I could certainly smell her, that fall scent wrapping around me in this small space.
Part of me expected for her to be looking at me, for her eyes to be so fixed on mine, pleading, silently negotiating our future.
But they weren’t.
She was focused on the door, and as the chime went off, signaling we’d arrived, she gazed at me over her shoulder, smiling. “Thanks for the ride, Jenner.”
She stepped out and disappeared around the corner.
The minute the door closed, I adjusted my hard-on, the need to have her raging through me.
“Fuck.” I pounded my fist against the wall. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
I tried to get my shit together, hiding my throbbing cock as I arrived on the top floor, greeted by Walter’s assistant the moment I stepped out.
“Good morning, Mr. Dalton. Mr. Spade is waiting for you in his office.”
I nodded, turning down the hallway and walking to the very end, where Walter’s massive office was located. I gave the door a quick knock, hearing him call my name before I let myself in.
He waved me over to one of the seats in front of his desk. “Jenner, it’s good to see you.”
“Likewise.” I set my briefcase on the empty chair next to mine and took out Walter’s file. “Are things going well?”
“Well enough. Could always be better.” He stared at me as he lifted his coffee mug. “And you?”
I chuckled. “I couldn’t have said it better.”
His eyes narrowed. “I see that smile is gone. Does that mean the woman in your life is too?”
This was a conversation I needed to avoid.
But my top client was expecting an answer, and skating around one wasn’t the best angle to take.
“You must be a mind reader,” I replied.
“Enough bastards have sat in the same seat as you, and at this age, I can tell them all apart—the ones in love, the ones in lust, and the ones, like me, whose heart only belongs to themself.”
“And I fall into the latter?”
“Not even close.” He continued to stare. “What happened, Jenner?”
I took a deep breath, fingering the papers inside the folder. “Ah, you know, timing just wasn’t in our favor.”
“That’s too bad.”
I turned my attention to the top sheet in the stack. “Yeah … well, some good things, unfortunately, have to end.” My chest agreed, the fucking pounding inside becoming relentless. “I hope you’ve got some good news for me. You ready to negotiate on one of the pieces of land?”
As I looked up, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his fingers over his chest. “It wasn’t an easy decision. The range in price varied so greatly between the three; each made a significant difference to my bottom line.”
“We’ve been here many times before, Walter. We know it’s an arduous process.”
“It has been—there’s no doubt about that. My accountant has worked overtime to spin these numbers in every possible way, coming up with my best option.” He raised a finger in the air. “One second.” Then, he lifted the phone from his desk, pressing several buttons before holding the receiver to his ear. “Joanna, are you free?” He paused. “Good. I’m meeting with Jenner, and we’re discussing the land in Utah. I’d like you to sit in on this meeting.”
My back stiffened.
I had to see that gorgeous face again. That incredible body. The red tank and heels that I couldn’t get out of my mind.
Fuck.
“She’ll be right up,” he said, setting the phone down. “She’s been quickly learning the ropes around here, implementing several impressive strategies so far. And I’ve got to say”—he shook his head—“she’s really doing a hell of a job.”
Walter wasn’t one to give compliments. He was more likely to complain about operations than comment on the positives. So, to hear this was impressive.
“She seems like an excellent fit for your team,” I replied.
“Enthusiastic, hardworking, strong-willed. She’s hungry, and she wants to make a difference around here.” He opened his arms wide, almost glancing around the room. “And that’s important because this is all going to be hers one day.”
“Quite an undertaking.”
He nodded. “She can handle it—she inherited that from me. As for her mother, she got Tricia’s heart.”
“What did I inherit?” Jo asked as she walked in.
The sound of her changed the way I breathed.
I moved my briefcase to the ground, giving her a place to sit, and looked over my shoulder, watching her come closer.
“I was just telling Jenner how Spade Hotels will be yours once I retire—unless you want me to sell it.”
“You’re not selling anything.” She took a seat, her scent wafting over, enveloping me. “I fully intend to fill your shoes. My feet just aren’t as big as yours, and I prefer heels.” She smiled, her face slowly turning toward me. “Jenner, it’s nice to see you again.”
“And you, Joanna.”
Goddamn it, she was sexy.
She certainly had been while she was in Miami, but the LA version of Jo had even more confidence, and it looked so fucking good on her.
“Joanna, why don’t you tell Jenner what we decided?”
Was I surprised he’d discussed his plans with his daughter?
I wasn’t sure.
I wasn’t sure of anything at this moment.