Page 26

“Taylor, I just—”
“No, you don’tjustanything,” she said softly, shaking with rage. “First of all, I will not be told what my grandfather would or would not have done in this situation because my grandfather was never, ever in this situation. So anything you say would be an assumption.
“And my grandfather, may he rest in peace, is not here, gentlemen,” Taylor reminded, looking between them. “I am. I have the ultimate say and my final decision is that Preston Corp will be closed so that security measures may be evaluated.”
The two men stood quiet for a moment, unmoving and speechless. For a beat, Taylor wondered if it had been too much.
But then Todd quietly asked, “When do you plan on shutting the building down?”
Taylor glanced up to the large wall clock, “About an hour ago.” Before either man could pick their jaws up from the floor, she spoke again. “You two may see yourselves out,” she announced and left the drawing room.
Taylor felt a fire within her. And she was certain that soon she might explode. She was working her mind overtime trying to save the company, as well as keep her family safe. With every step, and every action, and every anything that she did, she was questioned, advised, and coerced into a direction that was supposed to make everything better.
But nothing really felt better.
So instead, Taylor followed her gut and went back to take care of her husband. Because if there was one thing she could be grateful for in all this hysteria, it was that he was alive and that she was able to tell him she loved him.
* * *
Derrick was wiped out,as much as he hated to admit it. When Taylor came back from issuing the business close order with Todd and Charlie, he could tell she did not want to talk about it and needed a distraction. And Derrick was all too happy to soak up her attention.
Taylor doted on Derrick, ensuring he was comfortable in bed with ibuprofen for his sore chest and lots of pillows. Now Taylor was getting ready to come to bed, with him.
And she loved him.
It felt damn good to hear her say that. It was like she was making up for lost time. She said it before she left the room, when she came back in the room, and just randomly in conversation. Some may have found it annoying, but Derrick found it soothing.
“Okay, you are all settled in,” she remarked, coming back into the bedroom from the bathroom. Taylor made her way to the bed and planted a soft kiss on Derrick’s lips. “I love you,” she whispered when she pulled away.
“I love you, too.”
“Are you comfortable?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling at her.
“Okay great, I’m going to head to bed.”
Derrick reached out and grabbed her hand as she stood. “What do you meanhead to bed?”
“I’m gonna let you get rest here so I don’t disturb you,” she explained, tilting her head towards the door. “I’m going to sleep across the hall.”
“No,” Derrick answered sternly and Taylor flinched a bit. “Taylor, I don’t want you to sleep across the hall. I want you here, in bed with me.”
“But I don’t want to disturb you, and they said you needed rest,” she said, her voice full of concern.
“And I can guarantee that I won’t get any of it if you are across the damn hall.”
“I just want what’s best for you, Derrick,” Taylor said in exasperation.
“Tay,” Derrick said, softening his voice, “when are you going to learn thatyouare what’s best for me?”
Taylor’s eyes shone. “I just want you safe,” she whispered as a tear fell down her cheek.
“Tay,” Derrick said again pulling her down to him, “what is it?”
“I almost lost you,” she said as she laid one of her hands on his face and looked up at him from his chest.
“But you didn’t,” Derrick said. “All I wanted was to come home so that I could lie in the same bed as my wife and have the life I have been waiting for forever. So please,” Derrick pleaded softly, “please, will you just lie in bed with me?”