Chasing after You, page 7
He inputs his password again and starts to listen on speaker.
“Baby, I need to talk to you. I was wrong. Asking you to give up your friendship was a mistake. Call me.” The time stamp info plays, and Leo deletes the message.
“Baby, I’m going to be in town tomorrow. I want to talk. Call me.” This message is from the night before the accident. Leo deletes it.
I look over at Leo. His face shows no reaction to Danica’s pleas. It’s oddly comforting.
“Brother, calling to check on the plans for the reunion. Hit me back.” Leo saves this one.
“Mo?” I ask. Mo was his teammate in college, and they were even drafted together. Football was a way to set up his family for life.
“Yup.” He starts the next message.
“Ohmigod! I’m here. Baby, Lily refuses to let me see you! How could—” He deletes the rest of the message without hearing the rest.
“As much as I appreciate not hearing those, perhaps you need to listen. I can leave if you would prefer. There may be information that may be helpful to Jones and Smithson.”
He clenches his fist and restores the deleted message. “I was purposefully ignoring the issue.”
“I’m sorry, but there’s a lot going on right now, and part of it includes Danica lying to you about who she truly is.”
“I’m more worried about my employees than her.”
“Your sentiment makes you an amazing man, boss, and business owner. However, something is sketchy about her, and I’m not judging her because you’re mine now.”
He sets his phone on the ottoman and hauls me into his arms. “Say that again.”
Leo holding me isn’t new, but the emotional aspect is consuming. Until now, I never considered the placement of his hands. Not once were his hands too low on my back or too far around my rib cage before today. In this moment, however, one arm is around my back, and his huge hand spans the curve of my hip. The other is on top of my thighs warming me through my leggings.
“Lily, say it again,” he demands.
I push aside the visceral reaction to him touching me and replay my words in my head until I get to what I think he wants to hear. “You’re mine now.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead and whispers, “And you’re mine in all ways.” Leo glides his hand up to my jaw. “I will find each spot that makes you lose your words, even if it takes the rest of my life.”
I set my forehead against his and agree. The unsettled feeling I have in my chest dissipates into lust and desire after cataloging Leo’s hands on me. Acting on those urges right now isn’t the way to go. “Thank you.”
“We may have waited too long, but a little longer to do it right isn’t going to kill us.”
I press a kiss to his mouth and move back beside him, closer this time. We spend the next two hours culling his emails and texts. There are ten from his former teammates looking for updates about the reunion and another ten asking how he is. He doesn’t go back to the voice mails though.
Near eleven, we walk to my bedroom. I tug my hoodie overhead and deposit it in the hamper. It’s then I notice he hesitates at the threshold.
“Do you want me to sleep in the guest room?” he offers.
“Why would you do that? I slept on top of you last night on the couch.”
“True, but… we’re different now.”
“Yes. We’re better. Please stay here,” I implore.
He tugs his shirt off and sets it on the dressing bench.
I fly through my memory, trying to recall the last time I saw Leo shirtless, and come up empty. Long enough that I don’t have a frame of reference. It’s one thing to fall asleep with him fully clothed. It’s happened countless times. It’s an entirely different situation when it’s purposeful and his broad chest is exposed. He’s always been fit and clearly didn’t slack much on gym time since he was forced into retirement.
“I’ll put it back on if you need.” His words interrupt my thoughts. He was obviously waiting for me to gather myself.
“No, just processing. What’s the point? You already showed me.”
He grins. “You kind of like me, huh?”
I love you. I arch an eyebrow at him but say nothing. He knows how I feel about him. It isn’t the time to voice it out loud again. Not yet.
He throws the sheets from my side open for me. I slide beneath them and curl against Leo. Tentatively, I set my head on his shoulder and my hand in the center of his chest. His breath hitches the instant my cold hand touches his warm skin. I consider moving it, but he covers my hand with his before I’m able.
He kisses the top of my head. “Night, Lily.”
“Good night, Leo.”
Chapter Nine
Leonardo
Unlike Lily, I don’t sleep much. She was out cold within ten minutes of snuggling against me. I listen to the rise and fall of her breathing until sleep claims me. My mind has never been a calm place except when she’s beside me.
Early rays of sunlight mark her ceiling. I’ve been awake for the last hour, diligently memorizing each freckle, dip, and slope of her lush curves. I’ve been this close to her numerous times, but I’ve never allowed myself to capture each minute detail that is uniquely Lily. She hasn’t moved much since she fell asleep last night. Her hand is still on my chest, only a little lower. Her soft, long tresses are fanned over my arm.
Maintaining a hard line between romantic love and friendship wasn’t as difficult until she shared her feelings with me. The prospect of waking up with Lily beside me daily makes my heart swell. My fears weren’t misplaced, but our timing was off. I smile and start planning our date in my head. Our friendship gives me more insight than any other man would have. It’ll make it virtually impossible for me to screw up our first date—the last first one we will ever have.
“How long have you been awake? How are you feeling?” she murmurs, looking at me through her long lashes.
Amazing and terrified at the same time. She means my head. “A little while. Fine, so far.”
I see the instant she realizes the position we’re in. Before she can overthink, which Lily is notorious for, I roll and trap her beneath me. One of her hands is against my flank, and the remains on the center of my chest. Although this position might be more precarious with my rock-hard length against her. “Morning.”
She inhales sharply and slowly exhales. “Morning. Our kiss wasn’t in my head, was it?”
Lily and I waking up together isn’t an anomaly, although I don’t recall the last time it was in a bed. Usually, we wake on one of our couches. “No. It was very real and worth waiting for like everything else we’ll share in the future. I can certainly refresh your memory if you would like.”
A sexy smile curls at the curve of her mouth. “I mean, it isn’t a terrible plan to solidify my memory, is it?”
“Not at all.”
As I lower onto my forearms, she draws in another deep breath in preparation. The action has her cotton-covered breasts grazing my bare chest. I press my lips against hers, and strong, steadfast Lily melts into the woman only I’m privileged to see. The woman who put her feelings aside to assure my happiness and made a heart-wrenching decision to put me into a coma. The vulnerable woman who wants a marriage like her parents—a marriage spanning decades with a houseful of children. A woman who wants a man to stand beside her when things go well and, more importantly, when things go terribly wrong.
Palpable passion zings from my lips to my toes. Kissing Lily is more than my imagination ever conjured up. Waiting until now was the right choice, but taking measured steps forward is going to be arduous, especially since I want to explore every inch of her and watch her shatter with pleasure from my love. I tug her lower lip between my teeth. Rewarded with a soft whimper, I loosen my bite and repeat it again.
“Leo.” My name comes out as a desperate plea for more.
I drag my tongue along her jaw to the shell of her ear. “Yes, Lily?”
“My memory wasn’t this fantastic.”
I grin at her. “Good, we’re just getting started. We may know everything about each other outside of this room, but in here, not so much.”
“Now please?”
“No, you need to get to work, don’t you?”
She frowns. “I would rather keep exploring us in here instead of reviewing spreadsheets and market projections.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Out there is going to take some learning too. You should know, I’m demanding in here.”
“Are you?”
She pushes up onto her elbows, drags her tongue along the skin she can reach, and wets my lips before kissing me deeply, possessively. If her definition of demanding is bestowing hot, sultry kisses on my body, I’m in. We may set fire to her home when we come together as one if a kiss or ten makes my entire body ache with need.
Reluctantly, I add space.
“You’re going to force me to be responsible, aren’t you?” she grumbles, pouting.
“Yeah.”
“Meany.”
We’ve reverted to third grade. I chuckle. “Lily, I’m not going anywhere. We don’t have to rush through the flutters of a new relationship. Are the lines a bit blurry given how much we know about one another? Sure, but demolishing the door we unlocked yesterday isn’t wise.”
“But—”
I skim my lips across hers lightly to refocus her attention. “Every second of the wait will be worth it like it was for our first kiss. Don’t mistake my need for time to pursue us properly with a lack of desire to strip off your clothes, savor your gorgeous curves, and make you shatter for an entire day.”
Lilianna Stellaluna Cappelli stunned speechless is a remarkable sight. Her eyes close briefly, and she exhales softly. “We’ve waited, albeit separately and unknowingly, for a long time. What if we ruin us?” Her voice decreases as she gets to the end of her thought.
“Impossible. We built a stable foundation of friendship forged in pain, happiness, sorrow, joy, and platonic love since the day we met. Allowing ourselves to explore our deeper feelings will only make us stronger, separately and as a couple.”
“I’m scared. You are… everything I ever wanted. You’re the only person who knows and unconditionally accepts all of me. I can’t go back to being without you in my everyday life if this doesn’t work.”
“The fear makes the leap worth it. The reward—us—is worth it. I won’t let you hide or run away from me ever again. I will chase after you for as long as I live.”
She slides her hand around my neck and pulls my mouth down to hers. Before I consider the ramifications, I roll us back over. Her hair falls around our heads like a curtain. As the heat of her settles over my length, I groan into her mouth and grip her hips with both hands to keep her still. My resolve won’t last if she grinds against me. As if a pliant and willing Lily on top of me isn’t enough, her ample breasts nearly spill out of the tank she slept in.
Panting with swollen lips, Lily adds a sliver of space between our mouths. “I could easily get carried away right now.”
“Same. We should slow down a little.”
She looks away for a moment before returning her gaze to my face. “You promise?”
I sit up and reposition Lily in a less precarious spot before taking her hand and setting it over my heart and mine over hers. “I promise. I will chase you until my last breath.”
With our arms crossed between us, Lily rests her head on my shoulder. A few minutes later, she kisses me tenderly and starts getting ready for work. Luckily, her office is downstairs.
The last thing I want to do is move, listen to my voice mails, and deal with the bureaucrats to fix my bar, but it must be done. I tug on my shirt and pad to the kitchen to start coffee for both of us and breakfast for Lily. Less than fifteen minutes later, Lily rounds the corner. She’s dressed in leggings and a running hoodie, and her wet hair is in a loose braid over her shoulder.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to.” I hand her coffee and avocado toast.
With a short kiss, she retreats to her office. Given it’s nearly nine, I’m guessing she’s almost an hour late this morning. I polish off my coffee, shower, and dress. With no other way to procrastinate, I start back with my voice mails, starting with the one I restored.
“Ohmigod! I’m here. Baby, Lily refuses to let me see you! Why is she in charge? I need you back. I miss you.”
I shake my head and delete the message and move on.
“Leo, I’m getting worried. I stopped by the hospital, and they won’t let me in. Said family only. I need to know if you’re okay.”
I tamp down my brewing anger at Danica and focus on the date and time. She was at the hospital each day. I make a note of the time stamp for Smithson and keep going. The sooner I listen, the better.
“Baby, it wasn’t supposed to be this way. Please call me. I need to know if you’re okay. I’m getting worried something terrible happened to you.”
I check the time stamp. This is from two days ago.
The last one was from yesterday.
“Leo, it’s me. I got a new number. I need to see you. I was so wrong. We were supposed to be together forever. No one was supposed to get hurt. Please call me back.”
No one was supposed to get hurt. I replay her words in my mind a few times in succession as I scroll through my gallery and find two photos of Danica. Oddly, neither show her entire face. I clear out the rest of my voice mail inbox and make a list of calls to return to my teammates. When I’m finished, I head out to find my girl.
As I approach her office, I hear her speaking and can tell the phone call isn’t going well.
“Why now? I’ve had my remote work schedule for the last five years.” Whoever she’s talking to says something else. “Well, I’ll give it some thought.” She pauses, presumably listening to the person on the other line. “As I said, I’ll consider if your proposed amendments to my employment contract are acceptable, sir. Have a nice day.”
Standing in her doorway, I see her head fall forward, her shoulders slump, and she grabs the back of her neck with her empty hand. I consider waiting until later, but I need to assist Smithson as soon as possible.
She turns back toward her desk and sees me in the doorway. “Hey.”
Rounding her desk, I pull her against me without a second thought. My body absorbs some of the tension radiating from hers. “Who was that?”
“My boss.”
“Not a fan of your work-from-home structure anymore?”
“Well, technically it’s the new VP who isn’t a fan. He wants everyone in the office every day.”
“I may not be a financial whiz like you, but it costs him less for you to work from home and less stress with the commute to Boston.”
“I think you sell yourself a little short. Either way, the new head guy wants me in my office by the end of the month.”
“Or?”
“He didn’t really give me an ‘or’ option.”
“You had a remote schedule before it was even a thing.”
“True.”
“Do you know who the new head guy is? Is it actually a guy?”
She laughs. “No, I don’t know who it is, male or female. But the new VP for the Boston office is from Chicago.”
“What is your plan?”
She takes a deep breath as best she can flush against me. “I’m good, Leo, but not that good.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Now who is shortchanging herself?”
“Thanks. I’ll come up with a brilliant plan… I hope.”
“I have no doubt.”
“Was there a development?”
I shrug. “Sort of.” I consider withholding the information, but it isn’t who we are as best friends or a couple. I love how that sounds. I play the voice mail for her.
“What was supposed to happen?” she wonders, lifting her head off my chest.
“Don’t know. Smithson has to find her first. I considered calling her back to ask that exact question but decided to talk to the detectives first.”
“Good idea.” Lily rises on her toes and kisses me lightly before pulling away and grabbing something from her desk. She hands me the cards for Jones and Smithson. “I would call Smithson. He’s more receptive to finding her and getting an answer.”
“I will. Then I’m going to schedule a time with the building inspector. Can you join me? Do you still have the contact information for the contractor who did the buildout? Scott something.”
“Of course. Let me know when. I’ll pull it up for you.”
I kiss her again and leave before I can’t. As much as I would like to get the appointment scheduled, I call Smithson first.
“Hey, Leo. How are you feeling?” he asks.
He was just promoted to detective recently. No offense to Jones, but Smithson is extended family, so I would prefer to talk to him, new or not.
“Not too bad. I made it through my voice mails and found two photos for you. Where can I forward them?”
He indicates the number on the card is good for the voice mails but to email the photos. I provide him a quick synopsis of the content of the voice mails. “Do not call her unless we ask you to. If she shows up, stall her and call me.”
“I will. She has no way to find me. At least I don’t think she does. I’m at Lily’s since my apartment is uninhabitable for now. Danica and Lily were barely civil to one another.”
“Which explains why Lily didn’t have her number when we asked.”
“True. Any reason for me not to get started on the estimate for repairs?”
“Hold on. Let me look,” Smithson requests. The sound of him typing comes through the line. “The report isn’t final yet. We sent it back to YFD for their final assessment. Give Lieutenant Foster a day or two.”
“I understand.”
“Good luck, Leo.”
“Same to you.”
He chuckles and ends the call. I reach out to Iris as Lieutenant Foster requested and set up an inspection early next week. Later, after a quick lunch, which Lily doesn’t stop for, I make the call of dread… to my insurance company. As expected, they need the complete report before processing my claim.
