CHAPTER TWENTY
Her back was smashed against the Qbert machine, and her hands were raised in front of her face. McKenna had landed another punch to the ribs, then one to her shoulder. And now, it was coming: the noogie. Her sister grabbed her hair, and dug her knuckles into Julia’s head.
“Don’t ever, ever, ever do that again!”
“Okay, okay, okay,” Julia said, relenting for the twentieth time.
McKenna backed off, huffing. “I would have helped you,” she said, her eyes on fire with frustration. “I would have given you the freaking money like that.” She snapped her fingers in emphasis. “That’s why you deserve to be beaten up. You’re supposed to let your big sister help you.”
“I know, McKenna. Trust me, I know,” she said, placing her hand on her heart. “But I had to keep you safe. Don’t you get it? I love you and I love Chris, and I’d do anything to protect your happiness.”
“Including not telling me a frigging mobster had a price tag on your head and was waving guns in your face?”
Julia lifted her shoulders casually. “Technically, the gun was never waved at me.”
McKenna pushed her hands roughly through her blond hair. “I’m soooo mad at you. I love you so much, and if anything had happened to you and I could have solved the problem, I would have died. Do you know that? Died! Like this,” McKenna said, then flopped down on the floor, and played dead for effect. Ms. Pac-Man trotted over and licked McKenna’s face.
She craned her neck up at Julia. “See? Do you feel bad now? I would have been dead without you, and my dog would be sad.”
Julia kneeled down and offered a hand, pulling McKenna to a sitting position. McKenna flung her arms around Julia’s neck. She’d always been prone to theatrics. “Promise me,” her sister said, “that if you ever get in a pickle with the mob again you will come to me right away, and I will pay whatever you need.”
Julia laughed, but nodded into her sister’s hair. “Promise.”
“Pinky swear?”
“Pinky swear,” she said as they twisted their little fingers together. “But, um, that’s not actually why I came here.”
McKenna rolled her eyes. “I know. You need my special touch, and I know just how to pull this off. But I’m paying for it, and there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.”
“Fine. But only because you want to.”
“And we’re going to need Chris’s help.”
“Somebody call my name?” Chris said, walking bleary-eyed down the hall, wearing only his lounge pants.
“Did you actually wake up when I said your name?” McKenna asked.
“No,” he said, rubbing his hand against his eyes. “I’m pretty sure it was the ‘Don’t ever do that again’ screeching that rousted me at three in the morning.”
“We need your help.”
“Is this another crazy scheme of yours, McKenna?” he asked arching an eyebrow.
“Yes, but it’s in the name of love, and isn’t love worth everything?”
He looped his arms around his wife and planted a kiss on her cheek. She leaned into it, and smiled. Julia didn’t feel jealous. Not one bit. She had that in her life. Waiting for her on the other side of the country. “Of course,” he said.
* * *
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Julia said.
“I’m going to miss you too. But we’ll see each other.”
“We will.”
“And don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of everything. Every-single-thing. Now go.”
Julia wrapped her sister in one final hug, and then said goodbye as the sun rose over San Francisco.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 9:45 AM
subject: You too
I would have called you last night when I read your note, but it was one-thirty in the morning my time, and I didn’t want to wake you up. But I was over the moon! I literally danced on my bed, and screamed with happiness. Does that make me an awful witch for celebrating a man’s potential incarceration? I hope not. And I can’t think of a better present. Well, I can think of a better present . . .
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 6:47 AM
subject: Late-night calls
Did I somehow give you the impression I would be unreceptive to a middle of the night call from you? I’d answer anytime. Be ready anytime. I am always ready.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 10:12 AM
subject: Ready or not?
I didn’t want to be rude and wake you up. But what you did is amazing. I can’t believe you found him. Wait. I can believe it. You are some kind of master fixer.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 7:27 AM
subject: Call me Mr. Fix-It
I can fix things around the house too. I am very good with my hands.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 10:52 AM
subject: Yes. You are.
I believe I am well acquainted with your manual dexterity.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 8:01 AM
subject: Come again
You should get reacquainted with it.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 11:20 AM
subject: Your note from last night . . .
So . . . this whole adoration thing . . . are we talking pedestal, shrine or just overall worship level?
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 8:31 AM
subject: More than worship
You are adored on every level. I can’t even joke about it because it’s all too true.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 11:48 AM
subject: Exciting news!
I won a contest for my Purple Snow Globe!
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 9:07 AM
subject: As you predicted the night I met you
Tell me more.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 12:32 PM
subject: Be my attorney
Big drink company offered me a contract. I might need a lawyer to look at the fine print.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 9:48 AM
subject: Waiving my fee
I’ll do it for you. You can pay me in blow jobs.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 1:05 PM
subject: My kind of payday
I’d give you those for free.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 10:23 AM
subject: Mine too
I want more.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 1:33 PM
subject: Restrained
I’d give you more anyway. Maybe you can tie me up, tie me down, or tie me all around.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 10:52 AM
subject: Bound and Tied
Don’t tease me. You know I love the way you look in my ties.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 2:16 PM
subject: Yes to both
I’m not teasing.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 11:28 AM
subject: Yes you are
You’ve never been a tease. Except when you tease.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 2:44 PM
subject: This is not teasing.
I miss you like crazy.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 3:07 PM
subject: Fix for that
I have a pill you can take that cures that. It’s called come live with me.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 3:49 PM
subject: Question
How much do you adore me?
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 4:02 PM
subject: Answer
So much I can’t measure it.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 4:11 PM
subject: And another
How much do you love me?
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 4:18 PM
subject: Hit me with another
More than I know what to do with.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 4:20 PM
subject: One more
How happy would you be if I said yes to your offer?
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 4:25 PM
subject: One word
Immeasurably.
Iron. He’d cloaked himself in iron. He’d resisted. He hadn’t asked for an answer. He hadn’t pressured her. He’d simply kept up the volley, letting her lead as she seemed to need at the moment. He held tight to his phone, keeping it on his lap as he worked through the latest set of papers for the Pinkertons from home.
He’d hoped to catch a movie with Davis, since his friend was back in town after working in London for the last few months. But Chris had called him that morning, telling him he was sending a bottle of vintage scotch over as a thank you for his new contract.
“The delivery guys said they’ll be there between four and five, so I guess you can just have the doorman sign for it if you’re out?’’
“I don’t have a doorman, but it’s not a problem. I’ve got things I can take care of at the house, so I’ll sign for it myself.”
“Thanks, man,” Chris had said. “It’s the least I can do. You rocked the hell out of my new deal.”
“If you’re pleased, I’m pleased.”
But it was four-thirty and the scotch hadn’t arrived yet. He was looking forward to it, but not as much as he was looking forward to another note from Julia. The clock was ticking, lurching towards midnight. If he were a betting man, he’d put money on Julia using up every second of her week of thinking, and giving him the verdict when the clock struck twelve. That would be fine by him. She was worth waiting for.
He scanned the page in front of him when the message light dinged on his phone.
from: [email protected]
to: [email protected]
date: June 8, 4:32 PM
subject: One question
Do you still love surprises?
Before he could reply, his phone buzzed with a text message.
Balcony.
He closed his eyes briefly, a spark racing through him with the possibility. Was she reminiscing about the things they’d done on the balcony or was there more to it? He stood up, walked to the door and slid it open. With his heart in his throat and hope winding its way through his bones, he crossed the distance to the railing, and looked down.
His heart stopped, and then started again, thumping hard against his chest with desire, happiness, and mad love.
She was the most beautiful sight in the world. But it wasn’t the stockings and the heels, the skirt or the little tank top. It wasn’t even her hair falling in waves along her shoulders. It was the two humongous suitcases, one on each side of her. She waved at him as his phone rang.
“My driver left me here on the sidewalk with all my things. Don’t suppose you know a big strong man who could help me carry them upstairs to my new home?”
He grinned like a crazy man. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
Within seconds—okay, maybe a minute—he was downstairs, looking both ways, and sprinting across the street to her. He gathered her in his arms, and it was like coming home. Her body melted into his as she roped her arms around his neck, and they kissed, and they kissed, and they kissed.
Finally, they pulled apart, but neither one let go. He needed to hold her. To feel her. To know she was real. He ran his hands along her bare arms. The feel of her skin was some kind of magic. He bent his head to her neck, inhaling her scent, the delicious, intoxicating smell of the woman he craved in every way. He lifted a hand to her hair, threading his fingers around her gorgeous flames. The sound of her sweet happy sigh was a shot of pure joy to his heart. She was here. She’d said yes.
“I made sure my flight had Wi-Fi so I could surprise you. Did you think I was in San Francisco the whole day? The time on my laptop was set to Pacific until I landed.”
He nodded. “I did, and I take it there’s no vintage scotch arriving between four and five?”
“I’m the vintage scotch. I hope you like your surprise.”
“You taste better than any scotch, than anything I’ve ever had to eat or drink. So you’re here to stay?” he asked, needing to hear it from her.
She nodded. “I’m here to stay.”
“No more running.”
“No more running,” she repeated.
“We’re together.”
“Absolutely.”
“Which reminds me . . . it’s been a week.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Why do you think I wore a skirt?”
A bolt of pure lust slammed through his body. “F*ck me now,” he said, pushing a hand through his hair.
“That’s sort of the plan,” she said, tipping her forehead to the door to his building. Their building.
“Get inside,” he growled, lifting a heavy suitcase in each hand. She grinned seductively and strutted across the street, glancing behind to watch him watching her. So perfect, so sexy, so beautiful for him. Once inside the elevator, he pressed the button for the fifth floor.
She reached past him, and hit the stop button. “We’re not getting off ‘til we get off.”
He shook his head appreciatively. “You are my woman. You always have been. You always will be,” he said, then reached under her skirt, pulled her panties down and slid his fingers across her. She was ready, oh so ready.
She was eager too, judging from how quickly her nimble little fingers had unzipped his jeans. “You did miss me,” he said playfully.
“So f*cking much,” she said as she guided him between her legs.
He lifted her thigh, hitching her leg around his hip, and sliding home. “Oh God.” She gasped, dropping her head back, and rolling her eyes in pleasure.
“Don’t ever forget, Julia. I can always do this to you,” he said, in a hot whisper in her ear as he thrust into her.
“I know. I want it always.”
“We have all of Manhattan for f*cking. We have restaurants and bars, and theaters and museums, and I’m going to want to take you everywhere.”
“No pun intended,” she said, in between sexy little moans and pants.
“Take you and take you,” he added. “F*ck you and make love to you. I’m not going to hold back. I’m going to seduce you all over this city, and make you come every single day and night.”
“Please do,” she said, her voice rising higher, her breath coming faster.
“All the time,” he said, gripping her thigh harder, driving deeper. She responded by running her hands up his spine, and digging her fingernails deep into his skin.
“Leave marks on me,” he told her, and she dug in harder. “I want scratch marks from you.”
“You feel so f*cking good, you’re going to get them, Clay. Oh God, you’re going to get them,” she said, holding on tight and hard, dragging her nails along his muscles as she cried out, rocking her hips against his as she came, and soon, he chased her there with his own orgasm.
He wrapped his arms around her, needing to hold her, even in the stalled elevator. He layered kisses on her neck, already hot and sweaty. “Julia, I won’t always take you hard like that, but sometimes I’m going to have to,” he whispered.
“You better take me hard, and you better take me slow, and you better make love to me all night long,” she said, pulling back to look him in the eyes. Hers were both fierce, and full of love.
“That’s a promise, and I keep my promises to you,” he said, running his thumb along her cheek.
“I know you do. That’s why I’m here to stay.”
That’s where he always wanted her.