garrett to the heavens when I’m on the phone with them, but I need to make certain the board members aren’t just kissing my ass.” She snorted, sounding incredibly poised, even arrogant. I so want to be like you when I grow up. “It’ll be good for you to remember that, Adelaide. Never take what you hear at face value. You need to decipher the truth through your gut instinct.”
“I’ll remember it well,” she replied, her jaw gaping loose. This was the first time her grandmother had ever given her words of wisdom about running the company. The validation and genuine counsel made her dizzy with pride. And it reinforced her earlier resolve that her relationship with Michael couldn’t become a distraction. It would be a disaster if Grandmother ever found out about their fling. She had to make doubly sure that it was a very short and discreet affair.
The sense of acceptance and pride stayed with her as she drove to her meeting, but so did her phone call with Michael. She replayed their conversation in her mind. He was flirtatious and sexy until the moment she told him she missed him. It couldn’t be. Did those simple words convince him that she was becoming too attached? They’d had one night together. Did he think it’d been too much for little Adelaide? She couldn’t stop the insecurities flooding her mind.
