Page 135 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

“Of course you didn’t.” Robyn’s voice was gentle.

“Then why do I feel guilty?”

“Because you’re human.” Robyn smiled at me. “But I guarantee you that your anger did not cause him to get cancer.”

I scowled, realizing the truth in her words. Since I’d left the interview, a part of me worried that my anger was responsible. Not responsible, of course, I knew I wasn’t, but still I’d wished for him to feel as bad as I did. Not like this, though.

Robyn reached out and ran her fingers across the frown line on my forehead. “What do you need from me?”

What did I need? Nobody ever asked me that before, except for Emma, but that didn’t count. “I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

“Let me check if Michelle can close the store tonight, and I’ll take you out for dinner. There’s a fusion restaurant I’ve been wanting to check out in Janesville.” She grinned. “It’s about forty minutes away, so you can drive your truck.”

I grinned. “How have you figured out my weaknesses so soon? I love that truck.”

“I know. And I love watching you fly down the road with the wind rustling through your hair.”

“Aren’t you describing Millie?” I let my tongue loll out of my mouth and pretended the wind was blowing in my face.

She winked at me. “Well, it is a tossup which one of you is cuter.”

“Millie. Definitely Millie.”

Although my concern for Terrence hadn’t disappeared, I felt as if I could breathe again. Robyn had that effect on me.

CHAPTER 37

Despite my best efforts,Robyn refused to let me seduce her this morning, so we were in the pickup by nine thirty. I’d been disappointed, even after she explained she didn’t trust we’d ever crawl out of bed to meet the others if she let me touch her. She was right. As our time together dwindled, I became more desperate to spend every moment searing the memory of her body into my brain.

Since we’d lose tomorrow, I was even more frantic not to squander a minute with her. On Monday, when I’d received the offers from Apex and Ironclad, the decision proved easy. Who needs serendipity? I’d chosen Ironclad.

Then serendipity bit me in the ass. Ironclad’s next board meeting was scheduled for Friday, and they’d requested I attend. I wanted to refuse, but with meetings scheduled every other month, I felt obligated. Would I have chosen them if I’d known? Too late now.

Fuck.How had it gotten to be Thursday already? A month had flown by, and now we were in our last days. Today would be my last outing with the others since my flight to New York boarded early tomorrow morning. Thankfully, Ironclad held their board meetings at noon, so I could return to the resort by Friday evening. Then, only Saturday night’s closing party remained. Emma had even convinced me to perform at the hidden talent talent show.

I glanced over at Robyn in the passenger seat, and my breath caught. Only two more days with her.No.I couldn’t dwell on it now, or it would ruin our day.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I asked.

“Nope. Just get on 113 North, and I’ll tell you where to turn.”

I stuck out my bottom lip. “Fine.”

“Have I told you that you’re cute when you pout?” Robyn asked.

I shot her a look before I put my foot on the gas. I purposely hit it hard, so we surged forward.

“You’re gonna miss this truck, aren’t you?”

I took a deep breath, weighing my response. I glanced at her. “There’s a lot I’m going to miss.”

“Me too.” She reached over and took my hand. It was the only thing I didn’t like about the truck. The spacious cab required us to stretch to reach each other.

The temptation to tell her about my idea rose inside me.No.This wasn’t how I’d planned it. Tonight, at her apartment was when I needed to do it. Then maybe all this angst would lessen.

We drove in silence, holding hands, until she told me to turn on Westport Road. When we came to a small lighthouse, she instructed me to turn again. As we drove farther, I noticed the piers up ahead.

My eyes lit up. “Are you taking me out on the lake?”