Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 603(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 603(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
He might miss the big surprise, but he’d catch everything else. He could make it work.
“See that the jet’s ready to depart by eleven on the twenty-fourth.” He moved back into the conference room. “Sorry about that. Back to our tee time. I’ve always preferred the dawn patrol when the course is pristine. Fewer distractions then. Plus, we finish before the day gets away from us. What do you say I meet you on the green at seven a.m.?”
Warren laughed. “That’s why I like you, Soren. You’ve got your father’s work ethic. He was never one to burn daylight.”
“Of course, the gala’s Friday night, Daddy,” Olivia reminded quietly, almost as an afterthought. “I’m sure we could find Soren a ticket and give you two more time to discuss plans for the board.”
Warren nodded. “Great idea, sweetheart.” He turned back to Soren. “Since you plan on arriving Thursday night, why not join us? I’ll have my girl send your girl the details.”
Soren’s smile turned brittle as the timeline shifted, but he’d still make it work.
A long evening Friday night followed by golf Saturday morning. A quick flight home, then Grey and Wren’s baby shower that afternoon.
“Sounds perfect.” Soren made a mental note to have Marie see that his tux was cleaned.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Warren said, his attention pulled to the group of researchers filtering into the hall. “I want to grab a copy of today’s numbers.”
“Of course.”
When he looked back at Olivia, his smile faded. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”
“I could tell.” She lifted her chin.
“I’m not one for games, Olivia.”
“Neither am I, Soren. But when you refuse to return my calls, you leave me with few options.”
She might not like games, but she liked losing even less. That much was clear. “I’m sure you found the meeting rather boring.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think I have a minimal understanding of how these things work. I could be an asset for Daddy. He’s thrilled that I’ve taken an interest in the company, you know. I think you’ll see much more of me in the future.”
He had no doubt, but that didn’t mean he changed his position. “Olivia, about this weekend—”
“Don’t.” Her blue eyes turned to ice. “I’m not someone easily humiliated, Soren. And I don’t concern myself with obstacles that remove themselves. Have your little fling. Get it out of your system.”
“Jocelyn’s not some fling.”
“I know exactly what she is and what she isn’t. I also know you. This is a momentary craving. A lot of men need to sample the menu before settling down. But you’ll never be satisfied long term with drive-thru burgers when your taste is accustomed to filet mignon. Feed the craving and get it out of your system. You know where to find me when you’re ready to get serious. I’ll be at the grownup table, right beside my father, advising him.”
“Sorry about that.” Warren returned, a pleasant grin on his face. “Soren,” he shook his hand again. “I’ll see you next month.”
He maintained a look of undisturbed affability. “Looking forward to it, sir.”
Olivia closed the distance, rising on her toes to brush a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll be there too. Hopefully, by then,” her cold lips pressed to his cheek. “You’ll be ready to talk seriously about your future.” She pulled back, her icy blue eyes calculating and confident. “See you soon, Soren.”
The conference room emptied and he hung back. She clearly wasn’t giving up without a fight.
Glancing down at his lapel, he sniffed his suit jacket and frowned. Shalimar. Great. He’d have to burn the jacket.
CHAPTER 12
“SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?”
Jocelyn stared in a daze at the far wall of her living room as dust motes floated through the air and her thoughts drifted like clouds. She mindlessly pressed her pen to her lips, lost in a deluge of sensual memories from the weekend until her whole body flinched with awareness as someone pounded on her door.
Cordelia flew into action, barking and charging toward the foyer.
Jocelyn pushed her laptop aside—not like she was writing anyway—and moved to answer the door. “Coming!”
When she opened the door, Soren stood on the front porch pressing something into his phone. In the pocket of her kimono, her cell started to ring as he scowled at her. “So your phone does work?”
“Why are you calling me if you’re on my front porch?”
“All day, Joce. I waited all day to hear from you and got nothing. Not a text. Not a call. Not even an emoji. Not a single notification to let me know I might have crossed your mind.”
She silenced her ringer and stepped back to let him in. “Get in the house, you drama queen. Did you ever think I might have been working?”
“I worked. And I still thought of you.”
“Well, you’re more needy than me.”