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Eve
B e my guest.” I motion toward my makeshift desk. “Please excuse the appearance. My office is being painted as we speak.”
Tate looks around at the freshly painted lobby with a half smile. “This looks great. Was it all your idea?”
“Yes.” I sit down at the table and wait for him to follow my lead. “My office will have the same theme, along with a mosaic of a rugby field behind my desk.”
I knew the moment Tate entered the building.
Not only did I see him out of the corner of my eye, but I felt him.
A buzzing energy filled the space around me.
I only wish he heard me ask good, intelligent questions.
Hah! As if one qualified person contacted me who I could have asked good, intelligent questions. All the candidates have been a joke.
“I’m sorry.” He reaches across the table and rests his hand over mine. I hate that warmth spreads through me. He takes another long look around. “I should never have walked out. I should’ve stayed and hashed this out with you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I’m an ass with a fragile ego.”
“So conflict resolution is an issue?” I write in my notepad, in part to make him nervous, in part to give me a reason to break eye contact with him.
He waits for me to look up again. “Not anymore.”
I lean forward, “What’s changed?”
“I fell in love with an amazing woman. I realized I wanted to give her the world, so I told her that I loved her. When she ignored me, I got insecure and lost my shit.”
“Maybe she did respond, not using the words to tell you she loved you, too, but to show you. Did that ever cross your mind?”
His eyes lock on mine again, and all I want is to feel his strong arms around me. Arms that make me feel safe and warm and, most of all, loved. I didn’t need him to say the words to know what he was feeling. I already knew. I thought the same was true for him.
“I understood that today, when I walked through the door, that this was less about me and more about her, and even still, she wanted me to be a large part of it.”
“How did you come to this conclusion?” I ask out of curiosity more than anything else. While I am making a go of this, I can’t say I would have made this particular investment if Tate wasn’t in the picture .
“Eve, you’ve transformed this place. Walking in here today, seeing you interview that under-qualified turd, you didn’t let that deter you. You were professional, and I understood. You want this project to be a success for you, even more than you might have wanted it to be for me.”
“You got all that from walking in here?”
“I needed time and perspective. But seeing something as simple as the lettering for Reapers and the designs on the wall made me realize this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea.
You had a plan to build this from the ground up, and you asked me to go along for the ride.
I’m so sorry I walked out. I was wrong.”
“Yes, you were.”
“I know in the real world, you can’t have do-overs. But if I could, I’d go back to that night, take you in my arms, and tell you how proud I am of you.”
I stare at him too long, wishing for that do-over. Wishing that right now, he would stand, pull me out of my seat, and kiss me like he used to.
“The plan is to have two teams. The Reapers and the Cream Puffs. Do you have an objection to managing the Cream Puffs?” I ask with as straight a face as I can.
The snarky look on his face tells me that he hates the idea. He’ll hate it even more when he sees the pink scrum cap with the pom pom on top. To my surprise, Tate shakes his head.
He takes a step toward me. “No problem at all. I’ll even sweep the floors if that’s what you want. Just let me be an advisor for the on-field activity, unofficially if you like, until you have your footing with the game. ”
“And then?”
Another step closer. “Then, if you have no more use for me, I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines.”
“What if I want you closer than the sidelines?”
He stands in front of me. “How close are we talking?” He teases, his honey eyes playful. “Human Resources might have to get involved.”
“As it stands, I’m the head of HR.” I tease back.
“Mmmhmm.” He winds his arms around my waist. “Do you forgive me?”
“Did you bring me flowers?”
“No. I’m sorry.” A sadness flashes in his eyes.
“Good, because they were aggravating my allergies like crazy.”
“Does this mean I have the job?” He takes my head in his large hands while brushing my cheeks with his thumbs.
I look into his warm brown eyes and melt. This was the way it was supposed to be. “It was always yours. I just needed you to realize you wanted it.”
Tate dips his head down so that our lips meet. Such a sweet, delicate kiss. His arms tighten around me as he crushes me against the breadth of his chest.
“I missed you.” He whispers, smoothing my hair. “More than you’ll ever know.”
I close my eyes and breathe him in, getting lost in the moment. “Welcome home, Tate.”
“That’s just it, Eve. I’ve lived here for the last few years, but I never felt like I was home. Not until right now, with you in my arms.”