Beautiful Crazy Part 23

"It means you have one hour to read this and then we're going to talk." And G.o.d willing, f.u.c.k like rabbits until the end of time.

She took a long, deep breath and sighed. "But I need to tell you how I feel. About you."

Was that bad or good? How did she feel?

"You have an hour, beautiful, and then your time is up. I'm not waiting any longer." He turned and walked to his car. Only this time, he glanced back at her over his shoulder, held up his index finger, and gave her his best, most rea.s.suring smile.

Then he got into his car and drove around for a while before pulling into a guest spot in Kevan's apartment building parking lot.

Mason glanced at his watch. Only thirty-seven more minutes to go. Tick. Tock.

Chapter 25.

Kevan stared at the silent television across the small room. She should probably read the papers before Mason showed up. And she knew he would show up. What was it in his eyes? A new challenge? A certain way to tell her he was finished with her and cut her loose for good? She deserved that after a.s.suming he'd broken their deal.

She should be prepared for whatever he wanted to discuss. But she couldn't bring herself to read the stack of neatly printed pages sitting on her lap. So afraid of what they might contain, she laid them facedown.

Just in case.

When she'd marched out of the conference room, she'd been ready to have it out in that parking lot again. Only this time, she was going to be brutally honest-tell him the real and the ugly. Mason needed to know that he owned her heart and that she was dumb drunk crazy in love with him. No more holding back. But she hadn't gotten the chance.

When he'd handed her the stack of papers and left, she'd worried she'd read him all wrong. He could be looking for closure and, being the kind of man he was, he wanted to face her when he told her.

d.a.m.n. d.a.m.n. d.a.m.n.

What if it wasn't love she'd seen in his eyes at the meeting?

f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k.

She was sure she couldn't live the rest of her life with this horrific, gaping, heart-shaped hole in her chest. Nope, that would suck. If he didn't want to work together, if he couldn't love her like she loved him, what was she going to do? The thought of continuing on like she had the last few days made her groan aloud. That wasn't living. When had she turned into such a friggin' pansy?

She took a deep breath. No, she'd be fine. Sad, but fine. She'd figure out how to work with him on the Manix account, and she'd get her brother back.

Kevan jumped when her phone buzzed on the table. Thinking it might be Mason. Or Joe. Or Bowen. She picked it up to read the text. Mason. Eight simple words that could mean so much.

Time's up. I'm coming for you, mo chroi.

Well, there it was. Time to face the music. She was going to lay it all out for him. Tell him she loved him too much to accept anything less than the same from him. Or, maybe she wasn't. Maybe she was too afraid of the pain.

Two minutes later, Kevan stood staring at the gorgeous man in front of her, shoulders slumped forward, eyes red, lips thinned and grim. Even miserable, he was the most handsome and masculine man she'd ever seen. Everything her body and heart had ever desired.

She was done pretending she didn't want him, that she didn't need him. She was done pretending to be someone else to protect her tender heart. She was hopelessly, madly, insanely in love with this bossy, maddening, brilliant, kind man.

And she was going to tell him. She just hoped it wasn't too late. How could she ever have thought she could live without him? Without his fancy suits and manly man smell of woodsy goodness and fresh soap? Without his wolfish smile and the predatory way he looked her up and down before devouring her? This man had gotten into her blood from his first overwhelming kiss. No, before then. If she was honest with herself, she had belonged to Mason Dillon as soon as he'd brushed his beautiful mouth across her knuckles and said, "I've got you. Don't worry. I won't let you fall."

Because she fell and he caught her. That's what he did. Every. Single. Time. She'd pushed him away, chased him off, as often and aggressively as she could, and he'd still come back every time.

He stood there, expectantly. Waiting for her to say something. Or to invite him in. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and live the rest of her life there, but she knew he wasn't ready for it. She wouldn't be able to hide her true feelings for him for long, but she loved him enough to know she couldn't keep him. She loved him enough to take the ride with him and then let him go.

They needed to talk about the papers he'd shoved into her hands. He'd looked as if he needed a response to them. But she'd been too afraid to look at them.

He scrubbed his hand down his weary face, and the side of his perfect mouth curled up slightly. "You didn't read the contract, did you?"

Shaking her head, she stepped back to let him in before she humiliated herself by groveling at his feet. She motioned to the vintage lilac-colored couch she'd picked up at an estate sale two years before.

"Why, Kevan? Why didn't you read it?"

She swallowed down her fear and cleared her tear-clogged throat. "I was afraid."

"Of what, darlin'?"

He looked almost sad as he moved to sit on the farthest end of the couch. Was he trying to get as far away from her as possible? Maybe she should have read the papers, prepared herself a little more.

"Of you, Mason. Of my feelings for you." He moved to say something, but she held up her hand to stop him.

"I think you like me. And I think you might even want us to work together."

The smile spreading across his face made her heart sink.

This was it. Regardless of what was printed on the small stack of papers, she needed to tell him how she really felt. "I'm so sorry. I know I have no claim on you, but you have one on me. On my heart." She looked down at her hands, afraid of the truth in his eyes and what it would do to her. "I'm crazy stupid in love with you, Mason. I have been since that first night at the club when I practically fell into your lap. I'm so in love with you my heart hurts when you're not near, and I can't stand one more moment without telling you the truth."

The tears were coming now. Great, she was telling him how madly in love with him she was while her face was beginning the contortions of the most epic ugly cry ever.

When he didn't say anything, she sighed heavily. What did a woman like her-chaotic, messy, loud, impulsive-have to offer a solid, professional man like Mason Dillon? Diddly squat. That's what.

She looked at the papers scrunched in her hands and then risked a glance at him. He sat there staring at her, his expression unreadable. He nodded at the papers.

"Read the contract, Kevan," he said simply.

She nodded. I can do this. She laid the paper-clipped stack on her lap and tried half-heartedly to smooth the wrinkles out. His long hand touched hers gently, stopping her movements. "Read it. Please."

She did. She read every single word through the blur of her tears. She sloppily wiped her nose on the sleeve of her silk blouse, ignoring the deep chuckle from the elegant man sitting by her side.

When she reached the end of the doc.u.ment, she took a deep, shuddering breath. And reread it from the beginning.

Mason sat as quietly and patiently as possible, hoping the legalese of the contract would sufficiently explain how he felt about Kevan. His pounding heart threatened to jump from his chest, and his lungs refused to breathe evenly. He needed her to know that regardless of how she felt about a long term-relationship, he was ready for one. In more ways than one.

Would she want the same thing? She'd said over and over she couldn't trust a man like him-someone not from her inner circle, someone from the more traditional business world she liked to keep herself separate from. What if it wasn't a cover to protect her battered and lonely heart? What if she really wasn't interested in something more? He couldn't even imagine a world without Kevan Landry in it.

The d.a.m.ned insufferable woman slowly read over each page as if savoring every word. And when she reached the end of the doc.u.ment, she flipped it back over and started reading it again. On the third time through, he grabbed the doc.u.ment off her lap.

"Woman," he snapped in exasperation.

She jumped. Looking up, she grinned through her ruined makeup and runny nose. And she was breathtakingly beautiful. How on earth had he ever thought a few times with her, a few weeks, would ever be enough? It would take him years to explore every facet that was the perfect diamond of Kevan Landry. It would take forever to get below the top layer of her complexity and beauty.

"What does this mean, Mason?" Her voice so low, he had to bend forward to hear her. "What does this mean?"

"What do you think it means?" He held his breath, waiting for her answer. Please let her understand.

She looked away, like she was peering into the future and not at her colorful wall. "I think you're asking me to be your partner," she started slowly. "I think you want us to work together."

When she glanced back at him for confirmation, he nodded encouragingly. He could feel his grin stretch across his face, but it quickly dropped when he recognized the shadows of sadness still hiding in her eyes.

"Isn't that what you want-for us to be partners? You're amazing. So creative and innovative. We'd make a great team," he said.

She nodded and moved to stand up. He pulled her closer to him. Why was she acting this way? "I don't understand. You said you loved me. Don't you want this, Kevan?"

She smiled wanly. "I do. I really do. It's just..."

"What? What more can I offer? I'll give you anything, darlin'."

"Your heart, Mason. I wish I could take anything and everything you're willing to offer, but what I really want is everything. And I don't think anything less will be enough."

Oh G.o.d, he was such a fool. He'd tried to approach this spirited woman with a business deal. Like his parents would. She didn't want a cold, emotionless contract. Moron. She was all hearts and rainbows and color and unicorns. She needed declarations of love, the grand gesture.

"Look, I'm new at this. Let me try again." He pushed off the couch and bent his knees so he could look up into her eyes. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and gently brushed his mouth over her knuckles.

"Since the very first time you fell into my arms, my body and my heart have belonged to you. I can't explain it, but it's almost like my soul knew it was missing something and that you would make me complete. I had all these empty s.p.a.ces in me that you filled up. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I think so, but I think you need to f.u.c.king say it...you know, so I'm sure." She smiled her kittenish smile. My girl is back.

He ran his hand up her back and tangled his fingers in her hair. "I love you, Kevan Landry. I want to be your partner-in business and in life. I can't imagine living another day without you in it. I want to share everything with you." He angled her head to the side, exposing her neck. "I want you to have my babies. I want to tattoo your name across my heart. I want everything you can give me. And more." Each word he accentuated with a brush of his lips against her jawline, down her neck, and across her shoulder.

He'd laid it all out for her. It was up to her to have the courage to pick it up and make it her own.

Kevan's skin pebbled, and he felt her shiver. "Oh G.o.d, Mason, we're so different. You're so professional and normal, and I'm, I'm..."

He continued his slow kisses until he reached her lips. "I'm not here to fix you, Kevan. I love you just the way you are." He felt her grin grow under his mouth. "The most perfect crazy, beautiful, creative woman for me."

Her soft hands tugged at his shirt and made their way up his chest, sending chills down his spine. "But I'm always cold, and you're always warm."

He rolled his eyes. How could he not at his silly woman? He sat back down on the couch and pulled her closer, yanking her blouse over her head and tossing it behind him.

"You can warm your cold hands on the warmth of my heart, darlin'," he said, his accent thick and his voice deep.

When she threw her head back and laughed from her belly, he unb.u.t.toned his dress shirt and set it on the arm of the couch.

She stood and turned, revealing her luscious a.s.s to him. Coyly, she looked over her shoulder and pulled the zipper down on her skirt. "And I'm all cool and awesome, and you're all boring suits and meetings." She let her skirt fall and stood there in her lacy bra and panties. He stood and ran his palms down her body, outlining her curves with his fingers.

Turning her, he smiled before slowly grasping the back of her neck to guide her soft lips up to his. He didn't devour her this time. Instead, he savored the feeling of their barely touching lips. He kicked off his shoes, and with his free hand, he rid himself of his pants and boxers.

Her hands stroked his arms. "And you're all cla.s.sy and athletic, and I'm all tottering heels and klutzy."

Her hands stopped abruptly when it reached the large bandage taped over his back. Kevan gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "Mason, what did you do?"

He turned and reached over his shoulder to pull off the bandage, revealing a stunning and colorful modern pinup tattoo across his shoulder blade and down his back.

"It's beautiful." She looked up into his expectant face and smiled.

"It's you, Bettie. It's all for you. Forever. Because, honestly, I can't remember a time when I haven't loved you."

He deftly unsnapped her bra and dropped it on the floor. He wrapped his hand on either side of her rib cage and leaned forward to take a round rosy aureole into his mouth, loving the way her body instinctively arched into his. Without warning, he turned and sat on the couch, the soft chenille caressing his fevered skin. Mason trailed two fingers slowly around one breast, then the other, and then down to her core. He slid her panties aside and plunged his fingers in, rubbing his palm against her slippery nub. Her body bowed and fell forward, onto his lap, where his hand steadied her so he could lean forward to kiss her.

She smiled against his mouth, and he whispered, "I will catch you every time you stumble and fall, darlin'. Every f.u.c.king time."

He yanked her thong down, positioned her over his lap with her legs straddling his hips, and arranged her body, her swollen cleft aligned directly over his hard c.o.c.k.

"I know. And that's why I love you." She lowered herself slowly-painfully and exquisitely slow-impaling herself and surrounding him in her warmth.

Her eyes found his, and she seemed to stare directly into his soul. She saw him, the real him, and he saw her. Holding tightly on to Kevan's hips, Mason lifted her up and pulled her back down, driving in over and over, murmuring his love for her on every thrust.

Reaching up, he found her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, cupping one in each hand as she continued to control the building storm around them. He leaned forward and pinched one nipple and bit the other. Her body arched, and she began to move with an almost frantic pace, stretching for the finish line. Feeling the tingle too quickly in the base of his spine, he reached down between their slick bodies and rubbed her c.l.i.t with his thumb and index finger. Her cry of pleasure and the sharp bite of her teeth on his shoulder became his undoing as he threw his head back and growled out his o.r.g.a.s.m.

Panting, he cupped her face in his hands and said, "I was so lonely and didn't even know it before you found me. But it was you who made me realize how empty my life was. It was you who was strong enough to show me the man I'm supposed to be."

Tears streamed silently down Kevan's face. He leaned forward to kiss one away.

"Marry me, Kevan. I can't live another day without waking up next to you."

She smiled and leaned into his hand. "But, Mason, I don't even know where you live."

"Doesn't matter. We'll live wherever you want."

She giggled, then her smile dimmed. "You didn't really break me, Mason. I was so broken before you, so unhappy and alone. I knew I could trust you, and yet I refused to. I won't ever doubt you again. I love you."

She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her smooth skin, still damp from their lovemaking, was a balm to his once-cold heart. Marriage to this woman would never be easy; she would always keep him on his toes, but he couldn't think of a more exciting adventure than a lifetime with Kevan Landry.

Epilogue.

Kevan stared at her reflection in the gla.s.s door before Mason swung it open and ushered her into New Beginnings. He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the reception desk as she scanned the open room for any sign of her brother. Not being able to visit Bowen the last two and a half months had been difficult. Their phone conversations had gotten lengthier and more regular the longer he stayed in rehab, but the center had prohibited more visits until he'd been there a full month. And now, three months later, it was time to bring him home.