The Stopover (The Miles High Club, #1)(98)

I watch as she picks up her wineglass and sips it; her burgundy lipstick marks the glass in a perfect lip shape, and I smile—even her lipstick on the glass does things to me.

I would never want to wash it again; I’m like a starstruck schoolboy.

Her behind moves sexily to the beat, and I watch her, transfixed by the beautiful woman in my kitchen. She turns and catches sight of me and smiles sexily. “Hello.”

She comes to me, and I wrap her in my arms.

“How’s my man?” she asks as she kisses me softly.

“Good now that I’m home.”

Our lips touch again and again, and I sit her up on the counter and stand between her legs as we kiss.

“Are we having an entrée before our meal, Mr. Miles?” she breathes against my lips.

I unzip my fly. “Looks like it.”

It’s Thursday and crazy around here. We are preparing reports for our board meetings tomorrow. It feels good to be back at it without the added pressure of all the other shit that’s been going on around here. Tristan and I are at my desk, discussing the new advertising budget we have set, when there’s a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I call. The door opens, and a familiar face comes into view. My face falls, and I stand immediately. “Claudia.”

Tristan’s eyes widen, and he looks to me as he stands. “Hi, Claud.” He rushes to her and kisses her on the cheek. “How are you?” he asks.

She forces a smile. “Good, thank you . . . and you?”

“Great.” Tristan’s eyes meet mine across the room. “I have some things to do. See you later, Claud.”

“Goodbye.” Her smile fades, and her nervous eyes come to me. “Hello, Jameson.”

“Hello.” I walk around and kiss her on the cheek; her familiar perfume permeates around me, and I frown at the memories it evokes. “How are you?” I ask.

She clutches her purse. “I’ve resigned from Vogue. I’m coming home to New York.”

I stare at her, lost for words.

“I’ve missed you too much, Jameson. I can’t live without you,” she whispers.

My heart drops. “Claud, no . . .”

Her eyes fill with tears. “You said it was distance.”

Empathy fills me. I can’t stand seeing her upset, and I take her into my arms.

“It’s not the distance anymore,” I murmur into her hair. The door opens, and Emily bounces in. Her face falls, and she stops on the spot when she sees Claudia in my arms.

“Oh . . . I’m—”

“Come in, Emily,” I say.

Claudia pulls out of my arms, and her crazy eyes go to Emily.

“Claudia, this is Emily . . . my girlfriend,” I introduce them.

Emily’s eyes flick between us, and then she holds out her hand. “Hello, Claudia. Nice to meet you.” She smiles kindly.

Claudia shakes her hand. “Hello.” She turns her attention back to me.

Emily looks between us again. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

“Thank you,” I whisper as my eyes stay fixed firmly on Claudia. I hate hurting her.

“Goodbye,” Emily says. “Nice to meet you.”

Claudia’s eyes fill with tears anew as the door quietly clicks closed. “Does she even know who I am?” she whispers.

“Yes.”

“And she found me in your arms and is happy to leave you here with me?” she mutters sarcastically.

My eyes hold hers, annoyed that she thinks Emily has reason to be insecure. “She knows where my heart lies.”

Claudia’s eyes fill with tears, and I internally kick myself for being an ass. “I’m coming home to New York, Jameson. We can get back together.”

“No, we can’t.”





Her eyes search mine.


“I’m marrying her, Claud.”

“Don’t say that,” she whispers. “She’s just easy for you because she’s no challenge.”

“You’re wrong; she’s the love of my life.”

She clenches her jaw in anger. “You bastard.”

“I’m sorry.” I step back from her. “But there’s no other way to put it.”

Her anger erupts. “So . . . what happens when I see you out?” she snaps.

“You say hello.”

“Do you think you can replace me so easily?” she stammers.

I stare at her, sad that she’s hurting.

“I love you, Jameson. Come back to me,” she pleads as she takes my hand in hers.

“You need to go, Claud.”

“You’re kicking me out?” she shrieks.

“No. I’m asking you to leave.”

“That’s the same thing.”

I exhale heavily; this isn’t going to end well. I need to end it before an all-out war begins. I kiss her on the forehead and walk to the door and open it. “Goodbye, Claudia.”

She angrily swipes the tears from her eyes and storms past me. I close the door and stare at the carpet for a moment as I feel the tectonic plates move another notch closer to goal. I go back to my desk and dial Emily’s number.

“Hi,” she answers.