Page 74 of Charm

“He’s okay to look at.” I shrug.

A giggle falls from her lips. “I’m going to take that to mean he’s beautiful.”

That’s not a word I’d use to describe a man, but it somehow fits Holden Sheppard. He is beautiful, handsome, gorgeous, great in bed…

“You’re daydreaming about him,” she says bluntly. “Naughty daydreams.”

“If by naughty you mean me telling him to keep his big hands off my business, then yes, it’s a naughty daydream.”

“Big hands, you say?” She sips from her glass.

I try as hard as I can to keep a straight face, but it’s all in vain. “I can’t want someone who is trying to steal my business.”

“You can want anyone you damn well please, Greer.” She balances the base of her glass on her thigh. “I hate disagreeing with you, but steal may not be the appropriate word here. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he’s being upfront with his desire to partner with you. Partner is the important word in that sentence, dear.”

I know she’s right, but I tilt my head back and close my eyes. “Why are you so rational?”

“It comes with age,” she uses the same line she always does when I question how she’s so wise. “Maybe a partnership with this Holden fellow is just what you need.”

I glance at my empty glass.

“I’ll make you another if you promise to hear him out,” she pleads Holden’s case for him even though they’ve never met. “Listen to what the man is offering, take a few days to think it over, and then decide what’s right for you.”

“And for Olive,” I whisper.

“Our girl has her entire life ahead of her.” She moves her glass from her thigh to the table. “She may decide to take over the business, or she might go to medical school. Maybe she’ll teach grade school.”

“The world is her oyster,” I agree with a nod.

“Olive and Celia would want you to do what’s best for you.” She reaches for my hand to squeeze it. “It’s time to think about that. Put Greer first.”

“That’s hard for me,” I say, my voice cracking as I think about Celia and every dream she never got to fulfill.

“Do you remember how long you debated going to The Hamptons?” She winks. “If you don’t, I’ll remind you. It was weeks, Greer. Weeks.”

She’s right. I did have a war brewing within me about that. Part of me didn’t want to leave Olive for that long, but the other part of me knew it was what I needed. After seven years, I needed a few days to catch my breath.

“You and Bruce are the reasons I did it,” I tell her.

“We’ll always be here for you.” She squeezes my hand again, tighter this time. “We want what’s best for you. You’re the one who needs to decide what that is without taking everyone else into consideration. Think about what you want your future to look like.”

For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m not sure about that.

I think I may want Holden Sheppard to be part of my future. The real question is, do I see him as a business partner or more?

Is there a chance he could be both?

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Holden

Unknown: We should talk.

I stareat my phone’s screen, hoping like hell I’m looking at a text message from Greer.

Just as I’m about to type out a response, asking the sender to confirm their identity, they shoot another message my way.

Unknown: It’s me. Summer Time.