The Billionaire’s Tenacious Boss (The Maxfield Brothers Series Book 1) (17 page)

T
he elevator doors closed
, and Stephen wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her up against him. She squealed and pushed away. “Mr. Maxfield,” she said mockingly. “We are in public.”

“Ah, but I’ll take any chance that I can get,” he said as he pulled her closer. She laughed softly and stroked the fine material of his suit.

“I liked you better in tight jeans. And a hardhat,” she said. She was already growing wet just thinking about it.

“I liked you better in a tight, short pencil skirt,” he said as he brushed his lips along the crook of her shoulder. She moaned as he slipped the strap of her long flowing gown off her shoulder.

Reaching for him, she pulled his head towards her, and he rewarded her with a long deep kiss. The doors opened behind them.

“For God’s sake, can’t that wait?” someone called on the other side. The room burst into laughter, and Angie pulled away. She intertwined her fingers around his as they stepped out.

“Now presenting Mr. Stephen Maxfield and Mrs. Angela Maxfield, husband and wife,” the announcer said over the public address system. The room erupted with laughter and applause, and Angie laughed with glee.

As they moved through the reception to greet everyone, Angie couldn’t help but feel a little thrill go through her. When Duncan announced that she was the new CEO of Duncan Enterprises, she’d felt proud. It was something that she’d worked for her entire life, but love was never part of her agenda. Stephen had swept her off her feet, and despite all the odds against them, they had made it work.

Their life wouldn’t be easy. He would still keep his position as a Board member at Duncan Enterprises, but his passion would always be with Maxfield Construction. He would spend his time moving back and forth between the two companies. His son was still in San Francisco, and Angie accepted that they would spend quite a bit of time apart. But she also knew that Duncan Enterprises would keep her busy, and there wasn’t a single bone in her body that doubted her decision to marry him. He’d made it clear that he was dedicated to their marriage, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

“Congratulations!”

Angie turned to see Suzanne and Ben greeting them with warm smiles. Stephen reached down to pick Ben up and whirl him around while Suzanne hugged her. “He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him,” she whispered in Angie’s ear.

It warmed her heart that Suzanne said that. As she watched Stephen and Ben interact, she clasped a hand over her chest. “I’ve never been happier. I have a big family, as you can tell from the wedding, but I didn’t even realize there was something missing until Stephen.”

“You two will make it work. I know it.” Suzanne squeezed her hand before turning towards the buffet.

Angie’s mother was seated at the bridal table. Angie bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“I told you that dress was perfect,” her mother said with a twinkle in her eye. “Oh Angie, I never thought I’d see a day like today. Your career was always so important to you, and I’m so sorry that I doubted that you could have it all.”

“I doubted it too,” Angie admitted. She reached over and snagged a shrimp from her mother’s plate. Her stomach had growled all through the photo sessions after the ceremony. “But I don’t doubt it anymore.”

“What did we doubt?” Stephen asked as he swooped in to give her mother a kiss.

Angie stared at him for a moment. Everything was absolutely perfect. Down at the far end of the table, Duncan, Gabe, and Nathan were actually having a civil conversation. Ben was dancing with one of her friend’s daughters on the dancefloor. Her own family was laughing and dancing. There was so much joy in one room, and she’d never thought it was possible.

But they had all come together for her and Stephen. They were all here because they believed in love.

“Are you okay?” he asked in concern as he reached out to play with a tendril of her hair. “You’re awfully quiet.”

She reached up and clasped his hand. “I’m kind of amazed at how we got here and all the people that we’ve brought together.”

“You were always the right choice,” a voice said gruffly. Angie looked up in surprise to see that Duncan was standing near them. He reached out his hand, and Stephen clasped it. “She’s my family now. See that you treat her right.”

Her husband didn’t say anything, but she could see the pride in his face. He and Duncan had buried the hatchet, and although it might be awhile before they ever had anything close to a father/son relationship, she knew that they had come a long way.

“You’ll look after him?” Duncan asked softly as he released his son’s hand and turned to her.

Angie knew what he was asking. Everyone thought that Stephen would follow in his father’s footsteps, but now Angie had that same power. Duncan Enterprises could consume her like it had consumed Duncan, but she knew if it came down to it, her husband would always be more important than the job. She wouldn’t push her family aside for anything.

“He’s everything to me,” she said simply.

Duncan nodded his head, and Stephen pulled her gently from the table. “You’re everything to me as well. I hope you know that.”

“I know,” she murmured as she lifted her chin for a kiss. He leaned down to taste her, and a thrill raced down her spine. She wondered if she would ever get used to the way that he affected her.

“Are you ready to start your new life, Mrs. Maxfield?” he whispered in her ear.

“Are you?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“I’m letting go of the past,” he promised her, as he pulled her close and started dancing with her.

“Not everything from the past was bad,” she reminded him. “It’s the foundation on which we build our life.”

“I thought I was the construction guy,” he said teasingly.

“I’ve picked up a few things.” She nestled her head against his chest and let him lead her across the dance floor. It seemed almost impossible that they had achieved everything they wanted. Success in business. And in love. And now they had the rest of their lives to enjoy it.

And there was no one else she’d rather spend it with than Stephen Maxfield.