Page 100 of Fall Apart

“Good, because he's probably the best asset in your new venture and he’s damn good at design.” I smile at Clay, who for the slightest moment has a pink hue in his cheeks as he wrings his hands.

“But we also have a proposition for you.” He turns to Clay before they both look down at me, sporting matching grins again. I’m in for a lot of heart melting moments if these two keep doing that.

“We?” I ask, arching a brow.

Clay nods and clears his throat, looking at me. “You wouldn’t just be working with your dad, you’d be working with me. Would youwant that? You’re so damn smart and after everything you figured out, the company could use you - I could use you.”

My dad smiles proudly at me. “I know you’ve turned me down every time I’ve asked you to work for me before, but I think this would be a bit different. You’d have free rein and I think you’d like your coworkers.” He winks after the last line. “Who knows, if you’re as good as I believe you are, I could see this expanding to other ski areas, maybe even Jackson.”

This is definitely not how I expected my night to unfold. I was ready to patch things up with Clay, especially after talking to Kayleigh this morning. But another job offer in Utah? Dad’s right, for years I’ve turned down his offers that felt like handouts because I didn't want to be seen as the pretty little girl with rich parents. But this feels different. Maybe it would be a chance for us to reconnect.

I step forward, hugging my dad. “Sorry, still a little sticky.” He lets out a chuckle before I continue. “But I will think about it, seriously. I just accepted a promotion yesterday, but maybe I could do some part time work at JSC and see how it goes.”

He wraps me in his arms and I feel the same comfort I did last night when I poured myself out to him. “That’s fine, sweetie. I’d like that. How about we get you home and cleaned up?”

I step back, brimming that it feels like he’s really trying. But I look at Clay and my heart explodes.

“I’m going home, but that’s not the condo.” I grab Clay’s hand, my favorite hand, running my thumb over the back of it. “Home is with him.”

My dad looks at me with that same prideful look as before, like he finally sees me exactly the way I want to be seen. His nod says everything.

“But how about dinner tomorrow?” Clay says in unison with me, reading my mind. I flick my head to him, rolling my eyes as my dad laughs.

“You two are something, I can already see that.”

I lean into Clay’s warm body, squeezing his hand tighter.

Yes. I know my dad sees me - sees us - now.

CHAPTER 42

CLAY

FUTURE

After sayinggoodbye to Lizzy’s dad and I guess my new boss, I walk her towards the passenger side of my car.

When I pull out my keys and unlock it, Lizzy stops and quirks her head when she sees the lights of the sporty German coupe flash.

She turns to me, mouth gaping open. “That isnotyour truck. Are you a secret billionaire or something? When did you get this? I was only gone one night.”

I step towards her, grinning down at her as I open the door for her. She stands there, her eyes flitting back and forth between the car and me.

“Well technically, the truck is the company’s. I’ve hadthisfor years. It was literally next to your Bronco the whole time, under the cover, since I don’t drive it in winter. And no, we’ve covered that. I'm still just a guy that saves his money for the things he really wants.”

I reach out to her, cupping the back of her bare neck in my hand, feeling her lean into my touch, freeing the softest whimper from her lips. One that goes straight to my cock.

“And right now, what I really want is to get you home and out of that dress.”

She pops up on her toes, pecking me with a playful kiss. “Good, because that’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s also still very sticky with soda.”

I grab her hand to help lower her into the car, but she pauses.

“I do have one question though.”

“Anything, princess.”

“Why this color? It’s not what I would have pictured you owning.”

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