The Amendment (The Contract 2)

Love.

It made me richer and stronger than he could ever be.

Sometimes, I simply needed reminding.Katy descended the steps, her deep-red dress swirling around her knees. The off-the-shoulder look was sexy, and the cut of the dress hugged her curves. She was perfect.

Gracie clapped her hands in delight. “Mommy, you look tho pwetty! Doesn’t she look pwetty, Daddy?”

“Yes, she does. Beautiful, in fact.”

Katy lifted Gracie from my arms. “Thank you. Are you going to be a good girl for Mrs. Thomas?”

Gracie bobbed her head eagerly. Mrs. Thomas had been a staple in our home since Gracie was born. A grandmotherly sort, she doted on both our girls, and us as well. She lived a few houses over—her husband was retired and enjoyed golf. She preferred to stay busy and had a small group of parents in the neighborhood she babysat for. I made sure to pay her enough and treat her very well, so she was always available for us. It was easy since she reminded me a little of Penny and I liked how she cared for my girls.

All of them.

“We’re gonna do a puthzel.”

I grinned at the lingering lisp in Gracie’s voice. It was slowly disappearing, and I hated to see it go, although I knew it was part of her growing up.

I hated that part as well. It was happening too fast.

Katy rubbed her nose on Gracie’s affectionately. “I made a treat for you to share too.”

Gracie threw up her little arms. “Yay!”

“Give Mommy a kiss goodnight,” I instructed. “Then Daddy needs one, and we have to go.”

Kisses, snuggles, and more nose rubs later, we were headed to the dinner. Katy slipped her hand into mine.

“You’re wearing my favorite suit. You look very handsome.”

I squeezed her fingers. “Thought you’d like it.” I winked. “Hoping if I show you a good enough time, maybe I’d get lucky. My good looks should seal the deal.”

She chuckled low in her throat and turned to the window. “Such ego. Go fuck yourself, VanRyan.”

I laughed, feeling my tension ease as I steered the car toward the banquet hall. Katy always knew how to get me to smile.

“God, I love you, Katy VanRyan.”

She looked at me, her beautiful eyes bright in the dimness of the car. “I love you. And I’m right beside you. Okay?”

I lifted her hand to my mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Okay.”The noise level was intense, the lights too bright, and the dinner, as usual, ho-hum. Looking at the two awards, however, sitting on the table and knowing it was my efforts that brought them to The Gavin Group was an incredible high. Graham had been lavish in his praise, accepting the awards and making sure the entire room knew who made them possible, even making me stand up and take a bow. Katy was so proud, she wept—silent drops of joy that told me how she was feeling. I kissed them away, then kissed her mouth.

“Does this cinch the lucky part at the end?” I asked against the softness of her lips. I felt her wide smile.

“Definitely.”

“Win for me.”

I waited in line at the bar, accepting congratulations. I ordered a round of drinks for the table and waited patiently for them to be ready, glad for a quiet moment to myself.

“How does it feel?”

I stiffened at the voice and turned my head slightly. David Anderson stood beside me. He looked older, the deep furrows on his forehead more pronounced. His hair was thinner and his mouth in a perpetual glower.

“Excuse me?” I replied coolly.

“That’s three years in a row you’ve won Gavin’s company awards. Three years you’ve brought acclaim to Graham. How has he rewarded you for that?”

I turned and faced him fully, keeping my voice low. “How he has rewarded me is none of your business, David. If you recall, I won you a few awards in my time with your company—which you never bothered to thank me for. Suffice it to say, his rewards are far more generous than yours ever were.”

“I can offer you a partnership. I’d even throw in VP. You’d get the title, the prestige, and the money. The whole package.”

I was dumbfounded at his brashness. Galled that he would do this here and now. Burning rage set in.

I leaned forward, ice dripping from my tone. “There is no amount of money, no title, nothing you could offer that would ever entice me to come back to work for you. You and your company are pure poison, and I want nothing to do with you.”

He regarded me with contempt, his tone filled with derision. “You used to be such a shark, Richard. Top of your game. Working for Gavin has made you soft. You need to be challenged. I can do that.”

I barked out a laugh. “Soft? Just the opposite. I know who I am now. I work in a company that thrives on positivity. They have pride in their work and the campaigns they put together. Their reputation is stellar. I’m proud to be associated with The Gavin Group. That itself is reward enough. As for being challenged, I think the awards I won tonight speak for themselves. They were won with integrity and team effort.”