“At least she’s a good judge of character.” He smiles.
My heart does a dozen cartwheels as I wonder if he thinks I’m God’s gift to him as well.
“When are you going to be back?” he asks, driving toward the penthouse so I can get my car.
“Before dinner for sure. Want me to pick up something on the way?” I ask. “There’s a great pizzeria I’m going to drive past.”
“Great. Then grab a pizza. Whatever you want is fine.”
He takes my hand and kisses the fingertips. Somehow those kisses reach all the way to my heart, making my toes curl. And I know I’m going to carry this feeling with me all through the day.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Edgar
After dropping Jo off, I return to the penthouse and instruct one of the interior designers Rick recommended to bring her proposals over so I can review them later with Jo. Then I go into the home office and spend the afternoon reviewing reports, sending instructions and attending teleconferences. Late in the day I get a call from Heath, who wants to know if Nora is joining the project. I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“I’m not sure,” I say, a mild headache developing.
“I see.” He pauses for a moment. “Okay, well… I, um, might turn down my position in the new project.”
This is unexpected, and a frustration I don’t need with someone who I thought had great potential. Did I misjudge him? “Why? It’s a great opportunity for you.”
“Not enough to put up with Paul Fontenot.”
Fuck. I didn’t see that coming. Dad and I agreed Paul wasn’t a good fit for this project. When did he change his mind? “When did he get added to the team?”
“Today.”
My teeth grind together. “I see. Well, don’t turn anything down just yet. Let me look into it first.”
“Okay.”
We hang up. I really don’t want to have another call with Dad…but now I have to.
Why is he doing this, anyway? We agreed on the team members yesterday.
I hit the button and put it on speaker.
“Lane Blackwood.”
“When were you going to tell me you put Paul Fontenot on the exploration project?”
“When you were back in town.”
He isn’t even trying to hide the fact that he’s being manipulative. And he has the gall to call women emotional and passive-aggressive.
“But now that you’re calling, I guess I can tell you,” he says like he’s about to discuss the weather in Tempérane.
I keep my tone level. “We agreed not to put him on the project.”
“He came by this morning and made a convincing case. The man only wants a chance to prove himself.”
“He’s been with Blackwood Energy for over ten years. If he doesn’t think he’s proven himself, he should’ve resigned, instead of taking a promotion he doesn’t deserve.”
“Paul has a child in college.”
“A son he had by his own choice. The company didn’t issue him that child, and it isn’t our responsibility.”