All Aboard (Anchored 3)

“It’s not a shortcoming.”

“It is, but that’s all right.” She turns back to me. “What’s your girlfriend’s number? I’m interested in talking with her. I honestly haven’t considered hiring a caterer, but that’s an amazing idea. Maybe if I had a special food night once a week or so, it would bring in new customers and clients. It would add an entire new element.”

“Plus,” I point out. “You could try a different menu each time, so your customers wouldn’t be eating the same stuff every time they came to visit.”

“Zack, where did you find this guy?” Jennifer smiles at my friend. “He’s a lifesaver.”

“I know,” Zack says. He raises his drink to me. “To an incredible friend.”

“To Drinking Games,” I raise my drink.

Jennifer lifts her water bottle and smiles.

“To the night.”

Chapter 15

Macie

I get home after midnight. I’m covered in sweat and flour and sadness, and I’m completely exhausted. It’s not until after I get out of my car and I’m halfway to the door when I notice the figure sitting on my front stoop.

“Tony?” I ask, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I needed to see you,” he says, jumping up and striding over to me. He grabs me and kisses me like he needs me, like he can’t stand another moment without me. “I missed you so much today,” he presses his forehead to mine. “It was a really rough day.”

“Me too,” I admit.

“What happened, sweetheart?” He asks, but I shake my head. “Come inside,” I tell him. “Let’s talk about it in the shower. I’m going to die if I don’t get cleaned off.”

“I’d love to help you with that,” he smiles, and I lead him into the house and upstairs to the bathroom. We both strip down silently, caught up in our own worlds. My shower is barely big enough for one person, let alone two, but somehow, we make it work. We finish quickly, and then we climb into my bed together.

“It was a long day,” I tell him. “I had to fire my manager. I don’t even know what I’m going to do now. She keeps overbooking us or forgetting to write down events she’s scheduled. It’s a huge cluster fuck. I thought I’d be able to train her if I was patient enough, but my business comes first, and she was causing me a lot of problems. My reputation in this community is very important to me, Tony. I want to be great. I want to be the one people come to when they need someone reliable. I don’t want Macie Jones Catering to be associated with flakiness.”

“I want you to hire me,” he says.

“What?”

“I want to be your manager,” Anthony repeats.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m turning in my resignation on Monday,” Tony says. “I was already struggling with being a lawyer. I was already having a hard time with my job and making everything work, but after being with you, Macie, I realized that I deserve more. I want more. I want to be with you. I want to be happy, and I want a job I don’t hate. Please. I’m an excellent manager.”

“I don’t think I can pay you what you’re worth, baby,” I tell him honestly. “I would love to work with you. I think we’d make an incredible team, but there’s no way I can match what you’re making at the law firm.”

“I don’t care about the money.”

“You might once we start looking at the numbers together,” I laugh quietly, but he kisses me.

“Give me a chance, Macie.”

In the dim light of my room, I can see the eagerness on his face, the desire. He wants this. I don’t think I completely understand Tony’s desire to work with me, but I can see he so plainly wants me to give him a chance.

Isn’t that what he’s done for me?

I’m not under any impression that I’m the kind of sub he’s used to. I’m inexperienced and awkward and a little clumsy, but he’s still taking a chance on me. He’s still giving me the opportunity to try, and I think I can do that for Tony.

“The job is yours,” I tell him, and he kisses me, pushing me back on the bed. He covers me with his body and devours me with his mouth. He kisses my mouth, my neck, my chest, and then he pulls away and just looks at me.