He gives me another long, serious look. “I don’t want to be your second choice.”
I nearly laugh out loud until I realize he’s serious. “Keegan, I think I’ve been in love with you since college. You have always been my first choice. I just didn’t see it until now.”
He growls as he tugs me closer to him. Just before he kisses me, he says, “Same, Glasses. Same.”
chaptertwenty-four
One year later....
You might think I would never get tired of having people tell me I’m brilliant, but you’d be wrong.
Okay, it’s not that I’m tired of the compliments, because I’m not. But the party to launch The Langley Complex seems like it’s going on for days rather than mere hours.
I glance down at my watch. Okay, it’s after midnight.
So it has officially been going on for days now. Sort of.
There was a groundbreaking ceremony and cocktail party this evening, timed to take advantage of the amazing views of the hill country sunset, followed by an “after party” on the top floor common room in the building where Keegan lives, for investors and people who’ve already put down a deposit on property in the development.
So far, everything about the project is a huge success, and I’ve never once regretted the decision I made about my career.
Working for McQuade Development is my new dream job.
Was I worried at first about leaving Forester+Blake and putting all of my eggs in the Keegan basket?
Yes. A little.
But I love working side by side with him. Neither he nor anyone else in his family is my direct superior and my contract is ironclad. Reb found me some hot shot lawyer to go over it. Not that I’m worried about any of that at all. After all, McQuade Development is a family business. And now I’m family.
Of course, all this success is also the reason I’m trapped at this party. Being lavished with praise, yes, but still ready to get out of these heels.
I’m in the middle of a conversation with one of the investors about some of the green initiatives in the project when Keegan catches my eye from across the room. He quirks an eyebrow in question as he tips an imaginary drink in my direction, clearly asking if I want another drink.
I give a slight shake of my head in response.
This time, he raises both eyebrows, tipping his head ever so slightly in the direction of the door.
Beside me, Reb gives a sigh.
“What?” I ask her under my breath.
She loops an arm through my mine and grins over at the investors. “Never mind us. I’m just going to borrow Meg for a moment.”
After leading me away, she whispers, “As adorable as it is when you and Keegan have entire silent conversations from across the room, y’all should really just get out of here.”
“I can’t leave yet. There are still all these people here.”
She pauses beside Tad. When I left Forester+Blake, Tad followed a few months later to come work under me. Turns out I wasn’t the only one tired of being upstaged by Teresa. Now, Reb taps him on the shoulder. “Hey, superstar, go chat with the investors. I’m going to sneak Meg out before she falls asleep on her feet.”
He nods and gives her a jaunty salute. “Got it.”
I look over my shoulder as he heads towards the investors. “I can’t just–”
“Yes, you absolutely can. It’s called delegating. Tad is great with investors, and midnight is still early for him. He and I can hold down the fort.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were in cahoots with Keegan.”
“Who? Me?” She pastes on an over-exaggerated look of shock, pressing her hand to her chest. “That is an audacious accusation, Meg!”
