Page 125 of Zimyra

“That’s not an answer,” I say, challenging him.

He downs another fork full of pancake and says, “When corporate comes around, people act differently. They do things they don’t normally do to impress the boss. I didn’t want that. I wanted to really know what you were doing to be successful.”

“Did you get what you were looking for?”

“I did.”

“And what do you think I was doing to be successful?”

He grins and wipes his mouth. “I don’t know if I want to go there right now. You always seem a bit agitated when this subject arises.”

“I am, but you can handle it, right Mr. Bigshot C.O.O.?”

“Oh, that’s what we’re doing?” he asks with a smirk.

“Mmm hmm. That’s what we’re doing.”

“Okay.” He lays his fork on his empty plate and says, “You are successful because you care about people. You acknowledge them. You learn their names. Their interests. Then you take care of their needs. When their maintenance requests come in, you stay on top of them until they’re done. You do things the company doesn’t pay for. You organize events. You give people a sense of community that, in turn, gives them a feeling of home. You provide coffee and snacks in the lobby. You areyou, and what I learned by watching you, is you can’t be duplicated. You are the only one of you, and I knew from the moment we met that you would be mine.”

“You knew from the moment we met that I would be yours?”

“I did. I didn’t know when or how, but I knew. Any more questions?”

“No. Just a statement.”

“Which is?”

“You ruined my prom. We were supposed to spend the night dancing beneath the disco ball. It was the night we were going to tell everyone we were married. Instead, I was pretending to be having a good time while, on the inside, I was hurt.”

“I know. I’ll apologize for the rest of my life if I have to sweetheart. I never meant to hurt you.”

I nod because I know now that what he’s saying is true.

“My family knows,” I tell him.

“So does mine.”

I smile.

He says, “They want to meet you. I’m hoping we can fly up there this weekend.”

“Okay.”

“No objections?”

I shake my head from side to side. “No. I want to meet the people who raised the man I love.”

“Why are you talking like that? Haven’t you learned your lesson already?”

She giggles. “What lesson?”

“Your words and the way you say them have a direct impact on my craving for you.”

“Do they, now?”

“Yes, they do.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

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