Fight or Flight(64)

“Right.” She dropped her fork and knife on her empty plate. “But after all this time, with everyone thinking you got the raw deal, that you were the victim, it turns out you were the one who escaped.”

I nodded, having thought the same myself. “I know. I realized that as he left my office this morning. I finally realized that I was the lucky one. As heartbroken as I am for Gem, I can’t tell you how much peace it gives me knowing my life is better for the fact that he left me.”

Harper reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I’m glad.”

I covered her hand with mine and then took a deep breath to prompt, “Speaking of relationships.” She immediately tried to pull her hand away but I held on. “I’m not judging, Harp. I just … I’m just a little concerned.”

She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“Vince doesn’t seem so happy and supportive anymore about your job. And you just sat there letting that groupie flirt with him right in front of you. Not Harper-like behavior.”

Harper yanked her hand free, glaring at me. “I was being classy.”

“Oh, unlike me?”

Her lips twitched, amusement cutting through the chill in her eyes. “No, it was funny when you shooed her away.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“I promised Vince I wouldn’t react to the girls. He warned me that they get a bit much and he’s had problems with girlfriends before not reacting well to it. I know that it’s just part of the industry he wants to be in and so I have to learn to let it go.”

“The same way he’s letting the fact that you work long hours go?”

Harper stared at me, clearly deciding between being pissed at me for asking and being grateful I cared enough to. Thankfully she decided on the latter. “He’d never mentioned it before. Saturday night was the first night he ever said something negative about it. We talked yesterday and he admitted that my hours do bother him, but not for him, for me. He’s worried I’m burning myself out.”

That I could understand. “And what did you say?”

She sucked in a breath. “I’m not going to lie, Ava. I worry about it too sometimes. That if I’m going to be working this hard, then surely it should be for myself.”

“You want to open your own restaurant?”

“Dessert bar.” She smiled shyly. “Eventually. Not yet, anyway. I convinced him that I’m good and he seemed to accept it.”

There was something in her tone that was off. She sounded placating, and that wasn’t Harper. She did what she wanted, no matter what anyone else said. “Okay. As long as you’re happy.”

“Very. Now, what about you?” She sought to change the subject. “And Mr. Scott?”

The reminder that I didn’t have him for long crashed over me. “It looks like we’ll be finishing things up sooner that I’d thought. The Shrew called. This time on Wednesday I’ll be in goddamn Nantucket.”





Eighteen


While Caleb vented about his day at the office, I tried my best not to be distracted by the longing in my chest, that harsh pang of feeling I got anytime I remembered tonight would be the last night we spent together.

When we met at my favorite Italian restaurant in Back Bay, one of the first things I wanted to ask him was when he was leaving. It seemed even more crucial to know since he’d been unable to meet me the night before. Things at the office had exploded and Caleb was up to his neck in the disaster. He video-called me from the office to show me him standing in the North American division CFO’s office surrounded by piles and piles of files.

That meant that if he was leaving sooner than expected, tonight was all we had. However, I didn’t want to seem desperate or upset when the guy was clearly stressed out.

“Long story short,” he said, sipping at the Scotch he’d ordered, “the bastard was not only lazy—he was using company money for private investments. Savvy investments too. If only he’d used that savvy tae do his job right, I wouldn’t be sitting here having not slept for thirty-six hours. Anyway, I presented my findings tae the CEO. He took it tae our bosses in Tokyo. A few hours later we dragged the sleekit wee bastard into a conference call and he was fired.”

“My God, what an idiot.” I shook my head, thinking about all the people who would kill for a chance at a six-figure salary.

“Aye, well, they wanted me tae stick around and interview new candidates for the position, but I’m needed back in the Glasgow office.” He stifled a yawn with his fist as my heart began to thump hard in my chest.

“When do you leave?”

Caleb’s gaze suddenly intensified as he leaned back in his seat. “Thursday morning. I dinnae think I’ll be much use tae you tonight, but that still gives us Wednesday.”

I winced. “Actually, it doesn’t.”

He scowled. “Why?”

“Do you remember when I mentioned the difficult client I have right now?” At his nod, I continued, “She’s demanding I head back out to the house on Nantucket tomorrow. I won’t be back until Thursday.”

The frown lines between his brows deepened. “Nantucket isn’t far.”

“It’s about a four-hour trip from here. I have to be there at ten a.m. tomorrow morning, so I’ll leave around five thirty.”