“It’s surreal,” he says. “That place has been my life, but it feels right. Gabe said the same thing.”
Surreal, I think, as we enter the apartment. There’s a lot of that going around today.
Half an hour later we’re both in sweats, on the couch, with wine in our glasses and work spread out on the table, when our sandwiches arrive. Reid sets them out on the table and surprises me by asking, “Is there anything you want to change in the apartment?”
“Change? It’s beautiful. I don’t want to change your place, Reid.”
“It’s our place, Carrie. I want it to feel that way. We can redecorate if you want. Hell, we can sell it and buy something new. I want this to feel like home.”
“We love Battery Park.” I scoot close to him and settle my hand on his leg. “Thank you, but you are what feels like home. I don’t need to make changes. And really, this place is stunning.”
He lays me down on the couch. “You’re stunning.” He leans in to kiss me.
“Oh no,” I say, feeling the press of his erection against my belly. “Feed me first. I didn’t eat all day. Then take me to bed and do all the naughty things you can think of, please.”
“I do believe I can live with that deal.” He pulls me back to a sitting position and we both reach for our sandwiches.
“If we buy a place, Gabe and I could open the office in that building. Of course, we’d have to tolerate him because he’d probably move into the building, too.”
“You really want to sell and buy something new?”
“It’s something to think about,” he says.
We talk about that and I tell him about Cat’s call. “Mom would approve, Carrie,” he assures me. “I hate that you can’t meet her.”
The doorbell rings. “Who can get past security?” I ask.
“Only my family, which means it’s Gabe.” He glances at his watch. “Technically my father has two hours to get us the papers. Gabe must want to ride this out here.”
“Or he’s having second thoughts?”
“Not Gabe. He doesn’t have second thoughts. You’ll learn that about him.”
He walks to the door, and I hear it open, followed by the sound of a deep male voice. I stand up. That’s his father. I hold my breath and wait. About sixty seconds later, Reid walks back into the room and indicates an envelope in his hand. “He shoved the retirement agreement at me, and then said, ‘you win.’”
“And?”
“And then he left.”
“So we’re not buying a new place so that your office can be in the same building? Because if we’re staying, that lamp,” I point to this tall steel thing that looks like a street light, “is actually ugly.”
He laughs and closes the space between us. “The lamp goes as long as you stay.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Carrie
Three weeks after I move in with Reid, I’ve replaced most of my wardrobe and we’ve settled into a routine as if we’ve been together forever. We run in the mornings, lift weights several times a week, shower together, sit in that extra room off the bedroom and drink wine before bed, and generally do a lot of naughty things before we sleep, between, and after, all of the above. And every morning, I wake up with him wrapped around me.
I haven’t talked to my father, and the few conversations I’ve had with my brother were all business. Instead, Reid’s family is becoming mine. Gabe comes by the apartment at least twice a week and Cat and I have lunched and shopped, while I’ve become even more obsessed with the inner workings of her column as I get to know her. I still believe she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t mention it and you don’t ask someone if they’re pregnant without them thinking you’re telling them they’re getting fat. And it’s not my business. If she is, she’ll tell Reid when she’s ready.
All in all, every day I fall more in love with Reid. He listens to me and yes, he talks to me. Beneath the stone is a man who isn’t unaffected by the fact that his father is now out of his life. They haven’t spoken at all, and like me, we both battle that these two men are family that are growing older, and will one day be gone. But we battle these feelings together.
We also battle to get the Japan deal done and with one day to spare to hit the one-month mark, the deal is done. Reid sets a board meeting to announce it with me present, and on that Friday night we meet Gabe, Reese, and Cat for dinner. “To banking in Japan,” Gabe says, holding up a glass filled with expensive champagne. “And to Carrie, who made this happen. Love ya, babe, and I don’t care if Reid knows. Welcome to the family.”
Family.
Welcome to the family.
It infers long-term, marriage even, maybe? Is the where we’re headed? Reid reaches down, squeezes my leg and leans in and whispers. “Yes to everything you’re thinking. I told you. I’m not letting you go.”
I reach up and cup his cheek and look at him. “Good. I don’t want you to.”
He kisses me and when I glance up, I find Cat staring at us, a smile on her lips. I smile, too, but there is a ping in my belly. These people are my new family and my father hates them, while their father hates me. And neither of them are men to remain silent, and yet, they are.
Gabe tells a joke that has something to do with a mama tomato screaming “catch up” to her kids that has everyone rolling their eyes, and I forget my worries. I love these people and Reid. I’m going to enjoy them.
***
Reid
Six weeks after Carrie moved in with me, the special order I placed four weeks before arrives at the office. “Cat is here,” Connie says. “She has it.” She smiles ear to ear. “I can’t believe this is really happening. Maybe I’m next.”
“Send her in,” I say, more than a little eager myself to see what Cat has in hand.
“I’m already in,” Cat says, walking in my door, and shutting it. “I so love that you had me help you pick this out.”
“I needed you,” I dare say. “This is a big deal.” I stand up. “Let me see.”
She holds up a brown bag and hurries toward me, setting it on the desk. “The brown bag special and yes, I peeked. I had to see the finished product. It’s gorgeous. She’s going to love it.”
I inhale and open the bag, pulling out the ring box she’s hidden inside. I lift the lid and the emerald and diamond ring I had a well-known jeweler design and create for Carrie stares back at me. “The color of her eyes,” I say, glancing at Cat, “but what if she prefers a traditional ring?”
Cat leans on my desk. “Reid, there are three carats of the best diamonds in the world surrounding the band and the emerald. No woman could be unhappy with that ring. You designed it for her. That’s special. When are you going to do it?”
“In Paris, for Christmas, right after we leave Japan to coordinate the Bennett takeover of the event center. She doesn’t know about the trip. It’s a surprise and as much as I want us to all be together, I think it will keep her mind off her father’s silence.”
“That’s a good idea. And for a proposal, that’s perfect. I’m so happy for you.”
I shut the box and stick it in the bag and then in my desk in case Carrie comes in. “Cat.”
“Yes?”
“There are reasons I was like I was to you.”
She holds up a hand. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I just want you to know that I regret a lot with you.”
“Don’t do anything to regret anymore. That’s all that matters. Okay?”
“Deal.”
She walks around the desk and kisses my cheek. “Later, big brother.”
“Later, little sis.”
I watch her leave and I know that this new bond with Cat might have begun before Carrie, but Carrie is why it took root. My family is closer because of her, but I still battle with the secret between us. And yet, there is nothing I can do about it. If I tell her, we both lose everything, including each other.
***
Carrie
Two days before Reid and I leave for Japan,
I’m planning details for the Bennett takeover of the facility with Sallie when my father calls. “I need to take this alone,” I say.
She nods and leaves, shutting my door. “Hello,” I say.
“How are you?”
“I’m well, very well.”
“And still with Reid, I hear.”
“That’s not going to change. What’s happening in Montana?”
“I proposed to Stella. We’re getting married in January. I’m taking over the ranch management and I’ve convinced her to drill on limited portions of the property. You should have your money back and increased thirty percent by summer.”
“That’s all great,” I say, trying to sound sincere, when it’s hard to be sincere with someone who doesn’t offer that in return.
“I want you at the wedding, but not him. He doesn’t get to come.”
“He’s a part of me now.”
“No. You just don’t see him for what he is and—”
“Stop,” I bite out. “Stop talking. I need to go. I’m leaving for Japan in two days.”
“What about Christmas?”
“I’m spending it with Reid and you’re spending it with Stella. I love you, dad. I really hope we can get by this. I hope we can find each other again, but that’s going to mean you get over the hate for the man I love. He’s not his father.”
“He’s worse.”
“Goodbye, father.”
I hang up and I’m shaking. I don’t know why this got to me so badly but when my door opens and Reid stands there, he knows immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“My father called.”
His expression hardens and he steps inside and shuts the door. “What happened?”
“He’s worse than your father. He’s getting married, but you can’t come to the wedding. He owns the ranch now and they’re drilling oil. I get my money back and more by summer. That about sums it up.”
He rounds the desk, pulls me to my feet and kisses my forehead. “Carrie—”
“Oh and what about Christmas? He asked. I told him I’m with you, the end.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “I’m here. I’m not ever leaving.” He leans back to look at me. “You know that, right?”
“You know I’m having abandonment issues right now, don’t you?”
“Yes. I do. And I’m not ever leaving. That’s a promise.”
But we both know that’s not a promise anyone can make. People die. People fall out of love. People separate. Relationships end. I just don’t want ours to end.
Ever.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Carrie
With one day until we leave for Japan, it’s early evening and Reid and I are both in the bedroom, packing our suitcases that are on the bed for a solid ten days away, and I glance over at him. “We really can’t have a cat and a dog, can we? What about when we’re gone?”
“A cat and a dog?”
“That’s perfect, right? We get what we both want, and they have each other as friends.”
“Or enemies. And we aren’t gone that often. Cat and Gabe, and even Connie, would help out.”
“So that’s a yes to a cat and a dog?”
“If it makes you happy, baby, yes. Let’s do it.”
I smile. “I love that we’re going to do this.”
He laughs. “I love that you love it.”
My cellphone rings and I glance at the number. “My brother. Is it bad that I dread seeing him in Japan?”
“Not from what I know of your brother.” The doorbell rings. “That’s our lunch,” Reid says. “I’ll grab it.” He takes off out of the room and I answer the line.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hey, little sis. I got my payday today. You rocked this deal.”
“Thanks. Reid and I are a good team.”
“Reid. That part of this grates on me, but the man owed us this deal. I can’t believe you’re living with him. I can’t believe dad hasn’t told you why you shouldn’t be living with him.”
Anger starts to churn in my belly. “What does that even mean?”
“The man forced a takeover. He took dad out. That should be enough for you.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“You’re kidding, right? He forced the takeover. Look. You made me big money so I’m going to save you and our family before he has a chance to somehow turn it around on us, and he’s going to. There’s a plan there. I promise you. I’m sending you proof. Watch for it.” He hangs up.
“Come down and eat!” Reid calls out.
“I’ll be right there!”
My phone beeps with a text and I walk into the extra room and sit on the sofa. I swallow hard and enlarge the document. I start reading and it’s all executed by Reid. “To satisfy the debt, and prevent the release of all negative documents, you will allow Maxwell to buy out your stock in the format of a hostile takeover.”
“Carrie.”
At the sound of Reid’s voice, I stand up and whirl around. “Did you force my father to give up his stock, or buy it out before someone else did, because the board was going to unseat him?”
He goes so very, very still. “I did not force your father to do anything. You know that. Where is this coming from? What did your brother say to you to make you question me again?”
I round the sofa and hand him my phone with the document on the screen. He barely looks at it and then hands my phone back to me. “That is not what it seems.”
“To satisfy a debt. Did you write this document?”
“Yes. It’s not what it seems.”
“I love you, Reid. I trust you. Please make me understand. I don’t want to jump to conclusions.”
His hands come down on my shoulders. “I am not able to do anything but own up to that document and the contents. I can’t explain it beyond telling you that it’s not what it looks like.”
“Why? Why can’t you explain?”
“Because not only will my family lose everything, my father will come at you, and he won’t stop. He’ll destroy you and us. We both will have nothing, including each other.”
“I won’t say anything. I won’t let anyone know I know.”
“Carrie, you will. It will upset you too badly. You will and, baby, I’m protecting you, too.”
“Does Royce know what you can’t tell me?” I ask.
“He’s trying to find out, but it’s buried deep,” he says. “He hasn’t found anything.”
“I just realized that he hasn’t given me anything on my father.”
“Because he was trying to find this first.”
“You wanted him to?”
“Yes. It’s killed me not to tell you this.”
“My father can tell me?”
“He won’t, Carrie. He won’t. I tried to get him to. That’s why I went to Montana.”
“He’s going to tell me.”
“Or finally convince you I’m the devil.”
“Have more faith in me and us than that.”
He tangles fingers in my hair. “Go to Montana. I’ll be on the plane to Japan tomorrow. If you’re there, I’ll know you see me, not the lies. If you’re not, we’ll end this.”
“End this? That easily?”
“I’ve given you parts of me I swore I’d give no one. I need to know you trust me, Carrie, or we have nothing. Go to Montana. I’ll make your reservations.” He turns away and walks into the bedroom as I press my hands to my face. What does he think I’ll find out in Montana that he dreads? Because he is too certain I won’t be on that plane with him to Japan, and that terrifies me.
I force myself to walk into the bedroom, only to find Reid gone. I then force myself to finish packing. “I got you a private jet,” Reid says re-entering the room. “It’ll take you wherever you want, whenever you want.”
A few minutes later, he walks me downstairs to a hired car with directions to my father’s ranch in hand but before I climb inside, he pulls me to him. “I love you. Don’t forget that I
love you.” He kisses me, a deep passionate, goodbye kiss that brings tears to my eyes, because it ends with him walking away.
***
I arrive in Montana at midnight on a snowy night, but I don’t care what time it is. I dial my father as I pick up my rental car, and he doesn’t answer. I leave a message. “I’m here. I need to see you.”
I drive to the ranch with snow tires in place, and the directions Reid wrote down for me, but the gates are locked. I’m stuck going to my hotel room, which turns out to be really crappy because it’s a small-town kind of place. I lay down on the hard bed and I want to call Reid, but I don’t think he wants to hear from me. Not until I talk to my father and that guts me. I lay awake replaying our last kiss, and I don’t read the document my brother sent me. I can’t.
Morning comes with my alarm and I’m up and dressed in the appropriate attire of jeans and boots with a coat to beat the December cold by seven. I grab coffee and a donut at the gas station and drive to my father’s place. The gates are open, and I travel a snow-covered dirt path to the mansion of a house where it ends. I park and a ranch hand informs me that my father is out on some sort of morning horse run but he’s happy to let me inside the house.
A few minutes later, I’m in an elegant kitchen with a massive wooden island with my coat on a chair and coffee in hand. Two hours later, I’m getting worried about making my flight when my father walks in, wearing jeans and boots, instead of a fancy suit, with a pretty brunette beside him, dressed the same. “I assume you’re Stella,” I say. “And I don’t mean to be rude, but I have an hour and then I need to be on a plane. I need to speak to my father alone.”
“Of course,” she says, graciously backing out of the room.
“Tell me what really happened with the company and Reid.”
“I’ve told you what happened.”
“I know you were behind Anthony sending me that takeover document. I know you know what it would do to me and Reid. Dad, I love Reid with all of my heart. If you love me, you will tell me what he can’t. Tell me what really happened.”
Stella steps back into the doorway. “She doesn’t know?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Tell her or I will.”