Page 104 of Tempting Promises
This woman should not be my undoing, but God help me, she’s breaking down my armor. So, it’s time to put it back up and get away from her.
I step forward, cupping her cheeks, and I feel her body tense as I bring my lips close to her, but instead of kissing her, I rest them on her forehead, closing my eyes, and I inhale and catchthe floral scent of her shampoo. “Thank you for showing me around. I had a great time. Good night, Charlotte.”
And then I walk away, go to my separate room in this big ass suite, and stare at the ceiling for hours.
“I appreciate you staying in the city so we could meet today. Yesterday there was a minor issue that I needed to take care of,” Carson explains.
“Not a problem.”
Although it was the worst goddamn night of my life. I couldn’t sleep, and I was stuck in that room because I knew that if I saw Charlotte again, there’d be no restraint.
The only thing that kept me put was that I knew her reasons for needing space.
She’s about to lose everything she loves and cares for if she doesn’t get this contract.
He nods once and then leans back in his leather chair. “Kimberly had a lot of good things to say about you and your farm. She feels very strongly that you’re the right man for the job. I think she might be right.”
“Might?”
Carson laughs and steeples his fingers. “I’m a very intuitive businessman. I usually know the answer immediately, this is the first time in a long time that I’m wavering a bit.”
“You really can’t go wrong. Charlotte Sullivan is running a great farm,” I say and wonder if I’m possessed by an alien.
“I agree, but Kimberly seems to think you’re running a better one.”
I’m not sure what to say to that. The businessman in me wants to seal the deal. I should. I owe her nothing, but I can’t do it. Yes, I would love this contract. It would push my business forward a lot faster, but it’s not a make or break for me. It is for her.
For the giant pain in my ass who I can’t get out of my damn head.
“There may be a small issue with the certification,” I inform him. “I’m not sure when it’ll go through, they have questions about a possible pesticide I treated our newest pasture with when I bought it.”
“You think this will hold up the certification?” Carson asks.
No, I don’t. We used it on the back part of the field that was roped off. It won’t be an issue, but that reassurance doesn’t come out of my mouth.
“I really don’t know.”
He nods slowly. “I see. If you were me, would you grant yourself the contract with that question still pending?”
Fuck.
“If I were you?”
Carson tilts his head, waiting for my answer.
“I don’t know. You know your business much better than I do. I just wanted to be honest and allow you the opportunity to decide whatever you think is best.”
After this, I’m calling a neurologist to ensure I don’t have a tumor. If I don’t, then clearly, I need an exorcist or a therapist or something to fix my life.
“I admire honesty. I like family businesses, like my own, and I like people who aren’t afraid of a challenge.” Carson stands, moving toward the window where he looks out at the city. “I need a stable farm to handle the organic line. We’re going to be expanding it into schools, hospitals, and colleges. It’ll be an entire line made of only organic foods. The restaurant industry already has this, but if I’m going to move forward, I need someone who can produce and also expand.” He turns to me. “You understand what I’m saying.”
That Charlotte’s farm, while already certified, won’t be able to keep up with the demand. That means she’ll have to sell the farm, losing her family legacy.
“You’re sure this is what you want to do?” I ask my sister who had just got done explaining her life plan to the three of us.
The last twenty-four hours have been interesting, to say the least. I drove home from New York, Charlotte chattering nonstop about her meeting with Carson and how she is sure she’s going to get the contract.
I had to sit there, knowing that the conversation didn’t go that way with me, and that whatever good feeling she has, she shouldn’t. If I were a betting man, I’d be sure that in four days I’m going to get the call that the contract is mine, even without the certification.
