have sex there, and this will beat out every cool memory I have in my visit.”
“We’re most definitely having sex, gorgeous. I’m not that fucking stupid.” I smiled at her.
Once we arrived, Avery was in awe of everything. Even I stood in amazement at the five-hundred-year-old castle. The history poured out of this place, but the only history I was attentive to was the history of the stunning woman who held tightly to my hand as we walked toward the main entrance.
I secured the room that Henry and Anne stayed in, believing that would add to the memory of Avery’s visit. While she started taking pictures of the castle, our bags were taken to the duke’s suite. I finalized our dinner menu—knowing these plates were deliciously smaller than Avery liked—and ensured our dining table was well situated. I wanted her to enjoy the candles, the ambience, and the feeling of being back in time that she was so fascinated with—all while the chefs took care of her appetite.
As we walked into our room, I saw that it was situated to overlook the best views of the gardens and lawns that, if this rain let up, Avery would be able to explore. I watched her take in the grand room, unaware this was the room that Henry and Anne had stayed in for ten days to avoid an outbreak of the plague.
Then my phone buzzed.
“Alex? You’re either in the hospital or every last employee quit on us.”
“The opposite. I have news you need to know.”
“Jim,” Avery said, picking up a booklet, “this is where Henry and Anne stayed. In this room! I’m literally in Henry the Eighth’s room.” She held the leaflet to her chest and walked toward the window.
“Did a woman just bring up Henry the fucking Eighth?” Alex asked, his mood lighter. “What the living hell are you up to?”
“Don’t worry about it. Say what you called to say. Stay on topic.”
“Henry the Eighth?” he repeated.
“Alex,” I said, moving across the room. “What the hell did you call for?”
“Oh, that gaming company we lost?”
“Yes.”
“Julia is married to one of the punks.”
“You’re fucking kidding.”
“You’re not surprised, are you?”
“She’s a fucking predator, man. Dipping into the college-aged kids now? I mean, these kids are in their early twenties. She’s thirty-two.”
“You got passed over for some gaming kid.” Alex laughed. “They’re scared that leaving Mitchell and Associates might damage them.”
“Good. Let them sit on that until I get back.”
“Julia is answering your request to attend the meeting.”
“You think I can’t handle that crazy bitch?”
“No, I just want to be there when you do,” Alex said with a smile in his voice.
“After fielding all this shit while I’m trying to stay off for a bit, you’ve earned the right to watch that show.”
“All right, sweet. Who’s the chick?” Alex pried.
“The woman I introduced you to at the restaurant.”
“Oh, no shit? Goddamn, my mind is shot.”
“Have you slept at all?” I asked, worried he might’ve been burning the candle at both ends without my help.
“I did. I just woke up to this email and couldn’t believe what Scott found after I had him do a little digging.”
“Well, tell him I appreciate it.”
“Good call in not reacting and going off. You’re right. Let’s let them sweat it out.”
“Glad that after all these years, you’re taking my word on shit.”
“You can’t blame me. You were acting massively out of character.”
“Yeah, perhaps. All right, we good?”
“Yep, I’ll hit you if any other bigger news breaks.”
“Got it. See ya.”
“Well, well.” Avery walked up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. “I think we start this all of by getting busy in that bed.”
I arched an eyebrow at her. “Thank God I took over driving, or we’d be off the optimum time I allocated for this all to work out with fucking first, tours, tea and cakes, then fucking again, roaming the grounds, fucking again, and then dinner?”
Avery stood on her toes and kissed my chin. “I might need to walk tomorrow. I’m already sore from last night.”
“Quit fucking with me,” I said, and she fumbled with my belt.
“We need to get on your optimum time schedule, Jim,” she said with a sultry voice. “And I’ve been aching for this dick of yours since I woke up.”
I captured her lips at that moment. This shit was fun. I was staying at some historical castle I’d never given any thought to, and there was no call for meetings and business for me to do while I was here.
Avery