“What about you? Are you looking at taking over some of the work in your dad’s empire too?”
Again, I shrugged, not wanting to give too much away. “I’m lending a hand.” Wanting to get back on topic I said, “We’re prepared to accept a fair price.” I didn’t want Ash to know how dire our financial situation was.
Ash studied me for a moment. “I haven’t been to the club in a while. I’m guessing Ben hasn’t either. I think we should check it out together. It will give us a chance to do a full evaluation of the club’s worth. We can have an outside appraisal if you prefer, but I think between us, we can determine the value and come up with a reasonable offer.”
I found it hard to believe that Ash didn’t know exactly what the club was worth at any given time, but at least he was open to buying Ben’s half. “I’m not sure Ben is available.”
“You and I can go.”
I got the feeling that had been his meaning in the first place, but I wasn’t sure why I had to go. I didn’t know anything about the club business. “I’m too busy to go clubbing. Can’t you just check it out and make an offer?”
He sat back and steepled his fingers as he scrutinized me. “Are you saying you trust me on this?”
Hell no. How could I trust the man who said he’d work things out so we could be together, and the next day leave without a word?
“It won’t take long,” he continued. “We can meet at the busy time so you can see the club at it’s best. How about ten on Saturday?”
Cripes, normally I was in bed by ten because I always had to get up around dawn. “I don’t know anything about clubs.”
“Even more reason to go. You can give Ben a full report.”
It appeared he wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and in point of fact, he was probably right that at least one of us should go so we could get an idea of what the club was worth. Since I knew it couldn’t be Ben, it would have to be me.
“Alright. Ten on Saturday.”
“Great.” He smiled and it was stunning. Why did he have to be such a douche? “You’ll be able to see the club running full tilt. Then we can strike up a fair deal.”
I nodded, feeling a little sick to my stomach. I supposed it was too much to expect him to give me a number and finish with the deal right then and there. I’d sure have preferred that though. Seeing him was taking a toll on my heartstrings. I was still mad at him, but the grief at what we could have had, but lost, was there as well.
“I’ll meet you there.” I stood.
“Okay.” He rose from his chair and came around his desk. Good lord, now I could see how much larger he was. Not in height, but his shoulders and chest seemed broader in his crisp white shirt. He exuded power and strength. But his expression was soft and kind.
I thrust out my hand, to make sure he didn’t get any ideas about hugging an old friend. He looked down at it, and then with a sigh, took it. The feeling of his hand on mine brought me back six years to when his large hand held mine as we walked on the beach. Or how he used them on my body to bring me pleasure.
I withdrew my hand after one shake. “Saturday,” I said.
“See you then.”
I hurried out of his office and into the elevator. I didn’t take a breath until I reached the street and could let out all my tension. Good lord. I hoped to God that after Saturday, he’d make a good offer and then we’d be done. The less I saw of Ash Raven the better.
3
Ash – Saturday
It was ridiculous how eager I was to see Beth again. Since the moment she walked into my office, I’d been thinking of her nonstop. Even in my sleep, she came to me in my dreams. That happened a lot when I first left her, but in the last few years, she’d been relegated to a dull ache in my heart as I plowed through business deal after business deal.
At my father’s urging, I was doing my best to put all my energy in building Raven Industries with him and my brothers, pushing away any thought about personal happiness. The company was the only thing that lasted, my father would say. It was the only thing we could count on for sure. My three brothers and I had bought into that, and into my father’s idea that we needed to compete against each other to be the top Raven in the company. It made for contentious relationships between us.