“Why do you want to see Open Leaf succeed?”
My mouth falls open.I’ve never been asked a more ridiculous question in my life.Is he serious?
“Why...how could I not?Ford Books was started by Zoe’s great grandfather.Run by her grandfather and then her father.It’s her legacy.”
And to keep my home.Which I have no intention of going into.Those ten percent shares are important.One keeping my bank manager off my back.
“Not anymore,” Drew says, holding my stare as I feel tears forming.
I fight them, hating my body for being so treacherous.My face lowers, and I stare at the glasses, cutlery and napkins for a long minute.
Not anymore.
Drew is a professional, a wealthy businessman.He’s unmarried and has a reputation for doing what he does.There is no emotion in anything he does.Not even fucking.
How could he understand?
How could he care about the need of a mother to save something for her daughter, the legacy of her father and forefathers, to protect the employees who have been so loyal to the Ford family for generations?
He doesn’t care.
Drew Carrington is a heartless man.
And I slept with him.Regret seeps in, despite acknowledging how handsome he is.
Women seated around us have been glancing at him since I walked in.Hell, I’m sure the waitress slipped her number under his napkin.For all she knows, we are married.
I still wear my wedding ring, after all.
His eyes dip to my hand, to my ring, and then our eyes meet.He’s annoyed.I can see it.
Rarely can I read this man, but it’s there in black and white in his gaze.
Why?
I spin the gold band, and a glint appears, as if he knows I’m taunting him.Drew breaks the connection and takes a sip of wine, his jaw tight.
God, he’s confusing.
It’s almost like he wants to own me, hates that I was married, and yet loves that the barrier exists to keep me from getting too close.
It’s hard to completely regret Friday night.I was ready to have sex, after a year of celibacy.Strangely, my guilt hasn’t been to Anthony but more about this odd situation I find myself in about the company.
I suppose it has more to do with my daughter and protecting her.
But we cannot keep doing this.
And he has no right to be annoyed that I’m wearing a wedding ring.
I don’t belong to him, despite the way my body thrums whenever he’s near.
Like now.
The way I want his touch, his mouth on mine, his body up against mine to feel that possession.It’s...addictive.
At the same time, his decisions about Open Leaf are a stark reminder that he somewhat holds my future in his hands.My financial future and how Zoe will be impacted.
But there’s more.
