Aussie: A Bad Boy Second Chance Romance (15 page)

My first visit to Luke’s work wasn’t planned. It was a spur of the moment idea. I was excited to see where he was working. He talked about it almost non-stop when we were together, and I couldn’t imagine myself ever getting tired of the boyish excitement in his face when he told me about his day.

We were on the phone late one morning, and I asked if he wanted to meet for lunch. It was my day off, and I had no other plans. 

“Sounds great, but I can’t leave. Sorry. I’ve got so much to do.”

“You don’t get to eat lunch? What kind of sweatshop operation do they have going on there?” I teased.

He laughed, then whispered. “It’s awful. Come save me.”

“Maybe I will,” I said, dropping the sarcastic tone. “What if I pick up something and bring it by? Would that work? I promise I won’t bother you.”

“Best idea I’ve heard all day,” he answered. “When do you want to come by?”

After making plans, I arrived at BLACKWOOD Studios just past noon. The security guard asked for my ID, checked the visitors’ list, and let me through.

Luke told me where I should park and where to find him. I glanced up at the massive building. It was like some giant warehouse on steroids. Their offices were inside. That wasn’t all, there were also four sound stages, and more. He’d told me all about them, but seeing them in person was different.  He met me at the door and took me on a tour of the place. Most of the offices were closed and dark.

“Almost everybody’s on a location shoot,” he said. “Otherwise, I’d introduce you to Grant and his wife.”

I’d been hoping I would get to meet them. It was a letdown, because he’d spoken so highly of them. With Luke, it was always okay…better. No matter how I felt, or what life threw at me like tossing a speedbump in my way, it was all better if Luke was in my life.

We ate lunch in a conference room. The entire length of one wall was a window, giving us an amazing view of the Hollywood Hills.

“I’m so jealous,” I said.

“Of?”

“What do you mean, of? This view alone is enough,” I raved.

Luke reached into the bag and grabbed a couple of napkins. “Well, I don’t work in this room every day.”

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. “You know what I mean. And you can come in here anytime you want, I imagine. What do I get to look at when I’m at work? People, and more people, walking past our storefront. Boring.”

I heard the sound of voices drifting down the hallway, getting closer, and then two people stood in the doorway.

Luke said, “You guys are back early.”

“Done for the day,” the guy said.

He looked to be in his early thirties, maybe. Gorgeous like a movie star, though I knew I’d never seen him. And his wife was stunning. She seemed confident and comfortable in a t-shirt and shorts. She removed her sunglasses, placed them on her head, and smiled at me.

Luke made the introductions. “This is Dawn. And Dawn, this is Grant and Rebecca.”

They both said hi at the same time. Rebecca continued. “It’s great to meet you. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Some of it wasn’t even that bad,” Grant teased.

I looked at Luke. He shrugged. “I can’t lie to these people.”

I laughed.

Rebecca smacked Grant, then looked at me. “Forgive him. He thinks he’s funny.”

Grant quickly changed the subject. “Luke, if you’re finished here, I could do with some help getting the equipment out of the car.”

“We’re done.” Luke stood. He gathered up all the paper wrappings and napkins and put them in the bag.

I stood. “It was great meeting you. I should get going so you can get back to work.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Rebecca said. “I’ll show you around while the guys get the stuff out of the car.”

I was working on a couple of edit sheets and making plans for the rest of the week. My head was down when Dawn burst through my door, not twenty minutes later.

My head shot up. “Are you okay?”

“More than okay, she squealed. “I was in Rebecca’s office, and after she showed me around we got to talking. She mentioned that we reminded her of how her and Grant were, when they first got together. I told her we’d known each other most of our lives, and we’d just reconnected. Anyway, she asked what I did, and I told her about the mall – blah, blah, blah – and how much I hated it, but money is money, you know?”

I smiled. She was talking a mile a minute, rambling, and stopped to catch her breath before continuing. “And?”

“You’re not going to believe this, but she says she’s been looking for an assistant. So we talk more, tells me about the job and all of that, and oh my God, it sounded so amazing.”

I walked around to the front of my desk, and leaned against it. Dawn moved closer, stepping in toward me. I put my arms over her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. I loved the excitement in them. “Right? Did she offer you the position?”

She gave me a nervous tight-lipped smile. “Yeah.”

“What did you say?”

“I told her I wanted to talk to you first.”

“You don’t need my permission, Dawn.” I was surprised she came to check with me.

“No, it’s not that. Did you have anything to do with this? I need to know. Did you set this up?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t even know she was looking for a new assistant.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Okay, good. I also want to make sure it’s okay with you. I mean, it’s not like we’d be working in the same place all the time, we’d still have our space, you know?”

“Dawn…”

“And I know maybe it’s a bit much. Us living together, working together.”

“Dawn…”

“But I—”

“Dawn,” I said, more firmly this time, and she stopped talking. “You just got an incredible job offer and you’re asking me if it’s okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You know I love you, so please don’t take this the wrong way, but get the fuck out of here and go say yes.”

She laughed. “But I—”

“Stop talking,” I said, barely able to contain my laughter. This was ridiculous. “Go, go, go.”

“I was trying to tell you, before you so rudely interrupted me, that I already said yes.”

I looked at her, confused.

Her brow furrowed a bit. “You don’t think I’m that stupid, do you? That I’d turn down a job offer like that?”

“You’re fucking with me.”

“Uh huh.” She lifted herself up on her toes and kissed me. “And if you’re lucky, I’m really going to fuck with you later.”

I grabbed her tightly around the waist, spun her around, and lifted her up onto my desk. “Later? There is no later. I’m going to fuck you right here, right now.”

Her eyes widened. She glanced over my shoulder, no doubt worried about having just accepted a job and having sex right here in the office. “But—”

I smiled. “Just fucking with you.”

She let go of me and walked toward the door. She laughed then turned back toward me. “Asshole.”

I followed her. She turned to go down the hall, back to Rebecca’s office.

A flood of thoughts and emotions came over me, good as well as bad. All the shit I’d been through, all the shit Dawn had just endured, all of it leading to this. Would I go back and change any of it? Not a chance.

I’d never been one to think much about life and chances and probability. I’d always just gone with whatever was placed in front of me. That led me down a dangerous road years ago. A road far away from Dawn.

But it also led me back to her.

I stood in my office doorway for a few more seconds and watched my dream girl walk down the hall. She looked back at me, flashed that perfect smile of hers, then disappeared around the corner.

I went back into my office, closed the door, and leaned against it.

Seeing Dawn this happy was a rare thing, especially lately. She was so thrilled about the new job, I started to wonder how much excitement she could handle in one day. Maybe I should let her get settled into the new work routine before…no, I was ready to do this.

No sense in waiting.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out the little box, and looked at the ring I’d picked out for her. I’d give it to her later that night.

*****

I was meeting her at home when I finished work, but told her not to make any plans. We could order something later, but I wanted to go down to the beach after work and cut loose.

When I got home, she met me at the door with a hug. Holding her, I knew I held everything I ever wanted or needed in my life. I kicked off my shoes and went to change.

Dawn followed me into the bedroom and was all hands, touching me, stroking my chest as I pulled my shirt off to change into a T-shirt. My pants were trickier. Just feeling her warm body pressed against my back, teasing me, made my cock spring to life.

“We can go for a walk later,” she said seductively. Her hands moved sensually around me, over my hips obviously wanting more. I held her off, which was damn near impossible, but I’d planned to spend the night in bed with her later. I had something important to ask her.

“Come on, let’s go now,” I said, spinning away. It was torture. Fuck, I wanted her, but I wanted more than just a quick fuck. I wanted her to be my wife. I held out for the long term goal and took her hand. “A quick walk, then we’ll come home and make love all night long.”

“Fine,” she groaned playfully. “I guess it would be nice to stretch my legs.”

“I’ll race you to the door,” I goaded.

She laughed and scrambled out of our room. It gave me just enough time to reach into my pant pocket and move the ring box into the pocket of my shorts.

“Slow poke,” she teased, when I showed up behind her.

I took Dawn’s hand and together we walked to the beach.

We sat in the sand, not too far from the water’s edge and enjoyed the view. “There’s something about the ocean that just melts my stress away.”

“Agreed,” she said, staring into the distance.

“And there’s something about you that melts my heart.” I turned to face her. “I’m so happy you’re back in my life. It’s where you’re meant to be.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand. “I love you.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small box. I cleared my throat, not expecting to be choked up in the moment, but the truth was, with Dawn by my side, life was more than I ever expected it to be.

Her eyes went wide as I opened the velvet box.

“Dawn,” I started. “You’re the only one I’ll ever need in my life to make me happy. Would you do me the honor-”

“Yes, yes, yes!” She flung her arms around my neck.

I hugged her then laughed. “I didn’t even finish asking. You have to let me ask the question.”

“Oh, right, sure.” She composed herself, the best she was able. “Go on.”

“Will you marry me?”

“Now?” she asked.

I nodded. “Now.”

“Yes, oh my God, yes!”

I took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. Dawn looked at it. “It’s gorgeous.”

“It pales in comparison to my future wife,” I said.

That perfect smile. I love her perfect smile.