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“Yes, that was when your father was CEO, and he let you shine. Now you’re dealing with a headstrong, impulsive—”
“Leadership will temper him,” I interject.
”—drug dealer.”
“Now, Mom...”
“It’s true. Stephanie mentioned it.”
“I wouldn’t listen to gossip from the tea club ladies.”
“And Leonora, oh, that snotty, smug bitch. That’s it! We might as well be out on our asses. You know she hasn’t forgiven you for moving into that lake house.”
I’d laugh if I dared to right now, but she’d have my head so I wind it in. “Okay, how about I come to Seattle later this week to see you guys and explain everything?”
“I can’t believe this. Gina is beside herself, and Stella, oh poor Stella. She must be distraught. What on earth could you have done to make her leave you? I raised you better than this.”
“Mom, listen. Tell Dad I’ll be in Seattle soon. I need to sort things out with Stella first.”
“I can’t. He’s got a thousand lawyers crawling the place trying to reverse this crazy move of yours.”
“I signed it over myself, with witnesses present. What, are you going to put me in a straightjacket and claim I was insane?”
“If need be, yes.”
A chuckle threatens to escape again but I squash it. “Okay, Mom. But I need to see my wife first. We’ll talk about the company later.”
The elevator dings, and I know it’s Xavier. He’s probably back to tell me Brooke insisted on going to Queens herself or some other excuse.
“Someone’s here, Mom. I’ve got to go.”
I hear her speaking to my father. “The boy has lost his mind, Richard. I just can’t believe this.”
I hang up and head to the living room.
“Xavi, I swear to God, if—” I stop mid-sentence, my phone clattering to the floor.
Stella stands there, looking like a slice of heaven, her eyes shiny and puffy. Xavier is behind her.
“Ry,” she gasps, running to me. I grab her and crash my lips to hers in what is too raw and savage to be called a kiss.
I drown myself in her taste, her smell. She’s mumbling against my lips, but I can’t bring myself to pause or listen. I back us up until we collapse onto the sofa, our hands and mouths exploring and devouring each other with a desperation born of two weeks’ separation.
“Baby, I missed you so fucking much,” I manage to say between drugging kisses. “I’m so sorry. He should never have gotten to you.” I bury my face in her neck, licking and nibbling the fragrant skin. I palm her breasts then bend to bite her rigid nipple through her clothes. Her cry is ragged, spurring me to take more, to give more.
I start to kiss a path down her torso, and I’m licking and biting on the soft curve of her belly when her words finally break through my haze of need.
“Ryan, can you ever forgive me?”
That makes me pause. I lift my head to meet her eyes. “Forgive you?”
“For leaving.”
“Baby, I understand why you had to.”
“No, you really don’t... and, Xavier told me some things, and I just feel so awful for leaving.”
I suddenly remember Xavier and glance around. He’s tactfully vanished. “Xavier told you what?”
