Chapter 19

After Hugh spent the night at my apartment, we fell into a habit of fake dating more easily than I cared to admit. Unlike the days when Hugh and I hadn't been speaking, which had dragged no matter how busy I tried to make myself, the remainder of November and most of December passed in a blur of work and cozy evenings, shopping and holiday preparations, Saturdays filled with family events and quiet, rainy Sundays on the couch.

I would have liked to pretend that the clear end date was the reason things were so easy, but the truth was… it was Hugh. Despite us coming from very different backgrounds and living very different lives, I'd never felt as comfortable with anyone as I did with him… unless I started to think about the future.

Because Hugh still wanted the happily ever after, and I didn't know how to be that for him any better than I ever had. If we were in a real relationship, there would come a day when one of us would realize things simply weren't right and that relationship would end. I couldn't say for sure when or how it would happen—I never could—only that it would. And maybe that made it a self-fulfilling prophesy or something, but I didn't think so. I'd dated so many good, kind, intelligent men—men who were obviously made for loving relationships since they went on to have them after me—and I'd tried to make it work with each of them. But like I'd told Hugh before, I lacked the talent to actually get there.

The fact that I had serious, scary, capital-F Feelings for Hugh, stronger than I'd ever felt for anyone—Feelings that seeped out of my pores while I slept and slid silently onto the body clutched tightly in my arms, escaped from my lungs on every exhale and were inhaled by Hugh's generous mouth when I couldn't pull away from his kiss, and even sometimes escaped my traitorous eyeballs and washed across Hugh's face and chest when it was safe enough to disguise them in the warm water from a shared shower—wouldn't change the outcome.

But they made me determined to enjoy every fucking second between now and New Year's. To imprint Hugh on my soul forever.

"TJ said he's okay with moving the in-person to a virtual meeting for the LA thing. It's on your calendar," Lesya said. "Meanwhile, your mom called and wanted me to find a time for you to go shopping with her for wedding and holiday stuff. I'm going to block off Friday afternoon unless there's any reason I shouldn't."

I blinked, calling my attention back to my meeting and my assistant, who was waiting for my response with her tablet balanced on her knee.

"Oh, ah… yeah. Fine. But I told my friend Hugh I'd go with him to a holiday party that night, so tell my mother I'll have to be done by six."

She lifted an eyebrow. "Didn't you just go to his party last week?"

A notification popped up on my phone. Hugh had just posted a new HEA TikTok. Without hesitation, I clicked it.

"Mhmm. Friends do that for each other," I said, staring at Hugh's gorgeous face on the screen before he swung the camera toward an older couple.

A minute passed. The video looped, and I watched it through a second time.

"Okay, far be it from me to suggest that you're distracted," Lesya began. "But you're seriously hella distracted, Oscar. What's going on with you?You seem… different. I dunno. Brighter, somehow."

I found myself wanting to trace Hugh's handsome face on my phone, so I clicked it off and guiltily set it facedown on my desk.

"Hyaluronic acid serum," I said. I grabbed my own tablet so I could skim Chuckie's business proposal. "I saw an interview with Jonathan Bailey about it. He said it's like a glass of water for the face."

She narrowed her eyes. "That's not it. It's almost like you're in the honeymoon phase, but there's been no rush phase."

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes. "You know I hate when you insist on?—"

"You don't have any exciting travel planned, no big projects that are about to go live," she went on, tapping one manicured finger on her knee and studying me like a jigsaw puzzle. "I'd say it was because you're spending so much time with your family, but even that just seems unusual?—"

A soft knock at the door interrupted her analysis, which would have been a relief, except a second later, a familiar curly-headed hottie poked his head into my office. My stomach did somersaults, which was a fairly standard reaction to seeing him these days.

Hugh looked immediately sheepish. "Oh crap, I'm interrupting, aren't I?—?"

Lesya blinked at him and then at me. Somehow, the blink she aimed my way seemed almost accusatory.

She jumped to her feet. "Mr. Linzee. Hi. Did you have an appointment? Mr. Overton didn't tell me to expect you, or I would have?—"

"It's fine, Lesya," I said. "I told Hugh to drop by if he had some free time."

It seemed to take a moment for those words to kick in. "Drop by," she repeated, as though she'd never heard of the concept… which was fair since I had a blanket policy against friends visiting me at work.

Hugh seemed to be the exception to all my rules. No surprise there.

"If you're busy, I can wait out here," Hugh offered.

"No, not at all." I waved him in. "Lesya understands."

Her eyebrows rose sharply. "Oh, I understand," she told me. "I suddenly understand quite a lot." She gave Hugh a warm, welcoming smile as she tucked her tablet under her arm. "I'm going to go grab an early lunch. Oscar, don't forget your salad is in the fridge." She moved toward the door and turned back to give me a significant look. "You and I will catch up later, Oscar." Then she left, closing the door behind her.

Her warning didn't faze me in the slightest. The moment the latch clicked, I was on my feet and flew around my desk, grabbing Hugh and pushing him back until he was flush with the door. My mouth descended on his, devouring him.

"Haven't seen you in days," I grunted, grabbing his ass to hold him closer.

"I was curled up in your bed when you left the apartment this morning," he said through a laugh.

"It feels like longer," I told him, drawing my lips along his jaw and down his neck. Within moments, I was on my knees, opening his pants and fishing out his thick cock. I grinned, pressing a kiss to the tip in appreciation before licking down the length of him.

Hugh's head fell back against the door with a thunk. "Tell me your office is soundproofed," he ground out.

"Dunno, I've never wanted to fuck anyone in here before," I said, taking him in my mouth. The blowjob was fast and wet. He tried to swallow back his sounds of approval, but when I palmed his sac and traced a finger around his hole, he couldn't hold in a loud moan.

I loved getting this man off. I loved the sounds he made, the way he absolutely shattered beneath me.

"Fuck, Oscar, fuck," he growled. His hands pressed against the door, his fingers digging into the wood as if he was afraid to reach for my head and mess up my hair.

He should have already known: I never minded getting messy for Hugh. My cock throbbed against my tight pants, and I knew I was nearing the edge. I fumbled for my belt, loosening it enough to slip my hand inside.

"I'm gonna come," Hugh hissed. He tried pulling from my mouth, but I didn't let him. Instead, I took him deeper. With a shattered groan, he spilled down my throat. The taste of his release was all I needed. Within a few pumps, my own cock was pulsing, cum jetting across the front of my suit.

Hugh sunk to his knees, taking my cheeks in his hands and pressing his mouth to mine. His kisses started hard but slowed, lingering. "You're killing me."

I grinned and pushed to my feet.

"Thank god Lesya makes me keep spare clothes here," I teased, walking over to a discreet door in the wall that had a healthy selection of hanging clothes for all occasions in it. I quickly shucked off my dirty suit and pulled out a fresh one.

After straightening his own clothes, Hugh slumped into one of the leather chairs across from my desk and watched me dress. "And you expect me to believe this is the first time you've needed them because of office sex?" He was clearly teasing.

I laughed. "I promise. Definitely not. I've never brought a man to the office before. Even my friends don't come here." I stepped in front of the mirror on the back of the door and focused on tying my tie. "I don't mix my personal life with work."

"Then why in the world did you tell me to stop by?" Hugh demanded. He grinned mischievously. "I mean, not that I'm complaining, of course."

I shrugged. I didn't want to discuss all the ways Hugh was different—it was bad enough that I was breaking all my rules for him, and the last thing I wanted was for him to think it meant more than it did. "I wanted you to," I said simply.

"Oh." Hugh's grin warmed. "Well, okay then."

I finished my tie, pulling it tight and flipping the collar of my shirt back down. "Hungry?"

I knew Hugh's schedule was tight, so I offered to share the large salad Lesya had gotten for me. We ate it together at the round table in the corner of my office as Hugh told me about the older couple he'd interviewed that morning for TikTok.

I couldn't help smiling as he told me about how the couple had met as teens and been each other's first love before one joined the military and their journeys took different paths. They'd both married other people, had kids, and lived very long and happy lives. When their spouses passed away, they'd each started playing chess in the park on Sunday afternoons and reconnected. They'd grab coffee after chess and reminisce, which led to dinners, then to dates, until they'd realized they'd fallen in love.

"You should have seen them," Hugh sighed with stars in his eyes. "They were so… together. A unit."

I reached across the table and took his hand. "That'll be you someday," I told him.

He shifted in his chair but laughed lightly. "Yeah. I'm counting on it."

I squeezed his hand tighter. "Your future partner is a very lucky man."

He turned his hand over, linking our fingers together. "I don't know if luck plays as much of a role as I once thought it did," he said, speaking so low it seemed like he was talking to himself. "Perseverance might be the key."

"Huh?"

Hugh glanced up and quickly dropped my hand. "Oh. No. Nothing. I was just talking about that couple I interviewed." He sat back in his seat and didn't quite meet my eyes. "Perseverance, you know? Staying strong until life brought them back together with their… their person. That's all."

"Right," I agreed cautiously, still studying him. If I didn't know better, I'd think Hugh was holding something back… but that was silly. I knew Hugh—knew him—and the man could never keep a secret for long. "And while you persevere, you have me to keep you company. The perfect fake boyfriend. All the fun with none of the fuss." I forced extra cheer into my voice, hoping to coax a smile out of him.

Thankfully, it seemed to work. "I have you," Hugh agreed. He moved toward me and kissed me long and hard until I felt my cock stirring once again. He pulled back, nipping lightly at my bottom lip. "And I'll enjoy every minute for as long as it lasts."

"Good." I beamed at him, relieved to be on the same page. "Hey, I'm going holiday shopping with my mom Friday. Did you want me to pick up a frame for that shot of Abby and Dex you took?"

"Already ordered one online the other night after you came up with the idea. Two-day shipping means it'll be here in time for Christmas." Hugh grinned, tapping his foot against mine beneath the table. "In fact, I got a second one for you to give Hyacinth and Dirk as a wedding present. I figured I could take a fun candid of them at the rehearsal dinner and get it printed in time for the wedding."

I found myself smiling as I trapped his boot between both of my shoes. "I already got them a gift—a nice big check so they can build an indoor pool building next to their house on my Vermont property. Hyacinth had always dreamed about offering synchronized swimming classes to her dance students."

"Do you know," he said, leaning forward, "there was a time I would have thought that you gave them money because it was simply easier than getting them something meaningful. But the truth is you're a giant softie, Oscar Overton."

"Am not," I said with mock outrage while every single one of my soft feelings trembled and yearned for him. "Heart of concrete over here."

He walked his fingers up my arm, sending tingles through my shirt sleeves. "Hard on the outside, gooey on the inside, like the chocolate lava cake you ordered at Roscoe's the other night."

"Pfft. I'm jaded and world-weary," I insisted as my heart attempted to beat its way out of my chest and fall at Hugh's feet. A tornado of emotions powerful enough to level cities whipped through my brain. "I'm a… a barren and unforgiving Feelings-desert."

Hugh stood and looked down at me, no trace of humor on his face. "You're the best man I know. And Oscar? The billions in your bank account are the least of your worth."

I swallowed hard and tried to look away from Hugh's warm brown eyes, but I couldn't. "Fine, fine, we can give them the picture frame too," I muttered. "Just end this torture."

"You're so freaking cute, Oscar Overton. Christ, I…" Hugh broke off whatever he'd been about to say with a quick little head shake. Smiling ruefully, he bent and pressed a kiss to my lips. "I've got to get going. Client meeting this afternoon. So many happily ever afters, so little time."

"Yeah, I've got to get back to it also." I stood and moved toward my desk before remembering. "Oh, speaking of happily ever afters… sort of." I made an exaggerated gagging noise. "My friend Boone and his fiancé, Richard, are flying in today. You free for dinner tonight at my place? You'll like Boone. He's good people."

Hugh paused in front of me and raised an eyebrow. "From the stories you've told me, Richard is good people too," he said mock severely. "I told you he reminds me of you, remember?"

I rolled my eyes. "Clearly, I've been telling the stories wrong. Richard is Richard. You'll see what I mean tonight."

Hugh laughed. "I'm not quite sure if you mean that as a warning to stay away or an incentive to join you."

"Both?" I suggested.

He laughed again and gave me another peck on the lips, almost like he was as reluctant to leave as I was to let him. "I'll see you tonight, then." He started for the door, then paused with it halfway open. "Want to text me when you get home so I'll know when to come over?"

"You can come over whenever." I waved a hand as I sat down. "I told building security to set you up with full access. Devon will just need your thumbprint for the elevator and locks and you'll be good to go."

Hugh blinked at me, not seeming to understand.

I let out a soft laugh. "I'm giving you a set of keys to my place, babe. But this is the digital age, and no one uses keys anymore."

His eyes went wide. "But… that means I could go up there anytime I wanted."

I tilted my head. "Yeah, that's… kind of the point."

"What if you're on a date or something?"

I laughed. "You're my date. I'll see you tonight."

I was still chucking to myself when I looked up to find Lesya standing in my open doorway, carrying her ever-present tablet and staring at me like I'd grown a second head.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

She shifted on her heels. "You gave him access to your apartment." It wasn't a question.

"Yes. But before you go getting ideas?—"

"You asked him to stop by."

I sighed. "Whatever you're thinking, stop thinking it. Hugh and I are friends?—"

"Close friends, clearly." Lesya smiled wolfishly. "Since, in answer to his earlier question, no, the office is not soundproofed. I've already called maintenance to have that rectified this evening."

I shifted a bit in my seat, slightly embarrassed. "I thought you were taking a lunch break. And not that it's any of your business?—"

"Despite the fact that I just heard you getting your boyfriend off against the door…"

"Hugh is not my boyfriend," I emphasized.

Though she pursed her lips and nodded, the disbelief in her eyes was clear.

"I don't date, Lesya. Therefore, no boyfriend. Simple as that. What Hugh and I are is…" I cleared my throat. I was not getting into the whole fake-boyfriend story with her. "Complicated."

"Sure," she agreed easily. "It's simple but complicated. He's your friend, but you're messing around. He's the guy who stopped talking to you back in July because he refused to keep his feelings in the box you put him in, thus leading to the greatest pseudo-melancholy I've witnessed in all the years I've worked with you, and now he has the metaphorical keys to your apartment and carte blanche to stop by whenever. The honeymoon is going swimmingly. Should I prepare research about the use of the Oxford comma? You know, in preparation for the rocks? Or do you think you'll stay in the honeymoon phase through the holidays?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I gave her my most cutting, withering billionaire glare. "I assume you have a point, Ms. Velky."

My assistant remained unfazed. "You like this man, and from what I've observed—from what you've told me—he feels the same. You can't get to the renaissance, Oscar, until you stop trying to control?—"

I held up a hand. "A work-related point?"

Lesya made a noise deep in her throat that sounded like water boiling. "Yes, Mr. Overton. I was thinking I'd call Chuckie and move up his pitch meetings."

I frowned. "What for?"

"Because you're useless once you hit the melancholy, and I want to make sure he has everything in place before then." She tucked her tablet under her arm and strode out of the office.

"This isn't a real relationship," I called. "I told you that."

"Yes sir, Mr. Overton, sir," she called back.

But sure enough, within ten minutes, a new note popped up on my calendar, letting me know that my meeting with Chuckie had been moved from next month to early the next week.

She'd also booked me a trip to visit Boone in early January.

"There will be no melancholy!" I shouted through my open door.

She didn't bother to respond…

Probably because we both knew I was lying.