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I take my lunch and a bottle of water from the fridge, twisting off the cap to take a sip.
“You deserve some credit for convincing me to ditch work,” I tease.
August laughs. “Rebellion looks good on you. It’s about damn time one of us found a way to stick it to Dick. He’s been even more difficult to deal with lately if that’s possible.”
I sit down at a table and unwrap the chicken sandwich that arrived an hour ago. When Cash and I can’t have lunch together, he arranges to have something delivered to me.
“Thank god, he lives on a different continent,” I say.
Since my dad showed up in London unannounced, he’s limited his communications with me to emails and messages. However, he has continued his onslaught of short turnaround times for projects—not just for me but the whole London team. He’s clearly on edge, and the longer the due diligence phase of the acquisition plays out, the more irritable his commutations become.
Cash and I have avoided discussing the deal whenever possible. I prefer to keep it separate from our personal lives, avoiding the constant reminder that this arrangement could still have an expiration date.
August grabs a granola bar from the snack basket on the counter and takes a seat next to me. “How are you holding up?” he asks. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve been smiling more lately and leaving at a reasonable time most nights. Can I assume it has something to do with Cash?”
I shift in my seat, looking down at my sandwich. “Maybe.”
It has everything to do with him.
My cheeks flush just thinking about our visit to the spa yesterday. All rational thought went out the window the second he slipped his hand inside my bikini bottoms. Occasionally, Cash’s blasé attitude rubs off on me, making me feel more carefree and adventurous than I’ve ever thought possible.
August studies my face.
“You’re totally sleeping with him now, aren’t you?” he asks bluntly.
“Yes, I am,” I say confidently.
There’s no point in denying it.
He grins from ear to ear. “Is now a bad time to say I told you so?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Is it serious?”
“More serious than a marriage?” I deadpan.
August bursts into laughter. “Well, when you put it that way…”
Cash and I haven’t defined whatever this thing is between us aside from agreeing that we’re not putting an expiration date on it. But there is no question we’re both enjoying our time together.
“We’re still deciding where we go from here,” I answer honestly. “When we agreed to this arrangement, we knew the score—once the acquisition is finalized, our marriage would end. Now, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. We’ve sure made a mess of things,” I say before taking a bite of my sandwich.
August shakes his head. “Nope. I won’t stand by and let you second guess yourself. After you broke things off with Landon, you avoided men like the plague and spent two years going through the motions. With Cash you’re more at ease. If things don’t work out between the two of you, I have no doubt you’ll come out of it stronger.”
“I sense a ‘but’ coming,” I say.
“But, in my opinion, Cash is a keeper,” August says. “It’s clear that he wants the best for you and is committed to making you happy.”
“You’re absolutely right.” I pause to take a long drink of water. “I just don’t want to get hurt again,” I admit.
Cash has the power to cause me more pain than Landon ever could. Not because I’m worried he’ll betray me, but that he’ll decide he doesn’t want to stay married when the acquisition is finalized. My feelings for him run deeper than anyone before, and it frightens me to think I might get left behind in the end.
“I know it’s hard to move on after a heartbreak, but you deserve happiness. If Cash makes you happy, you should go for it.,” he says, leaning over to give my hand a squeeze. “Just know that whatever happens, I’m in your corner.”
“Thanks, August,” I smile. “I’m lucky to have you.”
“Hell yeah, you are,” he says playfully. “And I’m grateful for you, too.”