Merger (22 page)

“I like you so much
. Having you as my partner and girlfriend means everything. You know that right?” he said sweetly, but serious.

“Girlfriend
? Am I your girlfriend?” I asked smiling up at him playfully.

“Yes you are
, you little shit.” He planted a kiss on my lips and reached up to put his hand on my cheek. I could tell the mood had changed from playful to something more serious. “You are definitely my girlfriend. I don’t want to be anywhere but here. I want you to come back to California with me for a couple of weeks and before you say no, think about it. We can work on the pipeline deal from there and maybe schedule a meeting, then we can shore up some of the other things we have going on. I don’t want to leave, but I have to see my dog. I promise you if you come home with me you won’t regret it.” He kissed me before I could reply, trying to stifle whatever response he assumed would fall out of my unpredictable mouth.

“Okay.” I
relented.

“Really
? You mean it? You’ll really come home with me?” I couldn’t believe the excitement in his eyes. It was like looking at a child surrounded by presents. Not knowing what was in the boxes, but thrilled at the prospect of tearing through the wrapping paper to find out.

“Yes
,” I repeated, feeling the weight of my answer and trying to look surer than I felt. I reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. “Boyfriend,” I said playfully seeking his reaction to my choice of words.

“I like it
,” he replied.

The tide of our relationship was changing, becoming stronger
. I was no longer fraught with the idea of him leaving. The knowledge of my going home with him had eased the weight we’d both been feeling the whole day. I was nervous, but the idea of him leaving me behind made me feel even worse. I knew it wasn’t a long-term solution, but we’d work it out. I needed to place enough trust in him and me that we would.

We showered and got ready by four-thirty, knowing the caterers and bar staff would arrive early to set up
. Things had never felt more perfect. We’d signed the contracts making Blakely and Crawford one, Josh and I were moving ahead as a couple, and we were about to celebrate it all in my newly renovated penthouse. I had no complaints. My head was light and my heart was full.

It was half past five when Beth arrived
. She had her red hair messily pulled back and she had on the most beautiful emerald shift dress, skin toned strappy pumps, and the emerald earrings her Dad had given her for Christmas. I knew by the looks of her that she came to impress and I wasn’t the intended recipient of her effort.

“You look stunning
,” I said, smirking with a knowing look.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” She rolled her eyes and moved past me to make sure that everything was in place and that everyone was ready for the party.

I’d chosen a black wrap dress that flattered my breasts, which I knew Josh would love. It was dressy, but casual, and clung to all the right places. I’d decided to wear simple black ballet flats because I wanted to be able to move with ease around my guests.

I’d moved to the bar when I felt his presence behind me
. I’d come to discover in a short time when Josh was near. It felt magnetic and it was like nothing I’d ever experienced. He walked up behind me and wrapped his hand around my waist, leaning down to kiss the side of my neck.

“Hey, beautiful
,” he said. I turned and looked up into his blue eyes.

“Hey, beautiful
,” I replied back and meant it. He was dressed in black slacks and a cashmere pullover. He still hadn’t shaved and the hair growth on his face was sexy as hell. He smelled incredible and the feel of his body near mine had my senses on high alert. I could feel my heartbeat and I had to work to control my breathing. He had such an effect on me. I’d never felt more alive. He moved his hand under my chin, tilted my head back slightly, and placed a deliciously warm kiss on my mouth. His kisses were powerful and telling. They were claiming and I was willing to be claimed with each one.

“Incredible
,” I said when he pulled his mouth from mine.

“You like that huh?” I could feel myself literally melting
.

“Yes I do.
”

It was as if the world around us didn’t exist
. I was unaware that we had developed an audience. My father, Mr. Crawford, Jake and Beth stood staring at us.

“Okay, love bird
s,” I heard Jake say, pulling us from our love drunk stupor and back into the moment.

“Whatever?” I said and rolled my eyes
. I grabbed Josh’s hand and we walked over to greet our fathers.

“This place looks incredible
, K.K.” My father said turning a full one eighty to take it all in.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it
? I, however, cannot take any of the credit. Beth did it all. She’s incredibly talented. It’s a pretty unbelievable transformation don’t you think?” Beth was smiling and I felt so proud of her. It was essentially an advertisement for just how good she was at her craft.

“It isn’t what I would have seen as your style, it’s rustic and chic, but that’s why we leave it to the professionals
. Very nice, Beth. You’ve got a real eye for design,” my father said, now beaming a proud smile at Beth.

“I know someone with similar style
,” Jake chimed in, looking at his brother.

“Me too
,” Mr. Crawford agreed, now looking at Josh as well. And in unison, the rest of turned to look at Josh.

“I might have given her a few ideas, but this is all Beth’s work.” I looked at Beth
.

“Well regardless, I absolutely love it
,” I said, wondering if I’d missed some inside joke. Josh squeezed my hand and I winked up at him now more interested in seeing his house in Malibu and wondering if I’d find it similar in style to my newly decorated place.

The party was in full swing, and most of the guests had arrived
. Board members and executive staff were all mingling and trying to make time to get to know all the Crawfords. My father, Mr. Crawford, and Josh shook hands and greeted everyone around them.

Jake and Beth had broken away to the opposite side of the room and were now in some deep discussion and flirtation
. I stood back, taking in the scene and drinking my wine, proud of what the day’s accomplishments meant to me and everyone else in the room. The merger had taken up so much of the last year of our lives and now we stood at the steps of a new day, a new corporation, and new partnerships. Mine paramount.

“What are you brooding about over here?” Josh said, walking up and tapping my glass casually
. “Nothing really. I was just taking in what this meant for all of us. We’ve all worked hard to make this happen and I was just thinking about the magnitude of it.” I looked up at him and then threw in “—partner.”

We both looked out over the crowd watching as everyone drank and ate, socialized with each other
, and formed new friendships.

“It’s good
,” he said, looking over to me.

“It is
,” I said proudly.

“Two weeks, right
? You’re coming to L.A. for two weeks?” It was more telling than asking.

“That’s the plan
,” I answered. “When are we leaving?”

I’d enjoyed having Josh here where I was in my element and even though I was nervous, I was also excited about spending going to California with him
. It was probably time to see him on his own turf.

“I thought we’d leave tomorrow, but if you want to leave Wednesday that fine too
. Megan can reschedule my appointments. Just let me know when you want to leave.”

“Megan the house sitter
? She is also your assistant?” I asked bewildered that I was just now learning this little tidbit.

“She is
. She’s worked for me for almost four years now. She is very efficient and when I leave town she checks in on things and takes care of my dog. Why?”

“No biggie
. I was just surprised when you said her name. I didn’t know that she worked at Crawford, as well. She’s pretty. I’ll make note to fire her when I get to L.A.,” I smirked and jokingly bumped him with my hip.

“You will not fire her, and have no reason to be jealous
. She’s just my assistant and you are my girlfriend.” He reached out to tickle my sides. I laughed and tried to pull away, watching not to spill my wine all over myself or onto the floor.

“Stop
,” I said laughing, trying to wiggle out of his tickling hands. “Just know this. I’m going to hire the hottest male assistant I can find and then we’ll see what you think about that.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my face to where we were eye to eye.

“Not happening
,” he said then bent down to kiss me. I laughed into his warm lips. I kissed him back and knew I’d have to find a way to curtail my jealousy. He was too beautiful for his own good.

We broke our kiss only to find both of our fathers had moved across the room and were now standing in front of us
.

“Hey you two
,” Mr. Crawford was the first to speak.

“Hey
, Dad,” Josh answered as we both turned to look at them.

“You obviously didn’t take my advice about the not getting involved
. So we thought we’d address this together and then we can all move forward.”

Josh and I stood there waiting like to two teenagers caught necking
. Then my father spoke up.

“You need to understand we aren’t against this, we just want you guys to consider everything
. We are now the largest holding company in the U.S., maybe the world for that matter. You two are partners and we just want to make sure that you’ve thought this through.” They stood staring at us, waiting for an answer. I looked at Josh, but before he could speak, I stepped in and took the lead in a reply.

“We understand your concern
. We’ve talked about it over and over for the past several days, and we understand what’s at stake. We’re committed to making it work in all aspects and you can both be assured we aren’t taking any of this lightly. We’ve never let you down in the past, and don’t intend to let you down in the future, but there is something here that neither of us can deny. We like each other,” I said, looking at Josh for confirmation.

“That’s apparent
,” Mr. Crawford chuckled under his breath. I looked up at Josh again, who was smiling at his father and mine.

“We’ve got this
,” he said. “You have my word sir that I will tread lightly where your daughter’s heart is concerned. I’m very enamored with K.K. She’s a great woman and an equally great business partner.”

“Yes, she is
,” my father agreed, then reached his hand out to Josh, who reciprocated with a firm handshake.

Mr. Crawford put his hand on my shoulder, gave it a light knowing squeeze, then he and my father turned and walked away
.

I looked across the room at Jake, who was moving his hand across his neck in a slicing motion and smiling from ear to ear
. He knew that we had just been put under some test of wills against our fathers. I flipped him the middle finger and took a swig of my wine, wondering if we’d just passed some test. Jake started laughing and Josh pulled me into his side.

“
Think we passed?” he whispered. I looked at him and smiled, hoping he would tread lightly with my heart because I was falling deeply in love with him.

“I hope
,” I replied.

The party had come to an end
. All the guests had left except Jake and Beth. It was almost nine when Jake asked Beth to come back to his hotel for a nightcap. She accepted the offer, slipping her strappy pumps back onto her feet and grabbing her purse. Beth and I hugged while Jake and Josh shook hands.

“Good luck
,” I whispered into her ear.

“Thanks
,” she whispered back.

I could tell she really liked Jake and the fact that he lived in California made me sad for her
. I knew it would take a girl like Beth to bring the playboy, Jake Crawford, to his knees. Maybe they’d find a way to work it out. Hell, I was still trying to figure it all out myself.

Jake kissed me on the cheek
. “Coming home with us tomorrow right?”

“That’s the plan.” He hugged me tightly
.

“I’m glad
,” he replied then turned, grabbed Beth’s hand and left.

“God
, he’s such flirt,” Josh said wrapping me into a warm hug.

“Yes he is.” I said pulling him into a kiss
. “I think Beth likes him.”

“Uh, yeah
,” he said, like I’d just stated something so obvious it didn’t need stating.

“I just hate that you guys live in California
. It’s hard to date from that distance,” I said.

“Why do you girls have to live in New York?”