Page 67 of Charm

His eyes widen. “During your last trip there a couple of months ago?”

I nod in acknowledgment. “We spent the weekend together. Our paths crossed here again recently.”

“In the city?” he questions. “Did you two pick up where you left off?”

I down another mouthful of water. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m trying to buy her company at the moment.” Closing my eyes briefly, I shake my head. “Her business partner wants out. Greer wants to hold onto it.”

“Sounds messy.” He chuckles. “I take it you’re the enemy in her eyes now?”

I half shrug, since I’m unsure how to answer that. I would have agreed without question before today, but she was seconds away from taking my cock between her perfect lips just hours ago.

“It’s complicated, Rook.” I set my bottle on the table. “I want her.”

“And her company,” he finishes my thought. “It would be a lot less complicated if you chose which you want more. Greer or her business.”

That answer is easy.

I want Greer.

There will always be another company to buy, but fromwhere I’m standing, there’s only one Greer Irwin.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Greer

“Did we interrupt you earlier?”Martha asks as she stacks three books on the coffee table. Olive borrowed them from the library last week. “I handed my phone to Olive so she could call you about the kitten. Bruce was watching her outside the market while I ran in to get some fresh veggies. I had no idea she tried to call you as many times as she did.”

I reassure her with a comforting pat on the middle of her back. “You could never interrupt me, Martha. Olive couldn’t either, or Bruce. You’re all way more important than anything else.”

The soft smile she gives me in return melts my heart. One of the best things that came out of my failed marriage is my relationship with Martha and Bruce. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of them. The fact that they love taking care of Olive and me feels like a gift.

I’ll never be able to repay them.

“You’re very important to us, too.” She kisses my cheek. “I know things with Aaron were a mess, but we see you as our daughter.”

That hits the center of my heart in the best way. I swallow hard to chase away a rush of emotions that I know have the potential to make me cry.

“Olive is up in the craft room making paper kittens with Bruce.” Her gaze catches mine. “She chose our menu for dinner tonight.”

“Let me guess.” I tap the center of my chin. “Hot dogs and mac and cheese?”

Her head shakes. “Our sweetheart wants grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and a garden salad with cherry tomatoes on the side. Blueberry pie is on the dessert menu.”

Surprised by that, I furrow my brow. “That sounds more like Bruce’s favorite meal than Olive’s.”

“I think she wants it because he does love it so much.” She sighs. “He was talking about dinner on our way home from the play. Olive decided that she’d request that menu to make him happy.”

“It makes me happy, too,” I say, although I’m still full from the food I ate at Holden’s.

“Were you at work when Olive called?”

I swear, sometimes it seems as though she can read my mind.

“I was meeting with the man I told you about,” I admit.

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