Page 87 of Love.V2
She cradled my jaw. “You can still have me and have this at the same time. If you really, really, really,reallyneed to.”
I rose, wrapping my arms around her. I pressed a lingering kiss to her cheekbone. “Thank you for saying that. I know it probably physically hurt you.”
“You have no idea,” she sputtered, pulling me closer. “I mean it, though.”
“I woke up thinking how grateful I am that I don’t have to be on the hook for the whole company. I spent all day yesterday nauseous because I thought Ron was going to force me into the job.”
She blinked, adorably nonplussed. “You’re not just saying that?”
“Absolutely not. I like leading. Managing people and thinking about the intricacies of an organization. But maybe Jinx is more my speed these days.”
She bit her lip, hope shining through her eyes. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure, Angel.” I kissed the tip of her nose just because I could. “Besides, if I went back to Worther, you’d be exhausted standing up for me all the time.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How much of last night do you remember?”
“Enough to be completely awed by you.” I couldn’t stop myself anymore, brushing a kiss across her mouth. She tasted like lavender and sunshine. “Apparently, you gave my dad quite a dressing down, too.”
A guilty look flashed across her face before she tilted her chin up, defiant. “Well, maybe that conversation was a little harsh, but it was overdue. And Ron and the rest of them were out of line. Someone needed to step in.”
“Thank God I have my very own angel willing to take on the job.”
I savored the soft skin of her lips once more.
“Only sometimes,” she whispered as she pulled back for a breath. “I don’t think I’m cut out for all this confrontation. I said I’d fight for you. I didn’t really mean with other people.”
When I laughed, it was like every last ounce of worry, uncertainty, and dread spilled out of me.
I’d have to answer the phone eventually, and more than likely, I’d have to head back to Worther while the board figured out who would take Henry’s place. But with Tess in my arms, the prospect didn’t make me want to run back to bed anymore.
The phone buzzed again, this time Danny’s name scrolled across my screen. I groaned, resting my forehead against hers.
“I need to get that.”
“Probably,” she admitted without loosening her hold on me.
“And you need to tell me about Botto.”
“Mmhmm…”
“Even though I won’t be CEO, I’ll probably need to stick around Nashville for a while longer. I have to call Eric…there’s going to be a lot to do.”
Tess hummed, tilting her head back for one more kiss. “Sounds like we should make a list.”
Chapter 26
Tess
One week later
Botto was ours. It had taken days’ worth of negotiations and another presentation to Botto’s CEO, but we did it.
When we’d gotten the email approving the contract, the entire Jinx office had erupted in cheers, and Eric had shut everything down early to celebrate. I’d popped into Willy’s for a few sips of a watered down cocktail, but had hightailed it out of there as soon as was socially acceptable. Only this time, it wasn’t because I wanted to go home and wallow in my sad solitude.
I practically flew up my stairs, thinking how nice it was to come home to someone. I grinned, wondering if we should get that cat after all. I wasn’t ready for a baby—yet. Besides, it looked like Dylan would split his time between Nashville and Chicago for the next few months while Danny got his feet under him and Eric officially retired from Jinx.
And then…We’d be here. In Chicago. Together.
