Page 213 of The Havenport Collection

Luke

“ T hank you for meeting me so late. I appreciate you going through these contracts with me.”

“It’s no problem,” Astrid replied. We had been on the phone walking through some of the details of a new investment we had been working on.

I yawned. It was already ten, and I hadn’t left my desk in hours. I had been throwing myself into work as a distraction this week, and it wasn’t working. I hadn’t seen Nora since our night together. I knew she was avoiding me, and let’s face it, I was also avoiding her.

I was confused and stressed. Maybe I was coming down with a cold? I should text Jude—he always got me chicken soup when I wasn’t feeling well. Maybe that was it? It was flu season. I felt my forehead and was disappointed that I didn’t feel feverish.

My head was all messed up. I had let Nora into my life and my bed and now nothing made sense. I wanted to see her all the time, hear her laugh, hear her moan my name when I was inside her. And then watch her dance around my house in her funny T-shirts while yelling at me for something.

This felt different. I had been having dreams. Weird dreams. And not only when I was asleep. Even while conscious I felt my mind wander to Nora and the future.

Nora and I living together. Nora and I traveling together.

I was thinking the other day about taking her to Seoul to visit some of my mom’s family. I think she would love Korea, and I would enjoy playing tour guide. I was already thinking about the palaces I would take her to and which night markets we would visit when I shook myself back to reality.

Nora was not my girlfriend; she wasn’t even my friend.

If anything she was a hookup. Or what was the word she used? Frenemy? That seemed accurate.

Thankfully Astrid brought me back down to reality. “Tomorrow we are both crazy with meetings, and I know these fuckers won’t send the final documents until close of business west coast time.”

“You’re probably right. You think it’s a negotiation tactic?”

“Probably. It’s the exact sort of thing I’d do. Keep us on our heels, playing defense. Don’t worry boss, I got this.”

I closed my eyes. I knew that implicitly. There was no one better to represent me. I pitied anyone who tried to get anything over on Astrid.

“So should we sit down tomorrow night and review what they send over?” she asked. “Come over and I’ll make Declan cook for us.”

“Are you sure? I hate to put you out on a Friday night. Are you sure you don’t have plans?” Astrid had a boyfriend and a lot of friends. I was sure the last thing she wanted was to work on a Friday night.

“No, it’s fine. I was supposed to go the movies with Nora, but she canceled because she has a date.”

My heart skipped a beat. Nora? A date?

I started to sweat and unbuttoned the top button of my shirt.

“Nora has a date?” I tried to keep my tone casual, but I was desperate for information.

“She said her mom fixed her up with some guy and she couldn’t say no. I think it’s good for her. She hasn’t dated in a while, and the rest of the coven is all paired up. I worry about her sometimes. I think she might be lonely.”

She wouldn’t be lonely if she was here with me! Ugh. A date? Fuck.

My mind immediately began to spin. Who was this guy? What did he do for a living? Where did he live? Was he good enough for her? Of course not—no one was good enough for her.

Lucky bastard. Imagine being set up on a blind date with Nora. I bet his eyes would bulge out of his head like a cartoon character when she walked into the restaurant.

I had trouble keeping my eyeballs in their sockets when she was around.

She couldn’t go out on a date. Not when there was this unexplored connection between us. I needed to intervene.

“Astrid? I need a favor.”

“I can work this weekend if you need me to. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not that. And don’t work on weekends. You’re not at Burns & Glen anymore. Can you find out where Nora’s going on her date?” I asked, wincing at the desperation in my voice.

“Why?” she asked, her tone steely.

I didn’t know how to respond.

“I know you guys don’t like each other, but please don’t mess with her. She’s my friend.”

“I would never do that. And, ahem, I’m your friend too.”

She laughed. “Not the same thing.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, feeling offended.

“First of all, I work for you. But you are my friend. And I value your friendship. But Nora? She took me in and helped me when I needed it the most. She is part of my squad, my coven. My loyalty to her extends far deeper than your tiny man brain can understand.”

I understood and I respected it. Nora loved her friends deeply and I was glad to see that it was mutual. But I still needed information damnit.

“Astrid, please. Help me out. I just…I have some feelings…” I trailed off pathetically.

“Shut the fuck up,” she yelled. “This is crazy.”

“Stop. Don’t tell anyone. Especially Nora.

“But, Lucas.”

I had a brainwave. “Privilege!” I shouted. “I invoke attorney-client privilege.”

“Seriously?” she asked, sounding annoyed. “So this conversation is privileged and confidential?”

“Yup. You can’t say anything to anyone.”

She sighed. “I think you fundamentally misunderstand the concept, but fine.”

“I have some feelings for her.”

“Wow. I did not see that coming. So you’re going to ask her out?”

“No. I mean, I don’t know. That would be a bad idea, right?”

She laughed. “You’ve done dumber things. Like investing in YelComm last year.”

I rolled my eyes. “You never get tired of rubbing that in my face.” Last year I had invested in a startup that made mobile phones for the hearing impaired, and Astrid got a bad vibe from their board and warned me against it.

Turns out their tech didn’t work, and I lost a bunch of money.

She delighted in torturing me with this fact.

It was why I liked Astrid so much, and why I invited her into my inner circle. She gave it to me straight, never kissed my ass, and wasn’t afraid to say no to me.

As my bank account grew, it became harder and harder to find genuine people who had my best interests at heart.

Unlike other guys in my position, I didn’t want to surround myself with an army of yes men who did whatever I wanted.

That’s not how I was raised and was not how I wanted to live my life.

Astrid brought me back down to earth, and she was worth every penny. But I really needed her help with Nora.

“I am an idiot, okay? I’m feeling a lot of things, and I don’t like it. She’s beautiful and infuriating and interesting and really kind—well, not to me, but to basically everyone else. And she doesn’t care about my money. In fact I think it’s probably unattractive to her.”

“I can confirm that,” she replied.

“And I don’t know how to even talk to her anymore. I don’t want to insult her or rile her up…well, maybe I do.” My mind immediately played a highlight reel of our steamy night together. There were so many things I wanted to do to her.

“Stop. Too many details, boss.”

“Got it. Just please help me. I’m desperate, and the thought of her going out with another guy is making me insane.”

“I have no guidance for you. Nora is a tough nut to crack. Maybe set your sights on someone a little less…”

“Unattainable?” I joked.

“No. I was going to say closed off and fiercely independent.” She continued, “But you are clearly in love with her so I feel compelled to help you.”

I ignored that statement, because I certainly was not. I just needed to know where they were going. Astrid was reading too much into this.

“What do you normally do when you are interested in someone?”

I ran my fingers through my hair and thought. I didn’t normally have to make much of an effort. “Throw money at her. Take her on a trip, out to a fancy Michelin-starred restaurant. Fly on a private jet. That kind of thing.”

She laughed. “Yeah, don’t do any of that. She will hate it. Just be yourself. Be a regular guy. Be patient—with Nora you are playing a very long game.”

“I know that. And I’m serious, Astrid. I’m losing my mind here.”

She sighed. “Fine. She’s meeting him at The Lighthouse tomorrow night at seven. You didn’t hear this from me.”

“Thank you.”

“And Lucas?”

“Yes?”

“If you fuck with my friend, there will be consequences.” I shuddered. While most people would dislike their employees speaking to them like this, I appreciated and respected it.

“Understood.”

I had no intention of hurting Nora. I just wanted a shot with her.

A chance to explore these feelings and the intense chemistry between us.

Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized I wanted her.

All of her. So I began to hatch a plan. I wanted Nora Rossi, and I was ready to fight for her.