“You wouldn’t be smiling about that. I think you’d be more worried. Is he ready to be home? Who’s going to keep tabs on him?”
“You have a point.” Heaviness tightens my chest, but I still feel the relaxation in my face. Fuck. I’m still smiling.
We’re out of the car, waiting for the garage elevator, and she tilts her head to the side, studying my face. “You’re handsome when you frown, but you’re even hotter when you smile.”
“That’s the kind of thing that will make people suspicious.”
The door opens, and we step inside, hitting the button for the twentieth floor. “Why don’t you?”
Leaning against the wall, I think about her question. “Never have much to smile about, I guess.”
“And now you do?” She’s grinning like she won the lottery.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Stepping across the small space, she puts her arms around my waist. Her chin lifts, and she kisses the side of my jaw before whispering in my ear. “I think you have.”
She kisses my neck, and it’s a mini lightning strike. My hand slides in my pocket to make an adjustment, and the elevator dings. We separate at once. She moves to one side of the metal box, and I step to the other, inspecting my leather loafers as she exits ahead of me.
Taron asked to meet in my office first thing to discuss our next steps, but all I can think about are my next steps with Rocky. She brought up her sister last night, and like a fucking coward, I wasn’t ready to have that conversation.
We’ve got to have that conversation and soon. Especially now that my feelings are involved. How did this happen?
I open my door and go to my desk, lifting the cover of my laptop and sending a quick text. I’m here. Ready when you are.
Outside my window, the nonstop traffic pours around the city like a stream around rocks. The pedestrians are already blocking up Broadway, and the sun is making its way up a clear blue sky. I could use a cigarette. My hand goes in my pocket to the plastic pack of gum as a light tap sounds on my door.
“Hey.” Taron walks in and my brow furrows I don’t like the look on his face.
“What’s up?”
“I picked up Marley this morning. He’s settled at his apartment. Sandra’s working on hiring him a private nurse. A temp is with him now.”
“Good work.”
“Dubai came in overnight. Sandra’s scanning their signed contracts into the system.”
“More good news.” But his expression is resigned. “Is that it?”
“No.” He takes a seat across from my desk, and I’m not smiling now. “We need to discuss this. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for months. I talked to Sawyer over the weekend, and I’ve made a decision.”
“Okay.” I slip a white square of gum in my mouth and sit in my leather chair, crossing an ankle over my knee. “Shoot.”
“Raquel is doing very well.” He slides his palms down the front of his jeans, and I notice how casually he’s dressed—jeans and a dark, V-neck tee. “I’m glad she’s fit in so quickly here. When I saw the email she sent to Remi, and their response… I feel confident passing the reins to her.”
“What are you talking about?”
He lifts his head, green eyes meeting mine. “I’m out. This is my notice. I’m moving to Louisiana, back to the farm with Sawyer. I talked to him over the weekend, and—”
I’m on my feet. “You’re not going anywhere. I don’t accept your notice.”
“It’s done, Patton. I can’t work here anymore. Not physically… not even mentally. I’ve got to get out of this place before I… I don’t know. Before I turn into Marley.”
“You’d never turn into him. You don’t have the personality… or the scars.”
He pushes to standing as well, meeting me eye to eye. “What do you know about my scars?”
Snatching a piece of paper out of my desk, I dispose of the fucking gum. Who came up with this concept anyway? Chewing gum. Such a bovine activity.