Everyone went through shit. They would, too, but it would be their willingness to come back together, to ask for forgiveness and to love each other past the storms that would sustain them.
He glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "I knew you were checking me out."
"I'm always checking you out. I have the image of you above me, your face contorted in the throes of passion, locked in my mind's eye.” She blinked in surprise. She hadn’t really said that out loud, right?
"Fuck. That's hot." He licked his lips. "I'm going to change. You need me to help with anything first?"
"Nope. I'll meet you at the table."
He took a few steps toward the living room and stopped. "Thank you, Jamie. For this... for all of it." He brushed his fingers by his lips as his expression softened. He was impossibly beautiful.
"You're welcome." She turned back, trying hard not to choke on the emotion that sat inside of her. To know he was going to try to reconcile things with her if she hadn't made the first move was warming, but even if he hadn't, she felt really good about showing him how much he mattered. They would do that. Then have sex. A lot of it.
After finishing the salad, she moved everything to the table and plated dinner as well. She'd just finished pouring the wine when he walked back in. His jeans were low on his hips, and he didn't have his shirt or shoes on.
The beautiful swell of his chest and abdomen caught her attention, forcing her to pause to enjoy the very sight of him.
"Damn, you're so hot," she mumbled and reached out, brushing her fingertips down his stomach as he moved to sit beside her.
He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each finger softly as he watched her from underneath hooded eyes. "I have great, and yet disturbing, news." He reached for the wine, taking a quick sip before speaking. "Annette isn't pregnant, but she was paid to pretend that she is."
Relief flooded Jamie like she'd never experienced before. "Seriously?" She pressed her eyebrows together. “Wait. What? She was paid?”
"I'm still at a loss as to who would do something like that, but she's not budging on the name." He shrugged and leaned back, his body language showing that he was relieved.
She whirled around and threw her hands in the air as she spun. “She’s not pregnant. She’s not pregnant!” She kissed him. “Yeah.”
He chuckled. “A simply quiet yeah? That’s it? I threw a chair when I found out.”
Jamie laughed, giddy with relief. She pointed to a chair and sat down in the opposite one. She picked up her fork. "Eat, Mr. Reid. I have plans for you. You're gonna need your strength."
He chuckled and picked up his glass of wine. "Would you really have helped me raise the baby?"
"Yes." She glanced up and locked eyes with him. She clinked her wine glass against his.
"I'm sorry about giving you shit about Mark. He and I spoke on my way home today. I was being a total dick about that, too. I just hate the idea of you liking him more than you like me. My dad had such a love for him, and, honestly, I love him too. I'm still trying to separate being so angry at him from the fact that he's my brother and really a great guy. It's just going to take time." He shrugged. "But... I shouldn't be giving you hell for caring for him. You're doing it as an extension of caring for me."
"He's a good man, but I wouldn't have turned my head to speak to him if he wasn't your brother. I'm a one-man woman, Alex. There is no one else for me. Ever." She took a bite of her salad, enjoying the calmness that sat between them. And the relief. Instant, gratifying, relief.
"Forgive me about the situation at my father's house. I was out of sorts, and just being stupid. I honestly didn't mean to make you feel trashy or slutty, or anything. I just responded in the moment, and it was stupid. My reputation at the firm isn't going to change because of you or anyone else. It's going to get better or worse because of me. You make me a better man. I hate that I've hurt you."
"People have to learn each other, and we both have to change a little to make us work." She reached over and slid her hand over the top of his. "I'm good with us being in the open or not. I want to be seen as your woman just because it's the natural inclination, I guess."
"And you will. I’ll declare to the world that we're a couple. I'm tired of my investors hitting on you, and that damn intern watching you like you're a hot piece of ass. I want him out of your office." His tone shifted to something more demanding.
Jamie lifted her eyebrow and tilted her head. "Then get the construction done. I want him out, too, but not for the same reason as you. He's a great guy and has been nothing but appropriate. Don't start making things up in your head. He's all for you and supporting the firm."
He glanced down at his plate and back up. "You're right. Keep me in check. Please. I'm so fucking jealous of anyone getting close to you. I need to figure out how to balance that."
“You don’t have to worry. I want him out so I can go into your office through my private door, for my own personal reasons.” She grinned slyly when his eyes sent her a smoldering stare. “The silly jealousy thing will fade. I’m yours. You have to believe me.”
"I'm starting to." He moved his chair closer and slid his hand down her thigh. "So we're good? You're okay?"
"Yes. We're good." She turned and ran her fingers down the side of his face. "The food is going to get cold, isn't it?"
Hunger burned in his gaze, and he nodded before pulling her in for a passionate kiss. Why she even bothered to cook was beyond her. She crawled into his lap, straddling him as he pushed her skirt up over her thighs. His thumbs grazed the thin strap of her thong panties as she moaned into the kiss, her body beyond ready for carnality with the man she loved.
He broke the kiss and took her face into both hands. "I love you. So much, Jamie. I want you to be mine. Just mine. I’ve no interest in anyone else."