Page 19 of Inevitable

“Liar,” I teased. She rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. “Now, tell me about this business.”

“It’s—” She huffed, her skin flushing with color. “You’re going to think it’s silly.”

“Try me.” I held her gaze, daring her to tell me.Trust me.

“I want to start a coaching business.”

“Like a life coach?” I asked.

“Sort of. I mean, that’s definitely part of it.”

“What else?” I pushed.

She let out a deep sigh, and I wondered why she was so reticent to share. At the office, she rarely held back her opinion.

“Please,” I added. “I want to know.”

She twisted her hands together, keeping her eyes focused on the floor, the wall, anywhere but at me. “I want to empower women to take charge of their lives and their finances. My goal is to help small business owners reclaim their time so they can live with purpose. So they can work smarter and find more joy.” Her eyes lit up, and the longer she spoke, the more confident and excited she seemed to become.

I stared at her a beat, completely captivated. “There it is.”

“What?” She furrowed her brow.

“Your passion. Your purpose. That’s what I was looking for your first day, and now I see it.”

“You don’t think I’m naïve?”

“What?” I jerked my head back. “No. I think you’re passionate and…”Beautiful.Fuck. I couldn’t say that. I should never say that. “I’m sure you’ve done your research.”

She nodded. “Yes, but…well, would you want to take advice from a life coach who hadn’t really experienced much life?”

“Why not?” I stepped closer, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I think that anyone who spends any amount of time with you will see how wise you are. They’ll see your enthusiasm and be sucked into your orbit.” I certainly was.

“Thank you.” She held my gaze, her eyes shining with something that looked a lot like appreciation and…desire.

“Jonathan, Sumner,” Lea called.

I took a step back from Sumner just as Lea reached the top of the stairs. Lea glanced between the two of us, and while Sumner’s smile looked natural, mine felt forced. The three of us remained there a moment, my chest tightening as I tried to imagine what Lea was thinking. And worse still, what she might tell Ian.

“Something smells good,” I said, rushing to fill the silence.

Fuck.I clenched my fists. I had to stop doing this. I had to stop having these thoughts about Sumner. Even just thinking them felt like a betrayal of my friendship with Ian.

Lea smiled. “Dinner’s ready.”

“Excellent.” I gestured for her to lead the way, waiting for Sumner to follow.

I took a moment to compose myself, wondering what it was about Sumner that knocked me so off-kilter.And why her?Why, of all the women I could be attracted to, why did it have to be my best friend’s daughter?

I wasn’t sure I could pinpoint any one thing. She was gorgeous—with curves that made my mouth water. But it was more than that. She was insightful and wise, passionate and caring. And somehow, despite our age difference, despite our life experience, she got me.

As we ate dinner, I couldn’t remember a more pleasurable evening. Candles flickered on the patio table, the sun setting in the distance. The wine, like the conversation, flowed easily. And I wasn’t ready for it to end. Wasn’t ready to be alone again.

When Sumner volunteered to wash the dishes, I jumped at the chance to help her. I wanted to know more about this coaching business, more about her. I followed her into the kitchen, trying to ignore the sway of her hips, the seductive curve of her ass. She was absolutely beautiful, standing at the sink, her delicate hands graceful as they rinsed the dishes.AndI was staring.

I opened the dishwasher then grabbed a towel from the drawer. “So, how would you advise me, if I were your coaching client?”

“Seriously?”