“I’m so okay with not using protection. I want your children, Evan. I want you, and I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but I know I love you with every depth of my soul,” she tells me and her smile that’s only reserved for me comes out.
I reach my arms out and enfold her into my body, my lips going to her ear, “I love you Harlow. You’re my beginning, my middle, and my end. I’ll never let you go.”
I guide her into the shower after I feel her body relax into mine. We take our time washing each other’s bodies and then fall into bed wrapped around each other.
23
Harlow
I roll over looking for Evan’s warmth, only I don’t find it. I’m silently hoping he didn’t leave for the restaurant this morning without telling me, but he did say he was trying to get things handled so we could spend time outside of work together.
Last night was out of this world amazing. I remember hearing horror stories in high school how girls would lose their virginity and, I have to say, I’m so incredibly glad I waited and gave myself to Evan and only Evan.
Ever so slowly I get out of bed, feeling a slight twinge between my legs. It’s nothing a couple of aspirin can’t cure along with a cup of coffee while sitting out on the patio watching the sun peak over the ocean and rise.
I find Evan’s shirt from last night, slip into the bathroom and take care of a few necessities and then wander out into the kitchen. My feet stop when I see Evan is in the kitchen. His back is to me and he’s in his signature gym shorts, I hear him grumble on the phone, “Yeah, Diego. I’ll get there in a little while. I have a few things to take care of before I head your way.”
He clicks off the phone with him and then tosses his phone on the counter, as if it did something wrong to him.
“Good morning,” I say, so he knows I’m here and walk towards him.
“Morning ‘Lo,” he says as his lips take mine in a searing kiss.
“I missed waking up with you in bed this morning,” I grumble when his lips leave mine.
“Had to get up and make sure there was actual food and coffee here and of course Diego is hot on the line already. Doesn’t even realize it’s barely seven o’clock in the damn morning,” he grouses.
“He’s probably just worried. Do we have any coffee?” I ask.
“Making it now. I’m having the concierge bring us some breakfast until we figure out our game plan while we’re here. I’m only spending today at the restaurant. Then I’m all yours,” he tells me as he hands me a cup of coffee, just how I like it with a splash of cream and nothing else.
“Sounds good. I think I’m going to lay out by the pool today while you’re gone. Unless you need me at the restaurant?”
“No, I know you could do a world of good there, but I want you to enjoy what little vacation we have. Plus I’ve contacted an investor who may want to buy this restaurant quickly. So, I’m going to be on the phone, and if it goes through, we’ll be signing the papers by the end of the month. Leaving me with one other I need to sell,” he tells me.
“Wow. It goes that quickly?” I have no idea on the buying and selling aspect of anything, but I watch enough television to know it usually takes a lot longer.
“I’m doing a quick sale. I want to be home with you, not running back and forth. The faster this is done, the faster we can focus on just us and building our lives together,” he leaves me breathless with a smile on my face.
“I love the sound of that,” I say as I walk towards the balcony. Evan follows me as we watch the sunrise.
24
Evan
The last place I wanted to be was at work while Harlow is out by the pool. I walked her down when I left to come to the restaurant. She wasn’t wearing anything overly revealing, but it was enough to make me growl when she came out wearing a two piece. It was high waisted and accentuated her hips and the top kept everything well hidden, but the thought of her being out there by herself was enough to make me want to say fuck it all and stay with her the whole day.
She found a pool lounger and I made sure she was slathered in sunscreen, gave her one last lingering kiss and left against my will.
Now I’m at the restaurant and Jesus it’s a fucking nightmare. I sit behind my desk and see everything that’s been mismanaged and I know I’m going to have to fire Diego. Two employees in the past couple of months. I’m never prepared for this to happen, but between the lies over the vendors and now the liquor license being threatened because he allowed his cousin to drink underage and there just happened to be a cop on the property.