Twenty-Nine
Jenner
“Good morning, baby,” I whispered, running my hand over the back of Jo’s head, my fingers lost in her locks.
She tilted her face to glance up at me, eyes still heavy with sleep, hair wild from the way I had ravaged her last night.
Another Saturday, and I got this one all to myself.
“Mmm,” she yawned.
For the last two months that she’d been waking up in my bed, I’d learned that mornings were her least favorite time of day. She needed time to rise, time before she was ready for conversation. But seeing her face fresh without makeup, feeling her skin extra warm, having her completely naked in my arms—this was my favorite time of the day.
I couldn’t get enough of her.
And I had no problem holding her just like this for the next several hours, but I was positive there was something she was craving, especially as the sun came in through my windows, casting its rays across her cheeks.
“Coffee?”
“Mmm,” she groaned again. “Please.”
I kissed the top of her head. “Be right back.”
I slid out from underneath her, grabbing my phone from the nightstand before I made my way into the kitchen. As I placed the first cup under the brewing machine, I scrolled through all the messages that had come in overnight. Aside from a multitude of emails, there was a group text that caught my attention.
Walter: I just received the digital rendering from our architect. I need the both of you in my office at 10 tomorrow morning.
The time on the microwave told me that was in two hours.
On a Saturday.
I sent a quick reply, telling him I would be there, and I made a second coffee, carrying them both into my bedroom, where Jo hadn’t moved.
“Thank you,” she grumbled, holding out her hand, gently sitting up to sip. Once she had a few swallows down her throat, she eyed me as I climbed into bed. “The most irresistible body and makes the best cup of coffee—my God, I’m lucky.”
I laughed, pulling the blanket back over me, positioning her so she was close, carefully so she wouldn’t spill. “Not to kill the mood, but you might want to check your phone.” Her head tilted, and I added, “Your dad needs us to come in. The rendering is done.”
She held her finger in the air, burying her face in the cup, downing what looked like half the coffee. “There, that’s a little better. Now, say that again. Us? Going into the office? Today?”
I nodded. “In two hours.”
“When he sees the design, this is either going to turn into the best day ever or he’s going to wish he never hired me.”
I brushed my fingers across her cheek. “It’s not going to be the latter.”
She shrugged. “But it could be.”
I knew what would make this day better.
If I could walk into the office, holding Jo’s hand. If I could sit next to her in the meeting with my fingers on her thigh. If I could look at her the same way I was right now without worrying that her father would know what was on my mind.
But I couldn’t.
Because Walter still didn’t know about us.
And every time I brought that up, Jo didn’t want to talk about it.
“I wish I weren’t able to read your thoughts.” She grabbed a pillow and tucked it against her chest, resting her mug on top of it. “I’m sorry …”
I set my coffee down and wrapped my arm around the back of her. “For what?”
“Everything. This. Us.” She was staring at the top of her cup and slowly looked at me. “He needs you. Spade Hotels needs you. Every time I go into the office, I’m reminded of how integral you are to our brand and …” Her voice faded out while she pressed her hand against her chest. “I’m worried I’ve ruined that. That’s why I’m afraid to tell him, Jenner.”
My fingers moved to her face, holding her so she wouldn’t look away.
I didn’t know if I believed this, but I still had to say, “It’ll be all right.”
I just wanted to take the worry from her. I didn’t want it eating at her like it was doing to me.
She shook her head. “But it’s not all right.” She took a deep breath. “When I was in Vegas, I didn’t think. I didn’t understand. And now that I work there, now that I see your role, I do.” Emotion started to fill her eyes. “If he fires you, it could be so detrimental—to him and to the future of our company.”
I took the coffee out of her hand, setting it on my nightstand, and I pulled her into my arms, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “I’m only a lawyer, Jo. There are many others out there who are just like me, who can do what I do. I have an entire firm of them, and I can certainly suggest someone on my team who can help your father the same way I can—”
“No.” She leaned back to look at me. “I know you’re just trying to make me feel better, and I appreciate that, but there’s not a single lawyer in this country who can do what you do. That’s why you’re the best, why Google says you’re worth as much as you are—a number I can’t even wrap my head around, let alone understand the meaning of.”
She’d Googled me. She was so fucking adorable.
And even though this was a sensitive topic between us, I hated that she was hurting.
I brushed my thumb across her cheek, nearing those lips that I loved so much. “I can’t predict what’s going to happen or how he’s going to react. All I know is, the sooner we tell him, the better we’ll feel.”
Her eyes changed, a look of fear entering them. “Are you sure about that?”