“What are you doing with the furniture?”
“This desk is all I care about keeping. It was Grandpa Pierce’s, plus, it’s an antique and so beautiful.” She ran her fingers over the weathered cherry grain.
“I’ll grab Hudson and we’ll move it out tomorrow.”
When she smiled, her eyes crinkled in that way he loved. “Thank you…so much.” She relaxed back and he forced himself not to check out how nicely the dress clung to her. “So, what brings you over?”
“I need you.”
She hitched a brow.
“Your help. I need your help.”
“Another background check?”
“Not this time. I could use your counsel. Internado wants me to meet him at the Watergate steps, tonight at eleven thirty.”
“Good grief. What on earth for?”
“He didn’t say. I’m guessing he didn’t like my refusal to spy on his opponent in the governor’s race. What I do know is that if I don’t help him, I don’t stand a chance at Friday’s hearing. I’m concerned about my company. I’ve got payroll obligations to meet. I’ve got staff with families to feed.”
“Hmm.” While thinking, she fiddled with her stack rings. She planted her palms on the desk and stared into his eyes. “You’re making the right choice. If you go there tonight, he owns you going forward.”
“That’s the confirmation I needed to hear.”
Pushing out of her chair, she rounded the desk and sat beside him. Their knees brushed until she crossed her legs. His chest warmed. She was close enough to take her hand or cup the back of her neck and pull her close for a kiss.
“Okay, Ash. Why don’t you tell me why you’re really here? Unless something changed, you have an executive team you can talk to.”
“I’m not dragging them into this. The fewer people who know the details about this, the better. I trust you.”
She patted his thigh. “Thank you. And?”
“And what?”
“You could’ve called me.”
He pulled the ring box from his suit pocket. “I bought you a little something.”
Her eyes grew large. “It’s not my birthday.”
“I know.”
“What’s this for?”
“I miss you…a lot. I think what happened between us was a good thing. But you’ve been distant ever since.”
She opened her mouth and he held up his hand. “You made me dinner Monday, but wouldn’t stay for ice cream. That’s our thing. We always share a bowl. Look, if you don’t want to be with me, that’s okay. Actually, it’s not.” He opened the box. “It’s the stackable diamond band you’ve been admiring for months. As corny as this sounds, it’s a friendship ring. I want us to move forward, but backwards is better than losing you.”
Her eyes grew moist. “Oh, wow. It’s beautiful. Thank you, Ash.”
He slid the gift onto her middle finger with all her other rings, then pushed out of his chair. “Think about what I said.”
She jumped up, threw her arms around him, and kissed him full on. He held her like she belonged there. Because she did, dammit. Why the hell couldn’t she see that?
“My heart is pounding so fast right now,” she murmured.
With a smirk, he asked, “Can I feel it?”
