Chapter One

Taylor*

"Come on, Mark, let's go; I need to get you to school so I can get to work. We're running late," I yelled as my four-year-old son Mark raced past me. Though I know none of the Cunningham men will be in the office today, I still hate being late.

Having to sign Mark into school when he is late is always a hassle. Of course, Aaron didn't come home again last night for the third time this week, or he would be here to help me. I don't think I'll ever understand why I keep coming back to that verbally abusive womanizer. Aaron has a campaign coming up to rerun for Mayor, so I'm hoping that's what's keeping him out at night, and not the fact that he has started drinking and sleeping around again. He told me this time would be different. Aaron and I have been doing so well for two months now, up until this past week. Aaron and I have been in an on-and-off relationship for over ten years now, and two months ago, he had finally proposed. Aaron told me at forty years old; it was time for him to be serious about settling down.

"Mark, I'm going to count to five, and if you aren't here and ready to go, I'll take your tablet away for a week. One, two, three," I yelled, and Mark came running up to me, smiling.

I never get past three; Mark knows I mean business. I've taken his tablet before, and it's as if his world has ended when I do. Those weeks always drag on and on, and I want to yank my hair out by the time it's time to give Mark his tablet back.

"Sorry, momma, let's go. My friends are waiting for me," Mark said as he grabbed his backpack and flung the straps around his shoulders, and charged towards the door.

"Mark, stop, don't run out into the street," I yelled as I grabbed my purse, locked the door, slammed it shut, and took off after him.

"I'm sorry we're late Mark was running circles around me this morning. I want to say it won't happen again, but we both know it will," I said after getting another ear full from Mrs. Durpee Mark's principal.

"A lack of discipline has your son missing announcements and breakfast in the mornings; you need to do something about that. We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Taylor. Change the way you do things and get him here on time, am I clear. Also, you owe fifty dollars so far this month for his lunches; when can we expect payment. Mark will be eating sandwiches until it is paid?" Mrs. Dupree asked dismissively as she started to walk away.

"Shit," I said under my breath, and she turned around and glared at me.

"Excuse me?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing, sorry I'm late to work, but I'll pay it right now," I said and walked towards the office so that I could write out a check.

I walked into work forty-five minutes late and was thankful that the office was quiet and I was the only one that would be there for the next two days. All I needed was Blaze breathing down my neck for being late after getting an earful from Mark's principal for being late. One thing that man can't stand is people being late to work.

I sat down at my desk and massaged my temples for a moment before listening to any messages that might have come in after I closed the office after five o'clock last night. At least I could always count on Aaron to pick Mark up from school and take him to my mother's. Blaze, Connor, Wade, and Jace always left the office around four, which gave me an hour of free time before going home. I know that may seem a little selfish of me, and Aaron doesn't know that I technically get off at four, but that's the only free time I ever get. If it weren't for that one hour of freedom I get every day after work; I would go nuts.

I put my ear pods in and turned on my Pandora to the Cranberries station, and opened my planner. Today was not a day for me to be getting to work late. Thank goodness the guys were out on the field so that I wouldn't be bothered throughout the day. I could let the messaging service take messages so I wouldn't be bothered and would check every thirty minutes to make sure no one had called and could call them back as soon as I had some free time.

I dived into my work, and when the song Bitch came on by Fiona Apple just as I got up to retrieve some files, I couldn't help but to belt it out and sing, shimmying as I sang.

CONNOR*

I had hopped onto Wade's Harley to make a quick run to the warehouse to check on some supplies. I needed to ensure we had extra beams for the office we were about to start building. It seemed that we would need more, so I called Taylor at the office to ask her to order more. She didn't answer, so I figured she had gone on a bathroom break or something. I waited about ten minutes and called again, but yet again there wasn't an answer.

I grew anxious, thinking maybe something had happened to her. I called again and left a message for her to call me back. I wrote down the order number for the product we needed to order and hopped on Wade's bike, and headed to the office.

When I got to the office, the door was locked, and I froze. The last time this happened was four years ago, and Taylor had left and was gone for four months. Aw shit, this was going to suck if it were happening all over again. Blaze was lucky to have had Vega step in the last time this happened. What would we do this time? I know where she lives. I would go to her once I got off work to check on her. That douchbag of a so-called fiance she had needed to let her alone and let her be.

I unlocked the door, and relief hit me as I heard Taylor's voice. I walked to her office and did my best not to laugh.

Taylor squatted down, looking through files in her filing cabinet, swaying from side to side. Man, she looked good in those tight black slacks, her round ass cheeks calling out to me to squeeze them tightly in my hands. Man, if her dad weren't a preacher who disliked Wade and me, I would have found some way to take her. I would do anything to get in her sweet pussy. Blaze would kick my ass for sure, and Wade would want to share her. I don't mind sharing women with Wade, but I would never share Taylor. She would be mine and mine alone if ever she gave me a chance. It would never happen though Blaze has forbidden Wade and me from touching her, and now that I'm CFO of the company, I need to keep my head in the game. No pussy is worth losing everything the guys and I have worked for seven years. Blaze has said before after Taylor came back, if we touched her, Wade and I would get the boot. It wouldn't matter that we were family. I wouldn't put it past him to do so either; I'd have to kick my own ass if I touched her; she deserves so much better than a playboy that has at least three women a week.

"I'm a bitch, I'm a tease, I'm a goddess on my knees, when your hurt and you suffer, I'm your angel undercover," Taylor sang in as she grabbed the file and stood. When she turned and saw me in the doorway, she screamed, and papers flew everywhere. I grinned at her, and she took the pods out of her ear.

"My God, Wade, what the fuck? You scared the shit out of me," Taylor said as she bent down to pick up the papers from the floor. I took the helmet I hadn't taken off yet and put it on her desk, and knelt down on the floor to help her.

"Oh, Connor, sorry I didn't realize it was you. I'm not slacking off, I swear; I was catching up on paperwork and was about to put in an order. Shit crap, are you going to write me up? I swear I won't do it again," Taylor rambled as U handed some pages to her, and she put them in order and placed them back into the file. I chuckled. I stood and lent her my hand to help her get up.

"You're laughing at me, so I gather you're not mad," Taylor said as her brows furrowed and she anxiously nibbled at her bottom lip.

"Fuck no, now if it were Blaze maybe, but that was the cutest thing I've ever seen. I came over from the warehouse because you weren't answering the phone," I grabbed the slip from my pocket and handed it to her. "Could you order these supplies when you put in the order? We have plenty but having extra is always good,"

"Oh yes, of course, I will. Again sorry about everything. I often put my pods in when it's just me here at the office," Taylor said as she sat down and started going through the papers.

"I've got to head back. I'm surprised Blaze hasn't called to ask me where I'm at. Do you need anything? Sorry, I scared you?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you, though. Be careful on that bike; at least you and Wade wear helmets. Bikes are so dangerous; I don't like them.

Well, I guess there's some part of her that cares for me even though I get on her nerves seventy-five percent of the time.

"Take care, Taylor. I'll see you tomorrow. I've got to come in and do some paperwork before going out in the field. I'll lock up," I said as I put the helmet back on and turned to leave. I could feel Taylor's eyes on me. I turned, and sure enough, she was checking out my ass. Taylors face grew crimson, and she averted her gaze back to her work.

Man, this was going to be hard to stay away from her. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on.

Writer's Note

Feel free to support me by giving this chapter a 👍Get ready for a wild and crazy ride as Taylor, Connor, and Wade's story starts to unfold. Lots of love Sapphirian J. 🥰