Everett doesn’t say anything. He just waits for me to go on.
“Thenhetook the promotion.”
His brows arch.
“He put the job before our relationship,” I say. “You said your parents always did that. I kind of get how that feels. SomeoneI loved and trusted made his job more important than me. And before that, I had a personal relationship with a boss, and while nothing inappropriate ever happened, people still assumed there was favoritism.”
I sigh. “I just don’t wantanythingto be problematic for IES. The work you’re going to do—thatwe’regoing to do—is important and will likely outlast any fling you and I would have. I just don’t want anything to negatively impact the company, the work, or your relationship with Graham and my family and all of these people who mean so much to you.” I pause and take a breath. “I think you need this team of people, this company, thisfamilymore than you need to kiss me.”
I stop and let that all just hang there between us.
I mean all of it, but I’m also weak where he’s concerned.
This whole project is really good for my town. Being a fully green town would be very good for Sapphire Falls and for my brothers’ and dad’s company. Not to mention just good for the planet and the environment.
The Riley family is the right family to lead the way here. We certainly aren’t the only people doing good work in green energy, ecology, and environmental conservation, but we are prominent in these spaces, and the fact that my brothers want to do this and make it their life's work together is filling me with pride and happiness. I want to help them. I want to be part of it. I’ve always been proud of my father, and I know having all of us following in his footsteps and making a real impact like this means a lot to him.
And Everett needs this. My gut is telling me that he needs to be a part of a group, a common goal, a passionate group of people who can meet him on his level and help him do incredible things. Things that are very different from what his parents do.
He says Graham is his first true friend. That makes me really proud of my brother. And makes a strange protectiveness toward Everett surge through me.
Being around that Thanksgiving table reminded me how tight our group is and how important it is to everyone in it. We love each other and enjoy each other and give each other a hard time, but at the end of the day, we take care of each other. We protect each other, encourage each other, and support each other.
I think Everett needs that.
Oh, he thinks he needs sex with me, and again, it’s good for my ego, but I think he needs something bigger than that. Something the Rileys can give him. A purpose, a way of using his incredible brain and all of his resources for something truly good. And a family.
Everett Clark has never really had that before, but he fell into it today.
And it comes with pie.
Finally, he says, “Your boyfriend was a fucking idiot and doesn’t deserve you thinking about him for another ten seconds. Ever.”
I swallow hard. “Same for your parents.”
There’s a tug at the corner of his mouth. He gives me a small nod. “Agreed.”
“So you understand where I’m coming from?” I ask.
“I do. It doesn’t make me not want you,” he says.
My heart flips over.
“But I hear you, and I appreciate how much you care about IES.” He pauses. “And me.”
Fuck, I want to hug him so badly. But hugging would turn into naked hugging. I just know it.
“I think I know the first person we should talk to about converting his farm to an indoor farm powered by green energy.I can approach him in the next couple of weeks and then you could meet him when you come for Christmas,” I say.
“Am I invited for Christmas?” he asks.
Hehasto come for Christmas. This is where his new family is. “If you think my mom’s spread is impressive at Thanksgiving, just wait.”
“More pie?” he asks.
“Somuch pie. AndChristmas cookies.”
He grins and scoops the last bite of pie into his mouth.
