Page 22 of The Fall

“You too,” Tom says. He goes over to the break room counter. “Who brought in donuts?”

Nia answers. “Leftover from Philip’s daughter’s Friday night sleepover.”

Tom shakes his head. “Jesus, he’s cheap.”

I leave the break room and go into my office, where I run into an administrative assistant named Lila in the doorway.

“Morning, Cam,” she says brightly. “Just making a delivery for you. Also, Harrison Stevens wants you to call him back as soon as you can.”

“Okay, thanks.”

The delivery was a beautiful arrangement of assorted pink and white flowers, which she left on my desk. I read the card and sigh softly.

I’m sorry. I’m giving you space but I hope we can talk soon.

Rowan

A flood of emotions pours in. That was sweet of him. Did I overreact Friday night?

No. I’m not the woman I used to be. She was beyond easy to please because she had no standards. I’m complicated now. I don’t even know if I want to be in a relationship, but if I decide to, it will have to be with a man who understands I’m not as trusting or easy to be with as I once was.

I move the flowers to my windowsill, but not being able to see them anymore as I sit down at my desk doesn’t help.

Harrison Stevens is an executive at Sundrift, the company Kathy just signed a new contract with. Harrison is an engineer, so he often helps me make sure I have the wording right when I draft briefs and contracts for the company. I call his office and his assistant puts me right through to him.

“Hey, good morning, Cam.”

“Good morning, how are you?”

“Not bad. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I need to ask a favor.”

Sundrift is such an important client for the firm that he could ask me for just about anything and I’d agree to it. “Sure, how can I help?”

“We’re scheduled to review the latest contract on Wednesday at nine, but I just had something come up here at the office for that time that I can’t miss. Can we review the contract over dinner Thursday evening instead?”

“Of course.”

We could review the contract next to a dumpster in an alley at midnight if he wanted to. Kathy made it clear to me that what Sundrift execs want from us, they get.

“Perfect, thanks. I’ll have Amelia make a reservation and send you the details.”

“Sounds good, see you Thursday.”

We end the call and I immediately text Tess about helping with my boys that night. Tate has hockey practice, but I know she won’t mind keeping the boys and getting them both wherever they need to go. I rarely have to work during the evening and to keep Harrison happy, I’ll lean on my sister.

The sweet scent of the flowers makes me turn and look at them. They really are beautiful. I want Rowan and I to stay friends. I probably need to text him.

I pick up my phone and stare at the screen for a solid minute, trying to figure out what to say.

Finally, I start typing.

CHAPTER NINE

Rowan

Cam:Thanks for the flowers, you didn’t have to do that. I’m sorry for the way things went at the end of the date. I’m not mad at you. I want us to stay friends.

I read the text for the fifth time since it came in about a minute ago, even more confused than I was the first time I read it. If she’s not mad at me, why does she only want us to be friends?

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