Page 45 of Saving the CEO

Devin eyed him warily. “It worked when we were kids. We haven’t traded places in years.”

“Who says it can’t work now? It would just be a temporary solution anyway. Once Scarlett’s ready to marry you, I’d step down and you’d take over again. That’s a brilliant plan, if I do say so myself.”

He couldn’t help but smile at Jace’s boyish enthusiasm. “That sounds great and all, but do you happen to have a wife hidden somewhere that I don’t know about?”

“Not right this moment, but I could easily find a woman who’d agree to a contract marriage with me. I already get dozens of proposals every day. I’d just have to accept one of them.”

“You’re talking about a marriage on paper?” Devin shook his head in dismay at his brother’s cavalier attitude. Jace had spouted off the suggestion as if he were talking about leasing a car. Perhaps he hadn’t changed as much as he’d thought. “I appreciate the offer, but I would never ask you to make that kind of sacrifice. Marriage is sacred, Jace. You can’t turn it into a contract and put an expiration date on it, no matter how desperate the circumstances are. No, I won’t let you do that. A contract marriage is off the table.”

“All right, all right, no contract marriage. I was half joking, Dev,” Jace exclaimed, his tone one of chagrin. “You’re still as intense as ever, but your priorities have changed. Weren’t you the one who always said, if something is important to you, you have to make the necessary sacrifices? The old you would have found a way around this problem by now with no questions asked. You would do everything in your power to make sure Nick doesn’t win. The two of you have been competing since you were kids. I can’t believe you’re backing down now. Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?”

Devin had been pondering that very question himself. He ran his thumb along the spark plug feeler gauge in his hand, feeling the weight of its 32 metal blades on his palm. His grandfather had passed this tool, along with a passion for cars and the family business, on to him when he was still a boy. And now he was contemplating giving up the latter, for what—love? Would he regret the decision one day? What if Nick ran the company to the ground and destroyed everything his grandfather had built? How would he deal with the guilt then? Or on the off chance that Nick succeeded as CEO, would he be able to sit by and watch him gloat and not let bitterness and resentment tear him apart?

Shaking his head, he looked up to meet Jace’s gaze. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s happened to me. This decision should be an easy one to make, but I can’t bring myself to put aside my emotions and act on logic alone. I won’t give up on what I have with Scarlett.”

Jace surprised him by grinning. “You know what? That has got to be the most sincere thing you’ve ever said in your life. You’re making a decision based on what you want instead of what you think youshoulddo. I’m proud of you, bro.”

He scoffed, more out of amusement than anything. His brother was givinghima pep talk? Obviously, he wasn’t the only one doing some changing. “Thanks. I’m not going down without a fight though. Kendall & Sons was important to Grandfather, and it’s also important to me. I won’t stand by and watch Nick bring it down.”

Rubbing the scruff along his jawline, Jace mused. “That’s the part that doesn’t make sense to me. Why would Grandad put the whole company on the line just to make sure you get married? Did he think you’re that stubborn—” He cut himself off with a laugh. “Never mind, I answered my own question.”

“He was just as stubborn,” Devin noted. “Once he got an idea in his head, no one could change his mind.”

“Except Grammy.” Jace’s brows rose in understanding. “I get it now. Grandad wanted you to have a woman by your side who could talk some sense into you, like Grammy did for him. It makes total sense why he put that clause in his will.”

“Sure, but it would have worked out better if he hadn’t included a deadline for the marriage.”

“You can’t put the blame on Grandad for that. You’ve had almost a whole year to get married. You should’ve started your search for a wife months ago.”

Devin shot him a disgruntled look. “Thanks for stating the obvious. I know that part is my fault. That’s why I’m paying the consequences for it now.”

“Wow.” Jace’s jaw dropped. “I can count on one hand the number of times you’ve admitted you were wrong. You really have changed, Dev. I bet we have Scarlett to thank for that.”

The mention of Scarlett again brought her beautiful green eyes to mind. Devin clenched his hands, wishing he could reach out to her. He needed to know how she was doing. How much more time did she need? What more could he do to convince her that his intentions were true?

That was when it came to him.He needed to demonstrate his commitment to Scarlett in a way that would leave no room for doubt.

Devin jumped to his feet, then tossed the tool in his hand to his brother. “I need to make a call.”

“To Scarlett?”

“No, to the Board Chair. Pray for me, will you? I’ll explain later.”

“When did you start praying again?”

Jace’s voice faded as Devin stepped inside the house. He’d tell his brother about his renewed faith in God later, but now he had some convincing to do.

CHAPTER24

Scarlett

Had Devin been this nervous at the ice-skating rink?

Scarlett clutched her steering wheel with damp hands and turned the AC on full blast. Beads of sweat lined her forehead as she maneuvered her sedan through the neighborhood street leading to Devin’s home. She forced her lungs to work as her heart pounded.

The more she thought about her plan, the crazier it sounded. What was she thinking? She hadn’t spoken to Devin all week and now she was going over to propose to him? Sure, he had already proposed to her, but she had turned him down. What if he also rejected her? Scarlett had no idea what he currently thought of her or their relationship, and it was this uncertainty that made her want to stop the car and make a U-turn.

Lord, please give me Your wisdom and peace. Help me to have the right words to say to Devin.

---