Page 60 of Last Resort

But I’ll explain to them.

I’ll make them understand what happened. Dad’s reasoning.

“I’m all for going with your gut, but I’m certain we can hold out and negotiate a lower price to make up for the expense it will take to turn the resort into a Sharpe property.”

“I’m dying, Callahan. I don’t want to hold out. I want you to grant me this one, last wish. Of any of my three sons, you’d be the one to understand that while numbers don’t lie, they aren’t everything either.” His eyes turn misty. “Please, son. Give me your blessing on this and grant me this one last thing.”

Shit. That’s the truth I don’t want to face. I’d give anything to pretend I didn’t hear them. Anything to make him live forever.

Anything to make him feel like he did right by his one true love.

“Okay.” I whisper the word and hate the dread that eats at me.

We’re a financially sound company that if the deal is shitty, we can sell and move on. We’ve done it before; we’ll do it again. It’s the nature of the beast.

“Okay?” His smile is the brightest and his eyes the clearest they’ve been in forever.

“Yes. Fine.” But it’s not. It’s so not.

“Thank you. You’re giving me the greatest gift anyone has ever bestowed upon me besides your mother giving me you three.” He gives a soft smile. “I can’t wait to tell her when I see her.”

Tears burn my eyes and I hate that I feel like this is more than just a thank you. That this is a goodbye of some sort. I shake the thought and blame it on the discord eating at me.

The same discord that eats at me as I head toward the bar to tell the Diamantes we’re ready to continue the meeting. This isn’t the right financial decision. It’s one made with the heart and not the head, but how do I say no to the man who has been the heart of this family for over thirty years? The one who has lifted me up even when I didn’t deserve it? The one who has made all the sacrifices so that I can be sitting here at Eleven Madison Park, one of the most expensive restaurants in Manhattan, without batting an eye about the cost of the ensuing meal.

There is going to be hell to pay for this, for allowing this to happen, but . . . I can’t wait to tell her when I see her.

Jesus fucking Christ.

“Mr. Diamante, sir,” I say when I see him standing at the bar with a drink in hand. “Sorry for the delay, but we’re ready to proceed.”

“Proceed?” he asks. “Because I feel like you’ve been toying with me. I’m a busy man who doesn’t like to be led on. I never intended to sell Ocean’s Edge until your father pursued me doggedly. This isn’t a must-sell for me, Callahan. In fact it’s far from it. But I like your dad. I don’t understand him, but I like him. So don’t invite me to fly here and have a discussion and then make me wait. I’ve pulled deals from a table for less than that.”

And with that, Gil Diamante walks past me, toward the table.

“Can I get you something, Mr. Sharpe?” Sam, the usual bartender, asks.

I need something strong to wash the bad taste from my mouth. “Yes. Please. A shot of your choice.” I glance around. “I’m going to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

“Yes, sir.”

The bathroom is empty when I enter it and just as I unzip my fly, the door opens at my back.

And I hear the click of heels.

When I turn to look, Gia Diamante is standing there with a smirk and desire firing in her eyes.

I stuff my cock back in my slacks and turn to face her as I zip up, although the look on her face says she’d prefer I keep it out.

“I’m assuming you know you’re in the wrong bathroom,” I say, taking a step toward the sink to wash my hands.

“Just like I assume you know where I’m staying this evening.” She takes a step closer. “Once the deal is signed, I would love to show you . . . my appreciation for your assistance in making your dad accept the deal.”

“Your appreciation, huh?”

Her siren’s smile is seductive. Her fingernail that scrapes up the front of my cloth-clad cock even more so. “I have a lot of appreciation,” she whispers.

“So this is how the Diamantes close deals?” If it is, maybe I should be more involved in closing them.