Not Quite Over You
Page 55
“You okay?” Drew asked as she sat next to him. “You seem upset.”
“I’m fine,” she told him.
Fortunately, Renee and Pallas arrived before he could ask anything else. Bethany and Cade followed. Pallas fiddled with her computer.
“We have the head of the office of protocol joining us today,” Pallas said with a tight smile. “Just so you’re all braced.”
Bethany hung her head. “I’m sorry. Did I say I’m sorry? Because I’m sorry.”
Cade put his arm around her. “It’s not your fault. Look at me.”
She did as he requested.
“I love you,” he said firmly. “I love you and this is going to be a great party.”
Bethany nodded. “I know. I love you, too. I’ll stop apologizing.” She looked at Pallas. “Let’s do this.”
Silver tried to focus on the meeting, but the happy couple’s sweet words were like a knife in her chest. She wanted that, she thought desperately. She wanted Drew telling the world he loved her. She wanted to know she was safe and had family she could hang on to. She wanted to belong and all those other stupid things she’d never had in her life.
Pallas connected with the El Baharian protocol expert via video. When he appeared on the screen, Silver managed to pretend to listen, taking notes so later she could figure out what everyone was talking about.
“The vice president is confirmed,” Pallas said. “Between the El Baharian security forces and our own Secret Service, we’ll have really tight security. I don’t know how we’re going to manage that. Everyone will be screened, then I guess the security team stays in the background.”
“They won’t interfere with the party,” the protocol expert said. “His Royal Highness will have security, as will the queen and the vice president, of course.”
“They’re all good at this,” Bethany added. “Basically you have hot guys in suits who nod politely. I’m sure there’s more going on, but to the layperson, that’s what it looks like.”
“We can handle that,” Renee said, as she entered information on her tablet. “Now, on to the menu.”
The meeting went on for a couple of hours. When they were done, Silver tried to make her escape before Drew could catch her, but she was too slow. Before she’d even made it to the hallway, he fell into step with her. Because of their partnership, she couldn’t even claim a work emergency. He knew all the events already on the books.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked.
“Of course. How are you doing? Still missing Mr. Whiskers? Maybe you should get a rabbit.”
“Autumn thinks I should get a dog.”
They walked outside. She’d parked at the far end of the lot, but instead of going to his car, he kept pace with her until they got to her truck.
“There’s something,” he said, watching her. “Is it Autumn? I miss her, too. I don’t know how you do it, seeing her, then having her leave. It’s hard.”
“It is.” She did her best not to feel guilty as she steered the conversation to a safer topic away from what was actually upsetting her. “Usually I visit her at her place, so when I get home, I have my routine. But this time was different. I’m missing her in my day-to-day life. That’s more difficult.”
“Yeah, it would be. I’m glad I got to spend time with her. She’s a great kid. I see a lot of you in her.”
“Not as much as you’re projecting. I see a lot of Leigh in her.”
“Nature versus nurture,” he teased. “The age-old argument.”
“I’m a nurture girl,” she lied, trying not to think about how, despite everything, she’d turned out to be just as pitiful as her mother.
“I wish,” he began, then shook his head. “No point in that, right? No point in thinking about what would have happened if we’d—”
The cracks in her heart widened. “Don’t,” she snapped. “Just don’t. Neither of us needs to spend any time dwelling on the past. It’s done. We did the right thing and however much fun it is to pretend otherwise, it doesn’t accomplish anything. There is no second chance and even if there was, I wouldn’t change anything.”
“I would,” he said, his voice and gaze steady. “I would change it all.”
“Oh please. For how long? How long would you have wanted to play at being a dad? It wouldn’t have worked. You would have resented giving up all your opportunities. You would have wanted more. That life is too small for you, just like this town.”
She realized she might have said too much, so she pressed her lips together and did her best to look defiant.
“What are you talking about? What does Happily Inc have to do with—” He swore under his breath. “When did my mother come to see you?”
“This morning.”
“Dammit, Silver, you know better than to listen to her. Whatever she told you is a complete lie.”
“Is it? You’re in the running to be in charge of the bank and you’re probably going to get it. Then what? How long will you be happy with that? Face it, Drew, you’re not a run-the-bank kind of guy. You want more and you’re not going to find it here. One way or another, you’re leaving. You were always leaving.”
She thought he’d get mad. Instead he simply raised and lowered his shoulders. “An interesting premise, but don’t you think that kind of wanderlust would have kicked in by now? I’ve been back in Happily Inc nearly a decade. My need to take off sure has a slow burn.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. He had a point. A really good one. One she was having trouble arguing with.
He moved close enough that she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. “I’ll admit I do want more,” he told her. “Funny how working with you has started to change my perspective. I like being involved in your business. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to grow a company. I haven’t figured it all out yet, but maybe there should be more to my future than the bank.” He smiled at her. “But whatever that is, it’s happening here. I like it here. I’m not interested in being a power broker with my parents. This is my home and I’m staying. You have to trust me on that, Silver.”
Trusting him was relatively easy, she thought. It was loving him that was hard. Not that she’d had a choice. Her destiny had been set the second she’d handed over her heart.
She wanted to say she wished she’d known that at the time, but she knew it wouldn’t have made a difference. Loving Drew had always been unavoidable. She needed him as much as she needed air.
“What I need is to stop listening to your mother,” she said with a sigh.
“Yes, you do. Are we okay?”
She nodded and raised herself up on her toes, then she kissed him. “We’re fine.”
“Good. I need to get back to work, but I will see you soon. We have a big weekend planned.”
She thought of the events they were committed to. The smallest trailer was finished and would celebrate its debut on Saturday.
“Don’t remind me,” she told him. “I’m not emotionally ready to be an empire.”
He chuckled. “You’re going to do just great. After all you have the best business partner ever.”
“You wish.”
“I’m fine,” she told him.
Fortunately, Renee and Pallas arrived before he could ask anything else. Bethany and Cade followed. Pallas fiddled with her computer.
“We have the head of the office of protocol joining us today,” Pallas said with a tight smile. “Just so you’re all braced.”
Bethany hung her head. “I’m sorry. Did I say I’m sorry? Because I’m sorry.”
Cade put his arm around her. “It’s not your fault. Look at me.”
She did as he requested.
“I love you,” he said firmly. “I love you and this is going to be a great party.”
Bethany nodded. “I know. I love you, too. I’ll stop apologizing.” She looked at Pallas. “Let’s do this.”
Silver tried to focus on the meeting, but the happy couple’s sweet words were like a knife in her chest. She wanted that, she thought desperately. She wanted Drew telling the world he loved her. She wanted to know she was safe and had family she could hang on to. She wanted to belong and all those other stupid things she’d never had in her life.
Pallas connected with the El Baharian protocol expert via video. When he appeared on the screen, Silver managed to pretend to listen, taking notes so later she could figure out what everyone was talking about.
“The vice president is confirmed,” Pallas said. “Between the El Baharian security forces and our own Secret Service, we’ll have really tight security. I don’t know how we’re going to manage that. Everyone will be screened, then I guess the security team stays in the background.”
“They won’t interfere with the party,” the protocol expert said. “His Royal Highness will have security, as will the queen and the vice president, of course.”
“They’re all good at this,” Bethany added. “Basically you have hot guys in suits who nod politely. I’m sure there’s more going on, but to the layperson, that’s what it looks like.”
“We can handle that,” Renee said, as she entered information on her tablet. “Now, on to the menu.”
The meeting went on for a couple of hours. When they were done, Silver tried to make her escape before Drew could catch her, but she was too slow. Before she’d even made it to the hallway, he fell into step with her. Because of their partnership, she couldn’t even claim a work emergency. He knew all the events already on the books.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked.
“Of course. How are you doing? Still missing Mr. Whiskers? Maybe you should get a rabbit.”
“Autumn thinks I should get a dog.”
They walked outside. She’d parked at the far end of the lot, but instead of going to his car, he kept pace with her until they got to her truck.
“There’s something,” he said, watching her. “Is it Autumn? I miss her, too. I don’t know how you do it, seeing her, then having her leave. It’s hard.”
“It is.” She did her best not to feel guilty as she steered the conversation to a safer topic away from what was actually upsetting her. “Usually I visit her at her place, so when I get home, I have my routine. But this time was different. I’m missing her in my day-to-day life. That’s more difficult.”
“Yeah, it would be. I’m glad I got to spend time with her. She’s a great kid. I see a lot of you in her.”
“Not as much as you’re projecting. I see a lot of Leigh in her.”
“Nature versus nurture,” he teased. “The age-old argument.”
“I’m a nurture girl,” she lied, trying not to think about how, despite everything, she’d turned out to be just as pitiful as her mother.
“I wish,” he began, then shook his head. “No point in that, right? No point in thinking about what would have happened if we’d—”
The cracks in her heart widened. “Don’t,” she snapped. “Just don’t. Neither of us needs to spend any time dwelling on the past. It’s done. We did the right thing and however much fun it is to pretend otherwise, it doesn’t accomplish anything. There is no second chance and even if there was, I wouldn’t change anything.”
“I would,” he said, his voice and gaze steady. “I would change it all.”
“Oh please. For how long? How long would you have wanted to play at being a dad? It wouldn’t have worked. You would have resented giving up all your opportunities. You would have wanted more. That life is too small for you, just like this town.”
She realized she might have said too much, so she pressed her lips together and did her best to look defiant.
“What are you talking about? What does Happily Inc have to do with—” He swore under his breath. “When did my mother come to see you?”
“This morning.”
“Dammit, Silver, you know better than to listen to her. Whatever she told you is a complete lie.”
“Is it? You’re in the running to be in charge of the bank and you’re probably going to get it. Then what? How long will you be happy with that? Face it, Drew, you’re not a run-the-bank kind of guy. You want more and you’re not going to find it here. One way or another, you’re leaving. You were always leaving.”
She thought he’d get mad. Instead he simply raised and lowered his shoulders. “An interesting premise, but don’t you think that kind of wanderlust would have kicked in by now? I’ve been back in Happily Inc nearly a decade. My need to take off sure has a slow burn.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. He had a point. A really good one. One she was having trouble arguing with.
He moved close enough that she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. “I’ll admit I do want more,” he told her. “Funny how working with you has started to change my perspective. I like being involved in your business. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to grow a company. I haven’t figured it all out yet, but maybe there should be more to my future than the bank.” He smiled at her. “But whatever that is, it’s happening here. I like it here. I’m not interested in being a power broker with my parents. This is my home and I’m staying. You have to trust me on that, Silver.”
Trusting him was relatively easy, she thought. It was loving him that was hard. Not that she’d had a choice. Her destiny had been set the second she’d handed over her heart.
She wanted to say she wished she’d known that at the time, but she knew it wouldn’t have made a difference. Loving Drew had always been unavoidable. She needed him as much as she needed air.
“What I need is to stop listening to your mother,” she said with a sigh.
“Yes, you do. Are we okay?”
She nodded and raised herself up on her toes, then she kissed him. “We’re fine.”
“Good. I need to get back to work, but I will see you soon. We have a big weekend planned.”
She thought of the events they were committed to. The smallest trailer was finished and would celebrate its debut on Saturday.
“Don’t remind me,” she told him. “I’m not emotionally ready to be an empire.”
He chuckled. “You’re going to do just great. After all you have the best business partner ever.”
“You wish.”
