“I’d love to meet the new Mrs.Donovan while I’m there.”
“I’ll keep you advised.”
“No need.I’ll calendar it for you.Let me know what changes.I do love shopping for wedding gifts.”
“Save your money.”He ended the call.
Julien’s words haunted the rest of his morning and they were still on his mind when he and April arrived in front of Lara’s office building.
She was standing inside the revolving door, and she pushed through it the moment he opened the car door.
At the sight of her, something sparked inside him, a recognition, an attraction, a feeling of possession.Today she wore classic pumps, an above-the-knee skirt, white blouse and a blazer.Her purse hung from her shoulder.
No matter what she put on, from that slinky thing on Saturday evening to one of his shirts last night, he responded to her.
She’d covered her eyes with sunglasses.
Her smile looked polite.He knew enough to realize it was strained.
He kissed her cheek, but she didn’t respond.
Instead, she accepted his hand into the car and told April how much she appreciated the ride.
He slid in beside her, and she removed the sunglasses.It was then that he noticed the tension edged beside her mouth and eyes.
Julien’s words plowed into him again.“Anything I can do for you?”he asked.
“No.”She shook her head.“I just need to get through tomorrow.”
“Trouble?”
She updated him on the fact her father hadn’t shown up for work this morning so she hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss the report she’d compiled after her Friday meeting with BHI’s VP of Technology.“I can work on the financials,” she said, “begin some due diligence, but if my father won’t consider the proposal to sell the package of patents to Bonds—”
“Patents for?”
She closed her mouth.“I shouldn’t have said that much.I forgot that you know him.You and I haven’t signed anything yet.At the very least, we need a non-disclosure in place before I tell you anything else.”
“Are they part of the communications deal?”
“No.”
Then it was technology.And if they had value to Julien, they could have value to Donovan.He admired her determination to protect BHI.As CFO, that was paramount.And yet, as the man she’d ridden yesterday afternoon, the man who’d guided her through her first submissive steps, he wanted her to turn to him.He wanted to help her battle the dragons.
“You received a copy of the invitation I sent to the board.I listed you as a special presenter.I left Dad a message about the whole thing, and I scheduled a four o’clock with him tomorrow.”
“Any response?”
“No.”She rubbed her arms.
He could only imagine what was going on inside her head.He knew there was a part of her that felt as if she was doing something dishonorable.“No matter how he reacts, you’re doing the right thing.”
“I know.Or at least I think I do.”
“There’s no guarantee the board will agree with my communications proposal,” he reminded her.
“True.”
“But they have a right to hear it.”
