Pining For You (Man of the Month Club)

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

ROSEMARY

I thought I needed my parents’ approval. I was so hungry for their praises, proving to everyone who I am. But now, I’m so happy and proud of myself. It’s nice having everyone compliment me—duh. But the best part of this experience was that I proved to myself that I could do it. I never planned on finding love in the process, but what a pleasant surprise. A gift, if you will.

The phone alarm goes off—again. Alexi and I both groan.

“It’s your phone,” I say against his muscular chest.

His muscles move beneath me as he reaches and takes his phone. “Your brother is planning my death.”

“I know,” I mumble. “He texted that he was so proud of me, but you’re still a dead man.”

“How am I going to keep working here?”

I know he’s joking, but a little light bulb pops up. “What if we start our own business?”

“Whoa! I’m hugging your parents and now we’re starting a business venture? It’s like I couldn’t get you to give me a chance and now you’re ready to lock me down.”

Full-belly laughter escapes me. “My family are huggers, so don’t get too full of yourself. But we do work well together. I could run a hotel, and you could run the restaurant attached to it. We do a one-year contract. Test it out.”

“That’s a lot of money, Rosemary. A large investment.”

“I’ll take the bulk of the risks.” That might’ve come off as arrogant. I really want this to happen, but I have to be respectful of what he’s comfortable with. Luckily, I know exactly how to make him comfortable. Time to go find my favorite gift.

I slide under the covers. “You’re not going to suck my cock to get what you want, Rosemary. I know you’re not used to being told no… but… but… oh fuuuck.”

His salty precum slides over my tongue. I take him in deeper until I feel his legs buck beneath me. I cup his balls and press my fingers against his perineum to massage the delicate skin. Then I stop. Under the covers, I can’t see his face, but I feel the tension. I want to keep going. I’m eager to taste him again and feel him come apart under my touch. But not yet…

“Oh, hell! Fine! Yes! Let’s do it!”

I reward him with an earth-shattering orgasm.

For the next two weeks, Van and Alexi scowl at each other. Van keeps telling Alexi that he trusted him, and Alexi reminds him that that’s on him because Van barely knew him and didn’t like him to begin with. Ava is elated that Alexi has found his person. It takes a long time for us to finally double date and them to come to a mutual truce.

I tell Van about my ideas of expanding Hayes Resort into a smaller resort that’s strictly Christmas themed and combines both my world and Alexi’s. He loves it. He even helps me prepare for pitching my idea to our parents and grandparents. I know I need to discuss this more with Alexi, but I need to first see what our options are. If I can get my family on board, they’ll give us resources to open our own branch.

The meeting with my family goes better than I could’ve ever hoped for. They don’t hold back; hard questions are asked—some that I’m not prepared for. Okay, most. But I did it. If I can pitch to my family, I can pitch to anyone.

Now I need to give a pitch to Alexi. He left his family’s restaurant to do something different. Here I am asking him to do the exact same thing he left. He might turn me down, and if he does, I’ll respect his decision. I won’t suck his dick to get him to say yes. That was just for funsies.

Alexi asked me to meet him at his truck. When I arrive, he covers my eyes with a blindfold. Kinky. I’m immediately filled with excitement.

I giggle. “Where are we going?”

He releases a huff. “Like I’m going to tell you. If I wanted you to know, I wouldn’t have blindfolded you, doll.”

Doll. That used to flip my bitchy switch so fast, but I’ve grown to enjoy the nickname. I know it’s not being used in a degrading way.

“You know, you can already call me a Christmas gift because I’m wrapped up in you,” he whispers across the truck to me.

“You can’t see my eyes, but they’re rolling.”

“Call me an ornament, because I’m hanging on your every word.”

“Is this some sort of torture? I guess I can look at you and think, well, at least he’s pretty.”

“You’re prettier than a partridge in a pear tree.”

“I’m jumping out of this truck.”

His chuckle is deep and has me tightening my thighs together. He’s such a goof. The truck begins to bounce, and I can tell we’re no longer on the highway. Yup. We’re officially off-roading.

The vehicle stops and he walks around to open my door. “Now?”

“Absolutely not,” he tells me.

A familiar barking has me smiling. “Is that Mary Puppins?”

“Maybe.”

The feel and sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet tells me all I need to know. We’ve come back out to the farm. I’m led a few feet before Alexi places my hands against metal.

“Is this a ladder?” I ask. “I’m not climbing this blindfolded!”

“I’ll guide you. Don’t worry.”

Clearly, all common sense has left my body, because I allow him to guide me up the ladder. Except when I reach the top, I don’t feel tree branches but a smooth wooden surface.

“Okay, climb in but don’t move once inside.”

I feel warmth, so there’s a heater somewhere. Alexi slides in beside me and removes my blindfold. There are three wooden walls and a roof, plus two tiny windows. In the center of the space is a miniature live Christmas tree with little twinkling lights. Two glasses of wine sit next to it.

“Alexi! What is all this?” I’m on the verge of tears because this is by far the most romantic experience of my life.

“I made an ornament” is all he tells me.

I stare at the little clay heart ornament in the center of the tree. It’s the only ornament. I pick it off the tree and turn it over to see one word. “Yes.”

Alexi smiles at me. “I said yes.”

“To…?”

“The business. I want to be partners with you in every way, Rosemary Hayes.”

“Alexi. You haven’t even?—”

“Yes,” he interrupts me. “If it involves you, yes.”

I can’t stop smiling. I reach forward to grab his face and kiss him with everything in me. “I love you.”

The tenderness that fills his eyes takes my breath away. “I love you.”

As if on cue, Mary Puppins barks in response. I peek over and tell her I love her too. After all, she’s the one who gave me the nip in the heel to go after Alexi.

The End