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I can’t deny it. “I’m just thinking about what happens if I spend my whole life putting this company first.” I hold his gaze. “Dad did that. Look where it got him.”

“That’s different.”

“Is it?”

Daniel steps back and drags a hand through his hair. “This is crazy.”

“Maybe.”

A knock interrupts him, and my assistant steps inside.

“Ms. Hartwell is here to see you.”

I’m on my feet before she finishes the sentence. Daniel closes his eyes and releases a slow breath.

“Send her in.”

Rachel enters a moment later in a cream dress. The sight of her hits me hard. I have to stop myself from crossing the office and pulling her into my arms.

Her gaze moves from Daniel to me. “Sorry. Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” Daniel says.

“No,” I say at the same time.

Daniel gives me a look that makes it clear our conversation isn’t over. Then he walks out and closes the door behind him.

“I was talking to Daniel about the hotel. We could still change the plans. Reduce the size. Maybe even walk away from the site.”

Rachel blinks. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t want that hotel to come between us. I don’t want to hurt the Hartwell or put you out of business.”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself. You haven’t laid a single brick, and you’ve already decided you’ve stolen all my guests.”

“I’m serious, Rachel. If I have to choose between the hotel and you, I choose you.”

Her expression softens, but she shakes her head. “You don’t have to choose. You never asked me to give up my hotel for you. I won’t ask you to give up yours for me.”

“I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” She steps closer. “And for the record, your new hotel isn’t going to have an easy time. I’m going to make you fight for every guest.”

I can’t help smiling. “You’re not worried?”

“Of course I’m worried. Construction will be a nightmare, and I plan to complain about it every day.”

A grin pulls at my mouth as I close the distance between us and draw her into my arms.

“God, I love you,” I say.

“I love you too.”

For most of my life, I thought love always came with a choice. Mom chose Carl and the life she built with him. Dad chose Voss, then expected his sons to do the same, no matter what it cost us. Rachel is the first person who’s shown me that love doesn’t have to ask for that kind of sacrifice.

She understands the late nights and difficult choices because she carries the same weight. Voss is part of who I am, just as the Hartwell is part of her. Neither of us has to become less for the other.

With her in my arms, I let myself picture our children racing through the Hartwell as she once did, then running next door to the Voss. They’d know the staff at both hotels by name. Rachel would love them fiercely. She’d never make them chase her attention or wonder where they stood with her. Neither would I. Our work would matter, but our children would always know they mattered more.

Rachel catches me smiling. “What?”

“I was just thinking Voss-Hartwell relations may have better long-term prospects than either of us expected.”

She laughs and kisses me. “For once, Mr. Voss, I think we agree.”

The End