Page 44 of Love.V2 (Occupational Hazards #2)

I winced, crossing the room to reach for her. She stood and met me halfway. When I swept her into my arms, she smelled bright and fresh. Felt like home. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized again, because I didn’t know what else to say. Her fingers stroked up and down my spine.

“I know it was a lot.” She pulled back to clasp my face. “I trust you. I still love you even if you have to do work after-hours every once in a while.”

I brought my hands up to trap hers. I’d never get enough of her skin on mine. “Thank you.” I could have fallen to my knees and repeated it over and over if she’d let me, but a vibrating sound stopped me.

Tess leaned over to glance at my phone screen, read the name scrolling across the top, then promptly dismissed the call. She nestled her head back into my chest, and I stared at the phone, watching it go to voicemail.

Ron’s name taunted me.

“Do I want to know how many times he’s called?”

She grumbled something that got lost between my pecs before she pulled back. “No, you don’t. Between him, Ramón, and all the others, it’s been nonstop. I’m considering dropping it down the garbage disposal. I’ve always hated that thing. This would give me the perfect excuse.”

“I can always replace it, if that’s what you need. It could be a nice fresh start. Ritual cleansing, or something like that.”

“We’ll need to get some sage. ”

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Maybe just a new ringtone.”

“That might work.” Her head tilted back to look up at me, and the urge to kiss her was so strong it seared into the very marrow of my bones. She spoke before I could bend down, though. “The only call I’ve answered today was from Beth.”

My heart leaped into my throat. “Is Henry…”

“Stirred this morning, but still unconscious. I told her about Lainey.”

I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of her fingers threading through my hair, comforting.

“Lainey, your heart surgeon friend?” She’d mentioned Lainey and Jasmine a few times.

The faint memory of a woman with a mop of brown curls in the gym parking lot resurfaced; from a time when I’d been holding onto the fragile hope of Tess ever speaking to me again.

“Cardiothoracic surgeon,” Tess corrected, pulling away to lean against the desk.

I nearly collapsed into a chair, tired and sore despite passing out for hours last night.

“I texted Lainey, and they’re going to connect.

See if Beth can get a referral so Lainey can take a look at his tests.

She might see something the doctors here can’t.

Or maybe have different equipment up at Mercy. ”

She looked so calm. Collected and in control. “That’s amazing. I’m sure Beth appreciates that.” I paused, picking my words carefully. “I appreciate that, too.”

She nodded. “He’s like a second father to you, Dylan. He might have contributed to you running yourself ragged, but he’s family. I’d never have wished for this. ”

“I know you wouldn’t.” The clock on the wall said it was after ten a.m. As wonderful as it had been to sleep in, recuperate, there was still work to be done. “You keeping track of what’s happening at Worther?”

A smile ghosted across her lips as she tapped her laptop to life and turned it in my direction. “They announced Henry’s condition this morning. Sent an email to the shareholders. It says it’s from Ron, but it’s got Danny all over it.”

I snorted as I read, already finding the bright optimism of Danny’s voice imprinted on the email as it discussed how Henry was irreplaceable, and the Worther team was praying for his swift recovery.

The letter said nothing about a new CEO or a succession plan, but it didn’t need to. It sounded strong, but…human.

“You think Danny’s gonna make a run for CEO?” I asked Tess after I’d read it through twice.

“He’d be a great choice.”

“Better him than me,” I murmured, returning her computer. She tilted her head.

“You sure about that?”

“Tess—”

She held her hand up to stop me. “After all the craziness that went down with Botto yesterday, and everything with Henry, I had to do a lot of thinking about your job.”

“Wait, what happened with Botto?”

“I’ll tell you in a second. Focus.” She speared two fingers in my direction. “I know you’re important to Worther. Henry wanted you at the helm, and I think in some ways, you wanted to see yourself there, too. If that is what you want, we can find a way for both of us to get back to Nashville.”

My smile was breaking across my face. “Tess,” I tried again, just for her to cut me off. Again.

“I love Jinx, but I know its future is somewhat up in the air.” I frowned at that, but kept quiet. What had happened after I’d left Chicago ? “If your dream is Worther, and you think you can do this without falling into the black hole again, then we should talk about that.”

Her hands clenched on the desk. I gazed lovingly at where her knuckles were turning white. “Really?”

“What sort of partner would I be if I didn’t let you go after your dream when it came knocking?” She peeked through her eyelashes. “You always wanted this. I can’t be the reason you don’t get it.”

“You’re not the reason,” I assured her, leaning forward to cup her hips in my palms, pressing my cheek against her belly.

“Not the only reason, at least. Theresa Lynn, I’ve wanted a lot of things in my life.

The CEO position, my car, that condo across town.

But you are the only thing I’ve ever needed. ”

She cradled my jaw. “You can still have me and have this at the same time. If you really, really, really, really need to.”

I rose, wrapping my arms around her. I pressed a lingering kiss to her cheekbone. “Thank you for saying that. I know it probably physically hurt you.”

“You have no idea,” she sputtered, pulling me closer. “I mean it, though. ”

“I woke up thinking how grateful I am that I don’t have to be on the hook for the whole company. I spent all day yesterday nauseous because I thought Ron was going to force me into the job.”

She blinked, adorably nonplussed. “You’re not just saying that?”

“Absolutely not. I like leading. Managing people and thinking about the intricacies of an organization. But maybe Jinx is more my speed these days.”

She bit her lip, hope shining through her eyes. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure, Angel.” I kissed the tip of her nose just because I could. “Besides, if I went back to Worther, you’d be exhausted standing up for me all the time.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How much of last night do you remember?”

“Enough to be completely awed by you.” I couldn’t stop myself anymore, brushing a kiss across her mouth. She tasted like lavender and sunshine. “Apparently, you gave my dad quite a dressing down, too.”

A guilty look flashed across her face before she tilted her chin up, defiant. “Well, maybe that conversation was a little harsh, but it was overdue. And Ron and the rest of them were out of line. Someone needed to step in.”

“Thank God I have my very own angel willing to take on the job.”

I savored the soft skin of her lips once more.

“Only sometimes,” she whispered as she pulled back for a breath. “I don’t think I’m cut out for all this confrontation. I said I’d fight for you. I didn’t really mean with other people.”

When I laughed, it was like every last ounce of worry, uncertainty, and dread spilled out of me .

I’d have to answer the phone eventually, and more than likely, I’d have to head back to Worther while the board figured out who would take Henry’s place. But with Tess in my arms, the prospect didn’t make me want to run back to bed anymore.

The phone buzzed again, this time Danny’s name scrolled across my screen. I groaned, resting my forehead against hers.

“I need to get that.”

“Probably,” she admitted without loosening her hold on me.

“And you need to tell me about Botto.”

“Mmhmm…”

“Even though I won’t be CEO, I’ll probably need to stick around Nashville for a while longer. I have to call Eric…there’s going to be a lot to do.”

Tess hummed, tilting her head back for one more kiss. “Sounds like we should make a list.”