Page 25 of A Christmas Negotiation

“I’d need to see the numbers.”

“Okay, then. Let’s get it done.”

“Such a shark. Gotta keep swimming, huh?”

“We’re so close to figuring this out.”

An hour later, everything but the smallest of details had been ironed out. “Did we really just do that?” Jeremy asked, seeming incredulous.

“We did.” Isabel surveyed the landscape of the meeting table, which was strewn with papers, files and notes. She couldn’t help but feel at least a little jubilant, even though she knew from experience that things could fall apart any time. For now, she would be happy. She held up her hand and reached across the table. “High five?”

“Yes.” Jeremy smiled and smacked his hand against hers. “Good job.”

From the doorway, Cat meowed loudly, then padded her way to Jeremy. It was at least the fifth or sixth such interruption.

“She seems restless,” Isabel said. “I wonder if it’s close to kitten time. Has she nested anywhere in the house?”

Jeremy reached down to show Cat some affection. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Nesting. Finding herself a safe and cozy spot to have the kittens.”

“The vet had me put a blanket in a cardboard box, but I can’t get her to stay in it. She’s been sleeping on the floor of my closet since she got here.”

It was adorable how truly clueless Jeremy was about this. “My guess is she’s planning on giving birth in there.”

“Seriously?” His eyes went wide with horror. “In my closet?”

“Why don’t you show me?”

“Yeah. Absolutely. No more reason to hang out in here today.”

Jeremy got up from his chair and Isabel followed him out of the room, down the hall to the last door on the left. Inside was a magnificent and sumptuous bedroom, tastefully decorated with a warm touch. The bed seemed to go on forever, with a charcoal-gray duvet and plump pillows. Overhead, a wrought iron chandelier gave the space a soft glow. The windows, overlooking the back patio, brought in the perfect amount of natural light.

“No wonder you’ve never needed a sleep mask. This room is so peaceful. I think I could sleep in here for days.”

Jeremy smiled. “You don’t need that thing at home, do you? I mean, if you aren’t staying in a hotel?”

Isabel brushed her fingers on the silky soft bedding. “Depends on how worn out I am.” She instantly regretted her choice of words, especially when Jeremy cocked an eyebrow.

Cat sauntered into the room and darted right into the closet.

“I’m telling you, you’re about to have a bunch of kittens in with your designer suits and Italian leather shoes.” Isabel nodded at the closet. “May I?”

“Please. Be my guest.”

Isabel stepped inside and Jeremy was right behind her, flipping on the light. Either Jeremy was an incredibly smart man or his ex had been highly concerned with her appearance. His closet had the sort of lighting you find at a cosmetics counter, gentle enough to make anyone look amazing. Which of course meant that Jeremy appeared flawless, even with his stubble showing the effects of late day.

“She’s been sleeping down here.” Jeremy pulled back a row of dress shirts to reveal the back corner, where sure enough, Cat had made herself a bed. “Hey. Wait a minute. That’s my favorite T-shirt.” He crouched down. Isabel knelt next to him. “I wondered where that went. I took it off the other morning to take a shower after my workout and never saw it again.”

Isabel was momentarily stuck on the mental image of Jeremy in the shower, with droplets of water on his chest. She’d never wanted so badly to have a bar of soap in her hands. “Did you think it just disappeared? She clearly stole it. Dragged it in here to make her bed.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I figured I must have tossed it in the hamper and didn’t remember doing it. I have a lot on my mind these days.”

She couldn’t help but notice the weighty drag in his voice. Not putting much thought into it, she placed her hand on the center of his back to comfort him, but that caused him to look at her, his gray eyes showing mysterious flecks of blue in this light. If they were a window into his soul, she wished she could see some true happiness in there. She was desperate for a reasonnotto kiss him. Make him happy. She could do that, at least for a little while, with the snow falling heavily outside.

Jeremy cleared his throat and returned his sights to Cat’s nest. “I can’t believe she stole my stinky, sweaty T-shirt.”

“It means she loves you. Pets love things that smell like their owners.”