I lock my phone and place it on the boardroom table. I’m sitting across from my father and Liam and my father’s secretary Erin, discussing the Cape May project. Liam went over the contracts yesterday, so we are signing off on them today. Everything seems to be in order, so we are breathing a little easier and excited to get started on construction.
We have yet to address the elephant in the room, the question of why I chose to put off my return to New York. I can tell that they are wondering and waiting for me to bring up the subject but I’m enjoying watching them squirm. I really have no problem sharing my news about Livy with my family, but I thought it would be best to do it after we finished talking shop.
My mind continues to wander to last night, in particular to one moment that is stamped in my mind, when Livy said I want you Parker. I want all of you. The lust in those heartbreaker eyes and her shallow breathing as she gave herself over to me. My dick perks up in my pants just thinking about it. I send him a message to chill and calm down. Now’s not the time.
I’m interrupted by a knock at the office door as my sister Jules walks in and takes a seat at the long rectangular cherry wood table. This table holds many memories for me. My mom used to bring me and my brothers and sister to the office on weekends to visit my dad and we would sit around this table and watch him work. All these years later, I still remember the pride on his face when I started working for his company.
“Good morning, Juliette. Do you need me for something?” My father asks as Jules sits down on a leather swivel chair beside me.
“No, I’m good Dad. I just needed a break from my computer. I knew you were all in a meeting, so I thought I’d drop by. I also wanted to know why my brother here extended his stay?” Jules eyes me with a smirk.
“Leave it to Jules to be the only one in the room with the balls to ask,” Liam teases, clearly waiting for my answer.
I clear my throat. “I spent some time with Olivia over the weekend and I’m not ready to leave her. I thought I would stay at the beach house for a few weeks and work from here. I want to see where it goes with the two of us.”
“It must have been quite the weekend if you are willing to stay here longer than forty-eight hours. Please spare us the details though,” Jules warns, swiveling in her seat.
If they only knew.
“Son, it’s no secret that we adore Olivia, we always have. You stay here as long as you need. The beach house is yours.”
“Thanks, Dad. I don’t want you to worry. I won’t let my personal life get in the way of work. Everything is running smoothly with Cape May and Jordan has New York under control. I will check in with him throughout the day.”
“I know how hard you work. I’m not concerned for a second that your tasks will suffer - in fact I am elated that you are finally prioritizing what’s really important in life. Your mother and I have been waiting for the day when you found someone who makes you realize that there is more to life than work. I hope things work out between the two of you.”
“I’ve always liked her, and Dad is right, you do work too much,” Liam adds. “And let’s face it: we all figured you’d end up with her, it was only a matter of time. You just seem to be the last one to figure it out.”
“Woah, slow down. This is all brand new, and Livy is still nervous. I’m going to have to take things slow with her.”
“All the best things in life take time, son. Have patience and I’m sure she’ll come around and learn to trust you.” My father’s eyes meet mine from across the table and I can tell he is speaking from experience.
“Guys, I’d love to stay and help plan the wedding, but I’ve got work to do. Parker, go get your girl. I’ll be at my office if something pops up with the Cape May project and you need my help.” Liam pushes his chair back and stands, patting our dad on his shoulder before leaving the room.
“Just an idea, Parks. If you really want to win her over, you should give James a call. He is always offering up his vacation home for us to use. It’s so beautiful there and I bet Livy would love that little town with all those cute shops and galleries. You should give him a call and see if you can stay there for a night or two.”
“That’s a great idea, Jules. I think I might just do that.” James is my cousin and owns a beautiful vacation property right on the ocean with a private dock and a sexy 32-foot Sea Ray Sundancer, a cruiser boat with a small cabin below and a lounge area up top. My sister is right, Livy would love it there.
My phone vibrates on the table and my heart just about jumps through my chest. I realize immediately that I’m hoping to see Livy’s name. I pick it up but am disappointed to see a text from Jordan. It has been an hour since I messaged Livy and no response. I hope she’s just busy. She seemed okay this morning when I left her. I pray she is not having second thoughts.
I decide to shoot her another text, not able to stop myself.
Is it weird that I miss you already? Can’t wait to see you. ;)
I spend the rest of the day lining up meetings with our architects and project managers for Cape May. I’ve taken over a spare office that we use as a shared space whenever Liam or I need a place to work. It is a busy afternoon playing catch-up after all the work I missed the day before, and I end up skipping lunch. I’ve checked my phone at least a thousand times this afternoon and still no reply from Livy.
I pick up the phone to call Jordan when I’m interrupted by a knock at my door.
“Come in.”
Jules walks in with a paper bag in her hand.
“I haven’t seen you leave your office all day so I figured I would pick you up some lunch. Hope you are hungry, it’s a turkey clubhouse from my favourite place down the block.”
“You are one hundred percent my favorite sister.”
“I’m your only sister you dimwit.” She moves into the office, hands me the bag with the sandwich and sits in one of the chairs opposite my desk.
“Everything okay? You seem a little distracted.”