Page 28 of Unexpected Forever
And I’ll let her go.
She reaches up and draws my lips down to hers. The kiss is soft and sweet and feels like what I know it is.
Goodbye.
SEVEN
charley
Two Months Later
“Hey, you feel okay?”
I lift my head from the desk to find Shane Kavanaugh, my boss, staring at me, his brow furrowed.
Picking up my pen, I try to appear productive. “Um, yeah. I’m good.”
Shane pushes off the doorjamb and walks into my office, sitting down across from me. His cerulean-blue eyes narrow on me, making me shift in my chair.
The man is intimidating as hell.
Not only does he look like he stepped off the pages of a high-end cologne ad, but he’s also a bona fide billionaire. Gold Mountain is just one of many wineries and vineyards his family has owned around the world for the last century or so.
Despite his looks and prestige, he’s a down-to-earth guy who’d rather play in the dirt of the vineyards than be in a boardroom.
He and Emma have taught me more since I started this job than I learned in any of my leadership classes.
Each day I work for them, I’m glad I took the job. I may still be in Madison Ridge instead of exploring a life somewhere else, but what I’m learning with them is invaluable.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look worn out, Charley.”
I drop the pen onto the desk pad and lean back in my chair, rubbing my temples. “Whatever the hell this crud is invading my body for the last few weeks is killing my energy. I thought I had it kicked but it came back.”
“Have you seen Doc?”
“Not yet. I’ll make an appointment at some point.” I need to do it sooner than later because this shit is ridiculous and making my life miserable.
I face Shane with a smile, giving him my full attention. “I know that’s not why you came in here to see me. What can I do for ya, boss?”
“Actually, it was my primary reason for stopping by. I’ve noticed you seem a little off lately.”
Panic grips my belly, and I almost lose what little breakfast I ate this morning.
“I’m sorry, Shane. I’ll—”
He holds up a hand and gives me a warm smile.
And let me just say, I know why my cousin fell so hard, because wow, the man’s got a killer smile.
“Charley, stop. You’re doing an amazing job. I have no complaints. I just wanted to check on you as someone who loves you, not as your boss.” He wrinkles his nose. “And we’ve had this discussion before—you know I think boss is an archaic term.”
“I know. Call you Shane.”
“Exactly. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I do have another reason for stopping by.”
I pick up my pen and open my notebook. “Yay, what ya got?”
“Think you’re ready to handle your first wedding here?”
