Page 94 of Late Nights & Love Lines
“Now I understand why you were hiding on the deck at Beck’s house at dinner the other night, but no more. We’re going to give you the ultimate girlfriend experience.” She finally releases me, then takes me by the sweaty hand and leads me to the sofa and tells me to sit.
Reaching over, I angle the baby monitors so I can hear Miles if he needs something and turn up the volume on the video one in the bunk room. Kade and Ruby appear to be making a fort using every blanket they can find. I’m still busy silently begging for one of the boys to call for me when Tabby and Bella walk back into the family room with a charcuterie board I’ve never seen before and three bottles of sparkling water.
Then they sit around the coffee table and start talking about their day, their plans, and past experiences. I excuse myself a couple of times to check on Miles and take deep, shaky breaths.
Kade and Ruby came down for a snack, bounced around the house, and are now cuddled together in yet another fort watching a movie. Even Miles felt well enough to come down and join them. He’s now sprawled out on the sofa with his head in my lap, and I don’t even really hate it. Seren texted a few minutes ago to say she was on her way home, and Pappy made his way in about an hour ago. When our eyes locked, I swear he shed a tear.
Tabby turns to me with a giant smile and a mischievous glint in her gaze. “It’s five o’clock, Row. You ready for that wine?”
I nearly topple over the side of the sofa when I twist my body to look at the clock. Five-twenty-five.
Holy shit, I did it.
23
DANCING TO HER BEAT
SEBASTIAN
“Ithink this is the best course of action,” Beck says, tossing his pen onto the table and removing his glasses. “The rest of us should take turns joining you, but it’s imperative you’re at them all.”
“I agree,” I say, even though the idea of leaving again makes my chest itch as though I’ve been rolling around in poison ivy for days.
“Due to Miles and his surgery, six out of the seven investors have agreed to push everything back by one month.” I can tell by the tick of Alexei’s jaw he’s pissed.
“Let me guess, the seventh who’s refusing is Coleman Industries?” Elijah’s eye roll could rival Seren’s.
Old man Coleman is a hypocrite of the highest order. He’s looking at the scandal with my wife and using it as the reason for pulling out of our deal, but he’s married to a twenty-year-old and has never been faithful.
“You guessed it.” Beck stands and rolls his neck side to side. “The only way we can get to him is by pulling some strings and getting you into the Hearts of Hope annual gala in New YorkCity. It wasn’t easy either, as the guest list is curated by the Broken Hearts Network years in advance.”
“But you pulled some strings.” Elijah chuckles.
“Never underestimate how far money will take you,” Beck says with a wide grin. “You’ll have to donate a pretty penny once you’re in there, but between your donation and mine, you’ll be seated with old man Coleman, his wife—who is young enough to be his granddaughter—his son, Jacob, who is in the process of taking the reins, and his wife. It’s a table for eight, but I haven’t been able to suss out who the other couple will be.”
“Okay,” I say, taking notes on my laptop. “I know Jacob. His father did business with mine a few times, and I’ve heard of Hearts of Hope. That’s the organization that provides free surgeries for children in need, right? It makes sense that he’ll be there. If I remember correctly, Jacob volunteered with one of their other charities. It’s why he worked at my grandfather’s camp the summer before he went to college—it’s how we met.”
A thought occurs to me, and their voices fade away as I put the pieces together in my head. I may not need fucking old man Coleman.
“Yes. They’re doing amazing things with all the money they raise,” Beck says.
“And this year, the MC is the CEO of Bryer-Blaine Industries, correct? He’s somehow related to the founders of the charity.”
Beck stares at me for half a second before realization dons on him too. “That man doesn’t ever accept meetings that aren’t thoroughly vetted.”
I know this about him, but all I’d need is five minutes of his time.
“It’s doubtful you’ll even get close to him,” Elijah says.
He’s also right, but if I do? If I do, this could be a coup for our newly formed partnership. If I can’t get old man Coleman on my side, I’ll have to get close to Blaine—whatever it takes.
“You have to bring a date with you. This can’t come across as an ambush, or the old man will double down. If Rowan won’t go with you, ask a friend, hire someone, I don’t give a fuck, but you can’t show up alone,” Beck says.
What are the chances she’ll agree to this?
Our phones chime at the same time, and we all reach for them.
Band of merry fucking meddlers:
