Page 43

“Yes. And now that all the business with Milton is behind us, I’d like to come back.”
Ephraim looked up at him. “Just like that?”
“I’m a part of this family, a part of this company.”
“You walked away without a word, Augustus. I could only assume you wanted no part of this.”
“I never said that,” Gus snapped.
Merritt could feel waves of anger rolling off of him, and she lay a hand on his knee. His eyes turned to hers, and she raised her eyebrows.
This seemed to calm him, and he gave her an apologetic look before addressing his dad again. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, Dad.” He looked down for a moment then back at Ephraim. “I guess I needed to get away for a little while to clear my head, and then I met this beautiful woman right here, and she changed my life.” He tightened his arm around her. “I’m a better man for knowing her, and I’ve changed. I really have. And I hope you’ll start to see that.” He paused, getting a little choked up. “I hope I can repair the damage I’ve already done.”
Merritt watched him as he spoke. He was nothing like the charming, cocky guy she had married. Instead, she saw a hurt young boy, longing for the approval of his father.
“We love you, son. I hope you know that.” Ephraim took his wife’s hand. “And we couldn’t be happier that you’ve found someone special to spend your life with.”
Gus gave a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“As for the rest, time will tell.”
Merritt could feel Gus’s shoulders drop in disappointment, and her heart broke for him. The desire to comfort him was strong and unexpected. She was beginning to understand why he needed her help, and she hoped he would get everything he wanted most out of their year together.
After dinner, they all settled in the family room. Gus visited with his mom and Skylar, while Merritt chatted with Ephraim, happily sharing her successes with him. She had immense respect and admiration for this man and hoped that he might become something of a mentor to her as she went global with her company.
They all sat and talked for hours, and when Skylar finally headed home and Gus’s parents retired for the evening, Merritt and Gus walked together to their room. She didn’t know why she suddenly had butterflies in her stomach. Probably just the awkwardness of sleeping in the same bed with a man she barely knew.
“You want the bathroom first?” he asked.
“Sure. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
He threw himself back on the bed. “Take your time.”
She took her pajamas into the bathroom with her to change in privacy. After washing the day off her face and brushing her teeth, she returned to find Gus asleep in the center of the bed. Her lips twisted to the side. How was she going to move him? He’d had such an emotional evening, she hated to wake him. She stood still beside the bed, taking the opportunity to really look at him.
His head was tilted to the right, lips slightly parted, his breaths coming soft and even. She tried not to stare at his lips for too long, remembering how they felt against hers on their wedding day. One of his hands rested across his stomach, the other by his head. His legs were spread, calves hanging off the end of the bed. He really was very tall. And handsome. She shoved that thought away immediately.
“Like what you see?” Gus’s intense hazel eyes stared up at her.
Her cheeks warmed. “I was trying to figure out how not to disturb you. I thought you were asleep.”
“I drifted off for a minute, but I could feel you watching me.”
She shook away her embarrassment and pointed to the door. “Bathroom’s free.”
“I’m good.” He continued to stare.
She fidgeted where she stood. “Aren’t you going to move over?”
He scooted to one side, making room for her, but remained atop the comforter as she slid underneath.
“Won’t you be cold on top of the blankets?”
He rolled to face her, bringing himself closer. “I thought you didn’t want to spoon.”
“I’m not offering that. I was asking out of genuine concern.”
“Since when are you genuinely concerned about me?”