Then why does it hurt so goddamn bad?
She clears her throat. “Thank you. This means a lot that you would do this. You can expect my help in any way you need.”
For that, I’m glad. Not only because I want to spend as much time with her as possible, but also because I need her brain and her smart ideas. “Don’t thank me yet. We have a lot to iron out, and we still have to win over Warren.”
“You’ll win Warren. I guarantee it. You sell him the way you sold me, and it’s a hole-in-one.”
I’m breaking inside, holding on to any scrap she’ll give me like a starving dog. “You really think so?”
“I know so. You’re really turning into the guy I’ve only seen in private. You should be proud.” My cock stiffens at the reference to our sexual exploration. A vision of her naked and bent across the table flashes in my mind. It’s possible she’d still be up for more of that, isn’t it? She may be leaving, but we could spend the time before that having fun.
Except, holy shit—I’m not interested. I mean, I’m interested, but the idea of being with her now when I know it isn’t going to last…
Well, that just sounds like torture.
Remembering Genny’s earlier words about not letting me in, I think she’s probably on the same page.
“We still have two days until the meeting.” I stand, fiddling nervously with the handle of my briefcase. “Should I get your number so we can talk tomorrow?” It’s funny, after everything we’ve been through, I’ve still never gotten this from her.
But she surprises me with her response. “Already done.”
I glance toward the table, wondering if she’s written something down for me when I wasn’t paying attention. There’s nothing. “What do you mean?”
With a mischievous smile, she gestures to my pocket. “Look at your phone.”
I set my case down and pull out my cell. I flip through the contact screens looking first under Fasbender and finding nothing. Then I look under G, and there it is—Genny—followed by her complete number including country code.
I’m confused for a beat. When—?
Then I know. “You programmed this in that night in your hotel room.” The night she’d said I’d left it in the bathroom.
“I can’t believe you didn’t notice,” she says somewhat shyly.
“Obviously, I’m an idiot.” I was an idiot the whole time.
“I won’t argue.”
I walk her to her room, and though I long to kiss her good night, I don’t. When I walk away, part of me is proud of myself for showing restraint.
The other part of me thinks I need a kick in the ass, and I can’t help but feel like I’m still the biggest idiot of all time.
20
Friday morning, I’m downstairs early, despite staying up late to put the finishing touches on my proposal. Scratch that—our proposal. By now, it’s as much Genevieve’s idea as it is mine. We’ve both occupied the last two days in my office, buried in data and financial forecasts. Every second with her has been a torturous gift. I’ve never spent so much time with one person, from dusk until dawn, and then left yearning for more. Never spent so many nights completely blue-balled.
“Do you have the copies of the slideshow?” I ask when she walks into the boardroom holding her purse and two to-go cups. I flip through the handouts I already have. “I’ve got the projections for the next five years, the first and second quarter reports, the balance sheets. I can’t find the slideshow.”
I must sound anxious because Genny says, “I think I maybe shouldn’t have brought you coffee. And yes, I have the reports in my bag.”
“That’s for me?” I take the cup without the lipstick mark, wishing for a moment I could taste her one last time before reminding myself I need to focus. I chug half of the cup down. “Thank you. I needed that.”
She laughs. “I’m not sure you needed that at all. Now your brother’s going to blame me when you have a massive stroke in the middle of your presentation.” She sets down her cup and looks me over. “Here, let me fix you.”
“What?” I glance down at myself, but she’s already in front of me, straightening my tie.
“There. Much better.” Her hand lingers on my chest, and surprisingly, it calms me down. I suppose it would be inappropriate to ask her to keep her palm there throughout this meeting, but the idea crosses my mind.
“I’m going to make a fool of myself,” I tell her, needing to be honest. “Warren’s going to laugh at my idea, and Hudson…” I can’t even think about how disappointed Hudson will be if this falls through.
“Shh.” Genny yanks once more on my tie. “You’ve got this. Hudson won’t be anything but proud.”
She’s wrong. I don’t have anything because I don’t have her.
But with her confidence, I do feel like I might be able to manage this meeting. I’m about to tell her how much I’ve appreciated her—and by tell her, I mean try my hardest not to stare at her lips—when Hudson arrives.
Genny immediately jumps away from me and starts busying herself with passing out reports to each of the chairs around the table.
“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting anything.” Hudson’s tone is chiding, as though he’s telling me my head better be in the game.
I ignore the way that makes me bristle. He’s trusted me, but I still have to prove myself. “Nope. We’re just finishing the setup. How many people do we expect here?”