Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
All the things Beckett wished he could say left a burning trail of unspoken regret… Come home with me… Let me be the one to take care of you… Can’t you see how right we are together… I’ll keep you safe for the rest of our lives… I love you.
His and Julian’s little bubble, hiding them from the world, was about to pop. The sun moved overhead. The noise of increasing traffic picked up around them. The attendant blew her whistle then threw out her frustrated hands, done with the lovers having to say their goodbyes.
“I should go. We’re gonna be late.” Woofer had patiently waited by their sides for the length of the emotional goodbye. Beckett reached down, taking Woofer’s leash, then he took the strap of one of his suitcases and tossed it over his shoulder before taking the other’s handle in hand. Only then did Julian take a decent size step away from Beckett. “Watch my truck?”
“I decided if you don’t hurry back, I’ll start driving it myself. That should be a warning,” Julian teased and shut the trunk of his car. He reached out, giving Woofer a good rub to the head. “Call me when you get home.”
Beckett’s heart gave a painful thump as he nodded and took small steps backward toward the sidewalk. “Go learn how to manage Reservations.”
“Pfft,” Julian said, tossing a careless hand in the air. “I need to go show them how Reservations is going to be run from here on out.”
Beckett didn’t doubt Julian’s declaration. They stood there, six or seven feet apart, staring at one another. None of the connection they’d shared was lost.
I love you. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you… Please love me.
A quick exhale burst from Beckett’s parted lips. He meant every one of those words and wished he was brave enough to say them out loud.
His racing thoughts focused on the private security company he’d hired yesterday. Marc was a longtime friend. A member of Beckett’s inaugural training course—the group of men who began his and his father’s company. He and Marc had become fast friends. So much so that Beckett hadn’t thought twice about asking Marc to watch over Julian in his absence. Luckily, Marc was semi-retired and able to start immediately, but he hadn’t offered any friends or family discounts. Twenty-four seven secret personal protection details didn’t come cheap.
“Go. And take care of my dog,” Julian said, tossing out another hand toward the airport’s entrance. Woofer took the motion as a command and turned, giving a tug to the leash in Beckett’s tight hold.
Something raw and vulnerable crossed Julian’s brow before he ducked his head and started for the driver’s side door. Beckett had given his oath to Julian, swearing Woofer would have the best possible care, while in return, Julian promised Woofer he’d see him again soon.
Julian never looked back. Beckett knew that with all certainty because he kept his eyes on Julian until he pulled away. He let their non-goodbye be enough for now since he’d be back in Coronado soon. This wasn’t a goodbye. Not by a long shot.
Hopefully, this was the beginning of their forever.
Somewhere along the way, Julian’s fake it till you make it attitude had paid off. His faux sense of confidence in his job performance had somehow become a reality. Who knew that he had it in him to be anything more than a reprobate? Certainly not his parents. Nor the church nor the private school clergy who had hesitantly agreed to mentor him in his childhood.
This morning, all his lifelong doubts had changed. After several grueling and intensive hours of meetings with the Reservations general manager and the Dishology transition team, Julian truly believed he could handle his new position. He had even engaged enough to add value in his ideas of streamlining certain techniques to help the current processes flow a little easier. Based on the reactions of those in attendance—including Thane—Julian had clearly impressed his peers, which went a long way to boosting Julian’s confidence in his business acumen.
“Thanks for fighting for me,” Ricco said quietly as he walked stride for stride beside Julian down the sidewalk leading from Escape to the front doors of Reservations. “It sounds like I’ll get an offer for the manager position.”
“You will,” Julian said confidently, never breaking his hurried gait as he mentally ticked off his to-do list before he could leave Reservations for the night. He cast a quick glance over at Ricco who was grinning ear to ear. This bartender had come to the interview with his A-game today, dressed to impress.
Julian had wrangled Ricco’s first interview into the day’s packed training schedule. Ricco had taken the opportunity to heart. The sexy, hot bartender, who could easily pull in a thousand dollars in tips on a Saturday night by doing little more than bouncing his perfect ass, looked like a young Wall Street professional.