Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I can’t get anything done with all the attention on us right now,” he said. “My mother ran Osterhägen for more than twenty-five years. I’m confident she can manage another week.” He shifted his weight like the matter was settled and smoothed a hand down his tie. “There are seven breweries in North America. I can always visit one of them.”
I let suspicion cloud my face. “You’re being awfully nice to me.”
“What do you mean?” He feigned seriousness. “You’re riding in the cargo hold.”
It felt foreign but wonderful to smile. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?”
“You’re welcome to try to make me.” He bent and put his arms beneath me, lifting so he could take a seat in the chair I’d just been sitting in, lowering me into his lap.
“There are plenty of other seats on this plane,” I said in fake protest.
“Yes, but I like this one.” He pushed my hair out of his way so he could kiss my neck and make me shudder with enjoyment.
His fingers toyed with the hospital bracelet around my left wrist, and I understood. “Yes, please.”
He tore it open and slipped it in a pocket. Then his expression filled with curiosity, but he said nothing, and it took me a moment to figure it out.
Oh.
He was wondering about the rings. My gaze fell to my hand in his, the platinum bands that looked at home there. He seemed happy to let me wear them.
So, why not continue to do it? He’d given me so much; couldn’t I do him this small favor? I lifted my left hand to tuck my hair behind an ear and flattened my lips together, subtly telling him I wasn’t going to return the jewelry without prompting.
His voice was low and deep, his eyes clear. “All right, then.”
A familiar ring sounded from his jacket pocket, and I blinked. Was that my phone?
Sure enough, he pulled out my mobile, took one look at the screen, and answered it for me. The angry scolding I was about to unleash died when he spoke.
“Hello, Paul. This is Shawn.”
I couldn’t imagine what Paul’s face must look like.
“She’s on my Gulfstream, although I don’t know why that’s any of your business.”
A smile burned across my lips. That statement was sure to make him crazy with jealousy, as he was obsessed with status. I was close enough to hear that Paul was angry, but not what he was saying exactly.
“Let me stop you right there,” he continued. “She’s been through a lot, but she’s all right.” His tone turned cold. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, so I suggest you shut the fuck up.”
Whatever Paul said next made Shawn arch an eyebrow.
“Thanks for your concern. Don’t bother her again, or I’ll have a chat with Dan Novak at Meridian. I can be persuasive.”
He pressed the screen to end the call and handed my phone to me.
“Who’s Dan Novak?” I asked.
“He was a VP at the North American marketing firm Osterhägen uses, until Meridian lured him away.” He didn’t need to tell me anything else. Everyone at my company knew we were bidding for a massive software project for Meridian’s billing department—and apparently Shawn did too.
The idea that he could have one conversation and kill the whole thing made me swallow hard.
Abruptly, the corners of his mouth lifted into a wicked smile.
“What?” I asked, nervous.
“I’m surprised to learn you’re only interested in fucking me. And from Paul, no less.”
My face felt like it was on fire. “I can explain that.”
He had a full-out grin now. “Can’t wait to hear it.”
“He called me, jealous about the idea of us together. He said that you had a reputation of sleeping around, and he didn’t want to see me get hurt.”
His smile faded a touch.
“I got mad at that, so I asked how he knew I wasn’t interested in doing that to you.”
“Are you?”
“You know I’m not.”
Victory flashed in his eyes. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”
40
SHAWN
Once lunch was over, we each focused on business.
When the time was right, I was going to convince her to come to Osterhägen. Incentive Systems had granted her as much leave as she needed to recover from her ordeal, and that should be more than enough time to persuade. The alternative, her seven hours away from me in Maastricht, was unacceptable.
When I was back on top of things, we still had five hours before landing.
“Let’s take a nap,” I suggested. “As long as you can be an adult and keep your hands to yourself.”
I’d said it as a joke, but the truth was I was hyperaware not to push. After what she’d been through, I didn’t want her to feel any pressure, and I wasn’t going to move faster than she was ready for.
She’d be the one to guide us forward.