"Want to meet me for lunch in the hospital cafeteria later?" she asks, pouring me a cup of coffee.
"I have a meeting with Carmen at eleven."
"Your financial guru, Carmen?"
"Yeah. She has some investment ideas she wants to run past me."
"You're still doing the thing with the group home," she says, chewing a bit of toast. "Isn’t that enough?"
"I’m donating to that, but I’m also looking into ways to grow my grandfather's money long term."
"I see," she nods. "You want to increase your fortune."
"The more it grows, the more I can donate," I say. "And I’ve got to think about Beth’s future... and my children’s."
"That makes sense," she says, before glancing at me as if remembering something important. "Before I forget, I’ve got a double shift today. Then I’m spending the weekend with Vince, so I might not see you until Monday."
"The weekend?" I can’t hide my surprise. "I thought you said you were taking it slow."
"We are," she replies, shrugging. "But they just finished construction on his new office building in Indy, so he’s taking me to see it."
"Okay," I say, not wanting to press further.
She grabs her purse as she heads for the door. "Alright, well, I’ll see you in a few days. Love you!"
"Love you too," I reply as the door clicks shut behind her.
The phrase"there’s a fine line between love and hate"echoes in my mind as I listen to the sound of the lock engaging. I wonder how long it'll take her to realize her feelings for Nate are teetering on that line—and whether she's rushing into things with Vincent to avoid facing them.
Chapter 34
Tina
Nate’s work truck pulls into Cal’s driveway; the company logo on the side readsCallahan & Co.
Nate Callahan... the bane of my existence. I can’t stand him, yet there’s a strange thrill I can’t shake every time we interact.
I just hope I make it to my car without being spotted. Nope. Here he comes.
His long strides are as determined as they are beautiful. He looks like a Greek god going into battle, and I’ve been identified as the enemy. He might just tackle me to the ground, and I don’t know that I’d mind.
"Hey," he murmurs as soon as he's within earshot. Not a 'good morning,' or a 'how are you?'
"Hey," I reply, playing it cool, already knowing what he’s going to ask.
He stops just a couple of feet away. The masculine scent of his cologne wraps around my senses, rendering me momentarily stupid.
"Have you talked to the old man?" Well, at least he’s consistent—never wasting time reminding me just how much I dislike him.
"He’s not an old man," I shoot back, glaring at him.
"I thought we agreed you'd speak to him," he growls, each word clipped with impatience.
"You demanded it," I remind him, crossing my arms. "I never agreed to it."
"You’ve got to be kidding," he snarls, hands on hips—those strong hands that probably have rough calluses. I can almost feel them moving up my body, burning through my skin until—Focus, Tina! Focus!
"Nate," I say, trying to shake off the forbidden thoughts drilling through my mind. "I haven’t had a chance to see Vincent. I’ve been buried in work."
