Page 48 of The Butterfly Effect
I forced the lump in my throat to go back down, determined not to cry over a quietly muttered comment that could’ve meant anything. His grip on my thigh was firm, and while we rode in silence, Erin kept looking back in the mirror at us. Her glances never hovered for long, and she didn’t look malicious. Maybe curious would be more accurate. I hoped my smile looked more genuine than it felt, instead of seething with jealousy the way it likely was.
We pulled up in front of one of the tallest buildings downtown.Carlisle Estates. His parents must own it, and when Erin parked, an attendant in a nice suit walked down from the doors. William pulled our bags and an arm full of dresses from the trunk before turning to greet him.
“Mr. Carlisle. Welcome home,” the man said with a slight bow.
“Good to see you, Stuart,” William said, reaching for his hand. “Everything has been okay, I expect?” He waved broadly at the building, and he looked satisfied when Stuart nodded. Erin hardly waved before she drove off, but William didn’t flinch. He grabbed our bags and gestured for Stuart to grab the dresses, but when he reached for them, I stopped him. “Please, I can carry those.”
“Nonsense, ma’am. I’ll carry these.” Stuart looked at William, internally debating if he should offer to carry the bags he was holding too. I imagine he’d normally just take the bags from William because women didn’t show up with gowns and suitcases.
“No, I insist.” I reminded myself that less than a month ago, I could command a room full of stubborn, pig-headed men. Stuart froze in his steps and looked to William for guidance, so I also turned to him, tilting my head. “William, you’re not going to let me carry my bag. I can carry the dresses.”
He shrugged, and without waiting for an argument, I reached for the dresses and took them from Stuart. The garment bags were surprisingly heavy, which meant they were extravagant, and an excited flutter rumbled in my chest.
William led me through a bright lobby to a set of elevators. When the doors opened, he stepped in and sat our bags down to insert and turn his key, pressing the button for the penthouse. The elevator doors opened to an extravagant living room that continued to the large, bright kitchen. Windows stretched from the floors to the ceilings along most of the wall, and there was a door off the kitchen to a large balcony. Beautiful works of art hung on the wall, and my mouth dropped open.
“Whose place is this?” I asked him as he dropped our bags on the floor and closed the distance between us.
“Mine.” He punctuated the single word by placing his hand on my hip. “I own this building.”
I turned to face him, unable to hide the surprise on my face. “Oh… I thought you bought the house in Grand Rapids?”
“I did, but I didn’t sell my properties here.” The amusement in his voice was thick, and when he ran his hand down my cheek, I leaned into it.
“Because you plan to come back…” Tears stung my eyes at the realization that William could be in Grand Rapids just part-time. Before I could do anything to stop myself, the warm tears rolled down my cheeks and I let out a soft sob.
He held my chin firmly and lifted my gaze to his. Sudden concern covered his face. “Julianna, what is this? Why are you crying?” He ran his thumb across my cheek, wiping away the tears that continued to fall.
“You didn’t sell here because you’re going to come back, and when you leave me, my heart is going to break because I let myself fall in love with you. Because I amin lovewith you.” I looked down, embarrassed by my sudden breakdown. “Please don’t break my heart,” I whispered.
I gasped when he grabbed the front of my neck, giving it a light squeeze. I moved my gaze up to his, and he narrowed his eyes. “Julianna, I chased you across the world to tell you I love you. Iloveyou. I know I’ve hurt you before, but you know there’s no way I’ll hurt you again, right?” His mouth was eager when he pressed it to mine, demanding control of my lips. I hummed against it.
He loosened his grip on my neck and slid his hand over my shoulder and around my back, pulling me closer to him. When he pulled his lips back from mine, he looked at me and then his watch, as if he was debating if we had time for a tour of the bedroom. I still couldn’t get Erin’s words out of my head.
“Um… who isn’t going to be happy?”
“My brother,” he answered without hesitation. “He wants me onboard with his newest business venture, but it requires a lot of traveling. I’m telling him no, but he’s not used to being told no by anyone.”
William laughed, and when he did, I couldn’t help but join him, feeling completely ridiculous for worrying. I could tell by the smirk on his face that the warmth in my cheeks was a deep blush, and I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, encouraging a low growl from him.
“If you bite your lip like that again, I’m going to take you right here, and we don’t have time for that. The bedroom is through there. Make yourself at home. I’ll bring your bag back.” He nudged me with a slight tap on my ass and a kiss on the cheek, and I grabbed the dresses from where I’d set them on a bench by the door. I shot one more look in his direction before I disappeared into his bedroom.
The room was beautiful, sharing the same vaulted ceilings as the living room and kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined a wall overlooking the city below us. His bed was large and sat in the middle of the wall facing the windows, and I laid the dresses on the light bedspread before moving into the bathroom. I turned on the lights, and my jaw dropped at the sight of the large tub that sat separate from the open shower.
I reached in and flipped the handle, turning on the double rain-style showerheads and stepping back to pull my dress over my head and drop it to the floor. My panties and bra quickly followed, and I climbed into the shower, sighing when the warm water ran over my body. The travel and unnecessary jealousy washed off of me and down the drain.
By the time I pulled myself out of the water, my fingers were wrinkled. Long showers have always been my favorite, and my parents hated it when I was growing up. It was one of those things my dad would complain about, telling me money didn’t grow on trees, not that he ever worried about being able to pay our bills. I’d paid my own water bill now, though, so I let myself take the showers I want to take, and William had told me to make myself at home.
I wrapped a towel in my hair and one around my body, then walked back into the bedroom to look at the dresses before settling on a sparkling navy, floor-length gown with a slit in the skirt and ending just above my knee. The neckline was high cut, but the back was pretty open, and the dress would be mostly form fitted, flaring out slightly at the hips. It was by far the most extravagant dress I have ever worn.
It didn’t take me longer than an hour to get ready. I left my natural waves in my hair, pinning one side back, and I wore a somewhat natural smoky eye with bold lashes. After strapping on the simple silver heels I had brought from home, I painted my lips a bold red and looked at myself in the tall mirror. Humming my approval of the borrowed dress, I grabbed the small clutch purse Erin had put in the bag with it and walked out into the living room.
William turned around from where he stood against the windows and lifted his eyebrows as he gritted his teeth, flexing his jaw beneath his beard. He was dangerously handsome in his obviously very expensive tuxedo. It was as if it was made to custom fit every part of his body, and I let my gaze run slowly from his designer shoes to the cocky look he wore on his face.
“You look exquisite.” He stepped towards me, and his steps looked smoother in the sleek black fabric, making my mouth go instantly dry.
I ran my tongue lightly along my lip. “You look good enough to eat yourself.” His smirk turned to a laugh when I said it, and he quickly took the last few steps until his body was close enough to mine that I could smell his cinnamon scent.
“I swear, we’ll be lucky to make it to the event at this rate.” He nudged me and brushed his lips against mine, clearly holding himself back. “We should go.”
