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Jenny looked back at the rink, but she laced her fingers through mine. “I’m sorry I said some things, too. But what’s in the past is in the past, okay?”
“Okay.” I kissed her cheek. I held her hand. We watched the team skate.
And I realized that I’d just had the best day of my life.
COLE
“It’s too early,”Jenny moaned, flopping over onto her stomach and hiding her face in the pillow. “I don’t wanna get up.”
“We’re meeting James and Audrey,” I offered. “And you get to see Audrey’s ring again.”
Jenny turned toward me and opened one eye. “That’s a good point. I only glimpsed it.”
“Audrey might want to talk about bridesmaids’ dresses,” I coaxed her. “You never know. She might have magazines.”
“Magazines?” Jenny perked up some more.
“Yeah, and the coffee on private flights is wicked good.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Cole Bryson, did you just say ‘wicked’? You making fun of me?”
“Never.” I grinned. “But I am trying to get your ass out of bed. Let’s go.”
I had to deal with work before we left. While Jenny showered, I went through my messages. There were several from Kevin, my father’s assistant.
We need to set up a meeting ASAP.
Your father’s deal is on the verge of collapsing.
He’s very upset that you haven’t delivered on this.
I can’t meet in person.
I’ll call him.
Kevin didn’t respond, but I pictured him breathing a sigh of relief.
I didn’t want to deal with my father, but putting him off only worsened things. Sighing, I called him. “Dad, Kevin just texted me. What’s going on?”
“Your guy Ramosstillhasn’t given me the approvals,” he snarled, “and now my buyer is about to pull out! You haven’t doneshitfor me, and I saw pictures of you out with that hooker?—”
“Dad! Enough. Don’t talk about Jenny like that.” I tried to keep my voice low. “I told you, it’s nothing—I hired her back for the wedding.” I was so glad Jenny couldn’t hear me right now because what I said wasn’t true.ButI wanted to keep my father out of my business. He was dangerous when angry, and I didn’t want him to take it out on Jenny. “She’s just for appearances. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“We’ll see. But I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not taking care of you unless you’re taking care of me,” my father said. “Call Ramos, dammit. I want that approval by the end of the day.”
He hung up.
I blew out a deep breath. I hated doing my father’s bidding. But it was worth it if it got him off my back for the moment and gave me some breathing room. I hadn’t meant what I said about Jenny, not at all. After the past twenty-four hours, I was more certain than ever that she was the love of my life.
The situation with my father was delicate. He wasn’t open-minded, but he wasn’t a fool, either. I would have to work on him to get him to see that Jenny was a real person, and if I chose to be with her, that wasmychoice. He would have to respect it and understand that the Bryson family legacy would remain intact. When the time was right, my father would see things from my point of view. He had to. Sighing, I picked up the phone and called Ramos. I was doing something that I didn’t want to do. But I was going to do it anyway.
For Jenny.
That’s when I knew for sure.
JENNY
I finished dryingmy hair and was busy packing when my phone beeped. I lunged for it, praying it wasn’t my auntie Theresa again. Ten thousand dollars had to last longer than one day!