How (Not) to Fall in Love(57)
He grimaced. “I never meant to hurt your feelings.” He stepped toward me. “If that’s why you’re leaving—”
“It’s not that.” I tugged on my fleece hat and my gloves. “Well, maybe a little. It’s… I just…” Some part of me knew I was crazy, walking away from what I wanted. But the rest of me knew it was a survival tactic. I couldn’t take one more punch to the heart.
He reached out, his finger trailing down my cheek, stopping under my chin. “I’m not going to stop you, Shaker Girl,” he said, his voice soft. “But I want you to remember something.”
“W-what?” How could I say actual words with him touching me?
“When we were tearing down boxes the other day?”
I nodded. He’d moved his hand, now tracing down my other cheek.
“I said most guys aim too low.” His lips curved into a sensual smile. “I want you to remember that I aim high.”
He dropped his hand from my face and opened the front door. Snow and wind swirled into the house, chasing away the warmth he’d just flooded me with.
“I’ll remember,” I managed to say, before I turned away and rushed down the steps to my truck.
I texted Lucas once I was home. Mom was asleep on the couch as usual. Toby and I burrowed under my comforter, the light from my phone like a tiny flashlight in our blanket cave.
“I made it.”
His reply flew back instantly. “Good.”
I hesitated, then sent another message. “You never told me what you were doing tonight, while I was sleeping AKA babysitting.”
I watched the dots as he typed his reply. “Helping out a neighbor.”
“Mr. Good Samaritan.”
“That’s me. Always at your service.”
Just one more reason I’d fallen so damn hard for him.
I closed my eyes. Wishing. Praying. Hoping.
That maybe, just maybe, I could trust what I’d seen. That he was falling for me, too.
And I promised myself that next time, I wouldn’t run away.
Chapter Twenty-One
Denver Daily News
November 21
The Secret Scoop from the Street
by “Crystal Ball”
Tyler Covington Spoils Harvest
While his wife and daughter live in seclusion in their country club mansion, refusing requests for interviews, Chief Operating Officer and acting President Jonathan James (J.J.) Briggs shoulders the burden of running the motivational speaking empire while its star is missing.
“It’s been rough,” J.J. says from his office on the fourteenth floor of the downtown headquarters of Tri!Umphant! Harvest Industries. His face is haggard. He needs a haircut. “Ty was the face of Harvest, but he was the brains, too. He guided the ship. Made all the decisions. I’m just picking up the pieces right now, hoping to satisfy our investors.”
Rumors have been flying on the internet about Covington’s disappearance, including speculation that he left the country with millions, abandoning his family and his business.
Someone must know where this guy is. I press J.J. for an answer. He runs his hands over his weary face. “I think his family might know something. But if they do know, they’re not telling anyone.” He shrugs. “They have a lot to lose if he doesn’t come back. We all do.”
Rumor has it the Harvest board of directors has frozen all accounts and assets of the Covington family and seized their home. I ask J.J. what will happen if Mr. Covington doesn’t return. He shakes his head. “Ty decided to diversify our investments some time ago. Harvest owns a lot of corporate real estate. But this isn’t a great time to have most of your assets in property, as you know.” J.J. sighs. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he was running the show.”
So if Ty doesn’t come back?
“The board will need to make some hard decisions,” J.J. told me. “We may need to liquidate most, if not all, of those assets to satisfy our investors. Without Ty here creating new motivational product…” J.J. is too overwhelmed to finish his thought and ends our interview.
It will be fascinating to watch this story play out. Tyler Covington has been a pillar in the local business and philanthropic communities. Everyone I spoke to had good things to say about him and expressed shock and disbelief that he would abandon his family and his business.
Coach Hook of the Broncos said, “We miss Ty. A lot of the guys leaned on him both on and off the field. We hope he comes back soon.”
Personally, I have known Tyler Covington for many years. He always struck me as intense and genuine. I hope he returns, but even if he does, it sounds like his Harvest will be ruined.
I sat in Liz’s fairy cave, drinking tea and eating cookies. A copy of the newspaper’s gossip column rested on the table between Liz and me. Charlie leaned against the wall, stirring his coffee.
The article had blindsided me, deflating the tiny bit of hope and confidence I’d built up after the board meeting. It had devastated Mom.
“How’s your mom?” Charlie asked.
“Comatose.” I didn’t look at him.
“I don’t believe a word of that article. I think J.J.’s lying about Ty making the investment decisions.” Charlie’s voice was harsh.