Her resolve crumbled, and she struggled not to tell him everything. “Yes. But I can’t tell you anything right now. Please. Give me a fewdays.”
Facing off with one of the most intimidating men in Boston wasn’t in the plans today, but Elizabeth refused to look away, and eventually, Alexander closed his eyes for a long moment, then sighed. “Come. Let’s get off the ice. An early dinnersomewhere?”
The way her stomach felt, she wasn’t sure she’d ever eat again.“I have to be at the airport at six tomorrow. I should go home and finishpacking.”
“You still have to eat, and I have little confidence you’ll do so left to your own devices,” Alexander said tersely as he unlaced herskates.
“I have some food in the fridge that’ll go bad before I get back. I promise you I’ll be okay.” Another lie. How many more would she rack up before they spilled over and destroyed everything? Rather than trying to explain further, she tried changing the subject. “What do you have to do thisweek?”
After picking up their skates Alexander relented and offered her his arm.“Year-end activities are starting. Closing out the books, planning for the next twelve months. I have a week of meetings from nine to five or longer. Nicholas plans to order a dozen new warehouses and at least one container ship. While that’s his business, not mine, purchases that large require two signatories and I don’t sign off on anything without doing my due diligence. Not even purchases he vouchesfor.”
“How large is large?” Needing his closeness, Elizabeth snuggled into the crook of his arm as they strolled towards thelimo.
“I believe the ship in question is approximately one hundred and twentymillion.”
“Holy shit.” Elizabeth gaped. “Other than my rent, I can’t remember the last time I spent one hundred and twentydollarson any one thing. And you’re going to spend a million timesthat.”
“I told you before, Elizabeth, I won’t apologize for my wealth.” Alexander slid into the limo after her, then shook his head. “That was the wrong thing to say,” he murmured. “I only meant that…bugger it. Forget I saidanything.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” she said. “You’re rich. I knew that when I got in the limo with you that first day. I can’t even fathom that amount of money. My family is wealthy, and even they’d balk at thatfigure.”
He draped his arm around her shoulders. “I suppose when you deal in such sums daily, they lose the awe they once held. Fairhaven is responsible for more than half of the world’s shipping. Each ship carries anywhere from ten to fifteen thousand containers. Think about how many computers, televisions, even cars, we can carry atonce.”
“I used to drive by the port in Seattle all the time. Sometimes I’d pull off the road to watch the ships being loaded,” she said. The memory made her smile. “I always thought it was impressive. All those containers raised and lowered like they weredominoes.”
They lapsed into companionable silence as the city flew by.If only I’d met him a year ago. Or a year from now. Then we might have had achance.
“Will you see friends in Seattle? Have any fun at all?” Concern laced his tone, and he brushed his fingertips over along her jaw before kissingher.
“I don’t have any friends in Seattle any more. I might be able to go to the Seattle Art Museum on Tuesday. Or Pike Place Market for chowder. I have to be at the airport on Wednesday by ten, but my return trip involves three flights, something like six hours of layovers, and a red-eye.”
As they arrived at her apartment, Elizabeth looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. “I had a good time today. Thankyou.”
“May I give your email address to my personal shopper? She can help you chose a dress for the ball while you’re gone.” He threaded his hand through her hair, and his smile helped her believe for a moment that things just might workout.
“That’sfine.”
“I could—” he pressed a kiss to her neck, “—take you to the airport in themorning.”
If he did, she might never get on the plane. “No. It’s a short trip on the T. I’ll befine.”
At the threshold of her apartment, Elizabeth reached up and brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. His smile warmed her all over, and his kiss left her breathless. Maybe things would be okay. Maybe he’d forgive her for not telling him her fears. Maybe she wouldn’t loseeverything.
Maybe.
