Page 1 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

Chapter One

The Colorado mountainswere majestic and inspiring, and Justin Blackwood knew he should be appreciating the long, winding road through the pine trees. He should be taking deep breaths, clearing his mind, finding a way to relax and appreciate the unexpected break, but he couldn't. He had a big deal on the line, and this was probably the worst possible time to take days off. He'd also been trying to get his partner and oldest friend, Eric Stark, on the phone for the past hour, but the farther he got away from Denver, the fewer bars he had on his phone.

This was one reason why he didn't appreciate nature. He didn't want to disconnect with the world. His life was his job, and that job required him to be on the phone and at his computer, to be able to communicate with people on the far side of the globe at any time of the day. He needed to move fast. He didn't know how to do slow.

His phone buzzed, and relief ran through him. He quickly answered the call, putting the phone on speaker as he set it on the console. "Eric, it's about time. I've left you a dozen messages."

"Sorry, I just got back into the office," Eric replied, with his usual slow drawl. "My plane from Cabo was delayed six hours. It was not the way I wanted to end my honeymoon, but we had enough time to drink a few more margaritas."

"You always find the silver lining."

"I do," he said with a laugh. "What's going on?"

"Too much." He'd thought he'd covered himself when he'd agreed to this trip, but that had all changed in the last few hours. "I need your help."

"What? Say that again. I can barely hear you. Where are you? It sounds like you're on Mars."

"I'm on my way to Whisper Lake."

"Where the hell is Whisper Lake? I thought you were going to London today."

"I had a change of plans. Whisper Lake is in the Colorado mountains, and it's where my grandparents are going to renew their wedding vows this Saturday. It's their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary. I told them I could not come about a dozen times, that I had too much going on, including the biggest deal of my life."

Eric gave a knowing laugh. "And yet you're driving to Whisper Lake. You can't say no to Marie. It's impossible."

"It is. My grandmother's voice choked up like she was going to cry. I had to agree."

"She played her ace."

"She did."

"Well, fifty-seven years is impressive. It's something to celebrate. Are your parents going?"

"No. I made sure of that. Anyway, I have another problem, Eric. I had Jessica set up to handle the meeting in London, but her mom broke her hip, and Jessica is now on her way to the hospital."

"I just heard something about that. I hope you are not going to ask me to take the meeting in London."

"I know you just got back from your honeymoon."

"Which took me six months to work into our schedule."

"But you got it in, and Teresa must be happy. I'm sure she won't miss you for a few days."

"I'm sure she would. I'm a very good husband," Eric joked. "But that's not the real problem, and you know it. I'm the tech guy. I talk to engineers. I don't do sales meetings. People in suits and ties make me sweat. You're the closer. You're the person investors want to give their money to."

Everything Eric was saying was true, and his stomach churned at the realization that his deal could very well fall apart.

"Why don't you push the meeting back a week?" Eric suggested.

"I can't. I have Tokyo next week and Australia after that."

"You are living a crazy schedule, Justin. When's the last time you saw your apartment?"

"I honestly can't remember."

"But that's the way you like it."

"Business is good. What can I say?"

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