“I’ll miss you. Don’t forget I have a showing tonight at the gallery, so I’ll be working late,” she said.
I wrapped my arms around Julianna, and we kissed for a few minutes. She leaned into me and moaned, knowing it was the kind of moan that would get me to stay. I had to ignore any arousal, though.
“I’ll miss you too, and will call later. I hope the showing is a success.” I pinched her butt and then headed out the door.
I thought about the night before all the way home. The sex we had was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. I just couldn’t deny the energy between Julianna and me. The way our bodies came together as one, it was like we were made for each other.
As soon as I got back to the guest house, I took a quick shower to clear my mind and put on my business cap, so to speak. I knew I wouldn’t be able to think straight with images of wet, naked Julianna on my mind. After putting on some fresh clothes, I went into the office and started a conference call. I guzzled a glass of Alka Seltzer to calm my nervous stomach, too. I knew it wasn’t just the pancakes causing all of that commotion.
I’d been in River Valley too long.
“I’m here, everybody,” I said into the speakerphone.
“Good news,” one of my employees said. “The project you have been working on is almost completed as you know. But now they want to do an additional expansion, which means that we need you back in San Diego so we can go over their specifications.”
“Give me a date you need me back by,” I said into the phone.
There was a long pause, as though the staff was expecting me to just hop on a plane and fly back today. “Um, well, as soon as possible, sir. We really need you here before we can move forward.”
My heartfelt as though it dropped to my stomach. I knew this day was coming. I sat back in the office chair and closed my eyes, thinking about everything all at once. The thought of leaving Julianna and Caley ate at a part of me I didn’t even know I had until recently.
“Let me just check a few things in my calendar,” I lied into the phone.
There was nothing to check on my calendar. The only thing keeping me in River Valley, at this point, was Julianna and Caley.
My employees quietly chitchatted amongst themselves while I stared out the window. This new project was one of the most significant deals of my career and a relationship was holding me back. This wasn’t the man I’d worked so hard to become.
I thought about Julianna and all of the nights we’d spent together. It was the best sex I’d ever had in my entire life, and isn’t that what every man wanted? A successful career and mind-blowing, toe-curling sex? It wasn’t as though I couldn’t find other women just as good as Julianna back in San Diego... right?
Not in the bedroom, at least. I knew damn well that quality women like her were pretty rare in the city. Most of them were just after money.
Deep down, I knew that I had matured from my playboy, womanizing days. To be honest, the thought of creeping for chicks just made me feel gross inside. I knew that I’d rather spend all of my free time with Julianna and Caley, not having parties with women whose names I didn’t even know.
Yet, on the other hand, staying in River Valley would mean giving up everything I’d worked so hard for. “So, you’re saying that everything is ready to go in San Diego?”
“Yes, sir. And the sooner you come back, the better. We can’t move forward without you physically here.”
I tapped my pen against my forehead, thinking of what I should say. My company needed me, but I needed Julianna. More than I ever thought I would. Going into our relationship, I always knew that my feelings for her were more profound than what I’d had with other women.
“Well, that’s great. I mean, we’ve wanted this project for so long, and I certainly don’t want to hold it up any longer. This is great news for the company.” I had to swallow my emotions for the sake of my employees and business.
As I sat there listening to everyone else talk about the future plans, I wondered just how much I’d changed as a man. My employees were discussing how much money we’d be making, how we might even be able to go public with stock options. They said I’d soon be on my way to becoming one of the most successful businessmen in the world.
“What you’ve done with this company is amazing,” one of them said into the phone. “And now it’s time to move forward.”
“Absolutely,” I said.
I thought I heard a noise in the hallway but ignored it when someone else started talking.
“Is there a chance you can fly out tonight, sir?”
I withheld a gasp. No way could I leave so soon, not after spending my very first night with Julianna and Caley. Not after the way she looked at me in her living room, searching my face for confirmation that I wouldn’t do to her what Cam did. I would be letting both her and Caley down.
I began to wonder if I was a changed man. Just a few months before, I was the type of guy who would have said “adios” to any other woman but Julianna. Hell, I may have even just up and left town without even letting her know.
“Sir?”
“I’m just checking a few things,” I said to buy some time.
