Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
She leans her head back to look up at me. “Are you asking me because you want me to go or are you asking me to go because you feel sorry for me?”
“Feel sorry for you? What are you talking about? I’m asking you because I want you to go with me.”
She finally tells me what I want to hear. “Okay, I’ll go with you to the conference. Thank you for asking me.”
I nod to her front door. “Go on in. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She unlocks her door and walks inside. She opens her mouth, closes it, and then opens it again. “Thanks for the ride home, Ford. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nod, and she shuts the door. I barely make it to my car and I’m pulling my phone out. I call Lucas, and he answers on the second ring. “Hello.”
“Hey, how’s my son?”
“He just went to sleep. How was tonight?”
“Good. Hey, how would you like to skip Vegas?”
Lucas sighs. “You know I can’t. Besides the conference, I’m having dinner with Jim Ogle while I’m there. He’s an ass, but he does a lot of business with us. I can’t cancel now.”
I flip my phone over to the speakers in the car. “What if you don’t cancel, but I go in your place?”
He pauses. “Wait. You’re willing to go to Vegas… to a conference… so I can stay here?”
“Yeah, if you can watch Ollie.”
“You know we’ll watch Ollie.”
I let out an excited breath. I might as well tell him; he’s going to find out sooner or later. “And I’m taking Lilian.”
He laughs. “I thought you were trying to help me out. Hell, you’re just trying to get you—”
I interrupt him. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
“A date. I was going to say date, that’s all. Shit, Ford. Are you sure about this?”
I’m smiling ear to ear. I feel more lighthearted than I have in a long time. “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”
He groans. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this but sure, yeah, I’d like to stay here. We’ll have to go over things before you leave, and I’ll give you a list of people to make sure you introduce yourself to while you’re there, but sure, if you’re up for it, I'm game.”
“I owe you, brother.”
He snorts. “I’m not so sure about that. I get to stay at home with my wife. You’re going to Vegas to work. We’ll just call it even.”
“Sounds good.”
We talk a little more, and I’m hanging up as I pull into my garage. I barely get into the door and my phone dings. I see the group text I have with my brothers pop up. Austin’s message reads,
Ford took me to spy on his assistant on a date. He’s got it bad for Lilian. You guys should have seen him. He’s whipped.
The first response is Beau.
You’re the CEO, Ford. You know better.
Lucas is next.
I already gave him hell about it earlier today. There’s no changing his mind.
And then Austin. He may have thrown me under the bus with that text, but he’s the first to come to my defense.
This is a good thing guys. Fuck. Let the man live a little.
There’s no response from Huddy. We include him on the group text even though he never responds. Usually because he’s stationed somewhere with no service. Usually once a month, we get some random text from him, letting us know he’s alive.
I like the message from Austin and then send them all a middle finger emoji before shutting off my phone. Nothing is going to bring me down tonight.
Lilian
I worked hard the next few days to get everything caught up since I’d be out of the office most of the day on Friday. I feel like I don’t let out a breath until I’m seated on the Blaze brothers’ private jet and Ford and I are on our way to Vegas.
The crew is preparing for takeoff, and Ford and I have not said much since we’ve sat down. “Having second thoughts?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I’m excited to go.”
He turns in his seat and leans forward. “Something’s bothering you. Spill it.”
I’ve never talked about my private life at work. I’ve definitely never had any heartfelt conversations with my boss either. But I need to talk to someone. I have to get this off my chest, and it’s only right he knows. “It’s Carrie.”
“Is she okay?” he asks, concerned.
I wave it off. “She’s fine. They are due to get back from their honeymoon this weekend, and she’s fine. But she called and talked to me last night and…”
I let my voice trail off because I’m not sure how to say it.
He reaches across the arm rest and puts his hand on my wrist. “Tell me. You can talk to me.”