66
Through the sliding door, Jenner brought me outside and onto his large pool deck. The view showed the gorgeous homes that were similar to his, sitting along the Hollywood Hills. And along the edge, before his property dropped, Craig had placed a table with candles and linens.
We took a seat across from each other, and Jenner lifted the bottle of cab that Craig had left for us and filled our glasses. The moment he was done pouring, I wrapped my fingers around the stem.
“Rough day?” he asked as I sipped.Content © copyrighted by NôvelDrama.Org.
“It wasn’t until you made me drool in your office.” I winked. “Not really. It was just a long day.” I took another drink, holding the glass to my chest so the wine wouldn’t be far. “We’re putting together the marketing campaign for Utah, and the twenty-million-dollar renovation on our Napa hotel was just finished, so we’re planning a whole reopening and kickoff for that property.” I took a breath. “And working for my father is interesting-you know, when it comes to duties and expectations and all the things.” I swallowed down a bit more wine. “There’s just a lot going on.”
“I know better than anyone what it’s like to work with parents. I understand.”
I nodded, knowing he got exactly what I was talking about. “And I miss Monica. She’s been gone now for three weeks, and texting and FaceTime just aren’t the same.”
I couldn’t be happier for my bestie. She’d scored a job with the most-sought-after stylist in LA-a connection she’d made through James, Brett’s fiancee. But now, she was on the road more than she was home, traveling the world to style their clients.
“When does she get back?”
“Next week,” I told him. “But only for three days, and then she leaves for Paris.”
He grinned. “LA has been good for her.”
“No, LA has been great for her.”
I quieted as Craig approached with two small plates in his hands. “Homemade pork dumplings over a seaweed, cucumber, and kimchi salad.” He placed them in front of us. “Enjoy.”
Every time I ate over here, Craig’s cooking continuously blew me away. He was better than any restaurant I’d been to in this city.
“Looks incredible, as always,” I told him, my mouth watering.
“And it smells delicious,” Jenner added.
He thanked us and went back inside the house.
“Wow.” I moaned from behind my hand, chewing my first bite. “This is wildly good.”
Jenner held his fork in the air, not touching his food yet. “Has LA been as good for you?”
“Eh, it’s been all right.” I shrugged. “I only scored the most delicious boyfriend in the world, who I’m completely obsessed with, and I have a job that’s challenging in the most fulfilling ways.” I chewed his favorite lip. “I’d say it’s going great for me too.”
His leg grazed mine under the table. “Minus the elephant in the room.”
“Ugh. Thaaat.” I shoved a cucumber into my mouth. “Let’s skip that convo and move on to something better, like what we’re going to do tomorrow since we both have the day off.”
Except, as he stared at me, finally chewing his first bite, the elephant wasn’t gone.
It was very much standing between us.
And that was the impending conversation we needed to have with my father.
When we’d returned from Utah six weeks ago, Jenner had insisted we talk to him immediately. He didn’t want there to be any secrets. He wanted us to be able to live freely without any weight bearing on us. His reasoning made sense. I just wasn’t ready to go there. Before we tackled that massive task, I wanted Jenner to be positive that this was what he really wanted.
That I was what he wanted.
And every single day since we’d gotten back, he’d proven that to me.
He’d once told me that relationships were foreign to him, that he didn’t know how to be in one.
But he was the most attentive, compassionate, loving man I had ever been with.
And he was right; it was time to tell Dad.
I just feared what that would look like and how Jenner would react to whatever transpired, so avoiding the situation was easier.
“I can’t convince you to talk about your dad?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Not tonight.”
“Then, let’s talk about tomorrow.”
I reached for my wine again. “Yes, tomorrow. What’s on your mind?”
He finished the last piece of kimchi and said, “We can take our time waking up and go for a run at Runyon Canyon. Stop somewhere for brunch and come back to my place to get the massages I’ve scheduled for us. When those are done, I see a long nap before we get ready for dinner.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “We have a reservation at Nobu.”
I sighed, reaching across the table until my fingers landed on his. “I love you.”
“Anything you want to add or change?”
“It all sounds dreamy.”
Craig came back to our table, adding more wine to our glasses and removing our plates. “Are you ready for the main course, or do you want me to hold off for a bit?”
The sooner we finished this heavenly meal, the sooner Jenner’s hands would be on my body.
“I’m ready,” I told him.
Jenner agreed.
Once we were alone again, I said, “How about tonight? What’s on the agenda?”
He glanced toward the Hills, where the sun was starting to set, an orange sky lighting up the space above our heads. “We’re going to finish eating and have dessert.” He turned back in my direction, smiling. “There’s a shipment from Gloria waiting for us in my kitchen.”
My eyes widened. “You didn’t?”
He chuckled. “I fucking did.” He leaned forward, getting closer. “It arrived this morning, and there’s a shitload of blueberry cake and blueberry fudge in the box.”
“Did I already tell you I love you? Because I need to tell you again.”
“I love you too, baby.” He moved his elbows to the table, getting even closer than before. “Once we’re done, I’m going to strip off your clothes, and we’re getting in the hot tub.” He rolled his neck to each side. “I think we could both use it after a long week.”
“You’re talking porn to me right now.”
He laughed again. “And then I’m carrying you into my shower, where I’ll set you on the bench inside and spread your legs over the granite, and I’m going to get on my knees to eat your fucking pussy.”
I took a breath, but I wasn’t sure how.
I was positive there wasn’t any air left in my body.
“If you don’t stop,” I warned, “I’m going to drag you into your bedroom right now and spoil this whole dinner.”
He rubbed the back side of my hand, a sly expression crossing his face. “You liked tomorrow’s plan. Is there anything you want to add to tonight? Anything you want to negotiate?”
My body was pulsing.
My pussy clenching.
“Let me guess, Jo … you’re fucking wet again.”