Part-Time Lover (Part-Time Lover #1)(65)

I roll my eyes. “That’s helpful.”

He smiles and reaches for my hand. “You’re already in deep.” He takes a beat then shrugs happily. “But it also feels pretty damn good when someone you love feels the same.”

“I don’t think he does.”

“Men don’t usually want to talk about us unless they feel something,” he says, sketching air quotes as he tosses Christian’s words back at me.

I’m not talking about paperwork. I’m talking about us.

My stomach roils, and the prospect of waiting till Friday or Saturday to find out what he wants to discuss sounds like an eternity.

Jay lets go of my hand. “Enough about boys. I have something for you.” He reaches into his pocket and removes a blue velvet bag, then slides it over to me. “Picked it up at a little shop.”

I open the bag to find a silver chain with a dangly Eiffel Tower. I laugh and put it on, letting the icon of France sit next to my taxicab. “It’s perfect.”

And it gives me strength. It reminds me that no matter what happens with Christian, I have my brother an ocean away. Back home in France, I have great friends, a wonderful life, and a fabulous business I’ve rebuilt.

That’s why my heels are touching the New York sidewalk later that afternoon. Because I made it through a dark time. I turned my agency around, and it’s thriving again, thanks to new deals with accounts like the Luxe.

Whatever happens with Christian, I’ll be fine, walls or no walls.

I’ve got this.





37





Christian





Erik walks a little taller, a little prouder. The sun is sinking in the sky as he reaches the banks of the river, where I stare into the water.

“Do you ever think this river was meant to be here?” I say, turning to Erik. He shields his eyes from the sun with his hand.

“I’ve never thought in those terms, but I suspect it probably was.”

“Maybe it’s supposed to be here because people would need to think and contemplate and wonder.”

He stands next to me, setting his elbows on the concrete barricade and gazing at the slate-gray ribbon that cuts across the city. “What’s on your mind?”

I heave a sigh. “A few things. First, I really enjoyed working with you at the firm.”

“You did?”

I nod. “I did. I liked rolling up my sleeves and tackling deals.”

He nudges me. “You angling for a job now?”

I laugh. “No. But it reminded me that I like striking deals and doing market analysis, and not to blow my own trumpet, but I’m also quite good at it.”

“You’re tops at what you do.”

“Thanks.” I scrub a hand across my chin. “I think I’m going to keep doing it.”

He squints in question. “So you do want a job?”

“No. I believe I’ve just made myself a consultant.”

“Ah, so this is what retirement looks like? Working your arse off?”

“I’d hardly say consulting is working my arse off. In fact, I think it’s the perfect balance. I don’t get too consumed by it, but it gives me the chance to keep my feet wet. I’ll do a little translation, and I’ll do a little high-level consulting, especially for companies looking to enter new markets.”

“I think that sounds brilliant.”

“And that brings me to my other point.”

He tenses. “What’s that?”

It’s not his fault that everything with Elise went tits up, but I need him to know the score. “First, I wish you’d have told me before you made your deal with Jandy.”

He frowns. “I’m sorry I didn’t. I thought you might talk me out of it because of how much money I’d lose by paying her off,” he says, a note of guilt in his voice. “And I was determined to go through with it.”

“I get it. I do. I still wish you’d have told me, because I wouldn’t have tried to talk you out of it. I wish you knew that.”

“You wouldn’t have?”

I laugh. “Of course I wouldn’t have. It’s your choice. I understand why you did it. Why you needed to. It’s your heart and your life. And I’m proud of you for finding a way to move on.”

He smiles. “Thanks. It’s been total shite, but this is the best I’ve felt in more than a month.”

We both stare at the river for a bit, then I turn to him again. “There is one little matter, though, that ticks me off a bit.”

“What’s that?”

“I really wish you hadn’t told Elise I didn’t love her.”

His eyes bug out. His jaw falls open. “What?”

“Because that’s actually the complete opposite of the truth. I’m pretty much madly in love with her, and now she thinks I don’t love her, and I have no clue if she might love me back. But seeing as I helped you sort out your love life, it’s time for you to help sort out mine.”

He frowns. “I’m so sorry my big mouth fucked things up.”

“It’s okay. I know you meant well.”

He shakes his head. “I’m a bit of a clueless jackass sometimes. But I can also be a determined bastard when it comes to fixing my mistakes.” Erik smiles. “I like Elise. I like her a lot. Let’s get your girl back.” He rubs his palms together. “What’s the plan?”