Page 26 of Burning for You

Caro

I’ve cancelled all appointments this afternoon and met my dad at my home to finalize the shareholder agreement. Despite still recovering from my bizarre day, thanks to a man called Bryan, I’ve managed to keep my focus.

“You have what it takes, Ro. Just know when to see things as they are, and when to read between the lines,” Dad says, holding my shoulders. “You’ve got this.”

I summon every muscle in my body not to choke or sob. Those words are a far cry from his response when I told him about Sass seven years ago—‘an embarrassment’, ‘only an idiot would do it’, ‘digging your own grave’ and many more discouraging utterances.

“Thanks, Dad. You know it means a lot to me.”

He thumbs a tear that manages to escape from my eye. Albert Meyer never likes anyone crying, especially his daughter.

“We’ve gone through this agreement over and over, and I’m sure we’ve made the right decision. Someone needs to drop some love into this tired city. Someone competent, who knows how to lead. Just remember—glory or fall, risk or opportunity, I’m with you all the way. Whatever you need, please, come to me.”

I nod. Tension has built up in me. This conclusion should release it, but I still have too many things on my mind to be at ease.

Seemingly fighting his own tears, Dad diverts his attention to my living room. “I like what you’ve done here. You’ve removed the partition, and look at all this space,” he says, eyes roaming the four walls around us.

This townhouse is my pride and joy. It’s the first home I’ve owned, and I worked damn hard for it. I’m glad Josh agreed to live with me, at least until our wedding. We’re looking at moving upstate, but there’s nothing concrete yet. Wherever I’ll live next, this townhouse will always be special to me.

The front door opens. Josh enters with a bouquet of red roses and an expression of shock. His eyes zero in on the paperwork in my hand, and then he quickly turns to my father. “Albert, good to see you.”

“Hello, Joshua. You look well,” Dad says, looking at the flowers as if trying to escape both Josh’s and my stare. He doesn’t want to show it, but his face looks so much like it did the first time he met Josh—full of caution, absorbing but not reflecting.

Josh holds his breath, apparently eager to ask Dad about the deal. But just like Albert did earlier, my fiancé uses the flowers to divert his intentions. He holds up the bouquet. “For your daughter, the only woman I love.”

“Oh, Josh,” I say and take the roses. I don’t even know why he got them.

“I’d better go,” Dad says. “I’ll see you soon, Joshua.” It seems that he’s taking his ‘silent partner’ status seriously, letting me break the news to Josh myself.

Josh nods. He tries to stay still, but I can see him fidgeting.

Dad gives me a peck on my forehead. “Good to see you again, Ro. I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

Josh watches Albert leaving. “First time he’s been here in a while.” His gaze is still at the door, as if Dad’s remnants were there. “He still doesn’t like me, does he?”

“You just don’t know him.” With teasing eyes, I then ask, “So what’s the flowers for?”

He holds my hands. “I slipped. I didn’t mean to tell Zac about our plan. That was all, Caro. A stupid mistake. I’m sorry.”

Perhaps I did blow our argument out of proportion. Both of us deserve support after making a mistake, and it’s too important a transaction to back down on. Besides, once I have control over Brilliance, I will be able to curtail Josh’s ambition about Montana, if he ever gets carried away.

In a bigger context, after my disastrous first engagement, it’s time for me to think long-term, to start the family I’ve yearned for—finding my heart and giving it to the people who really matter to me. That will be my priority now. I’m convinced my raging passion for Bryan was just a one-off, and childish. And the safety I craved was nothing more than a fantasy. It will never be.

“I’m sorry, too,” I say.

“Look, Caro, you can have as long as you want to think about—”

“I’m ready. We can announce it tomorrow.”

Josh’s face lifts up, casting about for that paperwork he saw earlier. I’ve left it on the hallway table, and he finds it. After looking at the signatures, he hugs me and takes a deep breath. “I love you. You know that, right?”

In his eyes I’m searching for love in between his happiness, joy and relief. Maybe it’s there and I just don’t recognize it. Despite Bear trying to convince me otherwise, I still feel that I don’t have a heart. A heart would’ve found that love, right?

I give him the benefit of the doubt. “I’m sorry if I haven’t appreciated you as much as I should.”

“You’ve worked so hard. Do you want me to postpone the meeting with Bozeman Airport?”

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