Page 91 of Finley

“Trust me.Thathasn’t changed. Now, hurry up. If we’re going to beat the traffic and get your sappy ass to the airport, we need to get shaking.”

As Jordan left the room, Brantley picked the leather bracelet up, shoved it in his pocket, and headed out the door. It was time to go get his man.

Chapter 26

DANIEL SAT IN the conference room of Leighton & Associates and tugged on his tie. He couldn’t believe how tight and restrictive it felt this morning, but after a week of not having worn one, it felt like a noose around his neck.

He was trying to remember that he was there to woo the partners who’d flown in from the New York offices, not think about what Brantley might be doing right that second.

“Daniel,” his boss greeted him as he walked in, buttoning his suit jacket. “So glad you could get back here this morning.”

Todd Leighton was a tall, lanky man with thinning hair and wire-rimmed glasses. He’d always reminded Daniel of a reed a strong breeze would knock over, but it would take more than that to bring this man down. He was an aggressive and ruthless lawyer who pulled no punches when going after what he wanted, and he’d taken Daniel under his wing when he’d arrived in Chicago and interned at his offices. He’d groomed him in his own image for this very moment.

Daniel got to his feet and held his hand out. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”

Todd took his hand in a tight grip and clapped him on the back. “I know. I know. I hate pulling you away from your vacation, but nothing is as important as this moment will be in your life, Daniel. This will change everything…”

As Todd continued to talk, Daniel kept one ear on him, but his mind was replaying his past week. That first moment when he’d seen Brantley. The moment they’d first kissed in his hall again. The night they’d gone dancing and when they’d walked home along the beach. That moment he’d realized he still loved him…

And he knew right then thatthiswasn’t the moment that would change everything. He’d already had that moment.

He’d had it back in Brantley’s bed seven years ago and again on that last night when he’d taken him home and worshipped every inch of his body.

“Okay,” Todd said, and rubbed his hands together. “They should be here in a few minutes. I’m going to go and get your portfolio and hunt down Suz for those damn coffees. Don’tyougo anywhere.”

As Todd left the room, Daniel looked at his cell, and just as he’d suspected, it was blank. No new messages, no missed calls—nothing.

Well, what the hell did I expect? I didn’t ask him to call me.But fuck, he wished he would.

Glancing at the clock, he frowned. It was nearly nine thirty and it already felt as though he’d been up for hours. Was this how his life was going to be from now on? His days dragging by even when he had so much to look forward to? Or would it eventually get easier? Less difficult to function when he was there and his heart was somefuckingplace else. The real question was,Do I want that to be how I function?

“Daniel?” Moira was standing in the doorway with her head poking inside and an arm full of files. “Here are the cases I was told to pull.”

As he stared at her, all the words coming out of her mouth faded until he could only hear his heart pumping out a message he’d been too distracted to hear. The realization hit him with the force of a Mack truck.

He didn’t want to be there at all.

“Daniel?”

He clasped her shoulders in his hands and cocked his head to the side, and when he grinned at her, she raised an eyebrow, apparently shocked by an expression she’d rarely seen on him before.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“You know what? I’m feeling fantastic. But I need to leave.”

“Leave?” she squeaked out.

“Yes, leave. I’m sorry, Moira, but we won’t be getting that corner office after all.”

As he took a step around her, she touched his arm and flashed a smile back at him.

“Daniel?”

“Yes?”

“Is he worth it?” she asked.

One of the reasons he’d hired Moira was that she wasn’t anybody’s fool—and right now was no exception.