Bryant was still looking at him like he was a fool. And you know what? Maybe he was being one. And why? Because Beck was jealous? Fine. So he was jealous. Not that he had any reason to be. That only irked him all the more.
“Look, it’s none of my business what’s going on between you and Sarah.”
“It isn’t.”
“But I care about her. She’s not just some person I work with.”
“That’s obvious,” Beck muttered.
“She’s also one of my best friends. I’d like to see her happy. I’d like to see her have everything she wants.” Bryant lifted a shoulder. “And I don’t want anything to get in the way of that.”
Beck wasn’t sure which one of them Bryant was talking about. Hell, maybe he meant both of them.
Sarah was full of ambition and dreams. That was part of what Beck loved—or rather liked—about her. No, he loved it about her. There was no denying it. Those ambitions and dreams along with her drive and determination had brought her where she was now. They’d take her where she was going.
How could he, or anyone, stand in the way?
“I’ve never gotten in the way of Sarah’s career,” Beck said.
“No you haven’t. I don’t think you will. Just . . .” Bryant sighed. “Just don’t let her make it all about work.”
Beck frowned. “Isn’t that what this is about?”
Bryant shook his head. “I’ve never met anyone who is more inventive than Sarah. Never known anyone who works harder. But she’s sacrificed a lot over the years to make our business a success.”
Pushing away from the counter, Bryant cuffed Beck’s shoulder. “I just hope she doesn’t keep sacrificing her happiness in the name of business plans and projections. And, again, it’s none of my business, but my two cents: she could use a guy like you to remind her there’s more to that.”
Without waiting for a response, Bryant grabbed his bottle of water and left. Beck stared at the coffee maker for a few minutes, long after his cup had finished brewing.
What had just happened between him and Bryant? They hadn’t really resolved anything. But had Bryant just told him to go for it with Sarah?
Maybe he wasn’t such a bad dude after all.
Chapter Nine
She’d made it. Through the whole name and copyright debacle. The product development and redevelopment. The investor who’d bailed. The crashed network and rebuild.
Despite every obstacle that had come her way, during the past year, she’d made it to the launch of Global Office.
The website had gone live at noon with glowing reviews published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Wired, and even BuzzFeed. Traffic was steady and already showing signs of exceeding even their most optimistic projections. Best of all, the network had held up. Even with the extra traffic, the website showed no signs of overload or crashing. Beck really had worked wonders for her infrastructure.
Of course, it would take months before they’d know if GO’s mission really functioned as intended, but today, she could celebrate a strong launch.
That’s exactly what she was doing tonight. She’d rented out a hot new bar that overlooked Downtown Lincoln. It was bustling with everyone from her closest friends and family to investors and local dignitaries. She’d even caught sight of the mayor and a few city council representatives sampling the international cuisine she’d personally selected for the evening. There was a long line at the kiosks where people could take a virtual tour of twenty-five major cities around the world.
She’d kept it together during the speech she’d given, thanking her team and investors for all they’d done to make this day possible. She was free to enjoy herself. Armed with a glass of her favorite sauvignon blanc imported from New Zealand, Sarah was feeling celebratory.
Despite everything whirling around her, she couldn’t help casting a curious glance around the room hoping to spy a particular technician. She’d only heard from Beck once since he’d finished up his work two days before. He’d confirmed that the payment had come through and thanked her for the invitation to the launch.
According to the official RSVP for the event, he was down as a maybe. That didn’t stop her from hoping he’d make an appearance. After she’d practically mauled him that night at GO, they’d kept it professional. The rest of that night and the next, she’d occasionally catch him watching her. Neither had said anything else.
When he’d finished work, they’d shook hands like longtime business acquaintances instead of former lovers. It had to be that way. At least until he received final payment.
Now that he was no longer in her employment, she wouldn’t mind seeing if there was still something there. If not, well, she could be grateful for all he’d done to help make her dream of GO come true.
She was preparing to set her pride aside and send him a prodding text when Bryant joined her.
He handed her a fresh glass of wine. “I’ll say this about you, Burton. You throw a hell of a party.”
“And my mom always worried I was missing the social gene.”
She set the empty glass aside and turned her full attention to her business partner. Though he didn’t realize it, Bryant had just saved her from possibly making a fool of herself.
“Cheers.”
Bryant clicked his bottle of beer with Sarah’s glass of wine. “I have no doubt you’ll be handing in your resignation to the LD Board before long.”
She choked on her wine. Coughing, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, thankful no one had caught her near spit-take.
Clearing her throat, she glared at Bryant. “I’m not quitting LinkDigital.”
“Maybe not today. But I’d bet my shares in GO that you do before the end of the year.”
It was just like Bryant to be overly optimistic. It was why they made such a good team, she supposed. He was there to reach for the stars, and she was there to keep them grounded. Throughout their partnership, they’d landed somewhere in between, and it had worked for them.
“We’ve barely launched,” Sarah reminded him.
“True, but you’ve made something big. Huge. Not just for people who I know will love it, but for yourself. It’s what you’ve always wanted. What you would’ve done if LinkDigital hadn’t taken off. I know you put off a lot of your dreams to make sure LD succeeded.
“You never held me back from doing anything. I wanted LD to thrive as much as you did.”
“That might be true, but it was always my dream. This is yours. There’s so much of you in this company. It’s not just your head. Your heart’s here too. All of it, and it shows.”
She swallowed hard at the lump forming in her throat. It was maybe the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. And how like her best friend to bring her this close to tears when she’d managed to keep a grip this long.
Clearing her throat, she arched an eyebrow. “We both know you can’t trust a business based completely on your heart.”
“And we both know you can’t trust one that doesn’t have any in it.”
He raised his glass to her again. “You have one of the strongest hearts out there. You’ve got this, buddy.”
Now she really was going to cry. But she couldn’t. Not here. Not when all eyes were on her.
Most people would understand. There would be enough people, however, who would see her tears as weakness. It was an unfair double standard. Ridiculous even. Right now she couldn’t afford to have anyone see her as anything less than strong as oak.
Bryant was right. She had more than money riding on GO’s success.
Pulling a tight grin, she mumbled her thanks and frantically glanced around the room. She had to get out of here. Find somewhere private where she could have herself a good cry. For five minutes. Then she’d pull herself together and finish out the evening as the picture of dignity.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bartender walk through a door carrying a crate of beer. Oh, perfect. If her former bartending days had taught her anyt
hing, it was that every proper bar had a basement or storage closet.
Making her excuses to Bryant, she grabbed a handful of cocktail napkins and—after making sure no one was looking—slipped into the closet. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dark, but she felt her way around a keg to stand behind a metal shelf stacked with oversized jars of green olives. Leaning against a cold, brick wall, she let out a shuddering breath. After months of holding in every fear, every worry, every dream, she gave in to her emotions.
Sarah ran through the napkins in under a minute. She was feeling around for something else she could use to tame the dam of tears when the door swung open. Covering her mouth, she choked back a sob and clenched her eyes shut. Maybe if she stayed really still and didn’t make a peep, she could get through the next couple of minutes without being detected.
A deep voice called out her name. Her eyes flew open. No. It couldn’t be.
“Sarah?” Beck said again. His voice resonated in her chest, sending a shiver of delight down her spine. “Are you in here?”
“I’m here,” she said, pleased when her voice didn’t break.
The footsteps drew closer until she could just make out Beck’s face.
“I thought I saw you sneak in here. What’s going on?”
He reached out a hand, and it landed on her shoulder. She covered it with her own, holding it in place before he could pull away.
“That was one hell of a speech earlier. You were . . . Amazing. All of this is incredible. I’m so proud of you.”
Those five words, whispered so reverently, set her into a fresh fit of tears.
“Hey.”
He tugged her fiercely into his arms, holding her tight against his chest. Whispering nonsensical words of comfort, he pressed his lips against her hair. He pulled back, mumbling an apology, but did it again, sending a shiver of delight down her spine.
This was ridiculous. She was ridiculous. She was Sarah Burton, co-founder of one of the top software companies in the country. She’d just launched a new business to great acclaim. Yet there she was, standing in a beer closet crying in the arms of the only man she’d ever loved.
The only man she still loved.
That was enough to sober her instantly. Taking a deep breath, she pulled back. Beck loosened his grip and returned a minute later with a dishtowel.
“Here. I think this is clean.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
She didn’t particularly care if it was clean. She needed to wipe her face and regain control. This wasn’t how the night was supposed to go. Once she was breathing normally, she sheepishly handed it back to Beck, who tossed it aside.
He peered down into her face. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “I think I just got a little overwhelmed.”
“I don’t blame you. This hasn’t been an easy ride for you.”
Hesitating just a moment, he put an arm around her shoulder. Instinctively, she leaned into him.
“Thanks for everything.”
“Anytime.”
That one word lit a new spark of joy in her. “Do you mean that?”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Absolutely.”
She closed her eyes shut and turned in to him, slipping her arms around his waist. He stilled a moment, but then he wrapped his arms around her.
They stood there for seconds, minutes, she didn’t know. But it did feel right.
“Can I say something?” he whispered in her ear.
“Mmm-hmm.”
“I missed this.”
“So did I.”
She felt his lips curve into a smile against her hair. “Can I ask something?”
He chuckled low in his chest, his hand once again moving in light circles on her back. “Go for it.”
“Did the final payment clear your account?”
His hand stilled. “Yeah . . .”
“And would you say your contract with GO is now fulfilled.”
“I would.” He pulled back to look down at her. “Sarah, what’s—“
She silenced his question by leaning up to press her lips against his. His mouth softened against hers, opening so his tongue could mingle with hers. The kiss began softly. Their mouths melding together, reacquainting themselves with each other.
One of his hands slid up to cup the back of her neck. His fingers wove into her hair, pulling her mouth even closer. The other slipped down to the small of her back, bringing her up against the wall of his chest. She remembered this. As his lips lowered to trace the curve of her chin, her body shivered in delight. No, this was better than anything she remembered. The last time she’d been in his arms, they’d barely been more than kids. But now they were older. More mature.
Maybe this time they could get it right.
What was it Bryant had said before? That she had a strong heart? Maybe it was time to listen to it.
The kiss soon turned ravenous. Desire brewed within her, and she could feel his against her. If they let this go on much longer, they’d be in an even more compromising position.
Tearing her lips from his, she gasped for breath. “Come home with me?”
He nodded, his whiskers rubbing against her cheek before his lips found hers once more for a quick kiss.
“Just show me the way.”
Sometime after midnight, Beck opened his eyes. Pale moon through the window cast a shadow over the bed. In his arms, Sarah slept deeply, her chest slowly rising and falling. Burying his face in her hair, he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. Lavender and Sarah.
He couldn’t believe he was there. In her apartment and in her bed. When he’d gone to the party, he hadn’t even considered the possibility that they might end up having their own private celebration. It had been nothing short of spectacular.
She really was incredible. When she’d stood up on that stage to give her speech, his heart had nearly burst with pride thinking about all she’d been through to get to that moment. She’d even included a shout-out for him and a plug on his new business, which had both surprised and pleased him.
Now that he had the means to start his business, it didn’t matter if his employers found out. She’d given him better publicity than his advertising budget ever could.
It had been a perfect night. Or at least as close to one as he’d ever experienced. Even now, his heart swelled with contentment as he watched her rest in his arms. A grin played at her lips. He wondered if she was dreaming. He’d have to ask her in the morning. Maybe over breakfast. He’d told his parents and Maisie he’d meet them for brunch, but he could make an excuse. When he explained, he was sure they’d understand. They just wanted him to be happy.
And at this moment, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been happier.
How long will it last? It seemed a shame to put even one dark mark on what had been an incredible evening, but he had to ask the question. How long could he and Sarah be happy together? The issues that had come between them a decade earlier hadn’t gone away.
Sarah was both a dreamer and a doer. He was, well, just himself. Most of the time, he was okay with that. Glad even. It made for a nice, quiet existence that he liked quite well. But with Sarah, there’d never be a boring moment. That notion both thrilled and terrified him. He wondered which emotion would win in the end.
He wondered how long it would take for her to need space again. And he wondered how long it would take his heart to heal this time.
In her sleep, she stirred, shifting in his arms, so her head now rested on his chest. Her dark eyelashes fluttered ever so slightly. She really was a wonder. For now, she was his wonder.
The future would come soon enough, he decided. For now, for this moment, he’d be happy she was ever his.
Chapter Ten
The first hint of morning streamed through the window, forcing Sarah awake. She winced against the sunlight shining in her eyes. They’d obviously forgotten to pull the blinds closed the previous evening. She supposed they’d been a bit p
reoccupied at the time.
Her lips curved up as she replayed a few highlights in her mind.
It was a shame she had to get up and start her day. She was leaving the country that night by way of New York for the first leg of GO’s international launch tour. Ten cities in three weeks. She couldn’t wait. Well, almost. As much as she looked forward to the excitement of an adventure, she’d miss Beck.
Though she hated to leave the comfort of his arms, she needed to get up and take care of a little personal business. Wrapping herself in a robe, she couldn’t resist giving him one more look before she left the room. By the time she returned with fresh cups of coffee, Beck was sitting up in the rumpled sheets, rubbing his face. Catching her stare, he gave a sleepy grin.
“Morning.”
She grinned back, suddenly feeling shy. “I made coffee.”
“Thanks.”
He leaned up to capture her lips in greeting. She could get used to this.
As he raised the cup of coffee to sip, she tried not to notice the definition of his bare chest. Her stomach fluttered. She was acting like a college student all over again.
Catching her stare, he winked. She felt her cheeks flush.
“Want to grab some breakfast?” he asked.
“Sure.” She busied herself, pulling some clothes from her dresser. “We’ll have to make it pretty quick. I need to spend a little time in the office before my flight.”
“Flight?”
“I have to catch a red-eye to New York.”
She launched into an explanation of her upcoming itinerary as she selected her outfit for today and set aside a few others to be packed in her carry-on. Somehow focusing on packing and listing off everything she had to do helped put her at ease. And, she realized, it was nice to have someone to share it with. Nice to have someone she could talk to about it all.
Maybe if she’d been paying more attention to her audience, she would have caught the way his posture became rigid. The way his mood seemed to turn as he stood up and reached for his clothes on her bedroom floor.
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