Page 36 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Holden

The shocked expression on Greer’s face mirrors my own feelings. I didn’t think I’d see her today, or any day in the near future.

After I left Krista outside the coffee shop, I took a walk, then a ride on the subway. I ended up here because this park has always offered me a sense of peace.

I move to stand since Greer seems stuck in place.

“You followed me here,” she accuses with a finger pointed at my chest.

“I was here first,” I say evenly. “I got here thirty minutes ago.”

“He was here when I got here.” A gray-haired woman sitting on the bench next to us looks up from her knitting project. “He offered me a lollipop, but sugar is not my friend.”

Greer’s gaze drops to the Sweet Indulgence bag on the bench. “They’re actually all organic. They’re made from natural fruit juice. There’s no added sugar.”

“In that case.” The woman’s hand dives into the bag and comes out with a deep blue lollipop. “Look at this. It’s so pretty.”

A proud smile slides over Greer’s lips. “I think so, too.”

Her gaze drifts to my face, and I see a million questions there waiting to be asked, including one about why I’m carting a Sweet Indulgence bag filled with lollipops around with me.

“I stopped in the store earlier,” I explain. “I was hoping you had something in particular, but the guy behind the counter suggested the lollipops. I’m glad he did.”

“Burt,” she blurts out a name. “You’re talking about Burt.”

“Sure,” I agree. “He looked like a Burt.”

“What does a Burt look like?” The woman sitting next to us asks as she unwraps the lollipop.

“Tall, brown hair, handsome,” Greer says before I can get a word in.

“You think he’s handsome?” I ask, jealousy driving the question out of me.

“He is handsome,” she answers. “Everyone thinks Burt is handsome.”

“I don’t,” I snap.

The woman now sucking on the lollipop turns her entire body to face us. “Oh, a lover’s quarrel. This should be good.”

Greer shakes her head. “We’re not lovers.”

“We were,” I remind her. “One of us wants to be again.”

“Is it you?” The woman next to us points at Greer. “If it is, I can’t say I blame you.”

Greer stifles a laugh. “It’s him.”

“Oh, dear, do it.” The woman sighs. “Or do him. Either way, I don’t think Burt has anything on this guy.”

I glance at her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She shoves her knitting needles and yarn into a large purple tote bag next to her on the bench. “Can I take another lollipop for my grandson?”

“Take them all,” Greer says, pushing past me to grab the twine handles of the bag to pass it to the woman. “We sell them at Sweet Indulgence in Chelsea.”

“Sweet Indulgence,” the woman repeats. “I’ll stop by in the next few days.”

“If I’m not there, tell them Greer sent you. They’ll give you an automatic ten percent discount on anything you buy.”

“I’ll do that.” The woman nods at both of us. “Don’t let anger get in the way of the passion. There’s fire between you two. I can feel it. Never let that slip away.”

Greer sighs heavily as if she’s pushing back the urge to respond.

I do it for both of us. “You’re insightful. I’ve never met anyone like this woman. The passion and fire are real. It’s undeniable.”

Greer swats my forearm in what I suspect is an effort to get me to shut the hell up.

I catch her gaze and hold it. I need her to know that beyond the business deal we’re trying to broker, what I felt in East Hampton has only intensified. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted another woman, and I need her to understand that.

“I’ll leave you two to sort out whatever this situationship is.” The woman waves her hand in the air. “Thank you for the candy and for reminding me why I love sitting in this park. This city is filled with interesting people, including both of you.”

“What do you want, Holden?”

It’s a direct question, but I’m unsure exactly how to answer it, so I go with what I want most. “You.”

A pink blush creeps up her neck and invades both of her cheeks. It somehow makes her even more beautiful. “Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?” I ask, stepping closer to her as two men on bikes speed past us on the path. “Tell the truth.”

“Fine.” She blows out a breath. “Let’s start with why you really went to my store today.”

“I was hoping to see you,” I confess, because what’s the purpose in lying about something so obvious? “I was also looking for chocolate cigars.”

A smile blooms on her lips. “Chocolate cigars?”

I nod. “They look like regular cigars but are made of chocolate.”

Laughing, she shakes her head. “I know what they are, Holden. I was asking why you’re looking for them.”

“One of my closest friends and his wife had a baby early this morning.” I can’t help but smile. “Sweetest little boy you’ve ever seen. Well, my nephew Morgan is also the sweetest baby boy, so…”

“Congratulations to your friend and his wife.”

“They’re happy,” I state the obvious. “Super fucking happy.”

“You are, too.” She smiles. “Your friends matter a lot to you.”

“I consider them family.”

Her chin dips down. “You’re lucky to have friends like that.”

I ask a question that will tell me a hell of a lot. It’s something I’ve been curious about since she walked into the conference room at Carden. “Do you consider Krista family, Greer?”

Her gaze drifts up to my face. She studies it carefully. “I do, yes.”

I decide to go out on a limb because I sense I’m right about something. “That’s why this is so hard for you. You love her and you love Sweet Indulgence. Choosing between the two is really fucking hard.”

“It’s torture,” she whispers. “For a lot of reasons.”

I’m desperate to know all of those reasons, and it’s not because I want to buy out her company. I want to help her. I want to comfort her.

“Are you hungry?” I ask.

“Why?”

“I’m in the mood for another one of those charcuterie boards I put together in East Hampton.” I glance at my watch. “I haven’t eaten anything other than that lollipop since last night.”

“Are you asking me to join you?” She eyes me skeptically. “Why do I sense that an invitation to go to your place is coming next?”

“Because it is.” I glance toward a woman pushing a stroller headed in our direction. “We can stop on our way to grab everything for our snack, and then we’ll pick up a bottle of champagne to toast to baby Gilbert Wells.”

Greer looks at the woman with the stroller as she passes us. Scratching the back of her head, she exhales. “I’ll come for the food and the champagne, but don’t try and make a move on me.”

“Maybe you’ll feel the urge to make a move on me.”

“You wish,” she scoffs. “By the way, the best chocolate cigars in the city are at Wolf Candy.”

I already know that, but we both know the real reason I went to Sweet Indulgence earlier was to see her.

“Thanks for the tip.” I motion toward the path. “Are you ready to head to my place?”

She looks to the right before her gaze darts to the left. She laughs softly when she spots a woman in a suit walking down the path holding the handle of a black umbrella.

“You won’t need one of those,” I say, knowing exactly why she laughed. She remembers when we first met. “You already know you’re safe with me.”

She looks back at me with a wide smile on her face. “I know I’m safe with you. The jury is still out on whether my business will be if I do decide to sell it to you.”

That’s progress but I’m not going to pounce on the opportunity to discuss what she means.

This afternoon all shop talk is off the table. Good food and champagne are the only things I’m planning on focusing on besides her.