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After she left, Grace narrowed her eyes and tilted her head playfully. “Are you sure you can’t stay?”

“Unfortunately not. I can’t postpone it because I’ve got execs coming in from all over the area. Our shipping business has run into some logistic issues, and my brothers and I want to work things out with the people directly involved.”

I moved closer to her. I couldn’t understand how this woman seemed more beautiful to me every time I saw her.

“But my previous offer still stands. We’ll just have to move the party”—I wiggled my eyebrows—“to New Orleans.”

“Zachary,” she whispered, shaking her head.

“You’ve had time to think,” I concluded.

“I just... Last night was amazing, but I don’t know. This is a time in my life where I need to be by myself.”

“Right.”

If that was her decision, then I was going to respect it even though I didn’t like it one bit.

“Can I ask you something?” I said.

“Sure.”

“Why won’t you even consider us both investing in this place?” I really had to know if my suspicions were warranted.

She sighed. “I realize I was probably too blunt at dinner. It wasn’t my intention. I just...” She ran her hand through her hair. I wanted to bury my fingers in it, then tug her head backward and kiss her, but it wasn’t what she needed right now.

“For so long,” she continued, “my identity and everything I did were somehow tied to someone else—first to my family’s company, then to my husband. For the first time in my life, I’m doing things completely on my own, and I like it. So, any project I’m embarking on—”

“You’d rather do on your own. I get it.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re not mad?” she asked quietly.

“Grace, why would I be mad?”

She shrugged. “Why not?”

“It’s your choice. I respect it.”

We heard footsteps, and we both fell silent as Felicia came in.

“I’ll be right out,” Grace told her, hurrying toward Felicia. She turned to look at me. “Have a safe trip back, Zachary.”

“Thanks, and you too.”

I didn’t like that I was heading back to the city with things between us like this, but I knew it wasn’t the right moment to push.

That didn’t mean I was giving up, though.

Chapter Fourteen

Grace

It was late in the evening by the time I arrived back in the city. I’d decided to spend the whole day with the horses, and it was fantastic. Not only did I help with grooming and feeding them, but Felicia let me ride one of their longtime fillies. It was so refreshing, healing even, and I hated to leave.

As I entered the city, Lais texted me.