The One: The Complete One Series Collection (19 page)

“We’re here to help, Bob. Whatever you need.” William stooped next to his brother and took the stack of red-stained paper towels from his hand. “I can get this. Go take a shower.”

“I can’t. I need to make the kids their dinner.” Bob looked around the kitchen helplessly. “I don’t even know if we have any food in the fridge.”

“I’ve got this.” Finally, I saw a way I could help. “You go shower, William will wrangle the kids and I’ll take care of dinner.”

Bob opened his mouth to protest again but changed his mind. “A shower would be good. You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.” I was already rummaging in the fridge.

“The kids… they can be a handful.” Bob was unconvinced that William was up for the challenge of entertaining twin 3-year-olds.

William shoved Bob toward the stairs. “Please. I’m bigger than them. And also, if they are really bad I’ll just tie them up.”

Bob chuckled but then his face turned serious. “You’re kidding, right?”

William slapped him on the back. “Go shower.”

Bob Connor’s kitchen was just about as bleak as it can get barring an apocalypse. I found some frozen veggies in the back of the freezer and a box of macaroni and cheese. It was a less than inspired meal, but Carter and Callie cleaned their plates so I considered it a success. After dinner, William turned on the television for them and helped me clean up the kitchen. Bob was using the rare moment of calm to contact some of Courtney’s friends.

“I don’t get how she could just take off like that. What about her kids?” I took the dish William handed me and began drying it with the only clean kitchen towel I had been able to find.

“Courtney isn’t a typical mom. She’s not very good at putting her kids first.” William stuck his hands in the dishwater and came up with a dirty bowl. He had rolled up the sleeves of his blue dress shirt and his brow furrowed as he scrubbed away the dried cheese. It took all of my will-power not to lunge at him.

“Well, I still don’t get it.” The kids had done nothing wrong. It was horribly irresponsible to punish them in such a selfish way.

“Go ahead and tell her, Will.” Bob had reentered the room. He was wearing clean clothes and his face was freshly shaved, but he still looked tired and lost. “He’s being polite, but it’s not necessary. Courtney is a selfish bitch. Always has been, always will be.”

I didn’t know what to say so I looked at William but he was concentrating on cleaning a fork. Bob continued, “She never wanted the kids. They were an accident. I suppose it wasn’t fair to expect her to magically change and become a parent overnight once they were born.”

“Why is that unfair?
You
did.” William slammed a coffee mug onto the counter a little too hard and we all jumped. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Bob sighed. “I’m mad at her, too, Will. Pissed, even. But she’s still my wife and the mother of my kids. So I’ve got to do whatever I can to get her back.”

“Just let us know how to help.” Now that I didn’t have an official task to complete, I was back to feeling helpless.

“Will, can you help me check out a couple of places where she might have gone? She took the car when she left, so I could use a driver.” Bob seemed a little embarrassed to ask.

“Sure.” William wiped his hands dry on the towel and turned to me. “Are you good with watching the kids while we’re out?”

I nodded. “We’ll be fine. Go.”

William dropped a kiss on my forehead on his way out of the room. I heard Bob say goodbye to the kids while I finished putting the dishes away. With the kitchen cleaned, I moved through the other rooms of the house, picking up dirty laundry from the floors and putting away toys. The kids were more than happy watching television, so I washed a few loads of laundry before joining them in the living room.

Callie immediately joined me on the couch, curling up in my lap. “Where’s my mom?” she asked.

Bob hadn’t mentioned what he had told the kids. I wasn’t sure if I should tell the truth, or go with a lie so I did a combination. “She’s out right now.”

“When is she coming back?” Callie’s big, blue eyes tortured me. They were the same shade as William’s. A couple more questions while looking at me like that and I would spill everything.

“What are we watching?” I asked, attempting to change the subject.

Carter turned away from the television and said, “My mom is mean. She yells all the time. I hope she doesn’t come back ever.”

Callie started to cry and I hugged her tight, whispering that everything would be okay. I wasn’t even sure if I was lying to her. Losing a parent is the hardest thing imaginable. I would know- I lost both of mine when I was fourteen. But my parents had been taken from me. They didn’t want to go. Courtney had voluntarily left her kids, and they might grow up never knowing why. I had never met Courtney, but right then I hated her.

I managed to distract the kids by forcing them to take a bath. After a lot of screaming and one overflowing tub, they were clean, dry and dressed in pajamas. Trying to get them into bed was a whole other battle and I wasn’t up for the challenge. Instead, the three of us cuddled on the couch while watching Sponge Bob. It had been a long day for all of us and it didn’t take long for the kids to drift to sleep. I must have fallen asleep as well, because the next thing I knew, William was stroking my cheek, gently prodding me to wake up.

“Hey,” I said, a sleepy smile spreading over my face. “How’d it go?”

William shook his head, gesturing to the sleeping children lying on top of me. “We’ll talk after I put the kids in bed.”

He scooped Callie off my lap and she woke up just long enough to wrap her tiny arms around his neck. Bob came into the room looking even wearier than he had earlier and he didn’t say anything as he picked up Carter. The look in his eyes was haunting.

I stood and folded Callie’s pink blanket, hugging it against my chest as I looked around the room. Pictures of a happy family covered the walls, blatant lies in such a troubled home.

As William wrapped his arms around me from behind, I leaned back and closed my eyes. His lips were a whisper against my neck. “Did you find Courtney?”

“No. She doesn’t want to be found.” William sounded very tired. “We talked to her sister and she doesn’t think Courtney will be back anytime soon.”

“What’s Bob going to do?” We had helped him get through today, but what about tomorrow, and the next day? What if Bob wasn’t up to the challenge of being a single dad?

William squeezed me and let go. “He’ll figure it out. He doesn’t have a choice.”

I dropped Callie’s blanket on the couch. “Now what?”

“Now we go home.” He held out his hand and as I slipped mine inside, I felt very lucky to have William Connor in my life. Not only did he treat me better than I sometimes deserved, he also made me want to be better.

Bob met us by the front door and hugged me fiercely as he said his thanks. I hugged him back wishing I could relieve him of some of weight that was on his shoulders.

“Take these.” William handed his car keys to Bob, who hesitated. “I mean it, Bob. You have two kids, you need a car.”

“What about you?” Bob looked at both of us.

William pointed outside. “I already called a cab. I’ve got another car at home. This one is yours. Indefinitely.”

“Will-” Bob started to resist but William cut him off with a punch on the arm.

“Let me do this for you. For the kids.” William put his arm around my shoulders. “I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”

“Thanks again, brother,” Bob said as we stepped outside. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“I bet you’re really regretting all those times you beat me up when we were kids,” William joked.

“Nope. I was shaping you into the man you are today.” Bob jingled the car keys and nodded to me. “Take care of him, yeah?”

“Always.” I waved to Bob as William tugged me toward the waiting cab. He held open the door for me and I looked back at the house. “Do you really think they’ll be okay?”

“Sure. They’re Connors. We find a way to survive.” William kissed me on the lips. “Now get in the cab. I’m ready to go home.”

“My home or yours?” I asked when he had climbed in next to me.

“Ours,” he replied, then got more specific. “My place. More beds.”

I grinned up at him. “I like the way you think, Connor.”

As William leaned in to kiss me, I didn’t think we were going to make it a bed at all. The back of that taxi cab would do just fine.

CHAPTER FOUR

As was always the case, now that my personal life was finally on track, everything else was bound to be royally fucked up. My Monday started off normally enough. William and I had spent our entire Sunday in his bed, alternative between making love and sleeping. I went back to my place late Sunday night, hoping to get some sleep and be somewhat presentable at work the next day.

We had a meeting bright and early to discuss the drug scandal. After a lot of debate, I convinced William to take the case. I didn’t want to deal with Paul, and I didn’t want William to kill him, but Gravity could use the paycheck and the prestige that would come from representing a handful of famous baseball players. He put Dan in charge of the whole thing, selling it as a great learning opportunity but really I knew that he wanted no part of making Paul look good.

I stayed behind after the meeting to talk to William about Bob, and when I finally left the conference room a few minutes after everyone else, I ran right into Dan who had been lingering in the hall.

“So it’s true then?” he asked with a smirk.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dan. More information please.” I kept walking because I had to be in another meeting in less than five minutes. Dan was more than willing to hurry along behind me.

“You and Connor. Bumpin’ uglies.” Dan smacked into me when I pulled up short.

“What did you say?” I sputtered.

Dan enunciated very slowly. “You are screwing the boss. Everyone knows.”

My mouth dropped open. I knew that Tara had learned the truth before she was fired, and I knew that if she went forward with her lawsuit there was a good chance the truth would get out. But I hadn’t been expecting it to happen so soon. I wasn’t ready to face the music.

“I’m late.” I said, hastily adding, “For a meeting. I’m late for a meeting.”

I knew that my face was a brilliant shade of red as I stepped into the meeting room. Several of my colleagues were already gathered around the table and they all stopped talking abruptly when I entered. It only took one guess to figure out what they had been discussing.

After the meeting, one of the female attorneys on the legal team cornered me in the ladies’ room. “Nice work,” she said with a wink.

“Sorry?” I kept my head down as I lathered soap on my hands, hoping she would take a hint and go away.

“Connor. He’s damn fine. And rich. You played that well.” She smiled at me when I glanced up at the mirror. “People are talking but don’t listen to them. They’re just jealous.”

I got several judgmental looks on the way to my office and even heard someone mutter
slut
. The moment I had been dreading had officially arrived. I had two choices- I could hide in my office all day and avoid my phone and email, or I could suck it up and act like it didn’t bother me. I remembered what William had said about his family being survivors and I decided I didn’t want to be a victim. I had made my own bed, so to speak, and now I had to lay in it.

The day only got worse. Everywhere I turned, I interrupted hastily whispered conversations that ended abruptly upon my appearance. By the end of the day, I went home without even checking to see what William wanted to do for the evening. Hiding in my apartment for a couple of years seemed like the best idea.

He showed up a couple hours later. I had already changed into his University of Chicago t-shirt and a pair of baggy sweatpants. Certainly not my best look, but at least I was comfortable.

“What’s wrong?” he asked the second he saw my face. I was ashamed to admit that I had been crying for the last hour but my swollen eyes gave me away.

“Cat’s out of the bag,” I said, stepping back to let him in. I had an open bottle of wine waiting for me in the living room and I headed there without giving William a proper greeting. “I’m the office slut. Just like I predicted.”

“What do you mean? How did people find out?” William stripped off his coat and threw it over a chair.

I flopped onto the couch and took a big gulp of wine. “Dan. He’s friends with Tara and he has a big mouth.”

“Shit, Livy.” William sat next to me and gave me a long look. “Was it terrible for you?”

I shrugged and took another drink. “I survived.”

“What can I do?” He looked so desperate to help but there was nothing he could do. This was the path we had chosen- the path
I
had chosen.

I put down the wine bottle now that it was empty and thought for a second. Eventually, I just shook my head. “Hold me?” It was the only thing I could think of that would make things better.

William slid over until he could put his arms around me. As I snuggled close to him and burrowed into his arms, I was able to forget for a minute about the name-calling and hateful looks. All that mattered was that I still had William and somehow I knew we would find a way to make it work.

He let me feel sorry for myself for exactly fifteen minutes. Then he launched into a tirade about one of our clients at work. I knew he was trying to take my mind off things and I was grateful for the distraction. He held my feet in his lap, gently working the sore muscles in my arches.

“So our client is part of the royal family in Italy? That sounds made up.” I hadn’t even known that Italy still had a royal family.

“Old royalty. A distant ancestor was a Pope, or a Cardinal. Something like that. Honesty, I don’t really know. But the oldest son was just caught with a mistress.” William’s hands moved from my feet up to my calves. “An older mistress. Like twenty years older.”

“No way.” I laughed. Who would’ve thought this day would end with me and William gossiping like old ladies? “So when are you going to Italy?”

“Two days.”

“Two days?” That was way too soon for my liking.

William shrugged. “It’s an urgent matter. You can come with me if you want.”

“Not happening.” People at work already hated me. Using the job as an excuse to follow William to Italy would make things a million times worse. “Just don’t fall in love with some Italian princess while you’re gone.”

“Fine.” Now his hands were over my knees and still heading north. “We should go to Rome soon though. You would like it. It’s more romantic than Florence, if you ask me.”

“I’m sure I would love it.” I was sure I would love any place if I went with William.

I had been pretty sure I knew where William was headed with his hands but he threw me a curveball when his hands left my body and he said very quietly, “I heard you met with Mark from
Palmroil.”

I felt like slapping myself in the forehead. How could I have forgotten about that meeting? Of course William had found out and now, because he hadn’t heard it from me, he could only assume the worst.

“Yes, we met for lunch. He wanted to thank me for the work I did on the oil spill campaign.” I saw that William somehow already knew the full story so I plowed ahead. “He offered me a job.”

William nodded slowly. “I suspected as much. Was it a good offer?”

“It was.” No sense in lying now. “But I didn’t take it.”

“You didn’t say no either though, right?” William sounded resigned.

“That’s true.” I pulled my legs away from his lap and sat up straight. “I have to at least consider it, William. Gravity doesn’t have a future for me. Not now that everyone knows about us.”

“We can make it work,” he said, but he didn’t put much heart into it.

“I’m not saying I’m definitely taking it. I’m just saying I didn’t say no yet.” I took his hand. “I was going to talk to you about it. I promise. It honestly slipped my mind with everything that has happened these past few days.”

“The job is in D.C.?” His eyes were unnervingly calm. I had no way to tell what he was really thinking.

“Yes. I would have to move.” If I had to be completely honest, the relocation was the number one reason I hadn’t said yes. I loved living in Chicago, and I didn’t want a long distance relationship.

William leaned back and closed his eyes. “I’m not going to tell you what to do, Livy. You’re an adult and you can make your own decisions. You need to do what’s best for you.”

“Would you really be okay with me moving to D.C.?” I had expected him to at least put up a small fight, or tell me how much he would miss me.

“If it would make you happy, then I would find a way to deal with it.” William opened his eyes and smiled. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

My heart literally jumped in my chest. He had the most amazing smile and I couldn’t help myself. I curled up in his lap and we made out like teenagers. I didn’t think I would ever get tired of kissing William Connor, but I also wanted more of him. I removed his belt and worked on his button and zipper. He helped me slip his pants down just enough, and his penis already stood at rigid attention. I appreciated his eagerness. As skillfully as possible, I slipped out of my sweatpants and underwear.

Sitting astride William, I removed a condom from his pants pocket and took my time pulling it over his erection. Moving forward slightly, I grazed against him, looking deep into his eyes as I moved. When he smiled at me, I fell in love with him all over again.

I spread my legs as I lowered myself, wanting to feel him in my core. William’s hands moved under my shirt, holding me firmly at my sides. As I moved over him, my hair fell over my face and William reached up to tuck it behind my ear.

“I want to see you,” he explained. William did see me- he saw more of me than anyone ever had. For the first time, that didn’t scare me.

I let William set the pace, moving me up and down with his strong hands. He moved me slow at first, letting me feel the full length of him inside me. Then his speed picked up until I was being guided by the forces in my body. He let go and his hands clutched the couch as I rode him hard and quick, my breath coming out in tiny gasps. I made sure that he came first, his release inside me setting off my own orgasm. As it rippled inside me and around him, we held each other and struggled to catch our breaths.

“If you move to D.C., we won’t get to do that as often,” William said as I lifted myself off him.

“Maybe not together,” I said, happy that he was finally trying to convince me to stay.

“Funny. You keep that up and I’m taking back my shirt.” He tugged at the t-shirt and I glared at him.

“If you take this shirt back, I’m taking my vagina back. And my boobs.”

William laughed so hard it shook us both. I couldn’t help but laugh along with him. “You should definitely keep the shirt,” he decided. When we fell asleep a couple hours later, I was still wearing his shirt.

Work wasn’t any easier the next couple of days and I began to seriously consider Mark’s offer. I even emailed him with some follow-up questions. William stopped by my office on his way to the airport. He was going to be in Italy for at least a week and I already missed him.

“Livy,” he said, closing the door behind him. “I have something I really need to tell you.”

“You’re not breaking up with me again, are you?” I was only half-joking. “Because that would be a little excessive.”

“Would you please stop predicting our demise?” William tucked his hands into his pockets and looked at the ground. “I came to do the exact opposite actually.”

My eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

“I said that I wouldn’t tell you what to do with your job decision. But I’ve been thinking about it, and I really don’t want you to go.” He looked up at me with wide eyes. “We just found each other, Livy. I’m not sure I could let you go.”

“Are you asking me not to take the job?” If he was, I wasn’t sure what I would do. I wasn’t the type of woman to take orders from a man, but we were a couple now and he deserved a say in how we would spend our relationship.

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” He shrugged helplessly. “I came to make you a different kind of offer.”

“An indecent one?” I said with a waggle of my eyebrows.

William sighed in annoyance. “Can you be serious for one minute?”

“Fine.” I made a big deal about checking the time. “One minute of seriousness. Go.”

“Quit.” William said. “Quit your job here, but don’t take the other job.”

I let out a snort. “Well, I didn’t know it was that easy. Such a great idea, William. Why didn’t I think of that? Oh, right. I’m not independently wealthy. I’m also not a hooker, so please don’t offer to pay me not to work and just screw you all the time.”

“That’s not what I’m offering.” William looked away and I had a pretty good idea that was exactly what he was about to offer me. “You can move in with me, just until you find another job in Chicago. Or for good, whatever you want.”

I felt my face grow hot and I started to yell but William cut me off. “Livy, I have a lot of money. I’m not trying to imply anything by that, I’m just stating a fact. Let me take care of you. I’m the reason you can’t stay at this job, and I’m the one asking you not to move to D.C. At least let me offer you an alternative.”

When the initial rush of anger had passed, it was replaced by a feeling of gratitude. Yes, William’s offer was a tiny bit condescending, but it came from a good place. He didn’t want me to leave, and he was taking a big leap asking me to stay.