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He frowned. “If you put it like that...”
“It’s okay,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder and reaching for the flask he held. “I don’t expect you to give us the job because of what’s happened out here. I expect you to give us the job because we’re the best company to turn your vision into a reality. The track record of the Santoros is proven, their industry credentials second to none.”
His expression was lightly teasing and when she realized, she laughed, dropping her head. “You got me started,” she said on a soft laugh.
“All roads lead to work for you, huh?”
“Definitely not all roads,” she reminded him, kissing him softly, so he tasted whisky on her breath. She was so warm and close. His hand crept beneath the blanket—how could it not? —and brushed her naked side. Every part of him jerked to attention.
She pulled away, smiling up at him in a way that was beautiful and sincere, in a way that threatened some part of him he didn’t know he had to protect, and then she sat back a little, her eyes on the flickering flames.
“I know that if you were to choose them, you’d be glad. It’s not just a company, it’s a way of life, and they all love you. No one will work harder to make your project a success than the Santoros.”
“Tell me something.”
“Something.”
He laughed and genuinely felt that amusement inside his gut. “Touche.”
“Sorry. Dad jokes are contagious.”
“You’re here pitching to me, but you talk about ‘them’ doing the work. Why is that?”
She stared at him with visible surprise. “I—just mean, the company…”
“Are you not planning to be a part of the company?”
She opened her mouth to say something then shut it again. “Wow. You’re good.”
He arched a brow, waiting for her to continue.
“I haven’t told them yet. They’ll be devastated.”
He frowned, considering that.
“It’s always been a foregone conclusion that I’d work with them. They’re very, very eager for me to know I’m one of them, even though I’m not. I mean, I’m really not. I have a different family, of my own. Okay, not much of a family, anymore, but I’m not a Santoro.” She flushed, and her features now reflected guilt. “Which isn’t to say…I’m so grateful to them for their support, and love. They’ve been so kind. But it’s time for me to stand on my own two feet for a while.” Her eyes softened as she spoke, and the cool exterior she tried so hard to keep locked in place slipped a little.
He was glad. He liked seeing this side of her. Vulnerable and real.
“What does that look like?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I graduated with first-class honors from a great university. I had several job offers, but I took up a spot at the company instead.”
“Why? It sounds like you’ve held this opinion for a long time.”
“What can I say? They’re a persuasive bunch, and they lobbied me hard. I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. Or to let them down.”
Her gaze fell to the ground between them. He frowned, puzzling over that. There was something she was hinting at, but not saying. Something she meant beyond her words. “Because you were afraid they’d be angry?” No, that wasn’t it. He couldn’t see her fearing anyone’s wrath. “Or you thought they might not feel the same about you if you turned down the opportunity?”
She looked up at him quickly, her tongue darting out to lick her lower lip, in a gesture almost like panic. That was it. She thought they might be so disappointed that they’d stop caring about her.
“I still want to be included in their lives,” she said slowly, as if against her will. “I don’t want that to change. At first, I thought I’d need to be a part of the business to make sure that was the case.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice softened. “I hope I was wrong.”
“They are not going to stop wanting you around just because you choose a different career.”
