Page 53 of Taming the Billionaire Cowboy
“I gotta go to Houston,” I say. “Just for a day. Maybe a few. There’s a deal, and it’s big, and…”
I don’t know why I’m rambling, why I feel like I’m letting her down just by slipping away for a little while.
She wipes her hands on a dish towel, then wraps her arms around me, giving me everything I need in the moment. “This sounds big.”
“It is. You okay with this?”
Her face tilts up, a small smile, the one that kills me every time. “You’ll come back eventually,” she says.
Bradley watches us with interest, aware of the changed dynamic between me and his mother. I know Carly told him the two of us were dating, but I’m not sure what that means in his seven-year-old head.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can,” I promise Carly, looking deep into her eyes.
“What about breakfast?” Bradley asks.
I look at him, at his brown eyes and his trusting face, and it’s more than I can handle, more than I can take away with me.
“When I get back, we’ll make the biggest stack of pancakes ever made. Deal?”
He’s not convinced, and I can’t blame him.
“Mom?” he asks.
She ruffles his hair the same way I do. The same way she’ll keep doing until I’m back. “You’ll see him soon.”
“You better hurry if you’re leaving today,” Carly says. She holds my hand as tight as she did that first night in the rain, that night I’ll never forget.
“You’re not mad?” I ask, knowing she should be. Knowing she will be.
She shakes her head, and it’s so quiet I can’t stand it, so quiet I think I should hear more. “I’m proud of you,” she says.
“You’re right, I do need to head out. I have a flight at ten.” I squeeze her hand tighter. “Walk me outside?”
“I’ll be right back,” she tells Bradley. “You start eating.”
“Okay,” he says, already moving on to methodically arranging berries on his plate.
Carly and I walk to the porch, fingers intertwined, and though my heart is racing in excitement over this potential deal, I don’t want to let go of her hand.
“I’ll miss you,” I say, my thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. I want to tell her that I don’t want to go, even though I know this is important. I want to tell her that she’s become as significant to me as my work.
“I’ll miss you too,” she says softly, pulling me closer. “But I’ll be here when you come back.”
Our stare locks for a moment before we lean in for one last kiss. It’s slow and sweet, tinged with an unusual sadness that neither of us acknowledge.
“You’re gonna knock ’em dead out there,” she murmurs against my lips. Her hands move to my chest, giving me a warm squeeze just over my heart. “Just remember to bring yourself back when you’re done.”
“Nothing could keep me away,” I vow, pressing another swift kiss to her lips.
With that, I step back and move towards my truck. With one last glance at Carly waving from the porch, I pull out of the driveway and set course for the life I left behind. I’m dreading leaving my little paradise, but as Carly said, it’s only temporary.
CHAPTER 23
CARLY
Ialready know that with Oliver gone I’m going to feel lost. Which is stupid. Crazy.
I have work. Bradley. My life. The life I had long before he ever showed up. I don’t need him to give meaning to my existence.
