“No, I want to work for ABC. With my cousins. BAM is too big for me to take on. Our company is young, and I know I can grow with it. Hopefully, whomever Uncle Bent hires to replace Bill will be willing to guide me some as well.”

He steepled his fingers, gazing at me. “I see.”

“Addi found an odd piece of unused land last year. Ronan and the boys—Aiden’s sons—drew up plans, and ABC is going to be situated in Port Albany. I’ll be working from there once the building is complete. In fact, Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox are thinking of moving some of the BAM operation out that way as well. They need more space, and Toronto is so expensive and real estate is harder to acquire.”

He frowned. “So, you’re moving?”

“Eventually, yes.”

“You never said anything.”

“I wasn’t sure if you were interested in the future that far down the road, Jaxson.”

He pursed his lips but didn’t say anything.

“It’s not for a while.”

“Where will you live?”

I explained about the BAM Compound. “There is lots of room for more houses. I can live in my parents’ place while I decide. They’re only there for holidays usually.”

“So, your future is all mapped out.”

A few weeks ago, I would have agreed with him. But that was before he came into my life. Before he became so important to me. Before I fell in love with him.

“No future is set in stone,” I said.

He didn’t reply, instead picking up his glass and taking a sip.

“Did I tell you how exquisite you are tonight?” he asked, his voice pitched low.

I blinked at the change of subject. “You said I was lovely.”

“That was an understatement. You take my breath away, Gracie.”

I felt the color rise in my cheeks at his words. I had worn my favorite dress. Deep red, it had a layered bodice that hugged my torso and a flared skirt that ended at my knees. The neckline dropped off my shoulders, leaving them bare. I wore no jewelry except my usual earrings. I wore heels, which made my legs seem longer than they were, and I had swept my hair up in an elegant French braid, leaving my neck bare. Jaxson’s gaze kept traveling over my chest and neck. I could almost feel the heat of his stare touching my skin, and I knew when we got to the room, I would feel his mouth there. It made me shift in my seat a little.

He smiled as if he knew what I was thinking.

I cleared my throat, looking out the window. “The lights look pretty up here.”

“Beautiful,” he stated.

I glanced over, seeing he was staring at me. I rolled my eyes, and he chuckled.

“Finish your meal, Grace. You need your strength.”

I picked up my fork, my appetite for food already satisfied. Another hunger was taking its place. And from the look on Jaxson’s face, he was in total agreement.

The elevator arrived, the doors opening smoothly. I stepped in and turned into Jaxson’s body. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. We were the only ones in the elevator as the door shut. Jaxson tipped up my chin, his mouth settling over mine, and he kissed me. His intense need was in that kiss, and I lost myself to it. To him. The nerves from the elevator faded away. The fight yesterday, his mood earlier—neither mattered. All that mattered was his mouth. His arms. His closeness. I had never wanted to be that close to a man.

The noise of the door opening broke us apart. Jaxson didn’t release me, but he stepped back to allow the group of partygoers to enter. It was obvious they had been drinking, the sounds of their merriment filling the small space. I nestled into Jaxson’s arms, my face turned away from the door, facing the large mirror on the back wall. I remained calm, the heat of Jaxson’s body grounding me. The partygoers rode up a couple floors, but as they stepped off, one particularly drunk guy ran his hand up the panel, winking at Jaxson.

“A little more time with your woman,” he slurred, laughing.

Jaxson cursed, and I shut my eyes. The lurch of the elevator always added to my stress, and we now had more floors of stopping until we got off.

“Hold tight,” Jaxson muttered, pressing his lips to my crown. He ran his hands up and down my back in soothing passes. We stopped every floor, the doors opening and shutting. On one floor, as the doors opened, there was the beat of noise, the sound of something odd coming from the hall. Jaxson’s body jerked as if he’d been hit, but the doors closed with no one having stepped in with us. Jaxson tensed, his entire frame going stiff, but he didn’t speak. His mouth never lifted from my head, his hold on me tightening, his hand pressing my head closer to his chest. When the door opened on our floor, he swept me into his arms and carried me down the hall, still kissing me. In the suite, he carried me to the bedroom. He laid me on the bed, staring down at me. His gaze was tormented. Filled with longing, lust, and pain. Pain I didn’t understand. Pain I wanted to erase.

Tags: Melanie Moreland Vested Interest - ABC Corp Romance
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