He had a wide grin on his face.
“Really?”
He stood and kissed her. “It’s exactly what we needed.”
She reeled from the kiss. She was starting to feel like a pinball, bouncing from Deacon to Cole, jolted by passion from each one. She liked how she reacted differently to them. It heightened everything around her.
The elevator buzzed. Deacon hopped over the back of the couch. “About time. I’m fucking starving.”
He pressed the button to let the waiter into the secure suite.
He wheeled in two carts of food. Abby looked at Cole. “You two are going to eat all of that?”
He shrugged. “I might have ordered a few things for you to try.”
She pressed her lips in a straight line, but she wasn’t angry. It was sweet. He wanted to do something special for her.
“Thank you.” She reached on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I’ll try all of it.”
He laughed. “You’ve been so adventurous tonight I didn’t think you’d want to stop.”
27
Cole
He stood on the stage, looking at the audience. Deacon was next to him. Cole looked over his shoulder. Abby was standing in the wings beyond the view from everyone else.
It had taken years for this moment. They were about to announce the creation of Soar. And it was crazy, but he felt as if Abby had brought it all together. Deacon had chosen her design for the branding because she was supposed to be a part of the project. Yes, she had the best concept. Yes, he saw something in her art. Cole had no doubt she was the missing link they had been searching for.
He smiled at her before turning toward the audience. She gave him a thumbs-up and a soft smile. Last night was extraordinary. They were bonded in a way that could take him to his knees.
The words to the speech she had helped with started at the top of the teleprompter. Deacon nudged him. It was time for the announcement.
The cameras in the front row began to flash and Cole heard the constant click and snapping sounds the photographers made as they adjusted their shots.
“Welcome, everyone.” He grinned widely.
Deacon waved.
“This is one of those times we don’t what happens here to stay here. Deacon Rockford and I have an announcement that we w
ant you to take with you. Something that we hope transforms your lives the instant you leave this conference.” Deacon shook his hand as he began to take over the next part of the speech.
“Cole and I have been working on a project that’s going to take HiTech Global to a new level.” Deacon beamed at the crowd. “It’s time you know about Soar.”
***
Cole didn’t think he had shaken this many hands since his college graduation. He and Deacon were in a receiving line, thanking for everyone for coming. He guessed the pledges for Soar were already in the millions.
“Where is Abby?’ Deac asked.
Cole looked for her. She was trapped in in the corner talking to Andy Gallagher. “I think she needs rescuing. I’ll be right back.” He left Deacon to pry Andy away from their girl.
“Hi, Andy. Glad to see you again.” He slapped the businessman on the back.
“Excellent presentation. I like your vision. I was just talking to Abby here. I was wondering if she had any suggestions for one of my global projects.”
Cole slung his arm around Abby’s shoulder. “She has an exclusive with HiTech Global I’m afraid. You can understand though why we wouldn’t to let her get away, can’t you?”