“I think love isn’t what they talk about in fairytales, Kat. Love is a deep form of respect that a man can give a woman and vice versa. Love is two people reaching for the same goals. That’s what we would be. And I’d be happy for it.”
Just the thought of tying herself to someone who might have the power to snuff out her light felt suffocating. She would never allow herself to become dependent on another person for her sense of self-worth or successes. She’d clawed her way to the top of her class, and she’d do the same at her father’s company.
Kat shook her head. “I disagree. Love might include those things, sure, but love is more than that, too. One day you’re going to see a pretty girl walk past you on the street or enter a room where you’re standing and you’re going to lose all sense of time. You’re going to wonder what it would be like to reach out and graze your thumb along her lower lip. You’re going to feel the sizzle in the air just by being close to her.”
As if against her will, her thoughts turned to Leo.
There was definitely a little sizzle there, but it was the wrong kind. He made her blood boil to the point it might bubble over and burn anyone within spitting distance.
“Have you considered that woman could be you?”
That simmering in her blood immediately cooled. She gaped at Chaz. “What?”
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and shrugged. The dress shirt he wore tightened around his own frame, hinting that just because he worked behind a desk didn’t mean he didn’ttake care of his body. “I would be lying if I told you that I hadn’t considered asking you out over the years. Came close to doing just that several times.”
Still she stared at him slack jawed. This was insane. Chaz was… well, he wasChaz. He only took things seriously when her father was within hearing distance. He was good at his job, which infuriated her more often than not, because this kind of work came so naturally to him. It was like he didn’t even have to try.
And if he did?
Well, then she might actually be bumped from the candidates vying for the job she so desperately wanted. Realizing her mouth was still agape, she snapped it shut. “While I appreciate your willingness to play the ‘what if’ game, I’m sorry to have to inform you that my stance on the subject hasn’t changed. And it never will. I want this promotion. It’s all I’ve wanted since I was nine. If that means putting up with some ill-mannered cowboy from Montana, sobeit.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Chaz’s lips. He lifted a shoulder. “Then I guess the only thing I can do is wish you good luck.”
He turned to head for the door but before he reached it, she called out, “I don’t need luck.”
Chaz paused but he didn’t glance back at her. A low, rumbling chuckle filled the room. “You know, I’ve never seen you this flustered over someone you’ve met. In all the years we’ve worked together, you’ve kept a clear head. Then this cowboy waltzes in, and suddenly you’re shooting steam out of your ears.”
“I wasnot?—”
“Like I said, Kat. Good luck.” With that, he disappeared out the door and out of view.
“I needupdates on the equine therapy project. The contractors were supposed to have broken ground already.”
Kat sighed but then she realized her father probably heard her discontent.
Zero weakness.
She couldn’t afford to let him see how frustrated or worried she was about their current timeline. He was right. They were supposed to have broken ground already. If they waited much longer, then the build would be going into the fall and if Montana was anything like she expected it to be in the winter, that would present problems.
Kat sat up taller in her seat. “The contractors they insist on using were booked out and there was a problem with scheduling?—”
“Have you offered them more money to bump our build up in their schedule?”
“Of course I have.”
“And?”
She shut her eyes briefly and prayed for patience. “These contractors are from a small town, dad. They have plenty of work, but there’s not enough work for there to be two firms. We could attempt to request someone from Billings, but Noah was adamant that the people from this particular company are who they wanted to go with.”
He slammed a palm down on the table. “It isn’t their money they’re spending. After the build is done, we’re taking a percentage of the profits. We need this project up and running or our numbers aren’t going to look good come year-end.”
She should have taken some pain killers before she came to this meeting. “They have every right to pick the contractors. You permitted it in the contract they signed.”
Her father sighed then pinched the bridge of his nose. “So what’s the timeline? When are they going to break ground?”
She dug through her notes despite knowing the date already. At this point in time, they anticipated the end of July if not early August. There was even a chance for a start date of early September if they got really unlucky. Her father wasn’t going to like it, and she didn’t want to tell him because she knew he’d blame her somehow. This was her project after all.
Kat cleared her throat. “Looks like late July at the earliest.”
