doesn’t,” Cleo said in my defense. “Really, he doesn’t. I work with the top one-percent on a regular basis. I know what a fat ego looks like.”
“Back to a topic that actually matters…” Tucker brushed off what she’d said.
My arm was over the back of her chair, so my fingers rubbed her shoulder gently, my eyes on hers, silently thanking her for what she’d said. Tucker told me she always defended me, whether I was there or not, and it was nice to have someone so loyal in my life.
Tucker continued. “I want to know everything about this beach house. Is it on the water?”
I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep him away. But as long as he didn’t taint the cabin, I was okay with it. “Yes.”
He rubbed his hands together greedily. “Ooh…keep talking.”
“It’s got a pool,” Cleo said.
“Awesome,” Tucker said. “Keep going.”
“An outdoor fireplace,” I added.
He raised his hands in the air and closed his eyes. “I can see it…beautiful. Keep going.”
Cleo chuckled. “It’s got a built-in grill, a small gate that leads directly to the sand, three bedrooms, and a full kitchen, privacy from the road…”
“Yes. Yes. And yes.” Tucker opened his eyes. “When are we going? How about this weekend?”
“Cleo and I already using it,” I said.
“And we can’t come up for a barbecue or something?” Tucker asked.
“How about I just give you the keys, and you use it next weekend?” I asked.
His eyes opened wide, and he stilled, shocked by the offer.
Cleo chuckled at his reaction.
“Oh my god, I fucking love you.” He got out of his chair and came to me, wrapping his arms around me and giving me a bear hug. “You are the man, Deacon.” He grabbed both of my cheeks and kissed me right on the lips.
I swatted him off. “Jesus…” I wiped his kiss away with the back of my forearm.
The girls both laughed loudly. Cleo covered her face and snorted.
Tucker returned to his seat and grinned at me. “I knew you loved me.”
I took a deep drink of my beer, trying to get all the bacteria off my mouth. “I love you less now.”
I was on my back in the center of the bed, Cleo’s naked body hugged my body, her leg tucked between my knees. Her hair was over my shoulder and my chest, like a deep brown curtain. Her palm moved gently across my hard stomach, her quiet breathing the most beautiful noise I’d ever heard.
I was tired but unable to sleep. Normally, Cleo’s presence put me in a daze right away, but now her presence was the very reason I was awake. I was so happy, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to that feeling. When I woke up the next morning, my alarm would jolt us both awake, and then we would both hurry to start our days. I woke up early to hit the gym, and Cleo got up at that same time even though it was hours earlier than she normally woke, just so she could be the first person at the desk and no one would realize she came down the elevator instead of through the front door.
We’d have a lot more time together if we didn’t have to lie.
Our lives would be so different if everyone knew.
I never tried to change her mind about it, because that would basically result in me asking her to give up her job, and that was something I refused to do. She would never ask me that. How could I ever expect her to do the same? Just for my own happiness?
She propped herself up on her elbow so she could look at me, her curtain of hair falling over one shoulder. Her hand rubbed my chest as she looked into my gaze, her eyes never so beautiful as they were in my bedroom, when she looked at me like that.
My arm tightened around the small of her back, her warm tits against my pec.
She didn’t have anything to say. She just wanted to look at me—like she couldn’t sleep either.
“My company is hosting a dinner next weekend. Come with me.”
“What kind of dinner?” she asked quietly.
“It’s a charity thing. We raise money for patients with chronic illnesses who need funds for their treatments, because their insurance won’t cover it or they just can’t afford it.”
She did that thing with her eyes. It was the reaction she gave when I did something thoughtful or sweet. “And I’m guessing this was your idea?”
“We do