Saving Us (The Billionaire Brothers of NY Duology #1)

34. Gage

CHAPTER 34

Gage

W aking up the next morning, my body was sore. But it was a welcome sore. We spent a good part of the night reacquainting ourselves with each other’s bodies. I forced one eye open as I lay on my stomach to find Harper still sound asleep next to me. Filtered light streamed through the curtains as the sunrise announced a new day over the Atlantic. It bounced off her now golden blonde hair that splayed across her pillow as if she were a goddess.

And she was. She was my goddess.

Handed to me by God, or some higher power.

To save me.

Dealing with my feelings over losing my best friend blindsided me. I’d lost my mom as a kid, and that didn’t even touch how this affected me. Her sticking by me not only showed her love, but it also gave me clarity.

Clarity on how I wanted the rest of my life to look.

“The wheels turning in your head are really loud,” she said, then chuckled. Rolling toward me, I was met with her bright smile and even brighter eyes against her tanned skin. “You good?”

Reaching out, I took her cheek in my good hand. “I’m better than I’ve been in a while, beautiful, all because of you.”

Her wrist with the cast was the one closest.

“How’s that feeling?”

It didn’t help that we had physical reminders of the accident still on our body. But only a couple more weeks and we would both be rid of what bound us to that day, at least tangibly.

“Itchy, hot, annoying, but it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

She reached out with her good hand to my shoulder, caressing it. I’d stopped sleeping with the sling this past week, and it had been feeling okay.

“All types of healing going on,” she said.

“Thanks to you,” I told her. “This trip was exactly what we needed, what I needed.”

Her lips were soft and warm when they landed on mine. The kiss held so much in it, but most of all, it held promise.

Promise that she would be there for me.

And never leave.

“I know we have another night here, but what would you say to us heading home tonight?” Looking for her reaction to my words, she only continued to listen. “I have a meeting with my father this week that I’ve been dreading.” Rolling over onto my back, we both sat up in the bed. “But I’ve got some renewed energy about it now, and some new ideas I’d like to outline and present to him.”

Her gaze was one of pure joy. “Of course,” she said with excitement. “Should we go home now?”

Shaking my head, I pulled her to me, content for the first time in so long, and she knew it.

“Nope, tomorrow gives me plenty of time. Besides, there’s still more to do here.”

She hopped out of bed, ran to the bathroom, and turned the shower on. Popping her head out the door, she gestured to me as I still lay in the bed.

“Get up!” she ordered. “Let’s go. Carpe diem.”

Rising from the bed, I marched straight to the shower to join her. Before seizing the day, I would seize her one more time.

The bridge leaving LBI was dotted with lights across the top that, from a distance, gave it the appearance of a string of pearls. As we drove over it, Harper’s mood turned melancholy. Thinking back to my childhood vacations and their final days, there was always that yearning for them to never end. I understood as she turned and watched the island disappear in the rear window.

We’d spent the day walking through the streets of the small beach town, searching for every house she stayed in as a child. Once we found all but one, we went for lunch at a café she swore was there twenty years ago. It didn’t look it, but I didn’t argue. The food was good.

The day rounded out with a shopping trip to the renowned surf shop, Ron Jon’s. Stepping inside was like stepping back in time with nostalgic surfboards hanging from the rafters and beachware stacked on every surface. Of course, we each walked out with a new hoodie that had the traditional logo on it. The smile it put on her when we both had them on was priceless.

She nestled into my shoulder once we hit the highway. Knowing she would sleep, I pulled my laptop out before we left, hoping to get a jump on some meeting notes.

“Tommy, how long will the drive be?”

We also had Tommy’s cousin somewhere behind us, driving my new car home for us. Once he got it to Manhattan, I gave Tommy a day off to get his cousin back home.

“Says just under two hours, sir.”

Plenty of time to draft my outline.

“Are you sure he’s going to agree to this? What makes you think he’ll change his mind now, all of a sudden, just because you have this new plan?” Chase asked. He was pacing in my office, quite nervous about the meeting with our father.

I called Chase in early this morning to go over the business model I finalized yesterday. It was full of ideas I’d been thinking about for months, but not until Harper and I went away did it all seem to fall into place in my mind.

The main proposed change was going to be the work week. We were one of the few companies that were in person five days a week, all due to my father.

I wanted to change our model to hybrid, like most of the world. Our father had been resistant when I first suggested it, wanted to hold true to his old higher standards.

And all current research proved that employees were happier with a hybrid schedule. I was able to put together statistics that proved our employee retention rate was lower due to our model. And to overcome that, we’d lost money.

And that bottom line was the winning hand I would play against my father.

The other main component to my plan involved Chase and a major change in his role, trying to capitalize on his strengths rather than highlight his weaknesses. Allowing him to take over the sales department gave him more freedom to travel and be out of the office. Entertaining the client is what he did best, so he should be doing it.

Sitting at my desk, my nerves were quite calm considering what was at stake. My father could put his foot down on all I had to say and continue with his plan to sell the company, cash out on his fortune, and ride off into the sunset.

The buzzer on my desk phone chirped.

“Yes,” I called into it.

“Gage,” Maryellen said. And thank God she remembered, today, of all days, not to call me sir. “Your father is here.”

“Send him in.”

Chase and I sat together on the couch in the sitting area. A fortified front together. Even though he wasn’t completely on board with all my ideas, he agreed his main job was to back me up on everything.

“Ready?” I asked him.

“We have to be, right?” he answered.

As the door opened, in walked the man who dealt with his wife deserting him, and our family, the only way he knew how. By diving into his career, and this company, and not picking his head up. Not once.

Chase got his coloring from him. Our father’s hair was light brown, his eyes light too. They even had the same walk. Yet, I looked more like my mother, my dark coloring from her Mediterranean roots. And we both got our height from him, though it seemed age had already started chipping away at his six-foot, two-inch frame.

But as he strolled into my office, we were seeing a completely different man right before our eyes.

For starters, he wore…jeans.

This was a man who wore a business suit almost every day of his life, even in the comfort of his own home.

And with his jeans, he had on a polo shirt. A pink polo shirt.

That showcased a tan he had.

“Boys!”

Even his tone was different. He put his arms out, I guess expecting a hug. Chase and I shared a confused look as we approached him with apprehension. An awkward three-person huddle was all I could call it before we separated and sat down.

The look that shrouded his face was not one I expected. He looked…sentimental. And I didn’t know if that was a good sign for us or not.

“I missed you both,” he said.

Terms of endearment were not prevalent in the Parker household, so Chase and I were at a loss.

“Yeah, Dad, us too,” I said. “You’ve been traveling a lot. How’s that been for you?”

Leaning back and crossing an ankle over his knee, he looked as though the travel had done him some good. More good than anticipated.

“Retirement is what I’ve needed, boys.” Looking around the office, his eyes settled on the bar. “Is it too early?”

“Um, no, I don’t think so. We can celebrate your arrival, why not?”

I stood to prepare the drinks when Chase chimed in. “It’s never too early in my book,” he said, then laughed.

The three highball glasses balanced in my hands as I made my way back to them.

“Pappy,” my father said, approval dripping from his words.

We brought our drinks together over the table separating us, and each took a long sip of bourbon. The hope that they could calm the nerves flapping around in my gut was high.

“Gage, I wanted to say how sorry I am about Jared,” he started.

As much as I knew the topic of him would likely come up, it didn’t make it any easier. Especially since my father didn’t come back for Jared’s memorial. I wouldn’t say I was shocked by that, but it hurt, nonetheless.

“I know how important he was to you, and he was to many of us. His loss will be felt.”

As much as my father seemed to have changed, he was still him, thinking about the company.

“I took a tour of the floors before making it to you. Things are running smoothly, boys. I’m impressed.” He took a long swallow of his drink before placing the tumbler on the table. “We all know why we’re having this meeting. But there are a few things we should discuss first that might play a role in any decisions made today.” Leaning forward on his knees, his hands came together as he stared ahead at the floor.

“I, um, met someone.”

The room went silent.

Chase and I chanced a look at one another, his eyebrows rising at the news. The way our father delivered the news, it was if he felt we would be disappointed in him. Finally, looking up, he glanced at each of us, one at a time.

“Are you boys okay with that?”

“Dad,” I blurted out. “What do you even mean by that? You’re a grown man. Your wife left you decades ago. Why wouldn’t we be okay with this?”

The concerned look on my father’s face morphed slightly at my words. Looking at Chase to see his reaction, I couldn’t read him, his face a blank slate.

“Dad,” I said again, this time more in control of my emotions. “I can only speak for myself, but I think it’s great that you’ve met someone.”

Leaning forward, his hands rubbing together in a nervous ball, he shifted his attention to Chase. We both did.

“Hey,” Chase started. “Don’t look at me. I’d never stand in the way of you getting some, Dad. Shit, I thought you were anyway, just not saying anything, to be honest.”

That got a laugh out of all of us and lightened the mood.

“She, uh, we met in Italy. But she’s from the States, from California actually. She’s a widow and her name is Sara.”

His face lit up as he spoke of her. And for the first time, possibly in my life, I saw my father as a human. Not just the person who cracked the whip on me and Chase our whole lives to do well in school in order to take over this place. Not just the person who stomped around here nervous about the bottom line. Not just the person who thought only about the company and not his sons.

But a human who needed the comfort of another human.

And he was transformed now that he had it.

“Boys,” he said. “I’m sorry. For so many years of, well, just being me.” Sitting back, he spread his arms out as he looked around the office. “You both are doing well here. I do want to hear your plans for the future, but I already know that they’ll be exactly what Parker Financial needs.”

Of course, I was pleased that the company was staying with us, with the Parker family, and with my brother and me.

But we gained something much more valuable today than a billion-dollar company staying in our power.

We got our dad back.

When I walked into the brownstone, it was obvious Harper wasn’t home yet. There was a feeling of life in this place when she was here, and it was absent at the moment. She didn’t know it yet, but I wasn’t letting her go back to her apartment. I didn’t care if we were moving fast. Almost dying forced you to realize that every day you must…live. And I didn’t want to live another day without her waking up in my bed.

She had her appointment today to get her cast removed.

One physical reminder gone: check.

Once I was done with physical therapy, maybe my brain would be able to shut off some thoughts of the accident for a while. But for now, every daily activity was still affected by the injury I sustained that fateful day, prolonging my grief in the process.

But Harper was right in her explanation. The little place in my brain where I tried to put the pain grew each day, allowing me to tuck more and more of the sadness away.

“Gage?”

“I’m out back,” I yelled to her.

These simple moments of her coming “home” and calling out to me. I didn’t take them for granted. I savored every one of them. Standing up to meet her as she came through the sliding door, I was greeted with the most beautiful creature wearing a huge smile.

“Hi,” I said. “Let me grab you a beer. I didn’t know when you’d get home.”

“Wait,” she said, stopping me with her hand on my arm. “Tell me how today went.” She sat on the couch, the anxiety clear in her voice.

The call I left her while she was at the shop went to voicemail and then she had to run to the doctor, so we missed each other all afternoon.

“Believe it or not, it went better than I could’ve expected.” My smile rivaled hers.

“Oh, Gage, thank God, I’m so happy for you.” She reached out and grabbed my hands with both of hers.

Looking down, I realized the cast was indeed off. Her left wrist and lower arm were significantly lighter in color than her right. Reaching out, I rubbed the dimpled skin.

“How’s it feeling? What’d the doctor say?”

“All good. He doesn’t even think I’ll need PT.” She leaned against the back of the couch looking so relaxed. “I have more good news. When I was leaving the shop, I went by my apartment to grab some stuff, and I saw Rex, the bodega owner.” She sat up to finish her story, her smile widening. “Maria got accepted into the program I suggested at New York Presbyterian. She’s seeing a doctor.”

Pulling her legs onto my lap, she instinctively cuddled into my side.

“Of course she did, and of course she is. That doesn’t surprise me one bit, because you’re an amazing person, Harper Wilson.”

We sat back in silence, enjoying the chirp of some nearby crickets.

“Want me to get you that beer?” I asked her, starting to sit up.

I felt her shake her head against my chest. Content with not having to move, I settled back with her in my arms, happy to have our night ahead of us.

Our lives ahead of us.

“I have something else to tell you,” she said. But her tone changed. It was more serious.

Sitting up, I needed to see her face and read what was going on. My anxiety shot up immediately. But as soon as I saw the tiny smile form on her lips, the calm settled in again.

“I think it’s news you’ll like,” she said. “Well, I know you’ll like it.” She sat and pulled away, sitting across from me on the couch. “I think you know I’m a pretty independent person.”

There was no truer a statement. But I was confused where this could be going, so all I did was nod.

“Now that the cast is off, I knew I’d be able to go back to the club soon,” she said. “I stopped there after the appointment. It had been a while since I’d seen some of my friends there. I actually ran into Pete, which was great.”

Her smile made me realize that the club had been a part of her life long before I came into it. She had connections there that meant something to her.

“I like Pete,” I told her.

“He’s great,” she agreed. “And I’m going to miss him.”

I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly, and she knew that.

“So, this decision was made by me, but for us. I don’t want to be out at night anymore, away from you. If I have to work a few years longer at Fiona’s to save up for my own shop, I will.”

I was torn about how to react. She knew this was going to make me happy. But it stemmed from a very turbulent moment in our past. If I acted too happy, it would bring all of that rushing back.

“Harper,” I said. In that one word, my feelings of her wanting to be sure she made the right decision, yet happy at the same time she quit, all came through.

“I know, Gage. And again, I made this decision, all me.” She reached out and put her arms around my neck. “I mean, your sexy body, those caramel eyes, and how good you use your hands may have had a little to do with it, but it was my decision.”

We shared a laugh before we joined for a kiss.

“Well, I appreciate you making that major change in your life for us. That couldn’t have been easy to do,” I said, stroking her cheek. “We should have Vic and Pete over soon.”

She nodded, then fell back against the couch. Kicking her shoes off, she curled into my hold even more.

“What did you need to get at your apartment?” I asked as I relished the feel of her in my arms.

The evening was cool for the end of July, perfect for us to spend our entire night on the patio. Maybe get some takeout and watch a movie.

“Just some basics, some more underwear, and stuff like that.”

And I knew I had to just do it. Especially after what she just announced.

“Harper,” I said. “I think we should head back there and get the rest of your things.”

Her body went completely still underneath my arm.

We talked about this.

She knew I wanted it.

And I knew she was afraid.

And maybe it was too much change for one day. But there was no reason for her to leave. None at all.

Eventually, she sat up and looked at me. Really looked at me. With a face I couldn’t read and it made my heart still for a beat as I held my breath. But then the smile slid across her lips.

“Yeah,” she said. “I think we should.”

I let out the breath I was holding. “Yeah?” I couldn’t contain the excitement in my voice.

Laying back against me, she was about to settle into my arms, but she sat up again.

“But all my plants are coming, too,” she said, a tone of warning in her voice.

“All of them? Even the boot?” My whiny voice earned me a scoff at first.

Then she giggled and poked me in my ribs. “Yes, even the boot. That’s my favorite one. I found that boot under a bench, just left behind. Who leaves behind one boot?”

Fucking adorable. Everything about her was adorable.

And sexy. Her talking about a boot filled with dirt was making me want to take her upstairs and do dirty things to her.

“Maybe someone who knew the boot was gross and it should go in the garbage?” I responded.

She giggled even more as I poked her in the side, our tickle fight escalating. My hand was all over her waist, and she was afraid to fight back, I knew, for fear of hurting me.

“Stop, Gage!” she squealed. “Please, stop!”

I did stop. And I noticed happy tears sprang from her eyes now that our battle ended. Wiping them away, she looked around the patio, taking in our surroundings. The sun had set in the time our talk took place, casting an amber glow into the yard. The lights I’d hung at the beginning of the season lit the space above us.

“I love it out here,” she said. “It’s probably my favorite spot in your entire house.”

Looking at her as she scanned the patio, I didn’t say the Hallmark words that came to my mind. Love turned me soft, really soft. Instead, I reached up and pulled her to me.

I knew I was walking the path I was meant to, with her.

“I think I see me putting an old bike in that corner, and filling a basket on it with flowers,” she started. “And maybe have a planter made out of the seat.” She looked at me, excitement filling her face.

I let her ramble on and on about what she wanted to do once she moved in.

Turning my house into our home.