A Gentleman's Agreement Read online

  “Of course it is. It’s love. Love is complicated by design. It’s the most maddening, ugliest, complex, most beautiful, amazing, soul-clenching feeling in this world.”

  Blake fell back against the chair. “Complicated.”

  “It’s only as complicated as you make it to be, son. I remember when I asked your mother to marry me. She looked me square in the eyes and asked, ‘Why do you want to marry me?’ So inquisitive, your mother. But that’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with her.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “I took both her hands into mine, stared into those big, bright eyes, and said ‘My life wouldn’t exist without you in it. I’ll give you the world if you let me. I live for you. I love for you. Live with me. Love with me.” His father stared off as if reliving the moment, a shroud of sadness spreading across his face.

  “Pop? You still with me?”

  His father snapped back to reality and smiled. “Sorry, son. Your mother takes me there.”

  “You and mom have been together for a while; does the love not…go stale?”

  His father spoke with his hands. “Every time I look into your mother’s eyes, I fall in love all over again. I’ve never grown tired of that feeling and I never will. I see couples hit a rough patch and one—or both—go out and have affairs, act foolish, only to realize what a good thing they had at home. By then, it’s too late.”

  Blake nodded. “You and mom make marriage look easy.”

  “Oh, no. Marriage is not a cakewalk. But if two people want to make it work, it will.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Blake shifted his focus back to the board.

  “That was some gift Eunice gave you. ’Course, you didn’t do so bad yourself. France,” he said in a pilfered accent. “You’re taking that flight, right? You know those slick talking French men.”

  “You heard how long that flight is. And I’m not worried about slick talkers. I trust Eunice.”

  Mr. Farrington slapped his leg. “This is major. I believe you just might be in love.”

  Blake laughed. “Major? What does that mean?”

  “Son, you have trust issues. Ever since you were a toddler. You’d hide your toys under your blanket. Horded your juice cup.” His father shook his head. “You even buried a toy truck in your sandbox because you thought the neighbor’s kid would steal it. ’Course, you were probably right about that boy.”

  “Trust issues? I don’t have—”

  “Last year at the market.”

  Blake dropped his head. “Do you have to bring that up, again?”

  “When that young man attempted to give you your change, you had him mark every bill with a counterfeit pen before you would accept them.”

  “When I gave him the bills he marked them.” Blake said with humor in his tone.

  “I’ll give you that one. But what about the seafood restaurant. You were convinced the woman would spit in your chowder when you sent it back. You demanded to watch as the kitchen prepped you another bowl.”

  “Pop, you know that woman was giving me the evil eye.”

  “And my all time favorite. You hired an independent auditing firm to do exactly what your in-house auditing department is there to do. Trust issues.”

  Blake didn’t have an argument. “You can never be too careful.”

  “True. But if you want your relationship to work, there has to be trust.”

  Blake nodded. “I know.”

  “What’s going on in here?” Ian asked, entering the room.

  “I’m schooling your brother on the art of love.” Their father said, lifting two cigars from the humidor and passing them out.

  Ian clipped the head of his cigar and hovered over Blake. “Love is a ferocious wave. Sure, it’s beautiful—from a distance. But that’s before it comes crashing toward you, knocking you on your ass, and snatching you out to sea. If you’re lucky, you’ll float. If not…” he shrugged, “…you drown.”

  Blake and his father eyed each other, then Ian.

  Their father shook his head. “Smoke your cigar, son.”

  The room erupted in laughter when Ian made the sign of the cross.

  Blake lit the foot of his cigar and slid it between his lips. He draped his ankle over his knee. He wasn’t afraid of waves. Pulling a long drag of the cigar, he blew doughnut shaped rings of smoke into the air. But the kind of love his father described scared the hell out of him. Especially since he was sure he was falling in that kind of love with Eunice.

  ***

  Eunice rubbed her hand over the empty spot Blake should have been occupying. By the time they’d finished opening gifts, it was after midnight. But instead of coming to bed, he’d disappeared with his father into the cigar room. That was two hours ago and he still hadn’t made it upstairs. Was he avoiding her? Of course he was.

  She touched her lips and relived the kiss he’d planted on her. She’d purchase every batch of mistletoe in Virginia just to experience his lips pressed against hers again.

  It was just part of their deception, right?

  Eunice scolded herself. She had to stop doing this. Had to stop trying to convince herself that this—whatever this was—hadn’t morphed into something far beyond just a business deal. Had to stop pretending she didn’t want Blake because she did, more than any man she’d ever wanted before. She had to come to the terms with the fact she’d fallen for the boss.

  “This was a business deal doomed from the start,” she mumbled. Mainly because her feelings for Blake hadn’t just surfaced this weekend, they formed long ago. But in New York, she’d been able to keep them in check. Here… Here she was powerless to shut them off.

  The door rattled and light flooded in from the hallway. Blake. What should she do? Speak? Pretend to be asleep? Bury her head under the covers? Unfortunately, when it sounded like Blake stumbled over something, she chuckled, giving away her awake status.

  “You’re still awake.” Blake said from the foot of the bed.

  “Yes,” she said, sitting up and clicking on the nightstand light.

  He looked troubled as he stood with his hands in his pockets. She spent enough time around him to know something weighed heavy on his mind. Was it her? Was it this thing between them?

  “I spoke to Sasha earlier,” he said, eyes firmly planted on her.

  She’d figured as much when he’d escaped into the frigid cold earlier that day. Propping herself against the headboard, she said, “Okay.” What else was she supposed to say?

  Blake shrugged. “I just thought you should know that.”

  The logical question would have been, “Why?” But with them, logic had long gone on hiatus. “Thanks?”

  Eunice swung her feet over the bed and planted them firmly on the floor. He was telling her all of this for some reason. “Why are you telling me this, Blake?”

  His hands slid from his pockets as he neared her. Had he been paying attention, he would have seen her hands trembling from their closeness. Last thing she needed was for him to kiss her like he had earlier. She wasn’t sure she would be able pull away. Wasn’t sure she’d be able to toss asinine excuses at him.

  Blake was so close now that she could smell the lingering scent of cigar smoke on his clothing and expensive brandy on his breath. Never had the two teased her as they did now. Or maybe it was the way he peered into her soul through her eyes.

  “Blake—” His hands came to rest on her waist—firmly, but gently. As usual, his touch unleashed her pent up desire. His mouth lingered near hers, but he didn’t kiss her. Why in the hell was he teasing her?

  He dragged a finger down the side of her face, then brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “No woman has ever made me feel the way you do, Eunice. Every time I’m with you, I want nothing more than to hold you, kiss you, make love to you.” He searched her eyes. “If you tell me you don’t want this, don’t want me, I’ll pull away. But I’m tired of fighting whatever is happening between us. It seems like a waist of good energy.�
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  Yeah, fighting this battle was killing her, too. Eunice planted her hands in his chest. Instead of pushing him away, she pulled him near. She stared up into the stern eyes of the man in front of her. Something seized her soul and unleashed words she’d trapped deep inside. “I feel something for you, too. But what I feel for you, Blake, started well before our arrival in Norfolk. You’re not the only one who’s been fighting. My body wages war on itself anytime I’m near you.”

  Blake’s expression softened. “You could have shared your feelings with me.”

  “You say that as if it were that simple. You were with Sasha. Not to mention I’m your employee. I love my job; I didn’t want to jeopardize it. I don’t want to jeopardize it.”

  “You’re fired,” he said, a laugh present in his tone. “Now you no longer have anything to worry about.”

  She was sure that under different circumstances, she would have found the humor in his words. “I wholeheartedly want to believe it’s not, but what if… what if this is a mistake, Blake? What if things don’t work out? What happens then?”

  Blake placed his hands on either side of Eunice’s neck. “I don’t make mistakes.” He smiled.

  “I’m serious, Blake.”

  “Believe,” he said, something he constantly told his clients when they came to him with doubt. “I want you, Eunice Howard. Maybe far more than I should.” He brushed a stray hair from her face. “I won’t make a move until you’re certain, until you’re ready. I need you to want me just as much as I want you.” He pressed a kiss to his forehead and stepped away.

  Before he could get more than a few steps, she snagged the hem of his sweater. Once Blake turned to face her, she said, “Make your move.”

  Without hesitation, he captured her mouth in a toe-curling kiss that rivaled the one he planted on her in front of his family. Her hands explored his body: his solid chest, his sculpted arms, his powerful back. The second he pulled away from her starving mouth, her lips yearned for his to return.

  Blake cradled her face. “How much of me do you want tonight?”

  Was this a trick question? “All of you. All of you,” she repeated.

  He lifted her arms over her head, removing the oversized shirt she wore. His calm and composed manner translated into an absolute turn on for her. Once she was naked, the way his eyes ate her up made her entire body sizzle out of control.

  He tilted his chin. “Get on the bed.”

  Like all aspects of his life, he was a leader. Why did she believe it would be any different in the bedroom? Doing as he’d requested, she settled on top of the mattress. Blake eyed her body with admiration, then slowly inched her panties from her body.

  As he’d stated, he took his time exploring every inch of her—kissing, nibbling, licking, biting, blowing. Finally, his gentle kisses traveled along her inner thigh until he reached her heated core. A soft moan escaped as his enthusiastic tongue movement threatened her consciousness. Multi-million dollar deals weren’t the only thing he could work with his mouth.

  He took his time savoring her essence, exploring in and around her. This hadn’t been her first time experiencing oral sex; however, Blake showed her how it was supposed to be done. She fought off the urge to explode, but when he pulled her clit between his lips, it did her in.

  Bolts of orgasmic pleasure burned through her as she yielded to a powerful orgasm. Her muscles twitched with every jolt that soared through her body. The breath she so desperately wanted to take seized in her chest. She closed her eyes to keep the room stable.

  By the time she opened her eyes, Blake had undressed. Inquisitive eyes trailed down his impressive chest, then followed the thin line of black hairs to the one thing that made him all man.

  Great glory.

  Oh, yeah. The rumors were true. At least the ones about his size. Her gaze never left his as he sheathed himself, then blanketed her body with his. She was about to find out if the others about his performance were, too.

  Blake lowered his mouth to hers. His unhurried kiss awakened ravenous desire inside her. He captured the cries expelled the second he entered her, stretching her to accommodate all of him.

  “Do you know how many times I’ve imagined this moment in my head?” Blake whispered in her ear, his tone thick. “The first time I ever saw you, I wanted you, Eunice.”

  If he only knew how much his words aroused her. “Is it everything you imagined it would be?”

  “More. Much more.” He glided in and out of her with meticulous strokes. His head dipped to her breasts. With the tip of his tongue, he teased her taut nipple before sucking it between his lips. Kissing a line back to her mouth, he dragged his tongue across her bottom lip.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of you,” she said.

  “Good. Because you’re mine now. And I don’t plan on letting you go,” he said, capturing her mouth in another heady kiss.

  Feeling the familiar sensation of an impending orgasm, her body quivered. Blake’s strokes grew clumsy and his breathing unsteady. A beat later, he half-grunted, half-growled. The feel of his release throbbing inside of her sent her over the edge. It was the first time she’d ever come simultaneously with her partner.

  Blake pulled her to him, her back resting against his warm, moist chest. She would never get enough of being wrapped in his protective arms.

  He planted a gentle kiss to her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  “Never better.”

  They lay in silence, the sounds of the howling wind filtering into the bedroom. The gleam of the moon bounced off the lake water and caused a dancing pattern on the ceiling.

  “Blake?”

  “Umm-hmm,” he hummed, nestling her closer.

  “What happened at the lake?”

  When Blake’s body tensed, she rotated in his arms to face him. She didn’t say anything, simply watched him watch her. Was he assessing whether or not she was worthy of knowing?

  “When I was ten, I begged my grandfather to take me out on the boat to go fishing.” He paused. “He did. The man loved fishing as much as I did. I caught something huge. I couldn’t pull it in by myself. My grandfather—Pop-Pop—was helping me reel in the line when he grabbed his chest. A second later, he fell overboard.”

  Eunice rested a hand on his cheek. “Oh, Blake.”

  “I’m a great swimmer. Even at ten I was great, but I—” His voice cracked with emotion. “I couldn’t save him. I tried. God knows I tried. I busted up my knee trying to climb back into the boat to go for help. It was too late.”

  Eunice kissed the tip of his nose, then his lips for comfort.

  “The medical examiner said he had a massive heart attack and that he died before he even hit the water. But I still— I feel responsible. If it wasn’t for me, we would have never been on the lake. I’ve hated that lake ever since.”

  “I’m sorry I made you relive that.”

  He kissed her palm. “I needed to tell you.”

  Eunice caressed his cheek. “I’ve never seen this side of you, Blake Farrington. Open. Vulnerable. It’s very attractive.”

  “Don’t get used to it. You have to be a pit bull in this line of work. If not, you get eaten. People have to fear you.”

  “I think you’ve accomplished that in the office. Everyone fears you. Accept me, of course.”

  “Oh, you don’t fear me, huh?” He jostled her playfully. “Speaking of the office… You and Trevor? Anything I should know about?”

  How did she know that was coming? “Trevor is everything I want in a man. He’s loyal, a good listener, a great friend.” She popped the tip of his nose with her finger. “But he’s in a relationship. His partner is lovely.”

  Blake lifted himself on his elbow. “Trevor is gay?”

  “Yes. And you would know that if you were more in touch with your employees.”

  “What are you talking about? I am in touch.”

  She mimicked Blake, propping herself on her elbow. “Really?” She gave him
a peck, simply because she couldn’t resist. “What is your new assistant’s name? You know, the third one in two months.”

  “Janice.”

  Eunice laughed. “No. Janice is what you call her. Her name is Rose.”

  Lines of confusion formed on his forehead. “Rose? Where the hell did I get Janice?”

  “Janice was two assistants ago. The one who called you an overbearing control freak and stormed out of the building.”

  “Oh, yeah. I really liked her, too. She made great coffee. Damn. Guess I owe Rose an apology. But not right now,” he said, guiding her onto her back. “Right now I want to make love to you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Then I want to make love to you again.” He kissed her lips. “Then I want to fall asleep with you tightly clutched in my arms and dream about making love to you.”

  Eunice squealed when he nibbled on her neck. “Sounds like a great use of your time.”

  Chapter 14

  Eunice felt as if all eyes were on them the second she and Blake strolled hand-in-hand into the kitchen. In all actuality, no one had given them a second glance until Casey ran up to her and wrapped her tiny arms around Eunice’s waist.

  “Aunt Eunice,” she said, “is your bum-bum okay?”

  “Casey!” Ian scolded.

  Eunice knelt to Casey’s level. “Yes, sweetie, my bum-bum is okay.” With a furrowed brow, she asked, “Why?”

  “When I was playing in my room, I heard you crying.”

  Eunice’s eyes widened, her mouth went dry, and her pulse kicked up a notch.

  “Casey loves to get up in the middle of the night and sneak to the third floor playroom. Next to your bedroom,” Ian said, choking back a laugh.

  “Daddy said Uncle Blake probably spanked you for not going to bed when you were told to.”

  All eyes fixed on Blake, who spewed orange juice across the room.

  Casey rested her little hand on Eunice’s shoulder. “Don’t be embarrassed, Aunt Eunice. I cry when I get a spanking, too.” She draped her arms around Eunice’s neck. “I love you.”

  Eunice felt her cheeks heat up. If she could have clicked her heels together and disappeared, she would have. To say she was mortified would have been the understatement of the century. Blake, on the other hand, seemed to be finding humor in the situation. Had she not been the center of attention, Eunice possibly would have found it funny, too.