Page 86 of Love.V2
Tess leaned over to glance at my phone screen, read the name scrolling across the top, then promptly dismissed the call. She nestled her head back into my chest, and I stared at the phone, watching it go to voicemail.
Ron’s name taunted me.
“Do I want to know how many times he’s called?”
She grumbled something that got lost between my pecs before she pulled back. “No, you don’t. Between him, Ramón, and all the others, it’s been nonstop. I’m considering dropping it down the garbage disposal. I’ve always hated that thing. This would give me the perfect excuse.”
“I can always replace it, if that’s what you need. It could be a nice fresh start. Ritual cleansing, or something like that.”
“We’ll need to get some sage.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Maybe just a new ringtone.”
“That might work.” Her head tilted back to look up at me, and the urge to kiss her was so strong it seared into the very marrow of my bones. She spoke before I could bend down, though. “The only call I’ve answered today was from Beth.”
My heart leaped into my throat. “Is Henry…”
“Stirred this morning, but still unconscious. I told her about Lainey.”
I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of her fingers threading through my hair, comforting. “Lainey, your heart surgeon friend?” She’d mentioned Lainey and Jasmine a few times. The faint memory of a woman with a mop of brown curls in the gym parking lot resurfaced; from a time when I’d been holding onto the fragile hope of Tess ever speaking to me again.
“Cardiothoracic surgeon,” Tess corrected, pulling away to lean against the desk. I nearly collapsed into a chair, tired and sore despite passing out for hours last night. “I texted Lainey, and they’re going to connect. See if Beth can get a referral so Lainey can take a look at his tests. She might see something the doctors here can’t. Or maybe have different equipment up at Mercy.”
She looked so calm. Collected and in control. “That’s amazing. I’m sure Beth appreciates that.” I paused, picking my words carefully. “I appreciate that, too.”
She nodded. “He’s like a second father to you, Dylan. He might have contributed to you running yourself ragged, but he’s family. I’d never have wished for this.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” The clock on the wall said it was after ten a.m. As wonderful as it had been to sleep in, recuperate, there was still work to be done. “You keeping track of what’s happening at Worther?”
A smile ghosted across her lips as she tapped her laptop to life and turned it in my direction. “They announced Henry’s condition this morning. Sent an email to the shareholders. It says it’s from Ron, but it’s got Danny all over it.”
I snorted as I read, already finding the bright optimism of Danny’s voice imprinted on the email as it discussed how Henry was irreplaceable, and the Worther team was praying for his swift recovery. The letter said nothing about a new CEO or a succession plan, but it didn’t need to. It sounded strong, but…human.
“You think Danny’s gonna make a run for CEO?” I asked Tess after I’d read it through twice.
“He’d be a great choice.”
“Better him than me,” I murmured, returning her computer. She tilted her head.
“You sure about that?”
“Tess—”
She held her hand up to stop me. “After all the craziness that went down with Botto yesterday, and everything with Henry, I had to do a lot of thinking about your job.”
“Wait, what happened with Botto?”
“I’ll tell you in a second. Focus.” She speared two fingers in my direction. “I know you’re important to Worther. Henry wanted you at the helm, and I think in some ways, you wanted to see yourself there,too. If that is what you want, we can find a way for both of us to get back to Nashville.”
My smile was breaking across my face. “Tess,” I tried again, just for her to cut me off. Again.
“I love Jinx, but I know its future is somewhat up in the air.” I frowned at that, but kept quiet.What had happened after I’d left Chicago? “If your dream is Worther, and you think you can do this without falling into the black hole again, then we should talk about that.”
Her hands clenched on the desk. I gazed lovingly at where her knuckles were turning white. “Really?”
“What sort of partner would I be if I didn’t let you go after your dream when it came knocking?” She peeked through her eyelashes. “You always wanted this. I can’t be the reason you don’t get it.”
“You’re not the reason,” I assured her, leaning forward to cup her hips in my palms, pressing my cheek against her belly. “Not the only reason, at least. Theresa Lynn, I’ve wanted a lot of things in my life. The CEO position, my car, that condo across town. But you are the only thing I’ve ever needed.”
