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?“What do you mean?” she queries as she gazes into my eyes.
?“I mean, what if you moved in here with me and this was your balcony, too? Would you like that?” I rub her cheek with my thumb soothingly.
?“Really? You want me to move in with you?”
“Yes. I don’t want you to leave when you get better. This week has been one of the best of my life and I want to have you with me forever. I want to go to work and know you will be here waiting for me when I get home. I want this to be your home too. Please say yes. Please say you will move in with me, baby.”
?It takes her all of three seconds to jump in my lap and yell, “Yes!” Loud enough I’m sure the neighbors can hear, but I don’t give a damn. My girl isn’t going anywhere. Fuck, just letting that sink in makes me ecstatic. With a wide smile on my face, I lift her up into my arms and spin her around and around. She starts laughing, then throws her arms and legs around my body. I can feel the love she has for me radiating through the depths of her soul. I lean down and catch her lips with mine. The kiss is slow and sensual at first, and thenit becomes hungry and feral. A groan escapes my mouth as I clutch her tighter in my arms. I pull back for a moment to look at my stunning woman. I still can’t believe this is real life. This woman right here wants me. She wants me as much as I want her, and we’re going to be living together.
?Leaning over with her still in my arms, I grab the remote for the heaters and turn them off along with the twinkling lights I put up. I look around and most of the candles have already blown out from the breeze, but I blow the rest out and slip us inside through the sliding glass doors. Moving quickly through the apartment, I walk us toward our bedroom. I'm going to spend the night worshipping her body and telling her all the ways I love her.
Chapter 33
Miles
Being back at work after having a week off is exhausting. I was working some from home, but the number of meetings that got rescheduled is ridiculous. Now poor Elijah is trying to call and schedule them for this week. It’s difficult because the holidays are right around the corner, and most everyone already has their schedules locked down. However, he is trying nonetheless to get these meetings scheduled. Some may have to wait until after the New Year.
When I got back from my leave, I told Elijah I’d only be here for a week, and then I would be gone to Savannah, Georgia. He looked like he had seen a ghost. No doubt he was wondering what was going on with me lately. I never take days off, much less weeks at a time. I just told him to get done what he could this week, and then he’d have a long vacation while I was away. In fact, I told him to write a company memo that the office will be closed from December 24th through January 1st. Joy replaced the shock as he jumped into his work for the day.
Sebastian strolls into my office and closes the door. I have been waiting for him to come in since the memo went out thirty minutes ago, and I didn’t discuss this with him prior. I’m sure he’s pissed, not at the time off, but at my making the decision without his input.
“So, a companywide holiday, huh? What’s brought this on?” he inquires as he settles into the leather chair in front of my desk.
“I’ll be going with Lizzie to Savannah, Georgia, to spend Christmas with her family,” I casually reply, scrolling through the emails Elijah sent to me.
“How’s she doing after everything? Mom has been worried about her,” Sebastian adds.
“She is better as far as the Jacob situation goes. Since he is in jail and was denied bail, Lizzie at least feels safe leaving the apartment. Her father is a whole different situation. She doesn’t know what to do about that. I want her to take the opportunity to see and talk to him when we are down there because I know she will regret it if she doesn’t. Her brother said he is already forgetting him, so she needs to talk to him while he still knows who she is.”
“And she doesn’t want to talk to him?”
“It’s complicated. She does but she doesn’t. I’m going to try talking her into it by telling her I wish I could speak to our father once more. Hopefully, she’ll listen to me.”
“I’m sure she will. She knows she needs to. I’m sure she’s simply scared. From what you’ve told me, she’s been carrying this baggage around with her since her teens. I'm sure she needs that closure.” He takes a breath and continues, "Do you think this company break is a good idea? I get you want to spend that time away, but you just got back from a break, even if it was warranted. I just don’t want the board breathing down our necks because they think we’re being reckless."
"I’m going to call for an emergency board meeting by the end of the week. There are some things I need to discuss with them, and they have to do with father, his ideals, and his work ethics with this company. He wouldn’t want us working ourselves to death." I rise from my chair and go to my mini bar to pour myself a whiskey. I need something strong for what I’m about to talk about. "Would you like one?" I gesture to an empty glass. He shakes his head no, and I return to my desk chair. "Seb, I never told you this, because I didn't want to admit it to myself, I think. The day before father died, he and I had an argument." I sigh, taking a large gulp of my drink, loving the burn as it cascades down my throat. "He was spending more time at home with mom, and I argued with him that we needed him at the office. Or rather, I needed him here. I wanted to learn everything possible before he retired, and he just told me that I would get it eventually. He said I had a good head on my shoulders. That he’d built this company and taught uswell; we would be ready when they time came." I close my eyes, remembering the day like it was yesterday. “He told me work wasn’t everything, and that I’d do good to remember that. Maybe he knew his time was running out, and he wanted to spend as much time with mom as possible. I’m not sure. What I do know is I continued to berate him until he hung up on me. I didn’t call him back. I let my pride get in the way. The next day he died, and I think, as a way of punishing myself, I have been working myself like a dog because I didn’t think I deserved to be happy after that phone call." I down the rest of my whiskey as a tear falls down my cheek.
"Damnit, Miles, why didn’t you tell me? I’m your brother. We are in this together, man. I would have told you what an asshat you were being. Our parents wanted us to have lives outside of Knight Publishing. Don't you remember dad coming to all our basketball games when we were younger? He wouldn't have done that if he was obsessed with work. We grew up with significant role models. Dad didn't spend every waking hour here, and in return we had a present father to raise us. You were simply scared you wouldn't be able to fill his shoes once he was gone, but that’s no reason to punish both of us since he died. This company is doing great. Better than great actually. Our numbers are up higher than they’ve ever been. We got this, bro. Now that I know the reason behind closing the office down, I’m all for it. I need a vacation from dealing with your punk ass." Sebastian gets up and comes over to slap me on the back. "I love you, Miles. I’m sorry you’ve had that on your chest for the past year but thank you for finally telling me. Thanks to Lizzie, you finally realize that working isn’t everything. I think I should call her myself and thank her myself for getting your head out of your ass." We both laugh, and he goes to walk out.
"Thank you, Sebastian. What are you going to do for Christmas. I’m sure you are welcome to come with us."
"I actually have a cute little blonde I want to spend some extra time with. And before you say anything, don’t. I do not want to hear it,” he orders with a smile. I chuckle as he walks out, closing the door behind him. The love bug is going to bite him, sooner rather than later, and I can’t wait to have a front row seat.
Thinking about love, I need to hire packers and movers for Lizzie's apartment. I press the intercom button for Elijah's desk. "Yes, sir?" he answers immediately.
"I need you to get with Lizzie and hire a moving company to pack up her things in her apartment and move them to mine. This needs to be completed as soon as possible. Thanks, E," I respond, before hanging up the call. Getting that out of the way, I text Lizzie to let her know.
Miles:Hey, baby. Elijah is going to call you with movers’ info. What are you up to?
Lizzie:Hey! That was fast. We can wait until after the holidays. I'm sure everyone is booked.
Lizzie:I'm working on my book today. I am almost done. I sent it to Sarah to read and asked her to let me know what she thinks. I can’t believe it has finally come to fruition.
Miles:I’m so proud of you! You know you can send it to me, and I can take a look at it.
Lizzie:I know. Let me see what Sarah says about it. Oh, Elijah is calling. I love you.
Miles:I love you, baby. I won't be home late.
