Chapter 80

Annie's POV

"Ready to go?" I asked, shelving the thought of our intimate moments.

Howard reached for my hand."Yes."

His fingers intertwined with mnine easily. Such a simple thing,but it hit me with unexpected force.

*Philip never held my hand like this.*

Philip had always kept his distance in public. No touching, no holding hands, not even putting his arm around me at company events.

"It looks unprofessional," he'd always say. "A CEO can't appear frivolous in public."

I'd believed him. I'd told myself it was normal, that all important men behaved this way. That Philip's coldness was simply the cost of being with someone successful. "Aren't you worried about people seeing us like this?" I asked at the elevator. "Won't it hurt your image?" Howard looked confused, then understanding crossed his face."Of course not. They'll just envy me for having such an accomplished girlfriend."

He wasn't ashamed of me; he was proud.

"You're right," I said, feeling lighter somehow.

I needed to stop comparing Howard to Philip. They were nothing alike. Philip was insecure; Howard was confident.Philip hid our relationship; Howard embraced it.

In the car, Howard took my hand again, his thumb making small circles on my skin. I couldn't help smiling at how right it felt.

"What are you thinking about?" Howard asked quietly.

"Just how different things are now," I said. "Good different."

Howard squeezed my hand and actually smiled. I leaned against his shoulder, enjoying the moment before we reached the preschool.

We barely waited at the preschool before children began pouring out. Lucy appeared holding hands with another little girl, the two of them chatting together.

The other girl-Penny-spotted her mother and raced toward her with typical five-year-old energy. Lucy walked toward us more calmly, but when she saw me with Howard, her eyes lit up and she hurried the last few steps. "Mom, can Penny and her mom come to our house to play?Please?" Lucy asked quickly. *Mom*. That word still hit me every time. Not Annie, but *Mom*. It made my heart squeeze in the best way.

"Of course they can," I smiled. "No problem."

Lucy beamed and ran back to tell Penny, waving her arms excitedly. Just months ago, she wouldn't speak at all.

Sue Peterson approached with both girls. She was professionally dressed but clearly stressed,tension visible in how she held herself.

"I hope we're not imposing," Sue said quietly while the girls talked. "It's just that Dave-my ex-husband-has been harassing me. It's unbearable. I don't know what to do."

Howard stepped forward. "Have you thought about moving to a different neighborhood? Or selling your place and buying somewhere new?"

Sue shook her head. "He'd still find me. I can't move every time he causes trouble." Howard nodded. "You're right. I promised to arrange a bodyguard for you but forgot. Since you're coming over today,I can ask our physical trainer if he'd take on part-time work as your protection." I looked at Howard with new respect. This was nothing like Philip. Howard actually fixed problems instead of just talking about them. "Thomas Anderson-Lucy's gymnastics coach," Howard explained. "You need someone trustworthy. You'd just need escort to and from work, right?"

Sue nodded,hope flickering across her face. "That would be perfect."

"If you need anything else, or if Thomas's schedule doesn't work, we'll find someone else," Howard said.

"Thomas would be great," Sue said, her shoulders already relaxing. "I've met him at Lucy's training. He seems professional."

"Then it's settled," Howard said in that final way of his.

Thomas was already waiting when we reached Howard's home.Lucy and Penny immediately started giggling as they tried to follow his exercise instructions.

After workout, I took Sue and the girls to the living room while Howard talked privately with Thomas. I couldn't hear them, but Thomas's serious face changed to a smile as they spoke. Howard joined us minutes later. "It's all arranged," he told Sue. "Thomas will be your bodyguard and escort you both whenever needed." Sue's shoulders dropped in relief. "Now when Dave harasses me, I'll have protection."

"From now on," Howard said, "you and Penny can come here after school. After training, Penny can play with Lucy, then Thomas will take you home."

Sue smiled, the stress lines around her eyes fading."That would give Penny regular exercise too. I've felt much better since running with Lucy a few times."

"Perfect," Howard said. "Lucy will be happier with a friend around too."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Thompson," Sue said gratefully.

Howard was direct as always. "I promised this protection before and I'm only fulfilling it today. I should apologize for the delay."

"But you still kept your promise," Sue said quietly:′′NOone has ever been this considerate to me."

Howard shifted uncomfortably at the praise. "I treat all my employees this way."

Sue smiled. "Then it's a privilege to work for you." Watching them, I felt sure I'd found someone genuinely good.Howard wasn't helping for show-he was helping because it was right. After Sue and Penny left with Thomas, the house was unusually quiet. Lucy had gone for an evening walk with Margaret and Edward-her grandparents had insisted on taking her to see the garden lights in the neighborhood.

"They'll be gone at least an hour," Howard said, closing his laptop as I appeared in his study doorway. His tie was loosened, the top button of his shirt undone.

I leaned against the doorframe. "So we have the house to ourselves?"

Howard's eyes darkened as he stood up from his desk. "It seems we do."

"Remember what was interrupted this afternoon?" I asked, my pulse already quickening.

"Vividly." Howard crossed the room in a few strides. When he reached me, he didn't hesitate-his hands went straight to my waist,pulling me against him as his mouth found mine.

The kiss was different from our previous ones. No holding back,no worry about someone walking in. Just pure need that had been building for months. I fumbled with his tie, eager to see if the body beneath his perfect suits matched what I'd imagined during all those office meetings. Howard seemed just as impatient, his hands already under my blouse, warm against my skin. "Bedroom," he murmured against my neck, then simply lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me down the hall. Once in his room, our clothes quickly formed a trail to his bed.The reality of Howard's body was even better than my fantasies-broad shoulders,firm chest, every part of him exactly as powerful as I'd imagined during those moments I'd caught myself staring at him across conference tables.

"I've thought about this," I admitted as his hands explored my body. "About you."

Howard's eyes locked with mine. "So have I. More than I should have during business hours."

The thought of controlled, composed Howard Thompson distracted by thoughts of me during meetings was unexpectedly thrilling.

His touch was confident but gentle, finding all the right places,drawing responses from me I hadn't known were possible.With Philip, intimacy had been mechanical, something to endure rather than enjoy. Howard made me feel treasured,desired-like an equal partner rather than a possession. When we finally came together, his movements were both confident and attentive. Howard watched my face carefully,adjusting his rhythm whenever my breath caught or my fingers dug into his shoulders. Unlike Philip, who had always treated intimacy as a race to finish, Howard seemed to savor every moment, every touch, every soft gasp he drew from me. "Annie," he whispered my name like a prayer, his control slipping as we moved together. When the tensionfinally broke, waves of pleasure washed over me more intensely than I'd ever experienced. Howard held me through it, his own release following mine. For those moments,I forgot everything-my past, my worries, even my name.

There was only sensation and connection.

After, wrapped in Howard's arms, I felt completely at peace for the first time in years. My body still hummed with satisfaction,little aftershocks of pleasure occasionally making me shiver against him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, stroking my hair,his fingers tracing lazy patterns against my scalp.

"That reality is better than fantasy," I said honestly. "Much better."

Howard smiled against my temple, pressing a kiss there. "We have an hour before they return." His hand slid down my back,fingers drawing patterns on my skin.

"Already?" I asked, but my body was already responding to his touch, arching into him automatically. "I've waited months for this," Howard said,voice dropping to that low register that made my stomach flutter. He rolled me beneath him, his weight a delicious pressure as he kissed down my neck. I ran my hands over the strong muscles of his back,marveling at how different this felt-how right. Howard's fingers found sensitive places I didn't even know I had, drawing sounds from me I'd never made before.

As we moved together again, slower this time but no less intense, I realized I'd never known it could be like this-a conversation without words, a give and take of pleasure that left me breathless and wanting more even as satisfaction washed over me.