Birdie runs this shelter instead of the laundromat. After we sent my uncle and his perverted crew to prison, I offered to sell the company and move back to her hometown. For some people, big city living isn’t good. There are too many people and everyone moves at too fast of a pace. My gran is like that. She likes her small retirement home and doesn’t want to move into one where all she hears when she opens the windows is road noise. I drive down once a week to play bridge, listen to the old cats gossip, and hold my gran’s hand while she listens to the robins chirp outside her window.
As for Birdie, she was glad to get out of the town where everyone still referred to her as the girl whose mom sold pictures of herself on the internet. In the city, Birdie’s anonymous. Well, not really. She’s Mrs. Nick Merritt Hall, but money’s a pretty big shield. No one here knows her for her mom’s misdeeds. Instead, she’s the young philanthropist setting up shelters all over the city to help troubled girls and women. She even had a feature in Chicago Monthly. I had the cover blown up and put in my office. She says it’s terrible, but I love it.
I allow myself to pat her ass gently but nothing more. “Remember that for later.”
She winks at me before commanding the attention of Stan, the computer delivery kid. While he keeps his eyes focused straight ahead, mine linger on the sway of Birdie’s fine ass. I had my mouth all over it last night and the memory is stirring things in my jeans that probably shouldn’t be awakened in a place like this. I pull out my phone and send a text to Birdie that I’m going back to my office.
Ok, she replies.
I tuck my phone and my disappointment away. My office is only a short drive away from the shelter. Dexter, my secretary whom I inherited from Dad, greets me with a list of to-dos as long as my forearm. I listen with half an ear since the rest of me is still back at the shelter with Birdie. She’s the center of my life and when we’re not together, even during a workday, it feels like I’m missing a limb.
After Dexter finishes his litany of things I have to do, I lock myself in my office and get to work.
“I haven’t ruined the business yet,” I tell my dad’s picture. He grins back at me and even though he’s gone, I still feel like he’s supporting me. Still, it’s his legacy I’m protecting so that I can pass this down to my own child. I buckle down and start checking things off my list. Calls are returned. Emails are answered. Contracts are signed. Proposals are reviewed. Before I know it, the sun has stopped shining and the streetlamps are on. I push away from my desk and walk over to the windows. Headlights compete with brake lights, creating a pretty night picture. Time for me to go home. I return to my desk to pack up my briefcase when the door to my office swings open. I look up to see Birdie in the doorway with two brown paper bags. A smile breaks across my face.
“You’ve brought dinner, I see.”
She swings the bags. “Shake Shack burgers, hand-cut fries, and two strawberry milkshakes.”
“Bring it over.” I drop my things and walk to the seating area. I wait until she sets down the bags before picking her up and tossing her onto the sofa.
A laugh erupts from her mouth. “I thought we were having dinner.”
“I am. You’re going to have to wait,” I inform her while attacking the zipper on her jeans. “I’m starving and haven’t eaten all day.” I pull the tight denim off her legs and then sweep her shirt off over her head.
She flutters her eyelashes at me and purses her lips into a tight pout. “The shakes are going to melt.”
“Nah.” I lift one off the coffee table and pop the top off. “I’m going to drink one of them right now.” She screams when I pour the icy treat on her chest and over her stomach. Those screams turn to moans when I start licking the pink milk off her skin. As my tongue curls around her nipple and my fingers dive between her legs, the hunger I’ve felt gnawing at my gut all day eases. My little bird is finally home.
Epilogue
Birdie
3 years later
“Come here.” Nick pulls me into him, his arm wrapping me into a hug. “You need to calm down.” He leans down, nuzzling my neck. That always does the trick. I sigh, melting into him. I was overly excited today. It is our first Christmas in our new house and we have news to share with Higgins and Gran. I want everything to be perfect, so I’ve been counting down the minutes until they get here.