Page 77 of Denim & Diamonds

“Have you spoken to him?”

I shook my head.

“Texted?”

“Not since the night I got back.”

Brock had asked me to send him a text when I got home, which I did. He’d sent back a sentence or two. But that was it. I hadn’t heard from him again.

I’m not sure what I expected to happen between us once I left Meadowbrook. It wasn’t like we’d made plans to keep in touch. But I hadn’t thought things would come to such an abrupt end. The day after I got back to New York had been super busy. I’d spent fourteen hours at the office putting out fires and whipping things back into shape. Yet I’d still checked my phone a few times, expecting to see a text from Brock at some point.But none came. So I figured I’d wait until he was ready. Unfortunately, I was still waiting two weeks later.

“Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call him?”

“I don’t want to make it harder for him.” I looked down at the silver coordinate bracelet on my wrist. I hadn’t taken it off since the morning Brock put it on, not even to shower. “Besides, at this point, there’s nothing left to say.”

“Say,come visit me. I miss you.”

The thought of Brock standing in the middle of Manhattan made me smile. “He’s never been to the City. He’d hate it here.”

“He wouldn’t be coming for a tour of the subway, rats, and graffiti. He’d be coming for a tour ofyou.” Oliver shrugged. “You’ll stay indoors and boink the whole time.”

“That would work if he were just a hook-up, but he’s not. He’s an all-in type man. When he decided to build a cabin, he cut down the trees for the logs and collected stones to build a fireplace. When the small town he grew up in struggled because the biggest employer shut down, he opened businesses to put people back to work. He’s loyal and dedicated, and he deserves a woman who will be just as dedicated to him.”

“You can do dedicated. You’re dedicated to this company.”

“That’s part of the problem. This company takes up all my time.”

“Sell it! Antonio worked in the family business—selling high-end collectible cars worth more than our house. Here he climbs telephone poles for ConEd.”

“But Antonio hated his job in Milan. I love what I do.”

“You could always cut back and work less.”

I motioned to his iPad, which he’d walked in carrying. “Call up my schedule. Show me the next month.”

Oliver pressed some buttons and turned the screen to face me. There were colorful appointments and tasks crowding every day—even Saturdays and Sundays. “You’re a little full right now,” he said. “But that’s only because you were out for a month. It will get better.”

I shook my head. “I’ve been saying ‘next month will be lighter’ for more than nine years now. It doesn’t happen. Running a business is like chasing a butterfly. Just when you think you catch it, it flutters and makes you run to keep up.”

“Well, you need to figure out something. Because I can’t take the mopey, sad face anymore. You look like the Mona Lisa.”

“People think the Mona Lisa is beautiful.”

“Idiotsthink she’s beautiful.”

I laughed. “Did you come in here with any actual business to discuss? If not, I have a lot of work to do to prepare for the four-PM board of directors meeting I’m dreading.”

“No, but why is there another board meeting so soon? You just had one two weeks ago when you got back. Aren’t they usually a monthly thing?”

“Theywere. But I’m pretty sure certain members are trying to keep a close eye on me, to make sure I don’t crack.”

Oliver stood. “This is like your Friday from hell. The board followed by Lame and Blame’s wedding tonight.”

“Is Johnathan Lame or Blame?”

“He’s both, sweetheart. And, by the way, my offer to be your plus one is still open, if you change your mind. My tux is pressed and ready to go.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. I really do. But I’m just going to show my face and then slip out.”