“I want you to move in with me tomorrow,” TJ said as he held me close to him. “I need to have you around all the time.”
“I know, you already said that before.” I panted, not wanting to think too much into it, as my body was still riding high on my orgasm. I didn’t want to grow hope that he wanted me close because he was falling for me. “But I can’t move in tomorrow. I still need to pack and get my stuff together.”
“The day after?” He frowned.
“A few days.” I laughed and touched the side of his face lightly as he pouted. “I’ll move in, in a few days.”
“Good,” he said and then kissed me on the forehead. “That’s settled then.”
“Then you can have your wicked way with me whenever you want,” I said teasingly, though I wasn’t really joking.
“Yup.” He winked and leaned over and bit down on my lip. “Whenever I want,” he said as he looked into my eyes. “Just as long as you’re willing.”
I’m always willing crossed my mind, but instead I stayed silent and just smiled at him. Confusion and lust were invading my mind and I was starting to get caught up in the fog of emotions that TJ had always brought to my life.
“Let’s go back inside.” He smiled and held my hand and we walked back into the party with huge grins on our faces.
Chapter Four
TJ
One Year Ago
“I need you to go to Paris tomorrow, sign the contract for the Hatcher deal.” My dad looked up at me, a small frown on his face. “And see if you can get them to include the patents from their glamour manufacturers.”
“Tomorrow?” I frowned at him. “I can’t go tomorrow.”
“You have to fly out tomorrow, so you can sign the contract the following day.”
“I can’t go tomorrow.” I shook my head, not wanting to tell him why.
“TJ, this isn’t a discussion. You’re going tomorrow.” My dad was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
“I have something to do on Friday,” I said. “You’ll have to go.”
I watched as my dad pursed his lips. He didn’t like being disobeyed.
“Why can’t you go?” he asked me, his lips thin.
“Mila’s graduating,” I said, noticing the dismissive look on his face.
“From high school?” He sneered.
“College,” I said my voice tinged with anger. “She asked me to come watch her walk.”
“Is that really important?” He stared at me, his eyes cold.
“It’s important to Mila.”
“Her family is going, yes?” He sighed. “Why do they need you to go? You can still give her a graduation present if you don’t go.”
“She asked me to go,” I said, starting to get angry. “I’m not flying to Paris.”
“Travis James Walker, a graduation is not more important than a fifty-million-dollar deal.”
“It is to me,” I said, trying to explain to him and myself why it was so important to me that I attend. “She’s my best friend’s sister. She’s been in my life for years. This is important to her. It’s important to me. I’m going.”
“So you’re going because you feel like it’s your sister that’s graduating?” My dad sneered. “Are you telling me that you wish I’d given you siblings?”
“I’m not saying anything like that,” I said, my fists clenching. He didn’t understand that I had deep feelings for the whole Brookstone family. He didn’t understand that I considered them to be closer family than he was. He didn’t understand that Mila was special and when she’d called me months ago telling me she was graduating and asked if I’d come to the ceremony, something in me had lit up. I wasn’t going to miss it if I could help it.
“Fine.” My dad pursed his lips. “I’m not happy and this shows me that I don’t think you’re anywhere near to being able to take over the company. I’m going to have to do some serious thinking.”
“May I go now?” I asked, not interested in my dad’s emotional and mental blackmail. If he wanted to pass on his company to someone else, he could do so.
“Yes,” he said, and as I walked out of his office, I could feel his eyes boring into my back. I opened the door, closed it and continued on out of the building. I was done for the day. My heart was racing and I wasn’t quite sure why I’d refused my dad on such an important deal for a college graduation. I was pretty sure that Mila wouldn’t care that much if I’d missed it. But I wanted to be there. I wanted to be a part of her special occasion. I wanted to hug her and congratulate her on finally becoming a full-grown adult. I wanted to welcome her to the world. A world she didn’t know yet. I wanted to be there for her. In more ways than one.
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Current Day