Chance(36)

"That's fantastic." He claps his hands together. "It will give me time to show you the other programs I've developed."

"There's more?" I ask with a wide grin on my face. This man knows more about computer software than almost anyone I've ever met which says a lot considering the fact that I work for the most influential tech company on the east coast.

"I've put together some apps." He winks at me. "Some of them are for young folks like you."

"You know what an app is?" I try not to giggle as I ask.

He taps the bottom of his cane against the arm of the chair I'm sitting in. "Mark my words, you're going to want the rights to every single app I have."





Chapter 31


"Carly will drive you down to the ferry, dear." He limps across the floor towards my suitcase and purse. "Are you meeting your fellow in the Hamptons?"

It's a question that I should have seen coming. Ernie may have a pulse on what's hot in the tech world but when it comes to romance the man is old school through and through. The stories he told over our three course lunch about the endearing things he did for his late wife are proof of that. He's a keeper and if I was an octogenarian, I'd be making a fast move on this man.

"I don't have a fellow at the moment," I say with a small smile. It's been longer than a moment if I'm being honest.

He pushes the wire rimmed glasses he's wearing to the tip of his nose so he can peer over them. "You don't have a fellow? How is that possible?"

Flattery is the only thing I need right now after Caleb turned me down on the spot last night. I should ask Ernie if can stay the weekend in his guest room. The man is full of compliments, which means my self-esteem meter would be off the charts by Sunday evening. "Men in New York are fickle. I'm still looking for the right one."

"The right one will almost always be a friend first. If you have a fellow who is a friend and you have a sweet spot for him, he might be the one."

Or he might be a raving lunatic who thinks it's entertaining to talk dirty to me before he rejects me. "I don't have any friends who would be the right one."

"Don't be too quick to rule out a friend." He gently grabs my elbow as he leads us out of the dining room. "You never know when love is waiting around the corner."

I used to think that. Now I know better. When it comes to Caleb the only thing waiting for me is a fractured friendship and the embarrassment of knowing I poured out all of my deepest desires to him and he shut me down.

***

"You want to go back to Martha's Vineyard?" Clive's voice breaks up slightly as he asks the question.

I turn up the volume on my phone, hoping that it will drown out all of the traffic noise. Clive had thoughtfully arranged to have me picked up at the ferry dock by a private driver. He'd made certain that the car was a convertible, which would have been spectacular given the gorgeous weather and scenic views. The problem is that I can barely hear anything he's saying to me so I can only assume the same is true on his end. "Ernie has developed a lot of great stuff. He's willing to sell the rights to us if we want them. I think we have to jump on it."

"What?" He yells into the receiver. "I can't hear you, Rowan."

I laugh out loud, letting the warm air race over my face as I throw my head back. I haven't been out of New York City in months and today, I'm realizing just how much I needed the break. I hold the phone close to my lips as I scream into it. "I'll call you back as soon as I'm at the house."

I end the call before I toss the phone back into my purse. I tap the driver on the shoulder. "Is there a store near the house? I want to pick up a few supplies for the weekend."

He nods without taking his eyes off the road.

I lean back into the seat and close my eyes. This weekend is my chance to decompress and unwind. I'm going to push work aside, focus on the new books I downloaded to my e-reader and let every thought I have of Caleb Foster and his brothers disappear from my mind.

***

I climb into the backseat of the car again noting that the horizon looks serene now that dusk is starting to fall. I'd taken a few minutes to go into a local store to buy the essentials. I purchased coffee, fresh pressed juice, some fruit, wine, cheese and bread. It's everything that I've been craving and everything that my body needs. I have no intention of leaving the house once the driver takes me there.

"The reception is great here." The driver's voice startles me. "I heard you having trouble with a call earlier. You can make it now. I can go grab a coffee."

I glance down at my phone and realize that Clive may be leaving the office soon. Our conversation would go a lot smoother if he had access to his computer. I can send him the notes on the apps that Ernie emailed to me.

"That would actually be great," I say with a flourish of my hand. "I'll need thirty minutes or so. Does that work for you or do you need to be somewhere?"

"I'm at your disposal all weekend, Ms. Bell." He tosses me a thin smile. "Mr. Parker said I should be available in case you need me."

"Once you drop me at the house, I don't need you until Sunday at four." I scroll my index finger over my phone's screen. "I'll call Clive and then we'll head out, okay?"