Page 46 of Charm

The words crawl inside of me, tempting me to throw all caution to the wind, but I stand strong. “I’ll be in touch about my company. Thanks for the drink.”

A slow smile spreads over his lips. “It was just water, but you’re welcome. I’ll wait to hear from you, Greer, or should I say, I can’t wait to hear from you.”

I turn and walk straight to the bar’s exit. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to steal another glance at him.

As soon as I’m outside, I press my back against the brick exterior of the bar and draw as much fresh air as I can into my lungs.

My gaze drops to the beaded bracelet on my wrist. I’m a mom first and a businesswoman second. I can’t be anything to Holden Sheppard but a memory of one weekend of his life because that’s all he can ever be to me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Holden

I reachmy arms out as soon as Jameson walks into the main living room of his penthouse with his bundle of joy. “I want to hold him.”

“Says the greedy uncle.” He laughs. “Sinclair is fast asleep, or she’d be fighting you for holding rights to Morgan.”

I’ve seen my sister-in-law with her son. She’s as smitten with the kid as I am. James is right there with us, as is anyone else who has ever seen the angelic face I’m looking at now.

As my brother tenderly passes his baby over to me, I feel the same rush of emotions I do every time I’m near the little guy. This is the ultimate. I’m holding the newest member of my family who will grow every day until he’s old enough for me to teach him how to throw a baseball and avoid getting caught when he breaks a window.

I did the same for James, so it only seems fitting that I school his son in the fine art of being a Sheppard, although I will definitely circle back to offer to pay for any windows Morgan might break.

The conscience I lacked when I was a pre-teen seems to have taken root within me now.

“Hey, buddy,” I whisper to my nephew as he stares up at me. “It’s me. Your favorite uncle.”

“Berk and Keats would take issue with that,” Jameson points out. “Sinclair’s brothers love him just as much as you do.”

“Impossible.”

He chuckles. “You didn’t show up here just to cuddle with Morgan, so what’s up, Holden?”

I take one last look at the baby before I level my gaze on James. “I met Greer for a drink tonight. Technically, I was the only one drinking. I had scotch. She had water.”

He takes a seat in a chair across from where I’m sitting on the couch. “Now, that we’ve established what you ordered, get to the good part. Was this meeting related to business or pleasure? Please say both.”

“It was both.”

“Let me guess.” He tugs on the waistband of the sweatpants he’s wearing. “She doesn’t want to sell or sleep with you again.”

My eyes narrow, but I can’t disagree, so I shrug.

“I knew it.” Raking a hand through his hair, he shakes his head. “Your weekend with her killed the deal before we could even properly present it.”

“Not necessarily,” I say, trying to salvage some hope to hand him.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

I pretend to cover Morgan’s left ear. “Language, James. Your son is right here.”

He lifts his ass off the couch by a few inches to get an unobstructed view of the baby’s face before he sits back down. “He’s so enamored with you, he didn’t even react to my voice.”

“He knows which one of us is better-looking.” I smile. “Just admit it.”

“Go to hell,” he swears again, chuckling this time. “Is there a deal to be had with Sweet Indulgence or not? Is it time to walk away from them?”

“No,” I blurt out way too fast.