“Carlisle, wasn’t your son-in-law the author of one of the Dig Greener grants that wasn’t approved?”
Carlisle harrumphed as he studiously avoided meeting the eyes of anyone in the room. “That’s not quite how I’d put it,” he muttered as he straightened a paper on the desk.
Char gave a loud “Mm-hmm,” and the room fell silent until Voit spoke again.
“I have a solution, if anyone would like to hear it.” He didn’t wait for any encouragement to share it, which was probably how he ended up in charge of aFortune100 company. “Mr. Morales will report to Ms. Goldbaum, and Ms. Goldbaum will report to me. Mr. Lockhart, you’ll remain the public face of the foundation, attending all events and conferences and workshops, and you’ll report to me. But Ms. Goldbaum will have complete oversight of all grants. Is this amenable to everyone?”
A smile spread across Savannah’s face. “Yes. I’d like to take that on very much, sir.”
Carlisle sputtered some more, but in the end, he nodded. “I accept. Although I want to see this all written up andproperly documented.” He shot a poisonous glance at Leo, but it rolled right off his back.
He had his job. He had the respect of the community and the CEO. He had a direct report he enjoyed working with. And he had Faith’s hand in his. God, he was glad to have her by his side for all this. His touchstone. His foundation.
“Darla, can you get started typing up that new workflow for review?” Savannah asked.
The silver-haired woman nodded and hustled out the door. Char quickly followed, stopping only to give Leo a bone-crushing hug. “Another yarn shipment’s ready to go out if you have any time to help this week.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said after he’d wrestled his emotions back under control enough to speak.
George Voit tucked his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels to study him and Faith.
“I hear nothing but good things about Dig Greener,” he said jovially. “Keep up the good work, you two.” Then he, too, was gone, leaving them with Savannah and a visibly fuming Carlisle.
“I think the two of us need to have a conversation about the new workflow breakdown.” Savannah gestured to the door. “Leo, if you wouldn’t mind continuing your conversation with Faith in your own office?”
“Gladly.”
He grabbed his girl by the hand and pulled her out of Carlisle’s office. Darla waved her arms in a silent cheer as he hustled Faith through the main office, and he returned her gesture with an exuberant fist pump of his own. Then he ushered Faith into his office and shut the door behind them.
They were alone, and he didn’t know where to start.
“Dutch.” He pulled her into his arms. “Faith.”
She smiled up at him, joy rolling off her. “Oh my God, we did it. And I’m so sorry for—”
He crushed his mouth against hers. They had time for the rest of it. The apologies. The explanations. And it probably wouldn’t be the last time that her stubbornness and his pride got in the way, but as long as their fights ended in a kiss this hot and all-consuming, they’d be fine.
He pulled away far sooner than he wanted to, but theywereat his place of work. And he had a question burning in his chest. “Dutch, you said something just now.”
A blush touched her cheeks. “I said a few things.”
“I’m most interested in you saying something about the man you love.”
Her lips pursed as she pretended to search her memory. “Did I?”
“Do you?” He loosened his arms and stepped back, wanting to give her space to answer. His heart plummeted when she hesitated.
“Daddy’s money.” Her lips tightened, and she looked nervous for the first time all morning. “You’ve mentioned it a few times, and I have to know. Is that going to be a thing with you forever? Because I can’t change how I grew up.”
“I wouldn’t change anything about you.” He spoke firmly, anxious to banish the nerves on her face. “Our past is our past. I just know that I need you in my future.”
“Okay. In that case.” She stepped back into his arms and buried her face in his neck. “I love you so much, Leo.” She lifted her chin to meet his eyes with hers, steady and shining. “And not the way I did when we were kids. That’s still there. That never went away. But on top of that is…”
She shrugged, at a rare loss for words. So he offered some.
“Everything. On top of that is everything you are today. And I love every part of you.”
And then he slid his fingers into her moonlight hair, but he paused before he kissed her.
