Page 36 of Lovesick

“I’m so nervous, Max. Are you sure the proxy vote is good?”

“George assured me it was in the articles of incorporation. I signed the physician’s affidavit. But frankly, after the splash in the Times about your near-death experience, I don’t think anyone’s going to challenge your ability to attend the meeting in person.”

“There’s truth to that. Still, I wish I could be there.” She gave him a mock glare.

He raised a brow. He’d already quashed her valiant attempt to convince him to take her to the office. Evidently she’d meant it when she said she’d put the company before her personal health. Lucky for her, she had him to save her from herself.

“I hope Sosi doesn’t find a way to turn that Times photo and article against us,” she said.

“Hey, don’t worry about that. The photo makes the company doctor thing look heroic, like every company should have one to save the day in emergencies.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

She stared at the phone lying between them.

“It’s going to be a long wait if we sit here waiting for the call.”

“What’d you have in mind, big boy?” She wiggled her brows and he laughed.

Before he could stop himself, he leaned in for a kiss, but he made it a quick one. It would be a long wait for him if he kept kissing her while she was at least a week away from being close to lovemaking shape.

He leaned back onto his pillow next to her on top of the covers and let out a breath.

“I know what you mean,” she said. He laughed and turned on the television.

“Game show or cooking show?” he said.

“Really? I never pegged you for the cooking show type.”

“You have a lot to learn,” he said, realizing they both had a lot to learn about each other.

“I’m kind of looking forward to that process,” she said.

His conscience kicked in and he frowned.

“What about the fact that I work for you? What do we do about that minor detail?”

She frowned. They were at a standoff. Neither of them had an answer.

“Minor bump in the road,” she said, but she didn’t sound as sure as he wanted her to sound, as sure as she needed to sound. He didn’t want to think of the solution to that problem right now.

First they needed to get past the vote. Hopefully the company would still be in her family by lunch.

The phone in between them rang. She jumped. He picked it up and saw that it was George.

He handed it to her with a nod. “Breathe. Take a deep breath.”

* * *

She didas the doctor ordered, breathed in deep and long as she took the phone with a shaky hand. George spoke to someone in the room with him, the noise in the background reminding her of a circus.

“We won the vote, Louise. It’s a ten-year deal. Do you believe it? We got what we wanted. No offers to be considered for ten years. We’re staying a family business for a good long while.”

“That’s fantastic, George.” Her mouth stretched wide and her heart bounced. Max leaned in and squeezed her shoulder. She clenched the sheets in her hand and took another long breath. “Congratulations, little brother. You carried it off.”

“Not without your help, Lou. How are you?”

“I couldn’t be better now. Other than some mild nausea and intermittent abdominal pain.”