Page 34 of Undone, Love Times Three

“What was the deal you were making?”

“His company builds airplanes.”

“So, losing that deal is a big… deal for you?”

He smirks at my wording. Then shrugs a shoulder, taking a sip of the scotch. “I’m prepared to take the hit.”

“Literally.”

He stares for a few seconds, then laughs, stopping abruptly, wincing again as he rubs his jaw. “Still can’t believe he did that.”

“Will you press charges? You have enough witnesses.”

“No,” he shakes his head to back up the statement. “Walking away from the deal is a big enough sting.”

“Will it affect your business reputation?”

“Possibly, but I don’t care. His dad might try to finesse the deal again but once I tell my CEO what happened, he’ll back me.”

“Nice, having a boss that would let a deal like that get away, because he hit you.”

“I’d be pretty let down if he overlooked it.”

For a moment, we stare at each other, then I grin. “He’s family?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s good that your family has your back. Under the circumstances. I’m not sure many people would turn away money for the sake of one punch.”

“You don’t know my family.”

We both sip our drink and silence descends. It’s not uncomfortable, which is strange. I feel relaxed in his company. He looks around as I watch him, taking everything in. There are awards on the wall and more of those stupid online reviews my family have framed and stuck up.

Maybe in here it’s not so bad having them on display. He gets up to take a closer look, cradling his glass in his palm, pressed against his chest. Please don’t let him talk about us broadening our reach with the 312. That will shift the mood.

“Was it your idea or has it always been that way,” he points to a picture of me and two of my cousins leaning against the bar with a crate of our beer between us.

“From the first barrel, it was agreed we’d never sell our family secret.”

“A secret ingredient,” he glances at the picture again, then back to me. “Adds to the mystery.”

“You going to ask what it is?”

“No,” he sips his scotch, his glass almost empty. “What would be the point, you won’t tell me.”

“Damn straight.”

He grins, a dimple puckers his cheek giving him a boyish look. He’s definitely not a boy though. Absolutely not. I’m not hiding my appreciation very well because the smirk remains on his face when my eyes reach his again.

Okay. I down the scotch and get to my feet. I can’t hide in here all night and leave the others to run the bar. Even one man down and things get hectic.

Daniel gets the hint. He finishes his drink and walks over, setting the glass on the table.

“Thanks for the scotch,” he says, his voice almost as smooth as the drink. “And the ice.”

“No problem,” I resist the urge to lick my lips. No flirting with the CEO.

I see him out of the office, flicking off the lights. The noise from the bar is loud as we leave the small sanctuary. He steps around the bar as I go behind it. Brie holds out a jacket to him and his brows lift, as though he forgot he had it, or that someone had handed it in for him.

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