Page 85 of Stay

“Yes, sir. No, sir.” I’m not even sure how to correctly answer him.

“You’re that right thing, Cole.”

I’m so fucking confused.

He must see it on my face because he quickly adds, “I still want you to work with us. I didn’t sign the contract with NGC so it’s not under Noah’s control. Fucking good timing on that one. My secretary went home sick the day I sent the email letting Noah know we’d chosen your design. When she came back to work, she was so overwhelmed with catching up, she never got the contract out. I ripped it up the day after the party.”

My heart skitters around in my chest. Talk about good timing.

“I wasn’t joking about putting up buildings all over the shorelines. I’m working with some big companies to secure property in seven major coastal sites.” He tips his head. “I’d love for you to design each one for us.”

Thank God I’m sitting down, or I’d fall flat on my ass.

“Are you serious?”

“I don’t joke about money, Cole. And this is going to be a lot of money.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “What do you say? Want to change the world with me and potentially save a bunch of sea life at the same time?”

My palms are clammy. “Yes, sir.” I shake his hand, feeling lightheaded. “Absolutely.”

“I knew you were a smart man.” He chuckles and leans back in his chair. Then his gaze drifts over my shoulder. “Ah. Here come our better halves.”

I turn to see Haley and Sinclair enter the café, both laughing.

Haley’s eyes meet mine, and her smile is so warm it makes me melt.

“I’ll be in touch,” Charlie says. “Haley gave my wife your number already.”

With that, he leaves with Sinclair and Haley comes over, planting a big kiss on my cheek. “Hi.”

“You are something else,” I say, my mind reeling.

“By something else, you mean amazing, smart, and built to fuck, then yeah, you’re right.” She grabs her drink from the table. “Are you happy?”

Her question has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with what just happened between me and Charles Bowman.

“He’s hiring me to design conservation buildings all along the coasts. Seven, in fact.”

The cup slips right out of Haley’s hand and splashes all over the floor. She practically jumps into my lap. “I’m so fucking proud of you!”

“Thanks.” I wrap my arms around her and squeeze. “I hear you’re planning their daughter’s wedding?”

“I am.” She wiggles her ass in my lap. “And she’s getting the royal treatment.”

“As all brides should.”

Haley’s so excited, she’s practically vibrating. “This is amazing. You’re amazing. Everything’s amazing.”

It sure is.

Timing is everything. Things don’t always happen when you want them to.

They happen when they’re meant to.

And this? This is our time.

Epilogue

Cole

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