I Speak...Love (A Different Road #3) (23 page)

“Um, Joel?” I question as I see a wireless remote control system tucked neatly inside the backpack. It allows you to take photographs without pushing the actual button on the camera, you use a small handheld remote instead.

“Oh, sorry. I have to go. There’s someone at the back door with a delivery,” he says, hightailing it out of the showroom.

I shake my head with a smile as I pack my camera back into its secure spot. I need to get going, or I’m going to be late for my next client. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and the bell jingles over the doorframe as I exit the camera shop. I get in my van just as my cell phone rings. I look at the display and see it’s Kate calling.

“Hey, what’s up?” I answer.

“Just checking in to see how your lunch went with Stephen,” she says.

“I didn’t end up having lunch with him. I left it there for him and River,” I tell her, pushing the speaker button on my cell phone.

I set it on the seat as I start to back out of my parking spot.

“That was nice of you. It makes me so happy when I see the two of them together,” she says. “Hey, Cooper has a late meeting tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to grab dinner with me?” she asks.

“Ooh, sorry. I have dinner plans with Stephen tonight. Hey, why don’t you join us?” I ask, driving toward my client’s house.

“Sure. I can meet you. Where are you guys going?” she asks.

“Actually, we’re eating in. Stephen’s cooking,” I tell her.

“Really now? Sounds like something I don’t want to miss. I’ll bring the wine. Should I bring red, white, or one of each, and what time should I be at your place?” she asks.

“Say, six o’clock? I’d say a bottle of red wine. Stephen is going to try his hand at grilling up some bacon-wrapped filet mignon. Dinner . . . is at Stephen’s house, though,” I say, stopping at a red light, then there’s nothing but silence. I quickly glance at my phone sitting on the passenger seat to see if the call got dropped. The seconds are still ticking by, but the car behind me honks his horn at me because the light has turned green. “Sorry,” I say out loud, waving my hand in the air, then I start driving again. “Kate? Are you still there?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m here. It’s just that I still haven’t been back to the house yet,” she says, then goes quiet again. I pull into the driveway at my client’s house, then turn off the van. “Kate?” I question, taking it off speaker phone and putting it to my ear.

“Stephen might not want me to come over tonight?” she says.

“Are you kidding me? He’s been dying for you to come to the house,” I tell her, and it’s the truth.

“Really?” she asks.

“Really,” I assure her. “Listen, I have to go, but I’ll text him right now and let him know. I’m telling you, it’s going to totally make his day. I’ll see you at six, OK?”

“OK, see you at six,” she says.

“Oh, and Kate,” I call.

“Yeah,” she replies.

“Thank you for the camera.”

“Joel! That dirty rat. You’re very welcome,” she replies and hangs up.

I quickly text Stephen, put my phone back in my purse, toss it behind my seat, then get out of my van.

River just left my office after having a really nice conversation with him over the lunch Maddy made, and our time together wasn’t just about work. I honestly enjoyed our lunch together. I pack the empty containers back inside Maddy’s catering bag and place it on the floor next to my chair, so I don’t forget to bring it home. Maddy’s been teaching me how to cook different dishes every night, but tonight I’m going to show her some of my wicked grilling skills and cook her dinner. I sit down in my chair, then grab a few files I’ll need for my next meeting, but the new addition to my desk catches my eye, and I smile. Maddy left me a gift. I pick up the photo of Maddy, and I can’t help but run my finger over her beautiful, freckled face. I swear, even in a photograph, her eyes still morph and dance twenty different shades of green.

My cell phone vibrates on my desk next to my hand, indicating an incoming text. I place the photo back where I can see it, then glance at the display. I smile again when I see it’s a text from Maddy. I slide my finger across the screen and swallow hard when I read that Kate will be joining us for dinner tonight.

I’ve waited so many years for my sister to come back home. Deep down, I honestly thought she’d never step foot in that house ever again. I have so many questions running through my head. Will seeing the home she grew up in again hurt her recovery? Will it bring back memories best left unseen? Will now knowing the truth about being adopted make her see everything in that house as a lie? Is this a mistake?

I glance back at Maddy’s smiling face, then Caleigh’s voice comes through the intercom.

“They’re all ready for you in the conference room, Mr. Mason,” she says.

I grab my suit jacket from the back of my chair, button the center button, pull out the ends of my monogrammed cuffs, then give them a confident jerk as I exit my office. I grip the thick leather studded bracelet under my jacket and smile as I head to my meeting with confidence.

I walk into the conference room full of powerful men and women sitting around a long, dark wooden, oval table. The smell of leather briefcases, expensive cologne and perfume, and business papers excite me. I briefly rest my hand on River’s shoulder as I pass him, then I stand at the head of the table and take charge of the meeting. I no longer sit in the shadows fearful to speak my mind. I always had so much to contribute, but I did most of it in the shadows or behind the scenes and never took any credit for it. Now that my mind is free of the garbage I let consume my life, I thrive on being equal business partners with my brother.

My life has changed so much in such a short amount of time. I’ve never been so damn scared in my life than the day I told my family the truth. My secrets ate me alive from the inside out. Falling in love with Maddy was never anything I ever planned for, but the thought of losing her was scarier than setting my inner demons free. I did
not
want to hurt my family, but I was only hurting
myself
by pushing everyone away. In the end, what I pushed away is what finally set me free. My family and the ones I love. Life is nothing without family and your loved ones by your side.

After a very successful two hour meeting, I’m on my way home to make sure everything is perfect for Maddy and Kate tonight at dinner. As I drive up the long driveway, I see Maddy’s catering van parked just outside the front door. I pull my car into the garage next to my father’s canvas covered Mustang. I run my finger over the thick, heavy material, then grab it with my hand and pull it off the car. The end of the canvas slips off the grill and softly lands on the garage floor, displaying the car’s full beauty. My mind, my secrets, my voice, and my heart are now free, and dad’s car should be too. I smile at it, then enter through the door into the hallway.

“Maddy,” I call into the house, as I set my briefcase down.

“In the kitchen,” she sings. I have to pause for a second when I realize that sounded just like my mom and dad. I continue into the kitchen and see her back turned to me as she stands in front of the sink. She’s still dressed in her chef uniform, and her hair is still up in a bun. I smile at her camera backpack sitting on the bar top hoping I’m not in too much trouble. Maddy isn’t alone in this world anymore. She has me at her side and an entire family standing next to her now. I touch the tip of her shoulder with my finger as I press my body to hers. I run my finger down her arm as her profile turns toward me with her smile. “You’re home early,” she whispers in a sexy, breathy voice.

“Mm-hmm,” I hum on her shoulder.

I wrap my arm around the front of her waist as she shuts off the water and sighs as I continue to kiss up her neck.

“I’m not going to be able to finish making the salad if you keep doing that,” she says, gripping the edge of the counter.

I reach up to her hair and remove the pins holding it in place. Her lush, red hair unravels, and its sweet scent wafts past my nose as it cascades down her back.

“That’s kind of the point, Sweetness,” I whisper as I turn her around to face me.

The smile on her face is instant, but true to my word of
never
being good for her, I steal it on my own lips. Her wet hand goes into my hair as her other hand pulls my hips into her body. I slide my lips down her chin and push her jaw up with my nose as I unbutton her chef coat and slip it off her shoulders, then lay it on the counter behind her. I gently but firmly take her jaw in my hand and turn her head to the side while I rain feather light kisses down her neck. Firmly, I slide my hand down her neck, then I palm her breasts and lift up her shirt. She starts to breathe heavy as I grab her ass with both hands, then I pick her up, turn her around and place her on the kitchen island. Her hands go to my face, her ankles wrap around the back of my legs, then her lips are back on mine. She removes my glasses and sets them down on the marble as her tongue slips over my teeth. I unbutton my suit jacket, then she rips it off my shoulders and lets it fall to the floor by my feet.

“I want you,” she breathes on my lips.

Without removing her lips from mine, she rips my dress shirt out of my pants, then she starts to unbutton it. I reach for her thighs, wrap them around my waist, and pick her up off the counter.

Her lips stay glued to mine as I carry her out of the kitchen, through the front room, and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, she removes her legs from my waist and slides her body down my chest. A wicked smile graces her lips, then she takes my hand and leads me into the bedroom. She pulls me through the room, then whirls me around next to the bed. She raises her hands to my chest and with a firm shove of her fingertips, she pushes me down on the mattress. She climbs on top of me and straddles my thighs, then her fingers quickly undo my belt and work the zipper on my dress pants. She backs off the bed and yanks my pants off by the cuffs, then flings them over her shoulder with a smile. She climbs back on my thighs, then her long hair fans out on either side of my face as she shoves her tongue in my mouth. Her hair tickles my chest, as she drags her lips down my chest, then with her hand, she reaches under my boxer briefs and firmly runs her hand down my length.

I hiss out a breath between my teeth as she cups my balls and gently rolls them in her palm. I sit up, taking her with me, grip her at the base of her neck and sink my tongue deep in her mouth. Her hand grabs the waistband of my boxers, and she tries to pull them down, then I help her to remove them.

I quickly unbutton her pants, then her hands take over as she unzips her pants. She gets off the bed and removes her pants, then she removes her white cotton undershirt, revealing a lacy white bra trimmed in yellow. Before she gets back on the bed, she opens the nightstand drawer, removes a condom and tucks it into the front of her bra.

Her thumbs hook into her panties, then her eyes slowly come to mine. The whirlpool of green has me in a trance as she slowly slips her panties down her legs. Her hands come to my chest, then the heat of her slick core rests on my throbbing dick as she climbs into my lap. She rocks several times in my lap sliding her wetness up and down the outside of my cock. God, she feels so damn good.