Page 97 of Mine to Love

“Wow.” Emerson drains her glass of wine and holds out her empty glass for a refill. “This is more than I expected.”

I spent the past hour filling Emerson in on every last detail. From the New Year’s Eve kiss to the car sex on the way home from her house to the Four Seasons, and to all the weekends Logan was in Maine and never left my condo.

And then I spilled everything I learned in the past four days.

“So now what do I do?”

“Will he come here first, or will he go straight to the office when he lands?”

“The usual pattern has been a red eye from Austin and going straight to work. Some weeks he hasn’t been able to leave until Friday morning and arrives in the late afternoon.”

“You haven’t talked to him all week?” I shake my head and scoop out another spoonful of peanut butter. “He’s gotta know something is up.”

“I can tell by the tone of his voice during our work calls, but we haven’t done the sexting and flirting on the phone thing anyway, so it’s not too unusual to have boring work conversations on the phone.”

“Except last weekend was a pretty big coming out moment for you. Mostly for him. Holden hasn’t stopped talking about how happy Logan is. How they’ve never seen him as relaxed as he was Sunday night with you.”

“Not helping my cause any,” I grumble around a mouthful of peanut butter.

“Remember how I jumped to conclusions about Holden?”

“He hid his wealth from you and didn’t defend you when bitchy Marsha belittled you in front of him for being a cleaning lady. It was a deer in the headlights move and he fought hard to win you back.”

“I forgave him and we’re stronger because of it. Give Logan a chance to explain himself.”

“I don’t do well with pity, Em. He’s been pitying me since day one. I’m offended, pissed, and insulted. There’s no undoing that.”

“Let him talk and listen, okay?”

“You’re defending him?”

“No. I’m encouraging healthy conversation instead of running away from your feelings.”

“I hate your advice, and I hate that you’re usually right.”

“I love you too.”

***

IF I WAS A SMARTER man, I would skip my flight to Maine and stay in my apartment to finish the merger. Instead, I rush to make a red eye and read through the fifty-page document my lawyer sent me during my overnight flight.

Anticipating I’d be too tired to drive the forty-five minutes to Acadia Falls, I had Doug arrange a car service to meet me at the airport. The quick nap on my way to the office this morning is the only sleep I’ve gotten all night.

And I didn’t rack up too many hours this past week either. Something is off with Reese, but I haven’t had the time to talk to her about it.

“Thank you.” I nod to the driver when I get out of the car.

“My pleasure, sir.”

I take the stairs to my office two at a time, a sudden burst of energy picturing Reese waiting for me on the other side of the door.

“Good morning, Mr. Pierce.” Autumn greets me first. “Can I get you a coffee?”

“That would be great, thanks.” I head straight to Reese’s office, needing to see her sweet, beautiful eyes. “Hey...” I say to an empty room.

I cross to her desk and don’t see her purse or laptop. There are no files left out on it or on the conference table.

“Miss Elliot isn’t coming in today,” Autumn says from the doorway, holding out my coffee for me.

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