Page 85 of Red Hunt

“Because her behavior these last few days indicates that might be a possibility,” he said.

I rubbed the back of my neck, then nodded. “Even then. I can’t force her to forgive me. But I think she needs this. And we need her.”

Carter nodded once. “Okay then, partners. Anyone have any arguments against it?”

Goofy shook his head, but Peaches hesitated. “There’s one stipulation I have to make.”

Carter leaned forward. “Go on.”

“No fraternization policy from here on, going forward,” Peaches said and stared at me.

“Like in there’s a no-fraternization policy for employees?” Carter clarified.

Was Peaches trying to kill me? Did I have to choose between loving Milli or having her work for us? Seriously?

“Nope, not what I meant. More like there will not be any fraternization policies or rules within SOG going forward.”

Carter stared, Goofy chuckled, and I remembered what Goofy told me a while ago about Peaches and Belinda having some kind of chemistry. “For you or for me, bud?” I just couldn’t not ask.

“Both of us,” Peaches said, his voice reflecting his steely determination.

I smiled. So, things were obviously heating up between Belinda and Peaches. Good for them.

Carter shook his head. “God help us all.” He hesitated. “But since Edith makes me deliriously happy…no fraternization rules for now. And we will ask Belinda and Milli to join our team.”

We all got up. “Why don’t you, Peaches, ask Belinda and Romeo here will ask Milli? Then we can reconvene tomorrow to go over the details,” Carter said, getting up and closing the meeting.

Half an hour later, the house was gloriously empty except for Milli and her e-reader on my couch, making my heart long for a life just like that. With her in our home.

Though it wasn’t my choice to make.

She had to have the choice. I’d been overprotective and overbearing for as long as I knew her, just to fail her in the most critical moments by not stopping her and Belinda from getting involved in the auction.

I needed to let go. Needed to let her go. I couldn’t keep on forcing things. Forcing her.

She needed to have all the power. And for that, I had to set her free. Even when it broke my heart.

58

MILLI

By the look on Max’s face, there was something on his mind, and even though I’d been waiting for us to be alone, fear had my heart beating overtime. I needed to remember I was strong.

He was puttering around in the kitchen. The smell of tomato and garlic filling the air gave me the vision of an Italian restaurant, the sizzling of the pans and gurgling of the pots completing the impression.

I put my e-reader to the side and got up.

“Can I help?”

He handed me a glass of red wine and shook his head. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

I nodded and sat down on one of the bar stools at the kitchen island.

“We had a meeting earlier.”

“Oh?”

“We want you and Belinda to join our team.”

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