In Love With You

By A. C. Meyer

After the exciting romance between Daniel and Julie in Crazy For You, it's time for us to get to know the story of Johanna and Zach. She is an entertainment lawyer. He, a seductive businessman, business partner and best friend of her brother. When the passion heats up, an impasse arises: he wants to take over the relationship for everyone, but she is afraid of the possible reaction of her brother, who is somewhat jealous and does not seem to have realized that she has grown up.In the middle of passionate situations, a lot of romance and a considerable amount of laughter, the two will take you on a journey where they will need to overcome fears and insecurities to discover if the love they feel is strong enough to overcome any obstacle that life imposes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tektime
• Release date: Apr 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9788835450948

Book preview

In love with you

A. C. Meyer

Synopsis:

After the exciting romance between Daniel and Julie in Crazy for You, it's time for us to get to know the story of Johanna and Zach.

She is an entertainer lawyer. He, a seductive businessman, business partner and best friend of her brother. When the passion heats up, an impasse arises: he wants to take over the relationship for everyone, but she is afraid of the possible reaction of her brother, who is somewhat jealous and does not seem to have realized that she has grown up.

In the middle of passionate situations, a lot of romance and a considerable amount of laughter, the two will take you on a journey where they will need to overcome fears and insecurities to discover if the love they feel is strong enough to overcome any obstacle that life imposes.

In love with you - 2nd edition

A. C. Meyer

Copyright © 2015 by A. C. Meyer

Cover: Andreia Barboza

Translation: Renata Morais

Revised text according to The New orthographic agreement of the Portuguese language.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or have been used fictitiously and should not be interpreted as real. Any resemblance to people, living or dead, actual events, locations or organizations is merely coincidental.

All rights reserved and protected by law 9610 of 19/02/1998. Except for the use of short excerpts in reviews, reproduction or use of this book, in whole or in part, in any form is prohibited without the prior written permission of the copyright holder of this book.

RAPUNZEL: I stared out the window for eighteen years, dreaming of what I would feel when the lights appeared in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed of?

FLYNN RIDER: It will be.

RAPUNZEL: And if it is? What will I do next?

FLYNN RIDER: Well, that's the best part, I think... You will have to find a new dream.

Tangled (Disney)

To Andreia (yes, yourself),

This is a reminder not to let your fears outweigh your confidence in your potential and talent. Everyone makes mistakes, but what we learn from them is what really counts. May you never fail to find the love of writing in your heart.

With love,

C.

Playlist

1. You Are My Sunshine – Elizabeth Mitchell

2. The Way You Look Tonight – Rod Stewart

3. Rockin ' Around the Christmas Tree (Jingle Bell Rock) - Michael Bublé and Carly Rae Jepsen

4. Don't Cha - The Pussycat Dolls

5. Soldier-Destiny's Child

6. Let It Be-The Beatles

7. Treasure-Bruno Mars

8. I Gotta Feeling – The Black-Eyed Peas

9. I'm Into You – Jennifer Lopez

10. When You Kiss Me-Shania Twain

11. More Than Words – Extreme

12. Bubbly-Colbie Caillat

13. Thank you for Loving Me – Jon Bon Jovi

14. When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars

15. I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift

16. Story of my Life – Boyce Avenue

17. From This Moment – Shania Twain

18. How To Touch A Girl – JoJo

19. Give me Love-Ed Sheeran

20. My Lover's Gone – Dido

21. Just Give me a Reason - Pink and Nate Ruess

22. You and me – Lifehouse

Table of Contents

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

ONCE UPON A TIME...

A PRINCESS DELIGHTED THAT LIVED IN A CASTLE.

SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS AND VERY COOL, BUT SHE LIVED ALONE.

UNTIL SHE MET PRINCE CHARMING AT A BALL...

AND THEY DANCED ALL NIGHT LONG.

AND SINCE THAT DAY, THEIR LIVES HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME.

SHE TRIED TO GIVE HER CRYSTAL SLIPPER TO OTHER NOBLES.

BUT NONE OF THEM UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT SHOE IN THE LIFE OF THE PRINCESS.

UNTIL ONE FINE DAY, SHE GAVE UP FIGHTING AND ACCEPTED THE PRINCE BACK.

BUT I WAS VERY AFRAID THAT HE TURN INTO A FROG AND LET HER DOWN.

(NO MATTER HOW HARD THE PRINCE TRIED TO PROVE THAT HE LOVED HER.)

THAT WAS WHEN AN EVIL WITCH STOOD IN BOTH OF THEIR WAY.

AND ENDED UP MAKING HIM PROVE THAT THE PRINCESS WAS THE ONLY ONE IN HIS LIFE AND HIS KINGDOM.

HE STOLE A PIECE OF HER AND HE HAD IT ENGRAVED ON HIS OWN BODY.

THAT WAY, SHE'D BE SURE HE WAS HERS AND SHE WAS HIS.

BUT ONE THING WAS STILL MISSING.

THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, THE PRINCESS MUST ACCEPT THE REQUEST OF PRINCE CHARMING.

AND MARRY HIM.

JO, MY PRINCESS, I LOVE YOU.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

I am shocked and moved by what he is doing. He is giving me a new marriage proposal, romantic enough that I can tell everyone without having to expose our intimacy.

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

Epilogue

About the author

Also read.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter four

Books by the author:

ONE

Jo

I feel a squeeze of happiness in my heart to see my brother, Daniel, and my best friend, Julie, together and so in love at their engagement party.

This was a full ups and downs for both of them, and to see them overcome all of that, and in such a beautiful way, is really exciting. I can't wait to hold my nephew or niece in my arms. I cannot deny that this very romantic party, which celebrates the unconditional love of the two, awakens deep feelings in me... the kind I had no idea I could feel. And I don't even want to.

I walk among the guests, greeting the people I meet, while taking on the role of hostess so that my favorite couple can enjoy the moment together. I know most of the people present and I do my best to pay attention to each one. All this to escape from a look that looks for me in the middle of the party all the time.

Not that I'm succeeding. He's not the kind of guy you can ignore for long. His presence dominates the environment and chills my neck whenever I feel him close.

We have been together for almost three years, and strangely enough, no one has any idea about it. I mean, we're not together really. It's more like, they say, we're just a fling.

Our chemistry exploded at a mutual friend's party. I don't know if it was thanks to the mixture of a vodka-soaked evening, loud music, provocative dancing and a crazy party, where the only guest we knew was each other, besides the host. We ended up spending the whole party together - just the two of us-which we had never done before, even though he had been practically part of the family for so many years.

The party ended at his house. We spent the night together, lost in perfect, maddening chemistry. And a terrible crisis of conscience a few days later. He's one of my brother's best friends. If Daniel found out, he'd annoy us.

After that night, I decided to do a specialization in San Francisco for a period of six months. I went without looking back, determined to forget what had happened, those blue eyes, those kisses... and other things more.

When I came back, I was feeling safer, believing I was cured of that disease called Zach delicious Taylor. Sweet mistake. Those blue eyes chased me around every corner - just like they do now. I obviously couldn't resist and fell back into those strong arms for weeks of hot, maddening sex.

Shortly thereafter, I landed an internship at one of San Francisco's largest law firms and left again, leaving Zach and our secret case behind once again. I was very homesick and, as much as I didn't want to admit it, the lack he made was driving me crazy.

So, seven months later, I returned to Los Angeles and into his arms... But Zach was different. Our relationship had changed. The sweet and seductive man became demanding. In bed and out. Obviously, the strong woman that I am rebelled. I was not the kind of girl who let herself be dominated by anyone. I have always been very independent and would never submit to a man... no matter how nice he was. So, I walked away from him again.

But after months of unsatisfying relationships, lack and homesickness, we see each other again. We kept meeting on the sly and ended up taking the power games inside four walls. When I finally gave myself completely, submitting my body to him - sexually, let me be clear - our relationship reached a new level. Zach seemed to have been delighted with my acceptance and in bed, he was the best of lovers. His care for me, his concern for my pleasure and the way he complimented me, were incomparable, and our moments together became more and more intense, seductive and unforgettable.

When I finally got carried away by Zach and his intensity, I was surprised in the best possible way. I thought being with him and giving up control would make me feel trapped in an inflexible relationship. But the complete opposite happened. He was a gentleman with me, gentle, even loving. Before, I thought he wanted to dominate me, but I saw that what I feared couldn't be further from the truth. All he wanted was conduct our relationship to provide us with more pleasure. I lost my shame and fear. We had no holds or constraints. Between the two of us, all that existed was mutual respect, desire – a lot of desire – affection and passion.

That's why I'm running away from his gaze during the party. I know that the moment my eyes meet his, I will be lost. Needless to say, we don't need a place to get carried away, do we? Zach has an enviable and unshakable creativity.

I know it very well.

Obviously, I can't avoid it for long. He's smart – I'm afraid to say a lot smarter than I am. He places himself well within reach of my eyes as I make my way to the next table.

I can't hold a breath. Why did he have to be so beautiful? He was wearing jeans and a teal shirt, which highlights his muscular chest. Blonde hair, almost long too much, it sways with the wind from the beach, giving it that wild air that I like so much. And his absurdly blue eyes are in a slightly darker shade than usual, which is what they look like when desire takes over your body.

We know each other so well that we communicate through our eyes. Oh, damn it! His look says: Into the house, now!

I know exactly what he wants, but I play it cool, and I go over to say hello to some of Daniel's friends. His look now shouts me. I can almost hear his voice in my ear, speaking impatiently: Don't test me, Princess. I excused the boys and one of them, who was leaving, gave me a kiss on the cheek. I felt Zach's gaze burn me. Christ! I can almost touch the tension that emanates from this tracker that I lov... that I like. Yes. I like.

I walk towards him, who is leaning against the railing of the deck, our gazes locked on each other. Halfway through, he made me stop and discreetly indicates the direction I should go. He leaves the porch and enters the house.

I don't even stop to think. I turn around and go after him, walking straight past the guests. I walk into the house looking around, trying to figure out where he is. I see the front door slam and I imagine he's the one who got out. Oh, dear, where is Mr. Delight taking me?

I leave the house, still on his trail, and see him get to his car and open the door. I go crazy every time I see him next to that imposing sports car. He tasted so good that I wanted to bite him. Ummm.

- Zach? Damn it, Zach, where are you going? - I ask, annoyed, seeing him prepare to leave. Freeze to me look at the intensity of his gaze. The sky-blue of his eyes is very dark.

- Get your car, Princess. - The eyes flicker with a dangerous glare. This mouth of yours will still get you in trouble - he says with a malicious smile, opens the car and gets in.

- Zach... - I try again, this time with a less defiant tone in my voice.

- Honey, what are you waiting for? - he asks in a soft voice, contrasting with all its intensity. I shudder in anticipation.

I raise my hands to the sky, losing patience.

- Oh, good. It's okay, Zach. I'll get the car. But you know you're not in charge in this relationship. Nor in me - I grumble. He opens a little smile, as if he wants to tease me, and his dimple appears. I turn around, trembling, already predicting what would come next. I stop on the way when he answers me.

- Princess, of course I don't command you... only in your body when you are with me. But I can't wait to have you in my arms. So, if you're as crazed with desire as I am, get in the car and come. Now.

I go to the car, start it and follow him along the beach road. My God. This man drives me crazy. I didn't even say goodbye to people, I think to myself, shaking my head. But he has that power over me, you know? Mr. Delight says: Jump. And I don't even ask the height. Not that I'm going to confess that to him.

We walk all the way across Santa Monica beach, and when we get close to Pacific Park, he enters the Fairmont, the best hotel in the whole city. Wow! I feel my body vibrate in anticipation. I can't wait to get to the room so I can lose myself in his arms once again.

TWO

Jo

I can't believe Christmas is finally here!

Long days have passed since Danny and Julie's engagement. Those days I was buried in the office with a pile of contracts full of pranks sent by one of my best clients – an agent who looked after the careers of several actors who were cast to record a series for streaming - and that gave me, a lot of work.

I'm really excited for Christmas. In addition to being my favorite holiday, this will be the first time we will meet at the new home of my brother and his bride. I can barely contain my smile as I remember them both. Daniel is happier than ever now that he is going to be a father, and my best friend marvels at motherhood. I am very happy for them, especially for Julie, who loved him for so long and never gave up what she wanted. She is truly an example of faith and perseverance.

Although I don't share her faith in relationships. After all, I have a long list of exes who broke my heart to prove I wasn't made for true love and all that Happily Ever After nonsense. Some time ago, I concluded that a woman's true happiness lies in having a successful career, money in the bank, a good shoe that doesn't hurt her feet, and a nice body in bed. Not necessarily in that order.

If Julie heard me talking like that, she would say my heart is hardened and maybe it really is. But I learned a long time ago that I don't need anyone to be happy. I love my own company and having a no strings attached affair is perfect for an independent girl like me. When there are no feelings involved, there are no expectations, so no one can hurt you.

The image of Zach comes to mind suddenly and I shake my head, pushing him into the corner of my brain meant for fun, which is where he fits into my life.

I look around the room, making sure I haven't forgotten anything. I am taking several gifts with me. I am a denial in the kitchen, which makes a gastronomic contribution impossible, but my talent for shopping is second only to George's. I leave the house, take the elevator down to the garage and put all the boxes and packages in the trunk of the car-an old New Beetle, but one that I have a great attachment to. It's white, fluffy, with leather seats, but its engine has seen better days. I bought it when I was in college, and even though I could afford to trade it in for a new car, I'm dying to get rid of it.

After putting everything in order, I sit in the driver's seat, throw the bag on the seat next to it, turn the key to start it and... Nothing.

- You're not gonna do that to me now, are you? I mutter, irritated. I make a few more attempts and nothing in the car works.

- You should exchange this car for a newer one - Zach's voice comes to mind, and I remember all the times he repeated those words to me. I take the key out of the ignition while rolling my eyes, take out my phone to call an Uber, but after a few minutes of waiting for the app to find a car, the message that there are no cars available at the moment makes me swear under my breath.

I press the call button and, before I can stop myself, I press on his name.

- Hi, Princess. Have you arrived yet? - he asks with that low, hoarse tone of his voice that makes me melt a little inside every time he talks to me. No, don't look at me like that. This is purely desire. Nothing more.

- Hi... actually, no. My car doesn't want to work. Zach has a characteristic that attracts me too much in a man. The proactivity. I don't have to ask for anything. A ride, chocolate, kiss. Whatever I need, he solves it. A leader in every aspect of his life.

- I'll get you in fifteen minutes. I'm leaving the house now.

A panicked feeling wraps around my neck, like claws pressing, making my breath gasp.

- But... will people not understand? I ask, worried. What was it you were thinking when you decided to call him, I scold myself. The last thing I want is for people to think we're together, even though we are. God, what a mess!

I hear a dull sigh on the other end of the line. I stiffen my body, prepared to listen to his protests that I don't want to assume we're together, but he responds with an expressionless tone – which makes me arch my eyebrow in surprise.

- Don't worry, Princess. Just tell the truth: your car dropped you off and I gave you a ride. No big deal.

I nod, even though he can't see me on the other end of the line.

- It's okay... I'm waiting for you.

***

Zach stops the car in a parking spot just as Ben maneuvers the car to park as well. Seeing the movement of the cars, Danny opens the door and approaches the entrance, hugging Julie.

Seeing me getting out of Zach's car, he frowns at me in confusion.

- Hi, little sister. I didn't know you were coming with Zach... - he comments, as I approach Julie. Zach slams the door and locks the car with the remote and says before I have time to open my mouth.

- That old wreck she calls her car broke down. I gave her a ride.

I shoot him with my eyes and my brother nods, agreeing that my car is past its time to be retired. But before Daniel says anything, I get closer to Julie, who smiles at me.

- Let me run my hand over my nephew - I say, stroking her belly, without even saying Hi.

- Johanna, did you know that Julie is there, carrying that belly? Danny asks, pretending to be mad at me.

- I know, yes, but the baby takes priority over the two of you - I reply, still cuddling Julie's belly, who looks proud to be carrying the family spotlight. If I were anyone else, I would never invade her personal space to pet a baby. But Julie is like my sister, and I know she is happy with all our attention.

When I am satisfied, I hug Julie and we are wrapped in the strong arms of George, who was right behind me.

We went inside, talking and laughing. Daniel has barely closed the door when the doorbell rings. He opens it and I am surprised by the presence of Alan – the hot guitarist of The Band – and Jude, his younger brother.

- Oops! I'm glad you guys came. Get in! - Danny greets them and I smile, happy that Alan accepted the invitation to spend Christmas with us.

He and my brother started off on the wrong foot, but they finally understood each other. Daniel understood that there is a friendship only a musical partnership between him and Julie, in addition to a friendship. The two men had a serious conversation in the week of their engagement, in which Alan proposed a truce to Danny, who accepted it, putting their mutual dislike aside.

I smile at how much my brother has matured. It is beautiful to see the changes he has been making in his life, rethinking his attitudes and assuming his feelings. By reuniting with Julie, he managed to overcome jealousy, understanding that for his woman to be happy, he needs to give her freedom, support her dreams and allow her to thrive, without trying to create obstacles or deprive her of the things she wants to achieve.

Freeing yourself from structural machismo is a difficult step, but possible. Daniel is proof that change is possible.

I remember our last conversation, when he spoke:

- I had a lot of insecurity when it came to my feelings for Ju. But the relationship we're building is so deep and reciprocal, it doesn't make sense the jealousy I had of Alan – the arrogant ex.

That's when I commented that Alan and his brother would spend Christmas alone and Daniel decided to invite them to celebrate with us.

The tattooed musician enters the room, closely followed by the shy boy. The two go to Zach, who is talking to my father. I avert my gaze to Julie, who smiles proudly at the groom for his civilized behavior.

Hello, Sir. Polite; good-bye, Sir. Jealous Ogre.

After we all helped my mom set up the dining table, serve drinks and snacks, we settled in to watch the Lakers game in the comfortable TV room that Daniel made sure to set up in his house.

The living room is filled with soft leather armchairs and has a huge TV, which looks more like a movie screen. At the back of the room, there is a pool table and another for playing poker. It's the playground for grown-up kids, as Julie says. And I have to agree.

I look around the room, seeing my excited dad, next to Zach and Alan, talking before the match started. But Daniel is strangely quiet, staring into a corner of the room, looking distracted.

I approach him and wrap my arm around his shoulders.

- Hi, little brother. Is everything okay? - I ask. We've always been very close, very connected. The last thing I want is for him to be sad about something.

He shakes his head, as if awakening from a long daydream, and smiles at me.

- It's okay. Yes, Jo. I was just looking around the room and realized that in the very near future, me and the Mini-Me we will be enjoying this room together, with our toys. - He breaks into a radiant smile and rubs his hands in each other. - I can hardly wait for that to happen.

- Mini-Me? What is a Mini-Me? - I ask, confused. What is he talking about, my God?

- That's what I call the baby, - he explains, and I see Zach approach with a knowing smile, as if he had already heard that explanation a few times before. - I am absolutely sure that he will be a boy, so I call him Mini-Me. A