Page 67 of Takeover

“I can hear you, boss,” Hunter says. “This is sexual harassment.”

“Maybe I’ll spankyoufor being so bossy when you get home.”

“You can spank me as long as you still love me.”

“Unfortunately for me, I still do. Hurry up and get back to New York so I can show you.”

“Tomorrow night you’ll be in my bed. I have to go, baby, but call me if you need me.”

“You’ll answer my call?”

“Always.” I can’t help the smile and laugh that escapes. Ethan smiles too and winks at me. “I love you.”

“You’d better or else.”

“You know I get turned on when you threaten me.”

“I love you too. Talk to you soon.”

He ends the call. I let out a breath and decide not to let the scene with Lindsay upset me. She’s not only desperate but stupid if she thinks she could just step in if I bowed out, which I won’t.

The evil one was right. A few days after Thanksgiving, I found myself crying on her shoulder about Michael. She held me and told me that when I found the right one and fell in love for real, I’d know it. Not only that, but I’d look back on my time with Michael and laugh at how blind I was.

“The best kind of love is the unexpected love, Tarabelle.” She called me by the nickname she gave me when I was a kid. “Just like what I have with your father. I backed into his BMW, remember? He was pissed, and I held my breath waiting for him to yell at me, but when we looked into each other’s eyes, we were both lost. You’ll have that one day. It’s all in the first look.”

I didn’t tell anyone, but my mind immediately flashed back to Ethan and that first time we met. After the brief handshake, it was like I was woken up from a deep sleep. And even behind my anger at losing the business, when I looked into his eyes, I didn’t find what I thought. I didn’t find what I was hoping to find. Yes, he was handsome, but there was something else there. Something deeper. Something only I could see. Something that was just for me.

I’m done fighting my feelings, and if Lindsay wants to take me on, she won’t win.

39

It’s close to midnight by the time we land at Teterboro Airport on Friday night. After Hunter crossed himself nearly a dozen times, he held on to my hand for dear life until we reached cruising altitude. Now he’s complaining about how tired he is.

“Think about all the free time you’ll have when I fire your ass. Stop your bitching and get my damn bag.”

He huffs off and comes back with my carry on and garment bag just as the door to the private plane opens. Since this airport is a hub for private planes, it’s relatively quiet at this time of night.

It’s a mild night for March. It’s almost like spring is desperate to come out, and all I can think about is taking walks through Central Park with Tara and Vincent. Maybe take her to my house in Montauk sometime this summer.

I’m so busy planning our summer that I don’t see her standing by the door when I step inside. I’m on autopilot, eager to get to the other side of the building and into my waiting car. It’s not until Hunter elbows me in the ribs that I stop walking.

“What the fuck, Hunter?” He shakes his head and chuckles, but before I can elbow him back, I hear footsteps. I don’t register who it is until she’s jumping in my arms and wrapping her legs around me. I almost fall over, but I catch my bearings, toss my bags to the floor, and wrap my arms around my girl.

“Mmhmm, you taste good, Bradford,” she says after giving me a kiss that gets my blood pumping.

Reluctantly, I put her down and help her into the car when we step outside. Someone puts my bags in the trunk, but all I can focus on is the girl in my arms.

“Don’t mind me, boss. I only set all this up. Please remind your girlfriend that I’m onlyyourassistant, not hers. See you on Monday.” I wave Hunter off, and he closes the door. I pull away from Tara and strap on her seatbelt.

“First off, what are you doing here all by yourself? I thought you’d be waiting for me at home.”

“I’m a big girl, Bradford. I go a lot of places by myself. And I missed you.” She does an adorable pout, and I can’t help but lean over and kiss her.

“You don’t go anywhere by yourself anymore.” She rolls her eyes at me. While the car takes us back to Manhattan, I intertwine our fingers together. Having her in the small space has awakened my senses. She’s in a long coat, but her legs are bare, and she’s wearing black ankle boots. I extricate our hands and glide my knuckles up her leg. I don’t know if she’s in a dress or a skirt, but whatever it is, it’s very short. I slide my hand underneath, and even before I reach her pussy, the head shake coming from her tells me she’s not wearing panties.

She loudly exhales when I run the back of my hand against her bare flesh. I do it again before I remove my hand.

“You’re in so much trouble.”

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