Page 153 of Late Nights & Love Lines
Taking her hand in mine, I lead her from Beck and Stella’s house. “There’s only one way to find out.”
ROWAN
I stareat my friend sitting across from me at the kitchen table, still trying to process what she’s telling me.
“You’re the only one I trust to take over The Single Dad Hotline. You understand the process and can make the matches,” Lottie says again.
“Yeah, I got that part,” I mutter. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around that thing you keep trying to gloss over. Someone is trying to steal your intellectual property. Are you sure?”
“Everyone wants it,” Thane says in his monotone voice that’s even more unsettling face-to-face.
“Even you?” I challenge.
“Especially me.” When I frown, he leans closer to the table, studying my face. “You’re upset by that answer.”
“Yeah, I’m upset. You just admitted that you’re no better than whoever is trying to steal from my friend and yet, here you are, sitting at her side.”
“Row.” Lottie gentles her voice while Thane seems to literally memorize every inch of my face. “Thane doesn’t—um…”
“I don’t process feelings the same way that you do.” He throws it out there as if he’s commenting on the weather. “I want her data and the science behind her matchmaking test because I want to study it, make it available to other people who may not…view the world the same way everyone else does. But I’m not trying to steal it away from her.”
His little speech might be compelling if it didn’t sound as though he were reading numbers on the stock exchange.
“You want Rowan to take over your position at the hotline, and then what? What’s your next step?” Sebastian asks.
“I’ve worked too hard to have some middle-aged assholes steal my ideas simply because they have the means to do so. That’s how my father operates, and I’m not standing for it anymore. If I can entrust the hotline to Rowan, then I’ll go to war against everyone in the tech industry who believes they can simply take from people with no repercussions.” Lottie’s face is red and splotchy by the time she’s done speaking.
“But how do you plan to do that?” Seb asks again.
“By rolling out my product to the masses and staying ahead of the slimeballs currently attempting to replicate my data. Honestly, I don’t have all the details worked out yet. I know I’ll need to invest in the actual technology, but I have to raise that capital first. Elijah said?—”
“I told you I’d front the money,” Thane says while brushing his hands across the table. He scrunches up his face when his hand comes away covered in crumbs from Kade’s breakfast.
Lottie turns to face him, and I brace for the impact of her words. I’ve known her long enough to know what’s coming. “Listen very carefully, Thane. And watch my face so you fully understand my meaning. If you ever attempt to throw money at my problems again, I will physically remove you from this conversation myself.”
It’s interesting how he scans her face as she speaks. It’s as though he truly is missing a connection between the words and the feelings behind them.
“That would be a physical impossibility. I outweigh you by at least eighty pounds, and I have over twelve inches on you.” His words are so…factual and straightforward. I almost expect Lottie to lose her shit, but she blows out a harsh breath while her nostrils flare.
“It was a figure of speech, Thane,” she says, but I can tell the effort it took to keep her tone even.
“Not to interrupt whatever is happening here,” Sebastian says with a smirk.
“She’s said something you find amusing?” Thane asks.
Lottie pinches the bridge of her nose. What the heck is going on between these two? I’ve never seen her exercise this much patience with anyone before.
Sebastian ignores Thane’s commentary. “Your plan is to invest in a technology company, one that’s not owned by Thane.” He raises his brow, and when Lottie nods, he continues. “But Thane will be involved in…some way?”
“Unfortunately, he understands the technological aspects in a way I don’t. Not yet anyway. But I built this company. It’s important to me that it stays mine regardless of how I utilize what I’ve created.”
Sebastian taps his fingers against the table, drawing my attention away from my friend and her odd new relationship.
“I may have a solution,” Seb says. “It sounds as though you’re willing to partner, at least in some way, with Rowan, correct?”
“She’s the only one I trust besides my brother,” Lottie grumbles.
“I’ve said that you can trust me.” Thane furrows his brows as he stares at her.
