Page 208 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

Something’s going on. “I know you, Nick. You wouldn’t have come all the way out to the airport just to ride with me back to the city. What’s going on?”

“I thought you should hear it from family.”

Mentally bracing myself, I say, “What is it?”

He sinks back in the chair and runs a hand through his hair—a Christiansen tic. “The advisory board wants one of us to consider moving there permanently until the buyout is finalized with Beacon and off the ground running smoothly.”What the fuck?

“I spent months getting the operations division up and running. It runs steadier than the tides. The holdup isn’t on our end. As for the buyout, it’s a done deal. Two years in the making.” I remember where I am and lower my voice. “No one knew the attorney general would deny the original application. We thought it was done then, but local governments want to keep their money local. You worked on the contracts. We added the addendum to never move it out of city limits. We’ve jumped through hoops and bent over backward for this deal. Why do we have to live there to secure it? I thought that’s what we just did.” My frustration is getting the better of me. I just stepped off a five-hour flight, working nonstop. I’m tired, and I want to get home to Juni, to lose hours making love to make up for the time I’ve been gone, and then sleep until morning because I’m so exhausted.

“It gets better.”

I roll my head to the side to face him. “That’s never a good start.”

“No, it’s not. They want us there for an extended stay to manage the next quarter or three of our biggest clients have threatened to pull their money and move it to the competition.”

“That’s bullshit. They were happy at the end of the meeting.”

“Guess they changed their minds.”

I scrub my hands over my face. “Fuck me.”

“I’m just the messenger, but I’m going to put it out there—New York is my home now. It’s Natalie’s home. We’re thinking about starting a family soon. We have no intention of moving.”

“At the risk of your job?”

“Yes.” His answer is firm with no wiggle room left.

If he’s willing to walk away from the company for his family, there’s only one other option. As the CEO, I already knew whose shoulders this would fall on. Anyway, I have no choice. We need their money to turn a profit. That’s how we get paid, so I can’t afford to lose them.

I just worry about what Juni will say.

“It’s my responsibility.”

“I’m sorry. I hate putting this back on you.” His words are filled with remorse. I don’t want him to carry that load as well.

“No, I’m used to it and would do the same thing in your shoes.”

“What about Juni?”

We just started talking about living together before I left. Now what happens to that plan? “That’s a good question.”

Walking through the doors of the apartment building, Pete says, “Welcome home, Mr. Christiansen.”

“Thank you.”

I don’t go to my floor but head straight to hers, so ready to kiss her again and have the feel of her soft skin under my hands. Dragging my suitcase down the hall, I stop in front of her door, unsure what I’m going to say about Seattle.

I need to say something, but what do I say? Nothing is decided. It’s a board recommendation. They’ve asked us to consider it. I roll my eyes. I’m attempting to spin the truth and make it only a possibility.I can’t let my family down. Their legacy.And if Ihavetomove, it would only be for a little while, wouldn’t it?

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Looking down, I wait. The door is a stark reminder of everything she was doing to protect herself, even from me, within the past few weeks. Then I gave in to her notions, in to her and my weaker needs, and started to think about the future together.

The door opens, and I’m kissed so hard that my shoulder blades hit the wall opposite her apartment. I give in, needing this, her, and the hope we can come out on the other side together.

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