Jack's Surrender (Holiday Cove 5)

“Great. I also wanted to ask you if you’d mind sitting in on the meeting I have this afternoon with Mr. Jensen. He’s worked up a proposal and I need your eyes to see if the things got legs.”

I sat down in my chair and hit the power button on my computer. I looked up and nodded. “Sure.”

Noah hesitated at the door.

“Was there something else?” I asked, my hands frozen above the keyboard.

He smiled and then shook his head. “No, that was it. See you in a few hours.”

“Okay.”

Noah left and the feeling in the pit of my stomach told me he wanted more than just my input on a meeting—or even more than the weekly lunch meetings we’d fallen into. He hadn’t said anything directly, but I saw the looks from the other women in the office. They all noticed the special attention he gave me—and most of them would have probably clawed my eyes out if they thought it would help their case.

Noah Scoville was an impressive man. Sure, he was handsome—okay, a smidge above handsome—but he was also kind, generous, and fair. He could tear ideas to shreds in a conference room, but somehow everyone left even more motivated to get it right the next time instead of complaining about their boss shitting on their presentation.

He had a way of speaking to people that made them feel important and listened to, even if he didn’t see their point of view or agree with their decisions.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how he was still single. I didn’t dare ask, as that would likely be a one-way ticket into a conversation I wasn’t ready to have. But if some woman had let him get away in the past, she was probably still sitting around kicking herself for losing him.

I pushed aside the thoughts of Noah as my inbox started to light up, dozens of messages, each one more urgent than the last. As the emails continued to pour in, I grabbed my croissant from the bottom of the pastry bag and tore off a small corner. The flaky pastry melted in my mouth, and I continued munching on it as I dove into the most pressing emails of the day.

That was my favorite thing about my job—it kept me so busy that I didn’t have time to agonize over the details of my life. Distraction and busyness were the best cures for a broken heart. At least, temporarily.

Noah always chose the best restaurants for our lunch meetings, even if they were several miles from the office. He also had quite a reputation in Holiday Cove and the neighboring beach communities and without so much as a word, he secured the best tables and prompt service. Today was no exception. We were at a seaside bistro with a table on the deck, watching the waves roll against the golden sand as we noshed on artisan sandwiches.

We talked about business at first. Noah told me about the upcoming meeting and I took some notes on my phone. However, the lunch meetings were usually more social than business and I waited for an opening to give him the news. I had no idea how he’d take it. He’d been so good to me, I couldn’t imagine him responding with anything short of graciousness, but there was a small part of me that worried he’d replace me while I was on maternity leave or cut back my position. And being a single homeowner, I needed my job.

My opportunity came just as our food arrived. Noah rotated his plate to start with his salad. “Oh, by the way, Sharice is making the travel itineraries for that conference in September. The twenty-second and twenty-third. If I were you, I’d get her your information ASAP so you can request your seat preference.”

“Actually, there’s something I need to talk to you about. About that trip, I mean.”

Noah glanced up; a pepper shaker poised in his hand. “Don’t tell me someone’s swooped in and stolen you away from me.”

“Well, in a matter of speaking.”

Noah set the shaker down. “What’s going on, Holly?”

I drew in a deep breath. “I recently found out that I’m pregnant. I’m due in October. I won’t be able to fly in September because I’ll be right in the middle of my third trimester.”

Noah remained frozen in place for a half a beat and then smiled. “Wow! Congratulations, Holly. I uh—that’s really—that’s great!”

“Thanks, Noah.” I reached for my water. “It’s going to be an adjustment, obviously, but I’m going to figure it out and I’ll still be able to work, I just know that flying won’t be an option.”

Noah chuckled. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll figure it out. Due in October? Wow.”

“Yeah. It’ll be here fast.”

“And the…well, the father?” Noah ventured, his tone cautious and slow.

I looked down at my interlocked fingers and gave a slight shake of my head. “He’s not in the picture. At least not right now.”