Page 34 of Best Laid Plans

"The team worked on this proposal," I cut Luna off. I didn't do this alone. She helped me. Aurora helped me. Stella helped me. Ginny, our head of construction, helped me. "We're very glad that you think it's passable."

"Not passable. Impressive." Diego looked from Anson to me, wondering, I'm sure, what the heck was going on.

When the meeting finally concluded, Anson stood up, his gaze locking onto mine. "Thank you for your presentation. Please email everything to my team and me. We'll get back to you shortly."

Diego gave me a thumbs-up, and Zara gave me a warm hug before leaving the conference room. Even Bailey seemed less self-satisfied as she followed her colleagues.

Anson was impassive. I couldn't read his thoughts, but I knew I had made an impact. Whether he showed it or not, my proposal had knocked his socks off. I was confident of that.

Chapter 15

Anson

I'd been hard throughout Nova's presentation. Aroused. Wanting her.

Fuck, but she was glorious.

I liked women who were smart and capable. She was all of that, and then some. She looked fucking amazing in a fitted, knee-length dress in a rich shade of emerald green, with a cinched waist that accentuated her curvy body. Even with a modest neckline and cap sleeves, she looked like sex on legs—and even her sad string of cheap pearls and zirconium studs didn't temper that. Her hair was soft with voluminous curls pinned back on one side with a small, green barrette.

She'd painted her lips red, and I couldn't help but think about them wrapped around my cock.

I imagined kissing them.

Her overall look was polished and professional, undeniably feminine, and fucking sexy. Compared to Nova, Bailey, who was in a gray skirt and pink blouse that showed her cleavage, looked like cheap paste next to the real thing.

I wanted Nova. Desperately. I couldn't understand how I could still desire her. But I did. Very much. I wanted to put my hands on her hips, and then slide them down to cup her ass. I wanted to eat her pussy, and then, when she was soft and pliable, I wanted to hammer into her.

It was lunchtime when we got out of Savannah Lace.

Diego, who knew Savannah well as he grew up here, suggested Saint Bibiana, a chic Italian restaurant in downtown, for lunch.

The restaurant's interior blended modern design and classic charm, with exposed brick walls, dark wood furnishings, and soft, ambient lighting. The air was filled with the inviting aroma of freshly baked bread, garlic, and rich tomato sauce.

I skipped breakfast, nervous and anxious about seeing Nova again, so I was starving.

We settled into a cozy corner booth. The hostess handed us menus, and we began to peruse the offerings.

Bailey sat beside me, her posture stiff and her smile strained. Diego and Zara sat across from us. I knew Diego was bursting at the seams to ask me what the fuck I was doing hiring my fiancée. I had known him for years, since Yale, and had hired him away from his firm in Arizona when I had an opening.

Zara wouldn't ask. Our relationship was purely professional, and she'd keep to those boundaries. Diego, not so much.

When our server arrived, she asked if we'd like something to drink. Since we were going to be driving back, I didn't suggest wine, and we stuck with water, except for Bailey, who ordered a Diet Coke.

The server got our drinks and took our food orders, starting with Zara. "I'll have the bruschetta to start, and the wild mushroom risotto, please."

The server then turned to Bailey, the other woman at our table. She hesitated, her eyes flicking over the menu without much interest. "I'll just have the Caesar salad."

"No, main for you, ma'am?" the server queried politely.

Bailey shook her head, and handed her menu to the server.

"I'll start with the Caprese salad, and then the osso buco." I closed the menu and looked at Diego.

He nodded. "I'll go with the arancini for the appetizer, and the lobster ravioli for the main. And, could we have bread service for the table?"

Once the server left, Diego leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "Nova's proposal was impressive. The integration of sustainable practices, and the emphasis on community amenities were particularly well-presented."

Zara nodded in agreement. "I have to admit, I wasn't expecting such a comprehensive approach so quickly. Nova clearly put a lot of thought and effort into it."

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