Page 15 of Dante (Members From Money Season 2. #153)

Barry simply sipped his tea, letting the silence fill the room, offering space instead of judgment. "Oh?"

Dante shrugged and picked up his glass. "The guy left as soon as she told him."

"That's tough as hell."

"She did not tell me when she was hired."

"Probably afraid you would not hire her."

"I probably wouldn't have." He admitted.

"And now?"

"Now... hell Barry, I want her. Her being pregnant does not make a damn difference.

I don't know what to do. She's carrying someone else's baby and she's also an employee.

We work closely together and she's damn good.

Mrs. Carstairs was efficient and highly trained but Courtney, Ms. Vernon is a whiz.

It's been only a month, and I cannot see myself doing without her. "

He stared into his iced tea moodily.

"Are you going to let her go?"

Barry knew the boy well, had watched him growing up, working harder than men twice his age and hungry to learn everything. There had been something very special about him even from back then. It certainly did not surprise him to see how much he had succeeded.

"I know you'll figure it out," Barry finally said, voice low, "or it'll figure you. That's how these things go."

Dante managed a smile, grateful for the lack of preaching. For now, the storm outside was easier to face than the one inside him, but here, at least, he didn't have to face it alone.

"The place looks good." Barry had hardly changed anything.

It was the same worn furniture in the house, the quilted throws on the faded sofas and the scarred table in the living room.

He had modernized the kitchen, and Dante knew how reluctant he had been to go that far.

The man would spend the money on equipment for the ranch but had often complained that he hardly stepped foot inside the house.

That it was a waste of time spending good money on furnishings and such when he was hardly inside to appreciate it.

"The cattle are moving fast. We've added a greenhouse and hired ourselves some young ones who claim to know what they're doing.

" He sipped his iced tea, a frown touching his brow.

"Cultivating and planting organic crap. People love it.

The business is growing, which is good. Means I don't have to fire their asses. "

Dante chuckled and felt his dark mood disappearing.

He would have to go back soon. He had meetings lined up and things to attend to and running away was not really his style.

He would spend another day trying to come up with a solution and then he would have to return.

Turning his mind away from what was weighing him down, he relaxed and discussed ranch business with an expert.

She tried to casually get it out of Donald when he dropped by bright and early Monday morning.

"The boss not back yet, I see."

"No." She busied herself by tidying up her desk.

She had work to do of course. Notes from the meeting to type up and more than enough emails to respond to.

She also had been neglecting her filing and figured that if she was going to be fired, she should try and make life easier for the next person to be hired.

Very noble of her, but she figured she owed him that much.

Or maybe not. "It was an unscheduled trip. "

She tried to appear nonchalant and hoped she pulled it off. "Any idea where?"

He grinned at her, admiring the chic baby blue suit she had on.

She was wearing an eye-popping red sweater that brought out the color of her skin.

He also liked the way she did her hair this morning, kind of like a careless finger style that made it appear a little tousled and sexy.

She really had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

He also figured he wasn't getting anywhere with her.

"He would be more inclined to tell you." He pointed out. "I tried calling him, but his mobile is off. He gets that way once or twice when he has something on his mind."

She felt her belly clench and prayed she was not going to disgrace herself by rushing to the bathroom. Once was more than enough.

"I see. Well, I suppose we'll hear from him soon."

"I suppose we will." He leaned forward a little and frowned. "There's something different about you."

She had to try not to jolt.

"Still the same person."

"You have this glow about you." He shrugged. "Maybe it's me being dazzled by your beauty." His expression turned wheedling. "When are you going to put me out of my misery and go out on a date?"

"When either of us stops working here." She responded smoothly, grateful he was distracted.

"If I knew you were serious, I would put in my resignation right now."

She smiled at him. One could not help but like Donald, he was such a friendly and open person. And she wished she could have met someone like him before.

"Right." The phone rang just then.

"My cue to leave. Have a meeting anyway." With a wave, he was gone.

On Tuesday, she decided to come in even earlier. All day Monday, she hadn't heard from him and spent last night refining her CV. He had not been in touch and even his board members were calling to ask if she had heard anything from him. This was serious.

The usual trio of svelte and beautiful receptionists were not at their posts and for that, she was thankful.

Waving a cheerful hello to the guard who opened the doors, she made her way to the private elevator and was soon inside her office.

Picking up the reports she had typed up, she went towards the double doors.

She had not been inside his office since he left.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open and stepped in, the gold carpet swallowing her feet. She headed straight to the desk.

He knew the minute she came in, even though he had been deep in thought.

He also knew with a sinking heart that going away for three days had left him right where he started.

He wanted her. The need for her was so fierce, it took his breath away.

He could smell her perfume, was drawn in by her.

He wanted his hands on her, everywhere at once.

"Stay."

She whirled around at the sound of his voice, one hand jumping to her chest as she stared at him. "God! You scared the crap out of me. You're here. No one said anything, the guard..."

"I arrived last night and came here." His stomach clenched into tight knots as he continued to stare at her. She was wearing a soft teal blue dress that hugged her figure. No one looking at her could tell of her condition.

"I... uhm..." She tried to steady herself without success. "I brought you... that is..." She gestured to the files she had placed on his desk. "Reports I typed up and the emails I responded to, I sent you copies. If you need me to..."

"How are you?" he asked softly, making her blink.

"I'm sorry?"

"How are you feeling? The last time you were violently ill. Has your condition improved?"

"My condition?" She felt as if she was as dumb as dirt, but he was confusing her. "Oh! You mean... Oh." She pressed her hand to her stomach and cleared her throat. "I'm fine. Would you like some coffee?"

His brows lifted. "You're offering to bring me coffee?"

"Yes." She pressed her lips together. "Look, I know you're planning to get rid of me..."

"Is that what I'm planning?" he mused.

"You went away without a word..."

"I sent you an email."

"A very abrupt one. You disappeared and no one could get hold of you. I know it has something to do with me. I just..." She spread her hands wide. "I want to know what you've decided."

"I'm not sure yet." He desperately wanted to kiss her.

She was wearing something pale on her lips, a color he could not identify.

Jesus Christ! What the hell was happening to him?

He had never felt this kind of craving before, and it scared the crap out of him.

He really should get rid of her. Surely if she was far away from him, the emotions curling inside him would go away.

"What do you mean you're not sure?" Unaware of the tumult she was causing, Courtney propped her hands on her hips and completely forgot that she was talking to the man who held her future in his hands.

Nerves were dancing inside her and were ignored.

Replaced by anger and frustration. "You were away for three days.

Surely that was more than enough time for you to decide what to do.

I spent those three days on tenterhooks wondering if I will still have a job.

I'm not going to wait another minute wondering if you're going to get rid of me. "

Her eyes blazed. "I need to know now."

Christ! She was magnificent, he thought as he stared at her in fascinated admiration.

"You're right."

His response threw her and for a few seconds she was confused. "I am?" Gathering her thoughts, she shook her head and lifted her chin. "Of course I'm right. So?"

"You still have a job."

The relief flooding through her body made her weak enough that she had to go and sit down. "You're not going to fire me." She pressed a hand to her chest. "Even after what I just said to you."

Amused, he crossed to sit at his desk. "I'm going to ignore the outburst."

"Thank you." She whispered sincerely. "You won't regret it."

"I hope not." He fussed with the files and started to leaf through one. "Coffee would be nice." He added without looking up.

"Of course."

He lifted his head to stare at her. "No argument?"

Shaking her head, she flashed him a bright smile. "None whatsoever. One cup of Joe coming up."