If they made it through this disaster, he’d have to talk to her about not showing her feelings unless it benefited the situation.Ian shifted in his seat, offered a nonchalant response.“I just got you to consider other options, and once you did, you realized everything was a possibility.”
Lawrence coughed.“So, it seems the two of you work quite well together.”The man cleared his throat, offered a thin smile.“Everythingis a possibility and an opportunity if we only look at it that way.If we’re unable or…unwilling to see the other options, then the forecast never looks good.In fact, it’s usually doomed.”
The guy was talking about a lot more than working with Katie and her company.He was talking about Ian and his relationship with Katie, and the stories Ian had manufactured to stay close to her.Doomed?
His stomach lurched, and he drew in three deep breaths, blocked out Lawrence’s words.“Katie asked that I sit in on this meeting, though I’m sure she could have handled it herself.”He leaned back, stared at Lawrence, challenging him to continue with the subliminal messages.
Katie didn’t seem to notice the looks between him and Lawrence as she slid a folder across the table to Lawrence and handed one to Ian.
“I’m really excited about the changes, and I think we’ll see a significant difference next quarter.Our number of jars per day has increased by twenty-seven percent.”She glanced at Ian, smiled.“Ian has been a great asset.He’s opened my eyes to areas and possibilities I hadn’t considered.”
Oh boy.Was she talking on a business or personal level?He cleared his throat, added, “Katie’s Soups is a solid business.All I did was offer a few suggestions.”
Lawrence tapped his pen against the table, nodded as he flipped pages.“It appears Mr.Finnegan is quite industrious.”The gaze narrowed, the voice sharpened.“One would think he’s done this many times before.”
Okay, the man didn’t have to be a jerk about it.Ian understood what he meant, and while he didn’t appreciate the comments, Lawrence wasn’t wrong.“So, since everything appears to be on track, why don’t you cancel the meeting with the engineer?Let’s see how everything goes.My guess is Katie’s Soups is on track for success.”
“Seems reasonable to me.”
Katie didn’t see it that way.“No.I want a chance to meet this engineer and show him my plans.I think it’s good to let him see what we’re doing.If I need capital in the future, I’ll feel more confident that the investor will support me.”
“What?”Ian sat up in his chair, forced his breathing to remain even.She couldnotbe serious.She could not–
“It’s the perfect opportunity to invite the engineer in and show him what we’ve done.The work is solid, the projections are valid, and I know they’ll increase profitability.Why not let him see this?”She shifted her gaze to Lawrence.“Do you have any objections?”
The man who’d represented Ian’s interests for years opened his mouth, closed it.Cleared his throat and offered a compelling argument.“You might have a stronger position if you provide some sort of track record.Three months could make a difference.”
Big sigh and a shake of her head.“Yes, it could, but I’ve always had the feeling that this engineer planned to come in and find reasons the company couldn’t remain solvent.Call it instinct, but something was never right.I want to meet him, look him in the eye when I show him what we’ve done.”
Ian took another deep breath, blew it out nice and slow.Calm.Stay calm.“Katie, I don’t really think that’s a good idea.”
Her gaze landed on him, her expression determined.“I appreciate your thoughts, truly I do.Haven’t you told me all along to trust my gut because this ismybusiness?Myfuture?”
Damn, yes, he’d said that.And now he wished he hadn’t.“I did.”This was a disaster.Beyond a disaster.This was…
Katie steamrolled his thoughts.“Lawrence, please set up the meeting.The sooner the better.”She slid a smile at Ian.“Tell the engineer that Ian Finnegan will be attending.”
Katie turned on her side,studied the man next to her.A short time ago, it had been difficult to imagine someone in her bed every night, certainly not this man.Since that kiss, her life had exploded with a passion and need she hadn’t known she possessed.She wanted him—in bed and out.This was different than the naïve longings she’d experienced at nineteen.This was so much deeper…so much stronger…so muchmore.
She loved him.
His presence made her feel safe…wanted…understood.He challenged her with questions about her business, made her stretch her world, look for the possible in the improbable.She’d always played it safe, followed rules—in life and in business—but Ian had shown her that sometimes you had to take a risk because the reward was immeasurable.
She let out a tiny sigh, watched his chest rise and fall as he slept.She almost regretted suggesting he “clean up” for the meeting with Lawrence.Ian wasn’t someone to be cornered, or caged.He was meant to live life on his own terms, whatever that meant.Real.Unconventional.And she very much wanted to be a part of that life.
Did he want that, too?When he invited her back to his house last night, she’d hesitated.What if someone spotted them heading inside?What if they drew conclusions?
What if…
So what?Finally, she didn’t care because she believed in Ian Finnegan, and whatever happened before was over and belonged in the past.He was honorable, kind, and cared about her.He wanted to help and had turned away from her all those years ago to protect her.Notbecause he didn’t care, but because hedid.
They hadn’t spent the night apart since the kiss that changed everything.Eight glorious nights together.How long would he stay in Magdalena?Would he consider traveling back and forth, maybe ask her to visit him?What wouldthatlook like?If not for him, she might never have found a way around the business problems.Once she met with the engineer, she’d request a meeting with the investor and ask Ian to attend as her consultant.He could wear whatever he wanted.Katie didn’t care about his hair or his faded jeans and scuffed-up boots.She cared abouthim, the real Ian Finnegan, and it was time to stop hiding it.
Well, so much for sleep.A person didn’t have an epiphany involving “love and forever” and fall back to sleep.Not happening.If she stayed in bed, she might be tempted to wake him up and spit out what she’d just discovered.I love you with my whole heart.I want to make a life with you.No, she couldn’t do that because truths should be shared when the other party was wide awake.Besides, Katie needed time to sort her feelings and work on her presentation to the engineer.What better way to do that than in the kitchen, raiding the cabinets for a late-night snack?
She eased out of bed, located Ian’s T-shirt, and tossed it over her head.Oh, she hoped he had something good to eat that didn’t require a stove or mixing.Pretzels, potato chips, toast with peanut butter?As Katie padded to the kitchen, she wondered about his food choices.The man devoured chicken sliders and wings and insisted there wasn’t a pizza he didn’t like.But what did he eat when he was by himself—other than her soups and Harry’s takeout?Ian was an intriguing puzzle, and the more she learned about him, the more she wanted to know.
The kitchen in a person’s home held a lot of secrets, and Katie was on the hunt to uncover a few about the man sleeping upstairs.The first drawer she opened held a pack of mints, a handful of dark chocolate squares, a bag of red licorice, and a sleeve of peanut butter cookies.Tomorrow, she’d make homemade peanut butter cookies, and he could taste what he’d been missing.Katie slid a piece of red licorice from the bag and closed the drawer.
