Page 21

Mitch

M itch watched as Rebecca moved around his London flat carefully.

They had been married exactly a week, and she had agreed to come back with him as he extricated himself from Donovan Security.

He liked to think of their time in New York as a mini honeymoon.

They were tourists for a week, doing everything from visiting the Statue of Liberty to dining in Tribeca.

They had also talked again to her father, Garrison Stark, about their new positions.

They would be starting to work at Stark International in less than a month and be based out of Portland at the new company headquarters.

Mitch’s head was spinning with all the changes, but in a good way.

He hoped to take Bex on a real honeymoon if they could squeeze it in, but every day and night, when they found out more about each other and different ways to bring pleasure to each other, it felt like they were already on a honeymoon.

“I feel bad for blindsiding Bruce. He asked me if I was feeling better,” Rebecca said. “I said yes because technically, I’m feeling a lot better than I was because I’d had some major life changes. Then I told him I was quitting and asked him to check his email for my resignation letter.”

“And then what happened?” Mitch asked as Rebecca paused to look out the window at the Thames.

“He guessed that we were together, but at least he was decent about it. He said, ‘Well, I heard a rumor that you were with Mitch Wilder.’ I didn’t want to add to the gossip.

I just said that my parents wanted me to work in the family business, and he said I could go when I wanted but that he was disappointed to see such a promising candidate leave.

I thanked him, and I said my security badge, laptop, phone, etc.

, were on my desk in New York. He said, ‘But you are in London.’ I didn’t know what to say to that.

How did he know I was here? Did they chip me sometime when I was asleep? ”

Mitch looked contemplative. “That’s actually not a bad idea.”

“Stop it,” she said.

“Kidding,” Mitch said. “But seriously, when I go into the office today, they are going to see my wedding ring. Tongues are going to wag, but I don’t regret anything. And I don’t want to hide the ring.”

“Good. I bet Bruce told Lucien I was in London. The cat is out of the bag. I feel bad for Lily, but I would not want to change places with her. In a way, before you came to see me, I was her, the woman in love with someone who was promised to another.”

Mitch came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her from behind, cupped her breasts, and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t handle it well, but then I don’t know if it could ever be handled well.”

“I don’t think it could,” she said and leaned back into Mitch.

“Better now than a year from now,” he said and kissed her neck. It would be hard to be away from her today.

“What do you think will happen when you go to the office today?”

“I’ll give two weeks, but Lucien will more than likely want me to clean up anything that is pending. Unfortunately, I’ve got some nasty shit on my desk that needs tidying up. What will you do while I’m at work?”

“There are a few things I’ve always wanted to see that I didn’t see when I was here with my family.

I want to go to the Tower of London, the National Gallery, maybe have tea somewhere.

Plus, Dad asked me to visit Stark International Hotel and give him a detailed report as to anything I see that is concerning.

When I was here for my interview, I did mention a few things.

He wants me to do a follow-up. One thing that stood out was the food from the room service menu, which was bland and heavy.

I need to look into that. On the whole, I thought the hotel looked a little dated, maybe dirty. ”

“Garrison Stark’s daughter. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. It sounds like you have a few projects. What did he say about Alex?” Mitch asked as Rebecca turned in his arms to face him.

“Alex will be in London next week on his way through Europe. Hopefully, we can grab dinner, as long as he doesn’t threaten to kill you.”

“He just needs some time to get used to us being together. His best bud and his sister are doing it right under his nose.” He continued to nuzzle her neck as she giggled, and then he said, “We could invite him here for dinner. One last dinner party before we move back to the States.”

“That would be nice. Heck, we could even cater. Will you miss London?” Rebecca asked.

“I’ll miss some of the people, but I’ll be glad to be away from some of the others. And I’ll miss the parks. I love the parks here.”

“Could we take a walk in your favorite?”

“Kensington Gardens. And yes, I’d love to show you around, especially my favorite park.

Next weekend, we can visit Windsor Castle on Saturday and Kensington on Sunday.

” Mitch kissed her and then glanced down at his watch.

Then he said, “Okay shoot, I’m going to be late because my sexy wife is distracting me. ”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“I’m not,” he said and kissed her deeply, then he leaned his forehead against hers. “You realize this is the first time we’ve been apart since we got married?”

“Yes,” she said and added, “I don’t know what I’ll do with myself.”

“Be careful, and leave me a note or send me a text if you go anywhere, okay?”

“I can do that,” she said.

“You should go back to bed and rest up,” he said with a half-smile.

“Maybe I will, but I’ll miss you. I’ll be lonely in that big bed all by myself.”

“That’s how I felt every night before we got married. I’ll try to come home at lunch, but I don’t know what is waiting for me at the office,” he said. “I don’t want you to wait around for me.”

“I’ll see you at six,” she said.

“Yes, you will. And I hope you will be well rested, Mrs. Wilder.”

“Count on it,” she said and gave his butt a playful squeeze as he kissed her goodbye.

It would be so much easier to stay with her all day.

Maybe another cuddle in the bed and then act like tourists for the rest of the day.

But this was what being an adult meant. He had to go to the office and do this the right way.

Walking into Donovan Security was like crossing into enemy territory.

What had once felt so comfortable and a place he considered home now felt odd and different.

Everyone, from the security guard to his assistant, gave him what he would liken to the evil eye.

They knew. And where he was once on the inside, now he was on the outside.

He walked by the desk of Sally, his secretary, and she was curt, more curt than usual, when he offered his customary, “Good morning, Sally.”

“Lucien wants to see you as soon as you arrive,” she answered coldly and handed him a stack of messages. Maybe he’d be joining Becca on that little walk in Kensington Gardens earlier than anticipated.

His briefcase was sitting on the center of his desk blotter. The taxi driver had done as he asked. He spun the dial, entered his code, which happened to be Rebecca’s birthday, and opened the case. He found Lily’s engagement ring in the pocket where he’d left it. He would give it back to Lucien.

Then he looked at his desk and gauged how many things he’d have to take with him when he left for good.

Everything that was important would fit in his briefcase.

He turned over the framed the photo of Lily.

He wanted to give it back to her father, but no way would that go well, so he faced it backward and set it on the credenza so he couldn’t see her.

Time to face the firing squad. He left his office, didn’t speak to Sally as he walked past her, and made his way to the office at the end of the hall that Lucien had always said would be Mitch’s one day. No, it wouldn’t.

Lucien’s secretary wasn’t at her desk, so he knocked on Lucien’s office door and waited until he heard a gruff, “Come in.”

He entered and saw the other man’s eyes narrow at the sight of him. This wasn’t going to be good.

“You’re back,” Lucien said.

Mitch had spent a little time each day he was in New York working from Rebecca’s apartment.

“I’m sorry. I really needed to get my head straight.”

“And that involved disappearing for a week after you broke my daughter’s heart?”

“That wasn’t my intention. Things just happened, as you know,” Mitch said as he took the chair on the other side of Lucien’s desk.

“I’m sure Lily will find the right man, someone who is hopelessly in love with her.

That is my hope, my wish for her. Regardless, I thought it was better than marrying her when I didn’t love her the way I should. ”

“Well, after you broke my daughter’s heart, what exactly did you do?” Lucien was angry. He was barely holding it together. Mitch wasn’t sure he could blame him.

Up until a week ago, Lucien was going to be his father-in-law. Mitch was being groomed to take over this company, but he walked away from it all for Rebecca. And although she was totally worth it, he didn’t expect Lucien to understand.

“Even you noticed how I tried to ignore my friend, Rebecca Stark. I wanted to love Lily like I love Rebecca, and I tried. I tried every time I saw her, but instead of getting closer, we grew further apart. It was not a surprise to Lily, not really. She was increasingly frustrated with me because I wasn’t the man she needed me to be.

She deserves to have someone who really loves her.

I truly, truly hope she finds someone who loves her the way she deserves.

I’m sorry. I’m not explaining myself well.

But I think it would have hurt more if we’d tried to make it work, and it hadn’t.

Because I have to tell you, I don’t see how it ever would have worked, not while Rebecca was in my heart. ”