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“Of course, she did. I went there with Cage and Gracie for dinner last night, and she was doing everything she could to flirt with him, and he was having none of it,” I said, and her head fell back in laughter.
“You sure do spend a lot of time with them. You going to be okay when you leave? Have you guys talked about how that’s going to look?”
“I mean, we live on opposite sides of the country.” I shrugged, that heavy feeling landing on my chest. “We knew this before we started anything. I just didn’t plan to get in this deep, you know?”
It was the truth. I hadn’t expected to spend this much time with Cage.
With Gracie.
With his family.
Most importantly, I hadn’t expected to feel all these things. All these feelings.
“Yeah, I was just happy you guys were on good terms again, but boy, did it go from zero to one hundred fast.” She chuckled. “I should have known it. That’s how you guys always were. If you were in the same room, you were going to find a way to be right next to one another.”
I nodded as I ran my hand over the white quartz countertop they’d just installed at the front desk. Everything was going to be light and airy.
“And when we aren’t in the same room, we both find a way to survive on our own. Eileen just sent my calendar over, and they have my days pretty packed with meetings and conference calls the day I arrive back at the office. So, we’ll both be busy diving back into our lives.”
“And you’ll just go back to being on your own and spending long hours at the office?” she asked, as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall.
“I guess so, Lo. It’s worked for the last few years just fine. I love my job, you know that. And that magazine article has brought all sorts of attention to me and the firm.”
“I understand how much you love your work, but the attention will eventually die down, so don’t let that make you feel pressure now. You’re allowed to do what you want. And I worry that it will be more challenging to go back to that old way of life after these last few weeks. I haven’t seen this side of you since we were teenagers.”
“And what side is that?” I raised a brow, irritated that she wanted to point out how difficult it was going to be for me back home. I was returning to a city that I loved. And an office where my name was going to be listed on the outside of a building where I’d been working for years. This was what I’d wanted for so long. I didn’t want to let this dark cloud ruin it.
“The side where your smile is genuine. Your laugh is real and not sarcastic. The one where you take Honey out for a ride in the mornings, and you let yourself be in the moment. The one where you’re all glowy from all the sex you’re having.” She barked out a laugh and held up her hand to stop me. “The one where you fill me in every day on how proud you are of Gracie’s riding and that you have her paintings taped all over your refrigerator. My God, can you imagine having paintings taped to your fancy refrigerator in the penthouse?”
“Your point?”
“This just feels like… you.” Her gaze softened, and my heart squeezed at her words.
“This has nothing to do with the fact that you live here now, and you want me to come run the spa with you?” I chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. There was no sense in analyzing it. Sure, I was enjoying myself, the way one enjoys being on vacation.
But this wasn’t my real life.
“Obviously, I’d love to work side by side with you every day. But it’s not why I’m saying this. I’m not a completely selfish asshole. If I were, I’d be jealous that you’re having all the sex while I’m sleeping alone in my bed every night.” She chuckled. “I just want you to be happy, Pres. And you just seem really… happy lately.”
“Maybe that’s because I’m finally divorced. The scandal with Wes has died down. My contract for our partnership is ready to be signed when I return. I just signed a huge client that I will be lead on. Do any of those things sound like fair reasons to be happy?”
She forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah. Those are good reasons, too.”
She was finally going to drop it and give me a break. We both knew that Cage and Gracie were the reasons that I’d been so happy lately. I just didn’t want to say it out loud.
Because I knew that it wouldn’t change anything.
So, I was just going to be thankful for the time that I had and carry it with me when I left.
* * *
“Well, we’re just so grateful that you’ve accepted the position,” I said to Dr. Jake, the new equestrian physician my father had hired. He’d interviewed several people for the position, but Jake Rowling lived one town over, and he was looking for a full-time position since relocating out west from Chicago a few weeks ago.
“The timing couldn’t be better. I grew up in Garden Grove, so I’m happy to be back where my roots are. My wife and I like small-town living. But I didn’t want to open a clinic there, so this is the perfect fit. Not a bad commute either, and you’ve got a gorgeous property, and horses are my strong suit.” He smiled, flashing me his pearly whites. To most, he’d probably be considered good-looking. Unfortunately, I preferred the strong, broody, frowning guy who was just walking up with Gracie’s hand in his.
And he was definitely frowning as his gaze moved from me to Dr. Jake.
“Presley!” Gracie shouted as she dropped her father’s hand and started running toward me. I caught her in my arms and breathed in all the goodness. Seeing her every day filled me in a way I hadn’t known possible.
