Page 122 of Fighting the Pull

Then he said, “I miss you too, sweetheart.”

When he said that, I let out a mental breath I didn’t know I was holding, and it felt really good to do it.

We moved on to talk about a variety of things, including his schedule, which was taking him to Bangalore next, then Brussels, before he had to be back in LA for a variety of meetings at Corza’s headquarters there.

“Are you going to be able to wedge any fun in anywhere?” I asked cautiously.

“I have a high school friend who lives in Bruges. I’ve never had the time to visit him when I was in Belgium, but I got in touch with him and I’m going to take a day to head over there. He’s going to show me around. And he promises, outside the scenery, it won’t be anything like the movie.”

I laughed, hoping it didn’t sound as relieved as I felt that at least he was going to spend one day in the twenty-one he’d be away from me doing something fun.

“Send pictures. I hear it’s amazing.”

“Me too. I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m glad.”

We talked more and made another phone date for the next Saturday before we hung up.

I was mildly disappointed there was no phone sex, but by the end, he’d sounded distracted, so I let him go.

It stung.

But he had a busy life.

I had a busy life.

And I’d talk to him in a week, not to mention hear from him in between.

I’d be okay.

We’d be okay.

And in two weeks, I’d be in LA.

And I’d have the real thing.

* * *

Him…

He’d indulgedhimself and not turned on his phone when they landed in Brussels.

Now he was in his hotel suite, and all he wanted was a G&T, some room service, and bed before he had to be up and out to help do the legwork for Trail Blazer on a local initiative.

There was an organization based in Brussels that helped young people whose family resources wouldn’t normally allow them the opportunity to learn European history through tours that visited historically significant places all over the continent.

Rix was landing in the morning because it was Rix who had found this organization, which was struggling, since their expenses were so high. They’d already cut back on services and were in danger of having to close their doors.

Rix wanted to save it by putting it under the Trail Blazer umbrella.

So they were both going to listen to a pitch the next afternoon.

Core Point’s European headquarters were in Brussels, so Hale was killing two birds with one stone.

Using the fully stocked bar in his suite, he made his G&T, called down his order for room service, texted Rocco he’d ordered it (protocol, he’d learned, Rocco was traveling with him and he didn’t let anything in Hale’s room until he’d inspected it).

Then, solely because he knew Elsa had probably connected with him, and he wanted to return that for her, he turned on his phone.

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