Page 49 of Business or Pleasure

“Aye, she knows,” I assured him. “She had a headache and wanted to sleep.”

“Is she sick?” Alec asked, genuine concern in his voice.

I shook my head. “A little homesick, maybe. I promised her a holiday after we get home.”

“Oh, I spoke with Janie this afternoon,” he said. “Tuesday will be setting up your meeting this week. Will you be going home right away after? I was thinking we could take up a round of golf. I have one scheduled the second of August with Gerick Garland, the owner of the Seattle Sounders.”

“I think it’ll be for the best if I leave directly after.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” he asked. “I noticed you came alone tonight.”

“Brigh had a headache,” I reminded him.

“I’m not talking about your assistant,” he said. “I’m talking about my employee. One Ms. Harlee Sumpter.”

I looked down and brushed nonexistent lint from my shirt. I hadn’t told him that Harlee and I had parted ways. “With my return home eminent, it didn’t seem wise to waste either of our time.”

“A waste of time?” Alec looked surprised. “The two of you seemed to enjoy being together.”

I shook my head. “I came here for business, and spending time with one of my closest friends was a bonus. Now, business is almost over, and it’s time to say my goodbyes.”

Before Alec could respond, Evanne came running in from the kitchen to announce that dinner was ready. I was thankful for the interruption. In the past, my friend would have let the matter lie, allowing me the luxury of keeping my misery to myself. The look in his eyes as we made our way to the table told me that being with Lumen had done more than make him happy. She changed something in him, something that made me think he’d be bringing the subject up again.

Even with that hanging over my head, I enjoyed dinner. Soleil seemed much more relaxed now that she was in her own home, and the way she interacted with Evanne made me think of how my siblings and I were before our parents’ lectures and pressure changed them.

I hoped the bond between Soleil and Evanne would remain strong.

As I enjoyed my time with Alec’s family, I tried not to think too much about mine. Not the ones back home, and not the one I may have some day in the future. Because if I thought about a future family, that would lead me to who I would have that family with, and I didn’t want to look too closely at that right now. Not with my broken engagement only a little over three months ago or my more recent romantic failure.

The night wore on, and soon, the kids left the adults to have a nightcap and some conversation. Lumen excused herself only a short while later, giving Alec and me time to speak alone. I was unsure if Alec had asked her to go, but even if it had been her own idea, the result was the same.

And, of course, Alec broached the topic of a certain MIRI employee.

“Janie shared the analysis Harlee gave her. I was impressed, especially since your project was the first she’d done.” He poured me another finger of Brody’s best whiskey. “She’s a talented young woman.”

I nodded, my throat tight. “She is.”

“And the two of you got along well at the picnic and my party.”

“We did.” I swallowed the alcohol, barely registering the smooth taste. “But there’s only so much time one can take for fun.”

He studied me for a minute, the searching expression on his face almost intense enough to make me uncomfortable. He and I had always been skilled at masking our true emotions from others, but we also both were able to see past the surface when it came to each other, which meant I could pretend as much as I wanted, but he’d see through it.

“We’re much alike,” he said finally. “You and I. Especially when it comes to our personal lives. Work and our family name are important, more than the things we want for ourselves.”

“Your family wants you to be happy.” I said it without bitterness and knew he’d take it the same way. He and I had talked about our families a lot that first year at university, and we knew the ways they were different.

“You still want your parents to be proud of you,” he replied, “and there’s nothing wrong with that. They’re not bad people. Their priorities are just a little…”

“Fucked up,” I said dryly.

“Aye.” He laughed.

“But I still love them, even if I don’t always like them.” I sighed. “As much as it pains me to admit it, I’ll always want things to be different.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you want in pursuit of their acceptance.” He paused and then added, “Or any other excuse you might use.”

“I’m not making excuses.”

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