* * *
Grant Parker knew he should be more excited. A contract with Morris Bio Tech would push his boutique web design business into the big leagues. Plus, he genuinely believed in Landon Morris’s vision—high quality yet inexpensive biodegradable packaging products for mass production. It seemed like a niche market. Yet, in less than three years, Landon, the chief biochemical engineer and CEO, had turned a company manufacturing biodegradable straws that didn’t turn soggy in a glass of soda to a multibillion-dollar business. And thanks to word of mouth, Landon wanted Grant and his small San Francisco-based team to handle all of his website needs.
Grant should be ecstatic.
Or at the very least, not so morose.
But seeing the woman who smashed his heart to smithereens could do that to a guy.
His decision to go home on New Year’s Eve had turned out to be worse than the time he ate week-old sushi.
“Grant, are you listening?”
Adjusting his rectangular wire-rimmed glasses, Grant tore his gaze from a framed photograph on his desk to focus on the chiseled features of Landon Morris. It really wasn’t fair that the guy had both a billion-dollar bank account and movie-star good looks.
“Am I boring you?” Landon asked with a lighthearted grin. “I want the website design to be sleek and simple, not put people to sleep.” He chuckled, and Grant tried to join in, but it sounded forced.
Landon leaned forward, snatching the black photo frame that had occupied Grant’s attention. “Friends of yours?” He gestured to the five teenage boys with their arms draped across each other’s shoulders.
“Friends from high school. The one in the middle is getting married in a few weeks.”
“Nice. If you’re into that kind of thing.” Landon set the photograph back on the desk. “Personally, I don’t see the appeal. Marriage is a time suck. Especially if you have kids.”
Grant absentmindedly straightened the frame. “I have to agree with you there.” Although, the time constraint wasn’t his main reason for never wanting kids. Not that he’d share something so personal with a guy he barely knew. Heck, he wouldn’t even tell a shrink the real reason.
“So, you’re a groomsman?” Landon asked.
Grant hesitated. How had they gotten on this topic? “No, I’m not. We lost touch several years ago. The photo’s simply a reminder of the good old days.”
“That’s too bad. But I hear ya.” Landon nodded in solidarity. “When my business took off, I learned who my true friends were in a hurry. And I gotta say, there weren’t that many.”
Guilt lodged in Grant’s throat, and he coughed a few times to clear it. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Grant only wished he could empathize. But, in his case,hewas the terrible friend.
Landon shrugged. “Live and learn, right? But I’ll tell ya… the friends I do have are gold. And if one of them ever decides to make the long death march to marriage, I won’t miss it.”
Grant let Landon’s words sink in as he stared past his shoulder at the muted gray wall.
“Hey,” Landon said casually, rising from the slick leather chair. “You clearly have a lot on your mind. Why don’t I come back tomorrow to go over more of the details?”
Grant suppressed a groan.Just great. Way to screw up the biggest deal of your career, knucklehead.“Are you sure? We can go over them now.”
“Nah!” Landon waved away his offer. “Don’t worry about it. I have to get ready for a date tonight, anyway. I’m taking her on a chopper ride to Alcatraz.”
“You’re allowed to land on the island?” Grant asked in surprise.
“Depends on who you know.” Landon winked before strolling out of Grant’s office.
Grant shook his head with a bemused smile, watching his office door swing shut behind Landon before his gaze traveled back to the photograph.
Gently, he turned it over and rested it facedown on the desk. His heartbeat quickened as he twisted the metal tabs to remove the backboard and slowly slipped the photograph from between the glass and matting, revealing a second one hidden underneath.
Pain shot through his chest as a pair of dazzling dark eyes stared back at him.
The same ones he’d seen on New Year’s Eve that had filled him with both agony and longing.
Did he have the strength to see them again?
