Page 73 of Tempest

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Monday Afternoon

Ivy sat in the conference room on the first floor with Phoebe and Grace and ate her sandwich. “Are we almost done?”

Grace put her salad bowl down and picked up the list in front of her. “We have about five more people to let go. The accountant who was in on the embezzlement, the engineer who shows up only two days a week, the secretary who works for the phone sex company on her lunch hour, and the guy in accounts payable who plays solitaire on his computer all day. I guess that’s just four.”

Phoebe wiped her mouth and sat back. “I’m missing a piece. There is some connection between William the accountant and Davis the COO. I just don’t know what it is. How would Davis talk William into committing a crime like that? He must’ve had some idea that he would go along with it. Otherwise, why risk asking? The guy could’ve turned Davis in and the jig would’ve been up.” Stretching her neck, she then stared at the ceiling.

“Maybe they’re related,” Ivy said as she drained her Diet Coke.

“I looked into that and found nothing.” Phoebe bounced back up in her chair and snapped her fingers. “I’m going to check something else. It’s been bugging me and I can’t let it go.”

Grace and Ivy smiled at one another and shrugged. The door to the conference room opened and Grace’s face lit up. Ivy figured Mac must’ve walked in, because her friend’s face flushed. Maybe something could happen between the two of them. Mac seemed to stay as close to Grace as he could. And she noticed that when Grace spoke, Mac listened closely. Even if she was talking about the company. Maybe the mess at the company would result in more than one love story. Colin and Phoebe had a chance, and now Mac and Grace.

A large set of hands fell on her shoulders, and she smiled to herself. Maybe it was going to be three love stories. Ryan coming to Texas to see if she was okay meant everything. Looking up, she stared into his bottle-green eyes and knew her heart would be safe with him. He’d cracked the damn thing open and burrowed himself in until he became the only answer. In the middle of this mess in a drab conference room, she knew the truth. He leaned over and kissed her gently, and she held his hand. The only question that remained was whether she had the courage to show him what she felt.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” he whispered against her lips.

“No reason,” she answered. Tilting up straight, she felt the blood rush to her head. When he kneeled down beside her and turned her chair, she held her hands together.

“Everything okay, boss lady?”

“Yes, of course. We’re almost done here.”

“So, you’ll tell me tonight what you’re really thinking. Right?”

Taking his hand, she squeezed it and nodded. No way was she telling him anything. Her feelings needed to stay right where they were until she knew he could handle them. God knew how long that would take. “Are you guys going to fly out in a bit?”

“Not sure. I don’t like the idea of leaving you guys here.”

“Have Ken stay and take Colin. He hasn’t seen what we own yet, and I think he should.”

“What about you? Do you want to go up in the helicopter and see all those pretty wells pumping dollars out of them?” Ryan asked, as he let his hand move up her arm.

“I don’t really like helicopters. I have a little height issue, so I like to be wrapped up in a steel airplane where I don’t actually see everything zooming up at my face in a flash.”

“I didn’t know that.” He ran his hand through her hair and cupped her face. “Okay, no helo rides for you.”

“I’ll take a drive out there eventually, but I’m in no rush.” She lifted her eyes and noticed everyone had left them alone. “You go on and we’ll finish up here. I’ll ride back with Phoebe and Grace, and you can take the truck back to the house.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” He pulled her out of her chair into his arms and hugged her tight. “’Cause you can’t, you know.”

“No plans to get rid of you.”

He lifted her face and grinned. “You are spoiling me with your sweet words. I hope you hold back a little next time.”

“Be quiet and kiss me before everyone comes back in here.”

“Your wish is my command.”

He held her face in his hands and proceeded to kiss the hell out of her. She knew that if she found the guts to let him know how much she was feeling, then she would never regret it. Unfortunately, she had never shown any bravery in this area of her life, and she had no idea how to start.

“Quit smooching my sister,” Colin called out as he walked back into the room. “Get yourself under control, man.”

Ryan let her mouth go and said against her lips, “Never.”

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