She laughed. “Did he tell you how he found the article?”
“I guessed someone sent it him. Nate’s not really a reader.”
She laughed again. “Someone did. Me.”
I hadn’t even known she had his number. “Why didn’t you just send it me?”
“I’d have felt too forward.”
“Never feel too forward with me. Please don’t. I know who you are now, you don’t need to hide things from me.” I swallowed, wishing we weren’t having this conversation on the phone.
Her laugh was soft, relaxed. “You know I’m only back for a few nights, don’t you?”
“But you’re back in England early March. We can manage to fit in seeing each other. The football season ends in May. I don’t have any plans after that, nothing important anyway.”
“Don’t you usually go to California for some of the summer?”
I hadn't told her how the whole thing with the sale had wound up. Though I had thought I'd remain cordial with Lotte, and I'd suggested I'd probably still code for her from time to time, blocking her number had ended any possibility of that. “I didn't just sell my shares, I've cut ties.” This was hard to explain. That part of my life was now behind a closed door, all for the best, I knew. “Lotte was –let's just say she crossed a line. I set her up with a new employee and nudged her toward promoting her assistant. I don't make a habit of blocking numbers, but I blocked hers.” I’d tell her more about the baby thing when I saw her. When I could see her reaction.
“That’s a big thing. You’ve known her so long.”
“I know. But it’s all good. Promise.”
There were a few seconds of silence. “You’ll want a new project. You have to have something to be focused on, Ryan. And that can’t be just me. I hope you want part of it to be me, though.” I heard an announcement in the background, possibly for Otter’s flight.
“The farmhouse. The land. I have ideas. But I’ll see you in a few days.” Which needed to go quick.
There was another announcement. “Ryan, it’s the last call for my flight. Will you be awake when I land?”
I groaned. “Probably not. Text me. I’ll call you when I’m at the airport.”
“What time’s your flight… shit, Ry, I have to go.”
“Go. Speak later.”
“Definitely!”
I hung up, swallowing with difficulty, my heart thumping.
A large lummox appeared in the doorway. “She tell you to do one?”
“Fuck off.”
Nate laughed. “I hope you’ll ask me to be best man. Rowan would lose the rings.”
I laughed, needing to break that tension in my body. “If it gets that far, mate, I’ll definitely ask you.”
“Damn right. Now fuck off. I need my beauty sleep.”
I still heard Nate laughing when he got in his room.
CHAPTER22
Otter
If I’d have hadmy way, the football game would’ve started at midday, which would’ve given me chance to watch the match, and Ryan a chance to get back from Turkey and possibly meet me in time for the BAFTA’s, even if it meant him turning up in his England tracksuit.
Actually, that would’ve have been a most delicious site, seeing Ryan in his tracksuit. Or tux.
