“Nope. He says that if Thayer is expanding manufacturing the way you explained it, he wants a seat at the table too. Dad wants more oil and the rigs, ahem,” Trent dropped his voice into a terrible imitation of his father’s. “Those damn things don’t make themselves.”
I snorted. “Jesus.”
“He’s already had his people start running projections,” Trent said. “Other companies are sniffing around too, but we told them to get in line. The ink is barely dry on my paperwork.”
“That’s an understatement,” I muttered, picking up my brisk pace again. “You realize you’ve just turned my wife’s company into the belle of the ball.”
“As it should be,” he said easily. “Are you okay with that?”
I didn’t even have to think about my response. “Yeah. I am.”
There was a beat of silence, and he chuckled. “You did well, Alex. With that acquisition and the woman you married.”
I swallowed past the unexpected tightness in my throat. “Don’t get sentimental on me now. It ruins your mystique.”
He laughed again. “Well, tell Jane congrats and that my dad is excited to work with her. He’s mighty impressed with everything he’s seen so far. Your girl is really shaking up the industry and she’s only been in the big chair for a few weeks. Who knew things would start happening so fast?”
“I did, but they’re also grinding to a halt for now. Fucking red tape and all,” I said. “I’ll tell her, though. But Trent?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for jumping without a net.”
“That’s what family does,” he said simply. “Besides, this was a no-brainer. The company is rock solid and it’s always had a good name. Its recent leadership was letting it down. That’s all. And that won’t be problem with you and Jane in charge.”
“Sure, but it was still a risk.”
“What can I say? I like living on the edge,” he joked. “We’ll talk soon, okay? Lunch is ready and Charlotte will skin me alive if I’m late again.”
I smiled. “Tell her I’m proud of her for giving you hell.”
“I love you too, bro,” he shot back, chuckling.
We ended the call just as I reached Thayer headquarters, the steel-and-glass façade so much more familiar now. I pushed through the revolving doors, nodding at security, and immediately started scanning for her out of habit. She wasn’t in the lobby or in the hallway outside the temporary offices she’d been using.
“She moved upstairs,” someone said helpfully as I passed, like this was the most normal thing in the world, me bringing her lunch in the middle of the week.
The elevator ride felt longer than necessary. Anticipation buzzed under my skin. When the doors finally slid open, I followed the corridor toward the corner office, noticing light pouring in through the walls of windows.
I found her standing near the glass, one hand gesturing animatedly as she spoke on the phone. Snow was falling outside, soft and steady, and she was smiling that smile that still knocked the air out of my lungs.
Jane Thayer-Westwood. CEO.
She turned when she sensed me there, her face lighting up in a way that made every dollar, every sleepless night, and every protective instinct worth it. As soon as her gaze met mine, she begged off and hung up.
“You brought food,” she said, inhaling a deep breath. “That smells good.”
“I figured you might’ve forgotten to eat again,” I said. “I’ll steal some if you’ll let me, but this is for you.”
She laughed, crossing the room to give me a quick kiss, like she couldn’t help herself but didn’t want to be caught making out with her husband on her first day in the big office. “Thank you. I missed you, so I’ll let you have some of my lunch.”
I grinned against her lips, fighting every urge to haveherfor lunch instead and breaking away to set the bag down on her sleek new desk. “Come sit with me.”
We unpacked lunch together, nothing fancy, just sandwiches and soup, but she acted like I’d brought gourmet cuisine. Then we sat side by side at the small table near the windows.
“I talked to Trent,” I said casually.
Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh?”
