Erin opened her eyes, wincing as the light streaming through the window hit her lids, still sensitive and sore from last night’s crying bout. Shielding her eyes, she pulled herself up, wincing as the stiff muscles in her neck protested the move. Rubbing at the sore spot, she yawned, eyes roaming the room.
Her eyes widened and she jerked off the covers and scrambled from the bed, heart beating a wild rhythm.
“You came back,” She stood by the bed, conscious of her rumpled state as Ethan’s eyes swept over her, his expression that blank look that confused her to no end. “Are you alright?”
Ethan rose from the window ledge, his eyes fixed on her face. Abashed, Erin lowered her gaze, settling on the dark red tie contrasting with the white shirt he wore beneath the black suit. Surprised, her eyes darted back up to his face, noting the freshly combed hair, the alert blue eyes that didn’t look in the least bit like someone who’d spent the night getting drunk and she felt even more self-conscious as she realized that Ethan must have come back sometime and had gotten dressed and ready for the day while she’d made herself comfortable on his bed.
“I’ll make some breakfast while you shower and get dressed.” Ethan ignored her question, issuing the order in that quiet authoritative way of his. He consulted the watch on his wrist, an impressive looking Rolex and frowned. “I took the liberty of calling your assistant and she should be here by the time you’re through with the shower, there’s a spare toothbrush by the sink and if there’s anything else you need, ask. I have to go in early, but I’ll leave your food in the microwave…”
He shrugged, the action emphasizing the muscles underneath his suit. “Like I said, just holler of you need anything.”
He gave her a polite nod and strode out of the room, leaving Erin still struggling to catch up with the confusing twist of events.
“Ethan, wait.” Jolted into action by the sound of the door slamming shut, Erin hurried after him, nearly tripping over her own feet. She caught up with him in the living room, her hand on his elbow bringing him to a halt. She scooted around so she could look him in the eye, hope coursing through her veins.
The fact that he wasn’t throwing her out on her ass was a good sign but Erin wasn’t entirely sure what to make of his reaction this morning. “Are you still mad at me?”
Her question caused a flash of some emotion in his expression, but it vanished just as quickly, to be replaced by that inscrutable look. “We’ll talk when you’re done with your shower.”
He stepped around her and disappeared into the kitchen and Erin contemplated going after him, curious and anxious to know what fate awaited her, then thought better of it and retraced her steps to the bathroom, mind whirling through several possibilities, as her stomach roiled in panic. She hurriedly freshened up, donning Ethan’s robe, luxuriating in the warm, male aroma that filled her nostrils from the fabric as she stepped back into the bedroom to find Heather perched on a chair, fresh clothes spread out on the bed.
“Morning, Boss,” Heather grinned, shooting Erin a knowing look. “So, is this going to be a regular sort of thing? Not that I mind, of course.” She rested her chin on one hand and sighed in appreciation. “A girl could certainly get used to getting a phone call from heaven first thing in the morning.”
Despite her agitated nerves, Erin couldn’t help but be amused by her assistant’s words. “Heaven. Seriously?” She put on fresh bra and panties, perched on the bed to begin applying make-up in quick strokes, wanting to catch Ethan before he left. “Is Ethan still here? Did you see him?”
Heather nodded; busying herself with gathering Erin’s used clothes into the bag she’d brought. “Yeah, he met me at the door and told me to look for you here.”
Erin nodded and quickly got dressed, pausing to access herself in the mirror. Heather had chosen well, and the sleeveless black pencil gown with a deep v-neck, black belt with twin gold buckles that cinched in her waist and matching three-inch heels coupled with her hair up in a loose ponytail, gave her a sleek, confident, professional look. Taking in a deep breath, she dismissed Heather and after one last check in the mirror, made her way to the kitchen.
Ethan was perched on a stool by the counter, frowning at his laptop open in front of him, cup of coffee in hand. He looked up as she entered and Erin rejoiced to see the momentary look of male appreciation as his gaze swept over her before he returned his attention to the screen.
“There’s toast and eggs if you want.” He informed her as she crossed to the coffee pot to pour herself a cup. He kept his gaze firmly on the screen, not looking up even when Erin retrieved the plate he’d made up for her and took the stool opposite.
“Thanks.” Erin murmured, but he merely managed a distracted nod. She took a bite of the eggs, touched that he’d taken the time to make them just as she liked – sunny side up. After the first bite, her hunger returned full force and she concentrated on filling her stomach. Biting into the last morsel of toast, Erin looked up to find Ethan watching her with a thoughtful look and she resisted the urge to blush like a school girl.
She forced herself to swallow, washing it down with coffee, all the while conscious of his gaze on her. Taking another deep breath, Erin prepared to apologize again.
“Ethan, about yesterday -”
“Forget it.” He cut in firmly, taking a sip of his coffee. He returned his attention to the screen again, leaving Erin staring at him in jaw dropping shock.
Wait, what?
“Huh?” at a loss for words, Erin could only mutter the first thing that came to mind. Forget it? Was that all?
Ethan looked up, lips twitched briefly at the stricken look on Erin’s face. “What?”
Erin opened her mouth but no words came out. She shut it and tried again…. This time managing to stutter a few words. “But… you… we… I thought.” Frustrated, she shook her head to clear her confusion and simply looked at him with a silent plea for explanations.
Ethan blew out a breath and closed the lid of his laptop, rubbing at the corner of his left eye. “Yes, I was fucking pissed at you and your parents yesterday. I’d be lying if I said I’m not still angry that you could even begin to think I would hit a woman no matter how much said woman deserved it…. no Erin, let me finish….” He held up a hand to stop her protests, his tone brooking no arguments. “But when I thought about it, I realized that quite a number of times in the past, I have given you reason to believe I could resort to physical violence what with the number of times I have threatened to do the same.”
His mouth twisted in self deprecation.
“So when I thought about it, I couldn’t really lay all the blame at your feet without getting some shit splattered on myself as well.” He met her eyes and nodded. “Now, about your parents, I don’t know what brought about that phone call and no offense babe, but your mother’s a bit of a drama queen.”
Recovered from her shock, Erin could only agree silently, a guilty flush suffusing her face as she realized that she’d picked up the talent from her mother too.
“Still, I understand how she would think I was out to take advantage of you, but I don’t give a damn what your parents think. I didn’t poop gold from the moment I was born, but, I’m still a helluva lot better than any fucking asshole born with a silver spoon sticking out his ass. So you can tell them I said if they don’t like the fact that I’m dating their daughter, they’re going have to deal with it. Which brings us back to our relationship…”
He turned to face her, his expression giving nothing away. “I’m still human, and your words cut me… hard. Right now, my head’s messed up and though a part of me- the greater part wants to damn you to hell, I can’t deny my feelings for you. But I need time Erin, for the next couple days, I may be brash, distant sometimes, but that’s just me trying to get past all this. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you, I still love you Erin. It’s just so I won’t unwittingly explode and hurt you in the future if I don’t deal with this now. OK?”
Erin managed a nod, and for the first time, Ethan smiled, the action completely transforming his features from severe and uncompromising to boyish and sweet. Her heart lifted at the sight, and for once, Erin was able to take a breath without hurting, relief turning her bones to mush. She would take anything… would do anything if it meant she didn’t lose the man she loved.
She pushed back her stool and stood up, circling the counter top, her eyes never leaving his. Ethan watched her approach, his eyes darkening in arousal. Erin came to stand between his legs, feeling her body heat up in awareness.
“Thank you.” She whispered, cupped his face in her hands and brushing her lips against his own, savoring the taste of him then kissed him again, moaning when his hands wrapped around her, and his mouth settled firmly over hers, shattering her senses with his kiss.
Things had just begun to heat up, when Erin’s phone rang, breaking up the moment. Not wanting to end the kiss, wanting so much more, Erin simply ignored the damn thing, molding her body closer to Ethan, her hands gripping his tie in a desperate effort to keep him close.
“You should get that,” Ethan murmured, pulling away much to Erin’s disappointment, his eyes mirroring her reluctance to let go.
He reached for the phone where she’d left it on the counter and handed it to her, chuckling at the disgruntled expression on her face as she tugged her dress back down. “I gotta get to work anyway, my meeting starts in less than twenty minutes.”
“Okay,” she glanced at the screen, surprised to see her father’s number.
“It’s my dad.” She looked at Ethan with a worried frown, pressing the call button. “Dad?”
“Morning,” Her father’s usual gruff tone came over the phone. “I take it you’re at Lachlan’s place. Is he there?”
Erin blushed, mortified and guilty at the fact that her father knew where she’d spent the night. No matter how old she got, it was still pretty unsettling. She looked at Ethan, packing up his laptop back in its case, wondering what to tell her dad. Heaven only knew why he’d decided to call her rather than speak to Ethan directly.
“Umm, what’s this about?” She hedged, trying to get more information. She wandered into the living room, needing some privacy. “Is something wrong dad?”
“I have something to say, and I think it would be best if I said it to the both of you. Now Erin, would you please get your Mr Lachlan and put this on speaker?”
Ethan came into the room, straightening his tie and cast her a curious glance. Flummoxed, Erin held the phone away from her ear, cupping a hand over the speaker. “My dad wants to talk to both of us.” She whispered in alarm, “What should I do?”
His brows rose in query. “What does he want?”
Erin gave a helpless shrug. “He wouldn’t say, just that he wants you to listen in.”
Ethan seemed to consider this for a moment, glancing at his watch. He sighed and set down his brief case, holding out his hand for the phone.
Fingers trembling, Erin set the call to speaker and handed it over, sidling close to Ethan so she could hear.
“Good Morning, Harold,” Ethan spoke, his voice betraying nothing of his thoughts.
“Lachlan,” Harold’s curt voice filled the room. “I know you and my daughter might be wondering if this is a repeat of yesterday’s fiasco, but I assure you, it is not.”
Erin’s eyes met Ethan, both thinking identical thoughts. Ethan smiled, the action not quite reaching his eyes.
“Well, I can say that’s a relief.”
“Yes well, I realize my wife and I may have over-reacted a tad, but our daughter’s well being is important to us, and I especially do not like when she is been taken advantage of..”
“Dad, you just said this wasn’t going to happen.” Erin pointed out, her ire rising.
Ethan reached for her hand, his touch soothing her rapidly fraying nerves. She looked up at him, letting him see how sorry she was for her father’s behavior and he squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“Let him talk,” Ethan said aloud, “He has every right to be angry, and it’s better if we get that out in the open and deal with it.”
“Quite right, Lachlan.” Harold replied, his voice a bit subdued. “I am angry, and I still demand an explanation for your shenanigans with my daughter and my company…. but we’ll leave that for another time.”
He cleared his throat, paused for a brief minute and continued in a calmer tone. “The reason I wanted to talk with you, is to inform you that I have decided to call off our deal… and before you go off your rockers, allow me to clarify a few facts.”
Erin could feel Ethan stiffen and despite the relief that coursed through her veins at her father’s announcement, she knew Ethan wouldn’t see it as a relief at all. It was her turn to squeeze his hand in an effort to calm him.
“I still want those shares,” her father was saying. “They should never have left the company’s control in that appalling manner in the first place, but… as my daughter rightly pointed out, if I go through with your offer, it would cause irreparable damage to not just your company’s image, but to mine as well, and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I have come to the belief that this… offer of yours was some asinine romantic move to prove god know’s what to my daughter, and I refuse to be a part of it. So, I’m offering a new deal. I will purchase those shares at the current price in the stock market and you will sign over all shareholder rights to the company. That is my final offer, Lachlan.”
Ethan’s mouth set in that familiar stubborn line and Erin knew he was about to roundly refuse the deal. Then to her surprise, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side.
“Very well Harold. I accept.” Ethan said the words quietly, his expression resigned and slightly shocked as though he too couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “But I also have certain conditions that need to be met.”
“Of course, how about we meet in your office and we can discuss those conditions.”
Erin listened in amazement as the two men ended the conversation after settling on a convenient time, shocked into silence for the second time that day. Oh boy! But if this continued, she was going to need a pace maker before the day was over.
Tilting her head back so she could see him better, she gave him a puzzled look. “What was that?”
His mouth twisted in mirth, as his other hand circled her waist, bringing her fully against him. “That, was me realizing when I’ve been made a better offer.” He shrugged as though the thought didn’t bother him.
“Dealing with those fuckwits yesterday made me realize one thing… I’m not and never will be the sort of guy who kisses ass, which was what would have happened if this deal had gone through. I would have had the unpleasant task of trying to convince my investors and clients that I’m not mad, while trying my best to keep from ripping out their fucking throats for stupidity. So your dad’s managed to save a lot of lives… including my own.”
The man would never cease to amaze her. “You’re the most unpredictable man I’ve ever known.”
A feral glint came into his eyes at her declaration and one hand released her only to blaze a trail down her front, over her breasts, skimming past the juncture of her thighs to rest her hips, his fingers lightly stroking her through the fabric of her dress. “I intend to keep that title for as long as possible.” He filled his hand with the fabric, tugging the material up to expose her bare skin.
Erin’s breath hitched at his touch, her limbs already turning to jelly at his touch.
“I thought you had to be at the office?” she murmured, sliding her arms around his neck, her heels putting her at the perfect height to nuzzle the skin on his neck, hiding a smile of triumph at his groan.
“I’m being unpredictable.” Ethan replied, his voice a harsh rasp of need as he leaned down, scooping Erin into his arms and making for the bedroom.
THE END