Page 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

FORD

Fuck, I love making Juliet happy.

I stare at the texts from Sophia and read it for the tenth time.

SOPHIA: She’s going to be perfect for this.

FORD: I know.

There isn’t someone more qualified to help Soph open the new restaurant.

SOPHIA: Oh my gosh I swear if you don’t keep her, I’m going to petition for Sydney and I to adopt her. She’s funny and smart and how the hell did you get her to go out with you?

FORD: I’m still asking myself the same question.

Soph knows who Juliet is to me. She knows about searching for her, and that we’re friends. Now she’s aware we’re something more, but I haven’t bothered telling her none of it is real. At least not yet. Maybe someday over a bottle of whiskey I’ll explain the ins and outs of…whatever it is Juliet and I are. Then again, maybe if I’m lucky I won’t need to.

But baby steps. First, I want to giveJuliet everything she deserves.

Starting with her confidence.

Taking another sip of my old fashion, I keep an eye on the door hidden away in the corner of the bar. This place is the full fairytale experience. I remember when Soph came to me and Mercer and told us she wanted to create a place with the restaurant being an enchanted forest and a hidden bar that’s Wonderland.

And boy did she knock it out of the park.

Each of the booths along the wall give the illusion that they’re nestled beneath giant flowers, dark yet vibrant thanks to the black lights situated above each one. The bar is one giant tea party with the stools made to look like mushrooms, and all of the specialty drinks are served in various styles of tea cups. Nothing about this should work paired with the attached three-star Michelin restaurant. But somehow Soph took her vision and made it something people clamor to get a reservation for.

It’s another fifteen minutes before Sophia and Juliet come waltzing into the bar. And I do mean waltzing. In fact, I’m fairly certain Juliet would be floating if gravity wasn’t there to hold her down.

God, she’s stunning. If I had any right to throw her over my shoulder and bee line out of this place, I would. Unfortunately, even if I wanted to claim I was teaching her a valuable lesson—that any guy worth her time would absolutely carry her the fuck out of here and straight to his bed—I don’t think it’s one she’d appreciate.

Which is why I settle for the next best thing.

If she asks, I’ll blame the whiskey as to why I step forward and take her into my arms the moment she’s close enough.

She sucks in a sharp breath and tenses for a split second, unsure if she’s okay with it.

I know I’m pushing her boundaries and forcing her to decide if this is what she wants. Not me specifically, but the lesson of allowing someone to be intimate with her.

Come on love, be brave. Let me in, or tell me to fuck off.

The endearment slips free. It’s one of the few things I remember about my dad. I can still hear clear as day the way the word used to roll off his tongue with nothing but adoration for my mom.

I never imagined I’d meet someone who would be worthy of the sentiment.

Fuck, I’m so screwed when it comes to this woman.

Juliet looks up at me, as if to check and make sure I’m okay, and when she sees my easy smile, she relaxes into the space between my thighs.

“Good girl,” I whisper against the shell of her ear, inhaling her scent, her presence, this moment. “Thank you for letting me hold you.”

A shiver rips through, and she glances up at me again, this time stars in her eyes like I’ve just given her a fucking puppy on Christmas morning. It only makes me hold on tighter.

Fucking Tyler .

I’ll never forgive him for the things he must have said and done to make this woman so starved for a gentle touch and simple thank you.

Soph snorts, effectively ending what could’ve continued into a moment with Juliet.

“You know there’s a hotel upstairs. You two could just get a room.”

God, damn it.

“Oh.” Juliet shudders and tries to step away, but I’m quick to keep her in my arms.

“I’m sorry. I?—”

“She’s fucking with you, love,” I say, glaring at Soph who gives me a shrug. “It’s payback for all the times I gave her and Sydney shit for being cutesy in front of Mercer and me.”

“It’s true. I couldn’t help myself,” Soph explains. “Speaking of our third Chicago cohort, have you heard from him?”

I shake my head. “No. He won’t return my calls, but Willow’s talked to him, and I’m helpingget some final testimonials to get him reinstated. Have you heard from him at all?”

“No. The prick won’t answer mine either.” Soph crosses her arms over her chest, and I know damn well she’s more than a little irritated, because I feel the same way. “Though I know he’s enjoying the takeout I send regularly from the Chicago restaurant to make sure he’s eating something other than those damn sour worms.”

“Well, he won’t be able to avoid us once we’re all in the same city.”

Juliet tenses in my arms, and I could kick myself for my choice of words. Because even though it’s a different situation entirely, Juliet did exactly that for the better part of a year.

Soph scoffs. “If he tries to hide, I’ll find him. Probably with the pointy end of my carving knife.”

Juliet snorts a laugh, and I shoot Soph an appreciative smile over her head for easing the tension.

She gives me a subtle nod of understanding.

I think Sophia and Sydney could be the perfect addition to Juliet and Paige’s duo. Then again, together Paige and Soph might actually convince Juliet to commit murder, and I think I’d like to keep her out of prison.

Soph looks down at her watch and sighs. “Well, I better get back to my duties.” She reaches out and takes Juliet’s hand between her own, offering her a pointed stare. “Promise me you’ll think about my offer, Etta.”

“Thank you so much.I will.”

The second Soph is gone, Juliet slips from between my legs and slides onto the mushroom barstool next to me.

“Were you uncomfortable in my arms?” I ask, not only because I’d very much like her back there, but I need to know if I pushed her too far.

“No I…I just…” Her voice trails off and she concentrates on the wall of liquor behind the bar. “I don’t know how to do this. It’s been a long time since anyone held me like that.”

“Do you not want to be held?”

“I do.” She chews her lower lip, and I watch the war behind her eyes. “It’s just—can I hold you back?”

“That’s your hesitation?”

“I didn’t—I don’t know what’s okay anymore. This all feels foreign to me.”

I could argue that not even three hours ago she found comfort in my arms after the disaster at the door and knew exactly what to do. But this is different. This is a date and as my mom would say: Touching leads to spooning, and spooning leads to forking so be sure with your touches and don’t share your utensils unless you mean it.

It’s such a stupid saying, but I’ve never forgotten it or the sentiment.

And now all I can think about is Juliet forking someone other than me.

Over my dead body.

And yet, I’m still committed to teaching her even if it means breaking my own heart when she walks away.

But before I can move forward, I need to know. “Is it because it’s me that it feels foreign or uncomfortable?”

“No.” Relief floods through me at her immediate response. “I like that it’s you. It’s just I don’t know what to do with my hands or how to gauge if a man wants me to touch him.”

Oh my sweet innocent, Juliet.

I almost feel bad being the one to corrupt her.

Almost.

I open my arms and the space between my thighs. “Come here.”

Juliet eyes the space before she slips from her stool and steps into me. We’re almost eye to eye at this height, and I keep mine locked on hers, willing her to understand she’s got the lead on this. She has to, because there is no way I can think clearly. Not with her this close and those red lips parted like she’s debating whether she should voice all the wants dancing in that pretty little head of hers.

“Like this?”

“Yup.” My voice strains and I swallow hard.

“Now what?” she whispers, looking up at me like I’ve got all the answers.

“Give me your hands.”

She raises a curious brow but doesn’t question me, placing them in mine. Her hands are so small as I hold them between us.

“First, let me reassure you that you don’t need to ask to hold me. And as for what’s okay, that’s up to you.” I maneuver her hands inside my open suit jacket, placing them on my back just past my hips so there is still a small buffer of space between us. “Of course, consent is key, but I can assure you, any man who holds you between his legs like this would love your hands on him.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“I like this,” she whispers.

“Me too,” I say, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. “And if you’re feeling brave, or particularly smitten, you can bring your hands to my lower back and close that distance.”

Juliet looks down at the space and hesitates for a beat before shocking the hell out of me and stepping forward. Her hips cradle against my thickening cock, and she laces her fingers at the base of my spine leaving me breathless.

As if it’s the most natural thing in the world, I lower my hands to mirror hers, careful not to dip too low on her back.

The bar melts away, and it’s only the two of us, breaths heaving in time. Neither of us move as if doing so would break the bubble we’ve found ourselves in—a paradox in which we are both together and a million miles apart.

Or maybe that’s just how it feels to me.Juliet only sees this as a means to an end.

Her tongue darts out and wets her lips, and it takes everything in me not to close the distance and find out if they’re as soft as I imagine—if they taste like the strawberry lip gloss I watched her put on during the cab ride over.

My throat bobs, and I need a distraction. Anything to stop me from taking this further than what she’s comfortable with.

“Tell me about what Soph wants you to think about.”

“What?” Her voice is breathy and borderline seductive, and fuck if it’s not making it more difficult to keep my wits about me.

“Sophia asked you to think about something. What was it?”

A smile splits Juliet’s pillowy lips, and I have to force myself to drag my gaze back up to her dark brown eyes. “If I tell you, will you tell me how you, Sophia, and Mercer know each other?”

I tip my head back and laugh. “Soph didn’t mention it? She usually loves telling that story.”

Juliet shakes her head. “No, she was too busy telling me the story of how you booked an AirBnb for a trip for all of you, and it was at a nudist colony and that’s why you aren’t allowed to book trips anymore.”

“In my defense, it had a really cool pool.”

That was a fun trip. It was the last time Mercer, Sophia, Sydney, and I saw each other before the girls moved to New York and Mercer was arrested.

“But back to how we met. We all lived in the same building in Chicago. Somehow we all thought Leisure Towers meant the building would be low key and luxurious. Really it was a known place for wealthy retirees that wanted to become swingers. There were many times we almost moved out, but after a while they grew on ya, and you stopped caring that you might walk in on an impromptu orgy in the sauna.”

“I—” Juliet shakes her head, a huge smile on her face as she searches for words. “How is it possible for one man to end up in so many situations that involve others in little to no clothing?”

“It’s a gift really,” I say with a shrug and a disarming smile. “Now it’s your turn.”

“She offered me a job.”

My jaw drops, and I don my best surprised face. “That’s absolutely amazing.”

But there’s no foolingJuliet. Her shoulders deflate. “You knew about it already, didn’t you?”

Shit.

“I mean, I knew she was looking for help for an upcoming project,” I draw out my words trying to make them as playful as possible. “I may or may not have thrown your name out there as a possibility.”

Lines crease her forehead, and she looks up through her lashes with an accusatory glare. “Because you don’t like me working topless.”

“Because—” I chuckle and shake my head. “Nope, I’m not even going to try and pretend it’s not because I don’t want other men looking at you naked.” I bring one of my hands up to her chin and lift until her gaze meet’s mine. “But getting the job was all you. Soph refused to tell me any of the details before she met you because she wanted to see if you were a good fit without me interfering.”

Juliet eyes me skeptically and though she bats my hand away, she must decide to believe me because her lips tip into an excited grin. “She wants me to help her design a menu for a new restaurant that will be exclusively gluten free. The idea is to make it accessible to everyone, but also make sure that it’s healthy and elevated. She wants it to be the kind of place people can walk in or call ahead after a long day, or even on their lunch break and will have access to something delicious that they can eat without having to worry if there is any sort of cross contamination or ingredients they can’t consume.”

Her entire body vibrates, and I decide then and there everything up until this point has been worth it to see her excited about her future.

“Do you know how many times I’ve wished something existed like this in the city?” There’s an almost wistful lilt to her voice.

“You might have mentioned it once or twice.” Or literally every single time she would come over to help me organize after a cleaning and was too exhausted to cook, but also didn’t want to let me in the kitchen for fear I’d burn whatever I tried to make. “It’s why you’re the perfect person to help make it a reality.”

“I’m nervous as all hell.” She admits. “It’s been so long since I’ve made a menu from scratch, let alone worked in a professional kitchen.”

“If it’s anything like the food you’ve made me over the last few weeks, the citizens of New York are in good hands.”

“You really think so?”

“I know so.”

Juliet’s gaze locks on mine and her lips part, taking me right back to where I was before I caused a distraction.

Her eyes track down to my lips and back, and I swear her eyes are silently asking for permission or maybe wishing for me to make the first move.

But I don’t.

If she wants to take this any further physically, she’ll need to take that step.

I suck my lip between my teeth and slowly let it roll out. “I think we should go home and celebrate with that pint of chocolate ice cream I know you have in the fridge.”

Her brows furrow. “Is that really what you want to do?”

She’s pushing me. Seeing if I’ll break. And while I’m firm in my resolve to let her take the lead, I’m not above playing dirty.

“We both know it’s not. But if we keep standing here like this, so fucking close that I can feel the heat of your pussy on my cock, I’m not going to be able to stop myself from kissing you and, tell me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think you’re ready to cross that line.”

Juliet’s body tenses, and her eyes flutter closed. She exhales and I get the distinct impression she’s warring against her own curiosities and insecurities.

Her eyes remain closed when she finally speaks, bolstering her bravery. “If I wasn’t me, and you were on this date, what would happen next?”

“That’s a dangerous game to play.”

“Humor me.”

“Nothing would change. I don’t want to kiss a woman that’s not you.” She sucks in a sharp breath, and I lean in until there isn’t an inch of space between us. As a reward for her courage, I whisper so only she can hear me, “But in this magical world you’ve concocted, if this was our first date, I’d press my lips to yours. Softly at first. Then I’d suck that pouty lower lip of yours between mine and see if you taste the way your lip gloss smells. I bet it’s heavenly—sweet—just like you.I’d memorize every sensation, just in case I never got another chance to feel your lips on mine. Then, when I’d had my fill, I’d sweep you up in my arms, and take you home. Only letting you leave them while we’re in the cab, and that’s purely because your safety is important to me. We’d get back to the apartment. I’d walk you to your room, and give you one more kiss to remember me by. That one would be slow. Sensual. Leave us both breathless and needing more.”

“Ford.” She breathes my name like it’s a prayer. And fuck, some day I hope I get to be the one to answer it. But for now, because I truly am a selfish bastard, I can’t help but give her one parting image of what could be.

“Do you want to know what would happen after that, my dear sweet Juliet?”

Her head gives a shallow dip. “Tell me.”

“I’d open your door and say good night.”

Air whooshes from her lungs, and she pulls back, eyes wide open. “That’s it?”

“Oh no, love.” My lips hitch into a mischievous smile, desperate for her to see the hold she has on me. “Because you see, once I’ve said goodnight and made sure you were safe, I’d head to my room, strip naked and head for the shower. Only instead of washing away the day, I’d take my time. Savor it. I’d take my cock in my hand and ever so slowly pleasure myself to the thought of you. I’d drive myself crazy as I recall every detail—your touch, the sweet smell of strawberries that will forever drive me mad, the way your eyes sparkle when you’re happy and your lips part when you’re lost in thought. And don’t get me started on this dress. You are a fucking vision in it. Honestly, I’ll have to fight off the urge to come immediately just thinking of this damn dress. But I will. And only when I’ve replayed every moment of the night will I finally let myself explode with your name on my lips.”

“You would?” Juliet’s chest heaves and she swallows hard, shifting her weight between my legs like she’s searching for just an ounce of friction.

“Absolutely.” I nod, my smirk widening. “Because that’s what you deserve, Juliet—a man who will be so overwhelmed by your beauty and mind that he can’t help but dream of a future where you are the center of his universe even after only one date.”

“Right.” Her voice quakes, but the corner of her mouth twitches with the hint of amusement. “Well, maybe it’s a good thing you’re you and I’m me.”

“For tonight.” I pause, bring her hand up to my lips, and press a soft kiss to her knuckles. “I think you’re right.We’re exactly who we’re meant to be.”