Page 56 of Until

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

Alex turns, and his hands cup my face, and his lips close down on mine. Without thinking, I wrap my arms around his neck, but then I quickly push him away.

“I’m sorry,” he says as he shoves his hands deep into his pockets.

“Is that why you do that?” I ask, pointing to his hands. “Because of me?”

He nods. “I’ve wanted so badly to kiss you, to hold you. But I can’t.” He shakes his head. “So I take the leftovers, the scraps. Like you not wanting to be alone or falling asleep on the couch with me. I take that, and I treasure those little moments with you.” He turns away again and clears his throat. “Now leave. Please,” he says, his voice now gruff. “I don’t want to hear any more of you trying to get out of our deal. Not at this point. Not five months in. You know what you have to do. You’ve known it since the beginning. Now, just do it."

CHAPTER 20

Ryan

Harold’s baritone voice booms from the doorway. Beverly giggles like a young woman, and I roll my eyes, knowing that Harold is making good on his interest in Beverly.

“You can go right in,” Beverly says.

Harold enters my office with a huge smile.

“No,” I say. “Don’t you dare walk in here like that. Beverly!” I call for her but only hear the girlish giggle again.

Harold closes the door to my office, still grinning from ear to ear.

“You ruined my assistant,” I say.

“You’re damn right I did,” he says, still grinning, holding his hand up for a high five I’m not giving him.

“Gross. Now, why are you here?”

“The trustees are having a vote. They want to usurp the will reading date and push it ahead. Make it sooner.”

“Why?”

“Because they think it’ll force your hand. They don’t want to wait until your birthday, until summer. They want to do it now.”

“But I’m not ready yet,” I say. “I haven’t even had a chance to tell her the truth.”

“What are you waiting for? You keep talking about how she’s your spark and your soulmate, but here we are now, less than two months from your birthday, and you’re not any closer to getting married.”

“I know. Trust me, I know. But there are more important things than money or an inheritance, Harold. You know that.”

I point towards the door, and his eyebrow raises.

“Is this about sex?” he asks. “Because I know a good doctor if you’re needing help?—”

“No! I’m fine.”

I shake my head as I pace the room.

“Ryan, what do you want me to tell them? You know I’m on your side, but they’re getting antsy. None of us even knows what’s in the final document.”

“What do you mean none of you know?”

“Part of your father’s will was sealed upon death, only to be opened either when you get married or when you turn forty. The contents of that could change everything.”

“Everything? Really? Are you saying I might lose the company anyway?”

“None of us knows. For all we know, instead of you joining the trustees, your father might’ve chosen someone else.”

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