We'd spent the rest of the weekend together, somehow managing to top the best sex of my life many times over. But my favorite moments were those when we were cuddled in bed. I could have happily spent the rest of my life in that hotel bed with him, but reality too quickly intruded.
"I'm going to need you to start pushing on the next contraction," the doctor instructed, pulling me from my memories.
"You can do this," Macy encouraged, lending me her strength as she stared into my eyes.
My gaze drifted away from her and locked on the door. I was still staring at it when the next contraction hit and I started to push. My eyes remained glued to that damn door for the next two hours of labor as I pushed my baby boy into the world. It wasn't until I heard his cry fill the room that I finally looked away.
Giving birth to our beautiful baby boy without Weston meant he'd broken his promise to me. I loved my best friend, and she'd done an amazing job as my birthing coach. But she wasn't the person I'd needed with all my heart. She wasn't Weston.
It was finally time for me to accept the reality of my situation and give up the hopes and dreams I'd weaved around him. He was gone, and he wasn't coming back. I needed to look ahead to my future. I had a precious baby to raise-a treasured gift from the man who'd stolen my heart and smashed it to pieces.
Chapter 1
Weston
"Welcome back, Weston." I looked up from the paperwork on my desk to see Kat, my handler, standing next to my desk. I lifted my chin in greeting. Her eyes flickered up and down my body, and I felt like there was something odd in her expression. Then again, I knew what she was seeing.
My hair was buzzed along the sides but left just a little too long on the top. A small silver hoop winked from my right ear lobe, and scruff covered the bottom half of my face, like always. It didn't matter if I shaved in the morning. She couldn't see most of it under my dress shirt and suit coat, but my arms, hands, chest, and back were covered in ink and with my height and muscular build, it was pretty common for people to fear me. I looked like one badass motherfucker.
I was also one hell of a shot, a decent boxer, and could out drink most men. Most people would never guess that I was born into a wealthy family, had a degree from Harvard, and was worth millions.
The Company took full advantage of my look and skills, sending me on the most dangerous missions in the seedy underbellies of the world. It wasn't until this last mission that I began to question how long my life expectancy really was if I kept up with these jobs.
"Hey, Kat. I'm about to head to my meeting, just grabbing my reports." I shook my head as I shuffled through them again. "A year undercover on one fucking assignment, you'd think The Company could streamline it down to one."
She snickered and stepped back when I stood, grabbing my bag and coat. I was beat, I hadn't even been home yet, instead coming straight to the office for my assignment debrief.
I stuck my hands in the pockets of my slacks as we walked, a question rolling around in my head. It was ridiculous to ask. It had been a year of silence, but somehow, I still couldn't help holding out a spark of hope. "Have there been any messages to that dummy email I set up?"
Kat threw me a look of sympathy and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Wes. Nothing."
A flash annoyance streaked through me at her use of the nickname. I fucking hated being called Wes, but it wasn't worth correcting her, she'd just keep using it. I pushed the irritation aside and got back to my original question.
"You checked to make sure it was working?" I drilled her with a no-nonsense stare. Her lips turned down into a pout, and I checked the urge to roll my eyes.
"Of course I did. I sent several test emails. It's hard enough being undercover, I wanted to make sure you weren't completely cut off from everyone but me." We reached the conference room door and she smiled before stepping inside. I waited for a moment, trying to get a grip on my disappointment. In lieu of putting my fist through the wall in front of me, I mentally pounded on my head, trying to dislodge any remaining emotions toward Aspen Kennedy. It didn't work. She'd turned me into a fucking pussy.
I sighed and went in, taking a seat across the table from my superior. I spent the next three hours going over every detail of every report I'd written about my assignment. By the time we were done, I was dead on my feet. I grabbed a cab to my Georgetown apartment, barely noticing all of the stately scenery that made up Washington D.C. Instead, thoughts of Aspen filled my head, no matter how hard I tried to avoid them. When I finally fell into bed, I didn't have the energy to fight them any longer and I was swamped in her memory.
Before this last mission, I'd stopped in Atlanta to see my baby sister, Jenna. We'd grown up there and while I'd gone to Georgetown University in D.C., she'd stayed close to home, even though our parents had retired to Florida. I had intended to spend the whole week with her, but Friday night, I'd gone to a bar with my best friend, Xander, and everything changed.
That was where I met her. She was sitting at the bar, her back facing me so that my first glimpse of her was long, wavy blonde hair, curvy hips, and a round, luscious ass. Then she turned slightly to her left, leaning in to hear the woman sitting next to her. I was struck speechless by a classically beautiful profile, spectacular tits, and a pair of endless legs. Legs that were practically naked due to the fucking scrap of fabric that could only generously be referred to as a skirt. I'd felt a possessive growl rumbling in my throat and immediately headed her way.
My attention was stolen from her stems when she threw her head back and laughed. Speechless didn't cover what I felt at that moment. I didn't realize it at the time, but by the end of the weekend, I knew, that was the moment I fell in love.
When I reached her side, the little redhead she was obviously with smiled brightly, winked at me, and swiveled her stool to strike up conversation with the person on her other side. I immediately liked her.
My beautiful blonde turned around and her rich, brown eyes locked onto mine. I started to extend my hand for a shake but before I knew it, I'd cupped her face and was laying a firm kiss on her plump, rosy lips. To my surprise, she immediately melted into me.
Sparks flew between us, and I felt every single one shoot straight to my rapidly hardening cock. My skin sizzled everywhere we touched and I was quickly becoming desperate for her. I wanted her underneath me, on top of me, bent over in front of me. But along with the blazing desire to fuck her, I felt a need to know her.
When I finally pulled back, she looked a little dazed, then a grin stole across her face. I knew I should say something, but her smile practically knocked me on my ass. This girl was everything my dreams were made of. And, somehow I knew, the beauty on the inside would match that of the outside.
"While that was probably the best kiss I've ever had in my life"-I might have puffed up like a fucking peacock. See? Pussy-"I think we should at least know each other's name before we end up in another lip lock."
I chuckled, sliding my hands from her face, down her neck, circling her throat. "Weston Davis," I murmured. I stole another quick kiss. "Okay, your turn."
She laughed and warmth bloomed in my chest. "Aspen Kennedy." Even her name was gorgeous. Though, Aspen Davis had a nicer ring to it. The thought had come out of fucking nowhere and for the umpteenth time that night, I was stunned by the situation. However, it only took another touch of our mouths for me to accept it. Yeah, this girl was going to rock the name Aspen Davis.
I got us both drinks and led her to a table where we talked for over an hour until I was out of patience. I stood and asked her to come with me. She'd taken my hand and when she got up, I tucked her into my side. She was average height, but I still towered over her in her sparkly, silver flats. Perfect. She was fucking perfect.
By the end of the night, when she was naked, cuddled up in my arms, and fast asleep, I quietly called my sister and begged her forgiveness. The rest of the weekend was devoted to Aspen and when Monday arrived, I'd never hated my job more.
There wasn't much I could tell her, but I gave her an email address so she could get in touch with me, and Kat was the link between the email and me. Aspen rode with me to the airport and I held her until the very last minute. Right then, I knew that was going to be my last assignment as a field operative.
For the next twelve months, I anticipated every opportunity I had to pick up communications from my dead drops. Every time, I expected to see something from Aspen, but it never came. I went through cycles of anger, disappointment, and even wondered if I'd imagined the connection between us.
Now I was home and confident it hadn't been an illusion but torn as to whether I should pursue her and force her to face it. She obviously didn't want to hear from me. That was just too fucking bad. Questioning myself wasn't my style, I needed to man up and end this bullshit.
I'd made a decision. Aspen was mine, and I wasn't letting her go without a fight. No, fuck that. I wasn't letting her go at all.
I finally fell asleep, but as usual, I woke up in a sweat, on the verge of coming from dreams of our time together. And, like most mornings, I took a frigid fucking shower to cool myself off.
I called a friend at the agency and had them look her up for me. Since I was already packed, all I had to do was swap out my clothes and I was ready to go. I took off for the airport and bought a ticket on the first flight to Atlanta. I didn't want to take the time to drive or ride my bike, so I booked an SUV, a rental car that could comfortably accommodate my size. I kept another chopper at my sister's house anyway. Once I arrived, I picked up my rental and checked into my hotel. Then I quickly dropped my stuff on the bed and jogged back out to my rental. Suppressing my nerves, I drove the thirty minutes out to the suburb where she lived.