Chapter Seventeen

A car laid on its horn while following too close to the truck in front of it. Sarah cringed as the noise of Seattle assaulted her ears while she walked the three blocks to the marketing firm considering her for hire. When had she turned soft about city life? Rolling her shoulders back, Sarah shook off her annoyance and focused on the opportunity in front of her. This new firm had doubled their clients over the past two years and was making a name for itself with larger companies. She admired that they’d landed two athleisure companies run by and geared toward females. They had a diverse panel of chief officers and hoped their company culture reflected that, too.

As she strode into the lobby of the high rise, Sarah double-checked the floor the firm operated from on the display by the elevators. On the way up, she focused on taking cleansing breaths and settling her mind on the task at hand—sell herself as a kick-ass marketing designer and assess the company’s fit for her as an employee.

The next few hours were spent with Sarah playing round robin with a panel of people interviewing her. The layout of the floor was open concept with a row of windowed offices along two walls and the space between wide open with community tables for groups, individual desks for standing or sitting and three conference rooms dotted throughout, also with glass walls all around. Inside one of these was where she was situated and her interview line-up came and went as scheduled.

It felt as if she were in a fishbowl given how others gawked as they passed by. The overall vibe was intended to produce a no-secrets, “we’re all in this together” feel, yet Sarah couldn’t shake the sensation of being on display instead. If she had to come in here each day, how would that be? Would the atmosphere build a family-like team vibe or would it foster competitiveness and cutthroat tactics to one-up each other?

The conversations flew by in a blur, given she met seven people in a three-hour time span. At the end, she was given a tour by Selena Juarez, a full partner and Creative Director for the agency. She was kind and congenial, answering questions while introducing Sarah to different team members. This would be her new boss, if Sarah took the job…if the position was offered to her.

As they rounded back to the elevators, the tall, lovely female offered a red-lipped smile to Sarah. “It was an absolute pleasure meeting you, Sarah. You gave impressive answers today and the quick feedback I was given from others has all been positive. Any additional questions I can answer for you?”

“Thank you, Selena. I’ve enjoyed meeting everyone here and learning more about the agency and role. My lingering questions are, what are next steps and when do you anticipate making a decision?” Sarah’s stomach knotted as she thought about accepting the job, but shoved that aside. Right now, Sarah needed options and that all this was—potential. No reason to get ahead of herself and self-select out of the running or take that as a sign of excitement to say yes.

“We have one other person coming next week for interviews. Then last thing we’ll do is confer to choose a candidate. You should hear from us within two-to-three weeks.” She chuckled and winked. “You how HR can sometimes move slower than we’d like. I have confidence you’ll hear good things from us soon, though.”

Sarah shook Selena’s hand, thanked her once more and headed back down to the lobby. All in all, this had gone well. The people Sarah would lead seemed competent and motivated to produce quality work. The leadership team she’d met appeared open to feedback and ideas. The culture resonated with her own values.

Why then did she walk out of the building with a sense of anticlimax? This should be her dream job, yet the eagerness she expected wasn’t there. Sighing, Sarah ordered a ride share to meet Tyneisha for lunch before swinging by a shoe store to get the custom-made embellished slippers designed for Bridget to wear with her dress.

Tyneisha greeted her with a tight hug and big grin. “Sarah, I miss you! You have got to get back to the city.”

They sat at an outdoor table at one of their favorite cafes in the business district. A rare day of spring sunshine meant Seattleites were out en masse. Budding trees lined the streets and flowers bloomed in pots outside stores and sky rises. Sipping a glass of wine, Sarah basked in the warm sunshine. A few hours’ adjustment and she was feeling more at home again. She peeked at her friend. “I miss you, too. How’s your new job going?”

Ty had landed a new gig two weeks ago, hence her exuberant celebrating at the bachelorette party. “Fabulous. I wish they had need of your skills, but I’ll keep looking for a way to get you on board. We’re work wives and I’m not looking to divorce.”

Sarah laughed and nodded. “Can’t argue with that.”

“How was the interview?”

Sarah bobbed her head from side to side. “Good.”

“Just good?”

“I mean, I thought I’d walk out more hyped than I am. Everyone comes off as nice. The work culture shows as a fit for me. But…I don’t know? I can’t say why.” It baffled her.

Tyneisha arched one dark brow. “Does this have to do with your new boy?”

Scrunching her nose, Sarah giggled. “First off, he’s a man. Second, he’s new-old. We dated back in high school and part of college.”

Her friend’s eyes rounded as Ty said, “Oh, he’s the ex. I didn’t realize that from your texts.”

“I don’t know if I’d call him that—”

“Let’s not play. You might have dated here and there, but nothing serious and you waxed on about this ex of yours like he was the chosen one who died.”

“I did not,” Sarah protested. “There was Hank and he was very sweet.”

“You said he was shit in bed and broke up with him after six weeks because he couldn’t find your clit no matter how many times you showed him.”

“Fair.” She paused and meandered back over her past dating life in her mind. “Gabriela and I could have gone the distance. She was outstanding in bed.”

“And she was over-the-top paranoid about everything. Germs, safety, travel, walking down the sidewalk. You said she gave so many warnings, yet didn’t come with her own red flag.”

True. Gabriella had gotten suffocating with all of her ways to “stay safe” and finding danger lurking everywhere. “But she meant well.”

“Still broke up with her. Then got drunk and whined about how hard it was to find someone to meet or beat the level of your ex.” Ty crossed her arms and smirked. “I rest my case.”

“Okay, fine. You have a point. Corey is the standard I held everyone else to and no one could reach it. The good news is I don’t have to worry about that anymore because we’re back together.” Her grin was wide, but a small part of her trembled in fear. Things were so good right now. Was it the honeymoon phase? What would he think about her job situation? What if he-

Nope, not going there.

She refused to contemplate how he would react if he ever found out why she’d broken up with him in the first place.

Tyneisha reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Look, I see how you light up when you talk about him. And God knows I saw the sparks between you that night at the club. But what happens in the future? When you get a job offer you want here, in Seattle?”

Did she have to go back to Seattle? The idea of not moving back was starting to have some merit. She already had five clients back in Fallbank. Freelance work was keeping her checking account happy. Living back home was keeping her and her family happy. Corey was keeping her lady parts and her heart happy. Why was she still pursuing options outside? Sarah chewed her lower lip. “What if I went out on my own?”

Ty blinked at her, then gulped her wine. “You mean start your own agency?”

“More like, boutique-style marketing. Freelance-ish, but have an office and whatnot without trying to become a giant conglomerate.” Fallbank was affordable to rent a work space. There were plenty of small businesses in town and she could do remote campaigns, too. She winced. “I think my Gran is the one who suggested this a while ago and I dismissed the idea.”

“Back before true love hooked its claws into you.”

Sarah widened her eyes. Her friend sounded bitter. “Yikes. Methinks you doth protest too much. Or something like that. Ty, are you okay? I thought Becca said you two were good with a one-night thing?”

“Oh, for sure,” Tyneisha answered with an emphatic nod. “I hold no ill will toward your cousin. She and I had a phenomenal time and I’m content to leave it at that. I sound jaded because love took my work wife away from me.” Tears shimmered in her friend’s deep brown eyes. “I miss my friend and I hate that you’re three hours away. And you aren’t coming back to Seattle. Admit it.”

Now Sarah blinked at the stinging in her eyes. She felt the same way about Ty. Their friendship had started from their first day as interns together. It was hard to find another supportive and uplifting person in the corporate world. “I might not come back to Seattle. I haven’t decided yet. This firm has a ton going for it and my entire adult life is here. I need to wait until I have an offer, whatever and whenever that might be. Then I can figure my shit out. If I don’t move back here, though, you aren’t getting rid of me. We’re going to be friends forever.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

 

* * * *

 

Sweat ran down Cornelius’ face as he yanked on the straps to secure the massive logs onto the back of the semi-truck. The day had been exhausting with him on tree-cutting duty then rounding things out with loading the haul. Despite the weariness in his bones, he hummed with anticipation. He and Sarah were going out again tonight. Wedding prep was in full force at the Wildes’ house and they hadn’t had much time together over the past week since his visit to his parents. Sarah was working hard at getting guest favors made and he was busy with his curio cabinet present for the happy couple. Today was Friday though, and he planned to take his girl out to spoil her tonight.

The vehicle rumbled off and his workers stood around awaiting orders. “Great job today. Finishing this commission means we’re early with delivery for the customer. That’ll have them coming back to us again. Appreciate the hustle and hard effort put in. Take the weekend to relax and meet me at the office on Monday at nine.”

His team cheered at the late start next week, but given their dedication, it was worthwhile to reward their service to TLC in any way, big or small, that he could.

They dispersed and once back home, Cornelius showered, changed and walked over to pick up his date. Giddiness quaked in his stomach. He couldn’t wait to see Sarah. Knocking, he waited.

Bridget opened the door and beamed. “Hey, Cornelius. Come on in.”

Hugging her, he said, “Hi, little B. How’s it going?”

She pushed her curls back from her face and huffed. “Planning a wedding and building a house are two things you shouldn’t do at the same time. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Jack walked up from behind and wrapped his arms around his fiancée. “You were thinking you love me and can’t wait any longer than the bare minimum to get married and make babies with me.”

Cornelius laughed, but choked it back when Bridget’s face went dreamy.

“Mmm. That does sound perfect.” She tilted her face up so Jack could kiss her. “Of course we could have eloped to make things easier.”

Something twisted inside his chest as Cornelius watched the two of them. This was what he wanted with Sarah—the harmony, the planning, the future.

Babies. His mind pictured Sarah pregnant, then holding a child on her hip. He imagined cradling a newborn in his arms with a mix of their features. It shook him to the core. He hadn’t allowed his brain to go this far since the first year of their break-up. It was too painful to contemplate. Now, however, the idea of a family with Sarah sent warmth from his ears to his toes. He wanted it so much a physical ache manifested in his ribs.

Sarah sauntered from the hallway, a smile playing on her lips. She caught sight of him and her eyes lit up. “Hey, handsome.”

“Beautiful.” He caught her mouth for a moment, delighting in the press of her lips and the heat of her breath.

“Aww, you two are so cute. Such couple goals.” Bridget giggled.

“Wait a minute, what do they have that we don’t?” Jack asked.

His girlfriend’s sister turned to face her boyfriend. “Nothing,” she stage whispered. “But I want to encourage them. It’s obvious we’re the better couple.”

Sarah scoffed and side-eyed Bridget. “On that note, let’s get out of here and leave the ‘better couple’ to themselves.”

“Yes, please,” Jack agreed and slid his tongue into Bridget’s mouth.

Covering her eyes and muttering about things she didn’t want to see, Sarah took Cornelius by the hand and led him out of the house. He helped her into his truck, eyeing the short blue dress she wore with appreciation before sliding in behind the wheel.

“Where are we going?” Sarah questioned as he drove toward town.

Lifting his lips into a crooked smile, he said, “It’s a surprise.” He’d thought about going to Portland or the steakhouse in town, but decided on another choice instead.

He parked in the takeaway spot outside the Thai restaurant. He knew she loved this kind of food and what her favorites were. Or at least what they had been before. Now that he considered, he should have asked instead of choosing for her. “Do you still like chicken panang curry?”

“My favorite. You remembered.” Her gaze was soft and luminous.

“I try. I might not get everything correct, but it’s not for lack of attempting. Sit tight and I’ll be right back.”

After retrieving their dinner, he set a course for a back road outside of town lines. Sarah watched with avid interest as he wound through the dark woods and up a rocky course along a small mountain. He watched with anticipation as her expression morphed when she figured out where they were going. He’d discovered this spot as a teen when he would go on job sites with his dad to start learning the logging business. Then he’d taken Sarah up there to share it with her. It was sacred to him.

They reached the summit and he backed into a spot at the edge of a ridge overlooking the valley below. In the moonlight, they could see the forest rising and falling with the topography and the lights of Fallbank nestled on the left corner. The daytime view was just as picturesque, but Cornelius craved the privacy the darkness would give them. Not that he expected anyone else to come by this secluded spot, but the stats were smaller at night.

Grabbing the food and hopping out, he came around and escorted Sarah to the back of his truck. Opening the tailgate, her low chuckle filled him with hope as she eyed the layers of blankets, pillows and oversized cushions he’d arranged. He placed the food midway up.

Glancing at her attire, Cornelius did the only thing he could think of. He swooped her up bridal style and laid her inside the truck bed. Laughing, Sarah wriggled up to the top before settling into the pallet he’d created. “Aren’t you going to join me, big boy?”

Oh fuck, yes.

Moving with lightning speed, he jumped up and took his spot next to her. She grabbed his neck and hauled him down to her, kissing him with wild abandon. He slipped his tongue into the depths of her mouth in a rhythm he hoped to do with other parts of his anatomy and her body with all haste.

Reminding himself that he wanted to make this special for her, he pulled back. She sighed and opened her eyes. In the dim cab light he’d left on inside his truck, he could see her pupils were blown so large they almost eclipsed her irises. A thin ring of green was all that was left.

“Slow. Special. That’s what I planned for tonight. Worshipping your body under the moonlight.” He swallowed. “Are you hungry, princess?”

“Not for food. Not right now, at least.” She brushed her lips along his, nipping at his lower lip. “I’m hungry for you. Fill me up, Corey. You always know how to make me so full.”

Groaning out a curse, he pounced on her. Soft kisses, playful bites and soothing licks along her skin made her writhe beneath him. He peeled the silky fabric of her sapphire dress from her skin, followed by the tantalizing lingerie she hid underneath. His own clothes were shed with alacrity.

Cornelius whispered filthy things into her lush skin as he tasted his way down her collar bone, sucked at her breasts until she cried out, then down the soft curves of her stomach to her wet sweetness between her thighs. There he feasted until he’d lost her to pleasure twice and the flavor of her flooded down his throat.

Sarah grappled at him to tug Cornelius up. Unashamed of the evidence of her orgasms glistening on his chin, he hooked his arms around her knees, slid his tongue along hers and plunged his cock inside her body. Their mutual moans filled each other’s mouths and vibrated the air. Then the flames burning between them raged into a wildfire and consumed them both.

After, they lay panting and tangled together. Cornelius pressed tiny kisses along Sarah’s dewy, flushed skin. “Sarie. My Sarie.” Love pulsed with every pump of his heart, yet he kept the words trapped inside him. They’d come so far from where they’d started again. But he still knew she was holding back. He couldn’t figure out why—maybe until she sorted out what her future looked like. Nevertheless, he protected his heart. He’d all but served it up on a platter to her through gestures and other words, but not out loud. Speaking the words exposed him too much. Cornelius didn’t want to deny his feelings, but he wouldn’t take the chance of scaring Sarah away. Or making himself so vulnerable that she had the power to gut him all over again.

As if not saying “I love you” could keep that from happening.

His mind was right. If she left him now, he didn’t know how he would survive, if he was honest with himself. Losing his Sarie, his frog princess, his true love, was incomprehensible to him, but a tiny ball of fear wouldn’t stop thumping inside his chest. Shoving it down, he focused on the here and now, holding his love close where she couldn’t be taken away.