Page 107 of The Merger

“I have pictures. Want me to send them to you?”

She laughs again. “You’re rotten.”

“Dinner tonight, then?” I ask. “Wait.Fuck. I have a working dinner tonight with our attorneys. Do you want to join us?”

“Actually …” She groans. “Aurora called me a little bit ago to remind me about Dad’s party.”

“I thought you got out of that.”

“No. They postponed it because they got sick. It’s tonight at a restaurant near their house.”

I slide a hand in my pocket and try to keep my voice free from emotion. I want her to do what she thinks is best. But if it were my choice, I wouldn’t let her go. That bastard doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Carys.

How could he not be bursting at the seams with pride over her?She’s amazing. I don’t understand how he doesn’t see it or care.

“So you’re going?” I ask.

“I think so. I think I need to.”

Great. “Want me to go with you?”

“You just told me you’re having dinner with your attorneys,” she says.

“And if you need me to go with you, I’ll go with you.”

A small sigh ripples through the phone and hits me smack in the heart.

This woman owns me, and I don’t think she realizes it. However, I can’t just tell her because I’m afraid she’ll run. I also haven’t entirely worked out how to justify wanting her all to myself. A part of me thinks she should want someone younger, someone not as fucked up as I am.

But, if she did that, I’d probably have to borrow her shovel because she’s mine.

Could this be any more complicated?

“You’re sweet, but I need to do this alone, and you need to take care of your business,” she says. “And I’m positive those men know Tate.”

I groan. “You need to stop worrying about Tate.”

“He’s my best friend, Gannon. He won’t take it well if he finds out you and I are …”

I wait for her to describe us, but she doesn’t.

My youngest brother has been a pain in my ass since the day he was born. I thought that he’d have grown out of it by now. Instead, he’s a thorn in the most tender place in my life.

“What can he really say?” I ask.

“A lot.”

“Well, you’re right about that. The fucker never shuts up.”

She laughs. “I need to go. I have one more client to take care of before I can go home and get ready for dinner.”

“I really hate that you’re not working here three days a week.”

“Then buy more plants.”

Good idea.Why didn’t I think of that?

“Call me when you’re on your way home from dinner, okay?” I ask.