Rebound (Boomerang #2)(77)

“That’s not going to happen, Adam. I promise.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he says and pulls me into his arms. “Only this does. Only you.”





Chapter 44



Adam


I lean up on my arm and stare at Ali who’s, unsurprisingly, monopolizing the bed, and brush the back of my fingers along her shoulder.

She stirs awake. “Hi,” she says, smiling.

“Hey, beautiful.”

Her eyes darken—reflecting the need she must see on my face. I run my hands down her body and love the way she watches me, surrenders to me. I could explore her forever, and I tell her that between kisses. How I can’t get enough of her. It’s been a night of this, our bodies always connected. Over and over, we’ve driven each other over the edge, but we’re both still starving. We can’t get enough of each other.

“Adam, please,” she says, taking me into her hand and guiding me home. She’s ready for me, warm silk, and as I sink deep inside her, as she arches her back like even this closeness, us joined together, isn’t enough, I don’t see how that could ever change. When she shudders in my arms, my name on her lips, nothing else compares. Nothing in the world has ever felt this good or this right.

Eventually, we make it into the shower together. I notice she’s not wearing her “A” earrings.

“Ali,” I say, rubbing my thumb over her earlobe. I can’t stop looking deep into her eyes now. They’re so pretty. They’re so gentle and intelligent and . . . good. “Did you lose them?”

“No.” She shakes her head and her smile fades. “They were a gift from my father.” The finger that’s been tracing the lines of my tattoo stills. “He gave them to me after . . . after I caught him. And I just can’t wear them anymore.”

I’m already thinking about buying her new ones. Better ones. More carats. Maybe spell her entire name out in fat diamonds. Or maybe a horse, because I know that would make her happier. Yeah, I’m buying her a horse. The best one I can find.

“About today, Adam,” she says. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about before the party.”

That reminds me. It was close to one in the afternoon when we got in the shower and the party starts at two—which means my employees will probably be knocking on my door any minute.

“Can it wait? Because we only have a little while, and there are other issues I’d like to attend to first.”

Ali smiles. “Ah, yes. Pressing issues.” She wraps her arms around my neck, bringing her sleek, perfect body to mine. “Okay. Let’s address those first.”

Ali takes my car to drive home. Her hair is tied in a damp knot on top of her head, in her red dress, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything hotter than that—then her smiling at me from inside my Bugatti as she carefully backs out of my driveway.

“Come on, Quick!” I shout. “Let’s see what you got!”

She laughs and rolls her eyes at me, and makes the most adorably slow trip up my street, using the turn signal and everything as she disappears around the corner.

Jesus. I’ve got it bad.

I shave and pull on some sand-colored jeans and a button-down. I find myself rushing, and I realize it’s because I want to get back to her.

The doorbell rings. When I answer, my quiet street resembles a busy parking lot. Rhett smiles at me. Pippa, Paolo, Sadie. Mia and Ethan. Brooks and Cookie. The guys from accounting. My entire IT department. Everyone’s congregating on my driveway.

My eyes travel to my brother, who’s next to Brooks. Grey was supposed to be in San Diego for his gig.

“Brooks texted me this morning,” Grey says, shrugging, like it’s no big deal that he’s missing something I know he was excited about. “I wanted to see this.”

This—which is the crystal-clear message my team is sending me by being here.

Quick might have my company, but their loyalty is still with me.

We arrive in a caravan at the Quicks’ estate. Graham has spared no expense, and the lavish grounds are perfect for a party. Fresh flowers are planted everywhere and fill huge vases on every table. There are string lights on every tree and servers in tuxedos carrying trays of wine, champagne, and hors d’oeuvres wander around.

My employees and I wind up by the pool, where a live band plays on the expansive courtyard to the right. The day is bright and sunny, unseasonably warm for this time of year. We get drinks, and settle into the party, which is a mixture of my people and Quick’s.

I haven’t seen Graham yet or his wife, but I’m not anxious. I’m ready to see him. I’ll learn to work with him, for my employees and for Alison. There’s no anger inside me now, even though he’s taken so much from me. I have no room for it.

How can I be angry, when Sadie and Pippa are freaking with Grey—who looks way too comfortable with the situation? How can I be angry, when I see Raylene and Rhett curled against each other on a lounge chair? Mia and Ethan laughing, in their own little world. Philippe and Paolo talking like they’ve been friends for a decade. Brooks and Cookie in a deep conversation, which . . . is a surprising mismatch, to say the least.

As I look around me, anger is not a possibility. It just isn’t. I’m lighter now that Chloe’s parents and mine know the truth. And I have Ali in my life now.