Page 46 of Without Apology

“Sure there is. I have three drivers lined up about eight hours apart to take shifts. We’ll use a town car, which will allow you some sleep in the back if you want. Your interview will be in the afternoon. Theoretically, after we get in around five in the morning on Friday, you take a nap and then interview at three o’clock.”

She simply stared at me in shock.

“You have to do this. If for no other reason than to alleviate my guilt. Which I have to tell you is not an emotion I’m familiar with or loving at the moment.”

“Why in the world would you feel guilty?”

“Because we both know that without my boss buying the company, me taking you out on a date, or me switching this interview so I wouldn’t be the one doing it, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“That’s circumstances. Surely not your doing any more than mine.”

“Maybe, but I refuse to accept the circumstances. Or think of it as a sign. Emma has it all lined up. Hopefully, you can get your sister to watch Cooper. We’d be back on Sunday night.”

“We. You’re coming, too?”

“I’d like to.” I wanted to have her in my condo. In my space. Hell, I simply wanted to spend time with her.

“I’ll have to think about it.”

I had to clamp down on my instant argument. Patience had never been my strong suit, and frankly speaking, I wanted an answer now because to me it was a no brainer. I wanted to respect her need for time, but I could already see the self-doubt churning in her mind.

I stood up, walked around her desk, and pulled her up into my embrace. I didn’t think about the fact we were in her office in the middle of the afternoon. I simply needed to reassure her this was the best decision. “What is there to think about?”

Her hands rested on my biceps with her body a mere inch from mine. It took everything in my power not to press her against the desk to mold her curves into me.

“Wouldn’t people wonder where I was on Thursday?”

“I’ll have Wi-Fi in the car. Besides, it’s customary to travel the day before you’re expected to be somewhere. You’ll be fine.”

She licked her lips, the action almost causing me to groan aloud. “I haven’t interviewed in almost a decade. What if, despite all this effort, I fail? I’ll have to tell them I don’t fly, right?”

I could see the sliver of insecurity and instantly wanted to shield her from it. “No, you don’t say a word about not flying. They won’t ask. As for the interview. They’re tough but fair. A hell of a lot easier to impress than I am.”

“And are you. Impressed?”

Now she was back to the sassy girl from the first time I’d met her. I tucked a strand of her hair back behind her ear, loving when she wore it down. “Come to New York with me and find out.”

“You don’t like to take no for an answer, do you?”

“Let’s just say it’s one of my quirks. I don’t have an affinity for the word unless I’m the one saying it.” Yes. I was a man who liked to get my way. But I was doing this for her. Because she deserved it and because I couldn’t stand how easily she’d give up on something for which she’d worked so hard.

“I don’t want you to go to this much trouble.”

“I wouldn’t go to this much trouble if I didn’t believe in you. If I didn’t think you were the most qualified person for the CFO position.” Although the argument could be made I’d never put in this kind of effort for any other person, and there was an indisputably a personal connection involved. But I absolutely stood by my words: she was the most capable candidate.

A knock sounded, breaking us apart as suddenly as a thrown bucket of ice water would have.

A woman sporting a very pregnant belly and unruly red hair peeked inside of the door. “Oh, sorry, you have comp—”

“I was actually just leaving. Ms. Waters, thank you in advance for getting me those answers by the end of the day.”

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