Page 90 of All's Fair in Love and Blood - A Romantic Comedy Novel

Honestly, I was surprised Kane wasn’t on the board yet. Though I knew Auggie liked to have a good mix. Only the CFO and CMO from the executive team currently sat on the board alongside twenty other individuals with various professional backgrounds. And, in a way, keeping Kane off the board was a smart strategic move on Auggie’s part—hold number two at bay in case he ever wanted to raise a coup. Not that I ever saw Kane doing that.

I cleared my throat. “That all sounds good, except the one item. Just remember our previously agreed upon terms.” A.k.a, friends only. “See you later.” I hustled away from him and smiled at Pamela. “Hello.”

“Hello.” She seemed taken aback by my harried state and tear-stained cheeks, but she didn’t say anything.

I rushed out and back to the safety of my office, questioning my sanity. Leaning against the door, I closed my eyes. How in the world was I going to survive being friends with Kane? I so badly wanted to run, but I knew with all that I was, I had to see this through. There would be no regrets, one way or the other.

The Start of Something Good

I pulled into the garage, surprised to see Auggie there. I couldn’t believe he was already home with so much daylight left.

I got out of the car, still kind of nervous to be around him. I was always afraid I wouldn’t know what to say, or worse, we would run out of things to say. “I went to the grocery store,” I blurted.

Auggie walked my way. “You know we have a housekeeper who does all the shopping. Fran will get you whatever you want—just give her a list.”

“I know, but I’ve been researching heart-healthy and stress-reducing foods. I thought it would be best if we all started eating better.”

Auggie gave me a pressed-lip smile. “Is that so?” he said, seeing right through me.

“Besides, I miss cooking.”

“I didn’t realize you knew how to cook.” He sounded abashed. There was a lot he didn’t know about me.

I planned to change that. I popped the trunk with a push of a button and walked toward it to retrieve the groceries. “Ethan and I took cooking classes last year.” I reached for a few cloth bags.

Auggie grabbed the rest while clearing his throat. “Do you miss him?”

“Ethan?”

Auggie nodded while we walked toward the mudroom door.

“Um . . . well . . . sometimes.” I was an awful person. I should be pining for the man I had been planning to marry. But the truth was, I wasn’t. Yes, there were things I missed about Ethan. He could make history come alive, and, like Kane, he liked to try new things. Although, unlike Kane, Ethan did it more for appearance’s sake. Kane did it because he had a zest for life.

“It’s all for the best.” Auggie opened the door for me.

“How do you know that?” I wasn’t being snarky; I truly wanted to know why he thought so.

Auggie looked taken aback by my question, but he easily answered, “There was something missing in your eyes.”

I didn’t even realize my father cared to look in my eyes or understand how he would know something was missing. “What was missing?”

“Light,” he quickly said, as if he were embarrassed. “Besides, he wasn’t your equal. You would have come to resent his lack of ambition and brains.”

I snickered. “He’s a professor at one of the most prestigious universities in the country.”

“I’ve known a lot of smart idiots in my day. He talked a big talk, but believe me, he’s not going places.”

I didn’t argue with him—not because I necessarily agreed with him, but because it seemed pointless since Ethan and I were a thing of the past.

We set the bags on the counter.

“Does a crunchy chicken mango salad sound good for dinner?” I started taking out the produce.

“Sure.” Auggie helped me. “But you don’t have to take care of me.”

I stopped what I was doing and caught his eye. “I know, but I want to do this. And I don’t mean cook for you.” I wanted to get to know him. Having dinner with him seemed like a good place to start. We hadn’t had a lot of meals together while I was growing up.

He set down the pineapple he was holding. He nodded, indicating he got what I was really trying to say. “I would like that.”

We both carried on as if we hadn’t just had a life-changing conversation.

“So, why are you home so early?” I started unloading my next bag.

He opened the refrigerator to put away the almond milk. “I thought I should probably start trying to see what life outside the office looks like. And since you’re here now . . .,” he trailed off.

I smiled. “I’m glad you’re here,” I admitted.

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