Her heart raced.
Wishing her hands would stop shaking, Lara went back to her desk.For a cowardly few minutes, she considered the idea of calling him or sending a text message.But he deserved better than that, even if seeing him made it more difficult for her.Thinking it would be bad taste to contact April, she instead telephoned a cab to take her to Connor’s office.
On her way out of the door, she purposefully ignored the garment bag containing the dress she had planned to wear for their wedding.
The cab ride seemed to last forever, even though it had probably taken less than ten minutes.
All too soon, she was in Connor’s reception area, and Thompson looked up.
He grinned.“Hello, Ms.Bertrand.I don’t think he’s expecting you.He was planning to leave in a couple of hours to pick you up.”
She tried to smile at him, but failed.“My visit will be a surprise.”
“Go right in.”
“He doesn’t have company?”she asked, remembering that Nathan had been with him last time she’d dropped by unexpectedly.
“No, ma’am.”
After thanking him, she walked toward the door.
“Can I get you a coffee?And I hid some biscotti for you.”
“I’d love to take you up on that, but I’ve had more than I should have today.”And she wanted to get this over with.
She knocked on Connor’s door then entered without waiting for an invitation.
On her way over, she’d focused on him and all the reasons he had to be relieved by her father’s change of heart.He’d get the communications division, and he wouldn’t have to go through with the marriage.He could have his loft to himself, not have to share his workout space, return the ring and get his money back.
All in all, it was the ideal solution.
He glanced up, and their eyes met.
His smile was slow and sure, and it beckoned her forward.“If it isn’t my beautiful bride.”He stood and rounded his desk to rest his hips against the corner.
She drank him in, and he stole the rest of her breath.
His shirtsleeves were rolled back, showing the sinew of his forearms, reminding her of the way he wielded a single tail.And a belt.
The knot in his silver tie had been yanked low.He was the picture of studiousness and determination.He was the picture of the man she wanted to love her.
She closed the door and walked toward him, her feet feeling as if they were as heavy as bricks.
His smile faded as she drew closer, then it became a frown.“Everything okay, Lara?”
It was one thing to be certain about her course of action when she was alone, but now that she was near him, resolve wavered.She pulled back a chair and sat, afraid to go close to him.She’d never want to leave his arms otherwise.“I had a meeting with my father,” she began.
“You could have called.I would have been there.”
She should have guessed he would say that.He’d warned her from the start that he was a protector.It wasn’t hard to picture him in armor, slaying a maiden’s dragons.“He stopped by my office.And it seems you’re off the hook.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
She gave him a small smile, it was as much false cheer as she could summon.“We’ll get the communications deal done.And he’s willing to allow me to start looking for someone to replace him as president, perhaps even CEO.All this means…” She paused to swallow the knot that had lodged in her throat.“What I’m trying to say is… There’s no longer a need for us to get married.”
He waited, his body still.
“Say something,” she implored.“Anything.”
