Part 20 (1/2)

I nod, because I agree. But my horrible, guilty secret is that I'm relieved. And I hate myself for it, because I don't want to deprive Jackson of his daughter. But I'm so d.a.m.n nervous about playing a role in raising her, this fragile little life that I may end up being responsible for.

And while I'm almost convinced that I can do it, I'm still selfishly happy for the reprieve.

Beside me, Ca.s.s's phone beeps, and she glances at the screen. ”Siobhan's almost done. Wanna walk with me to the museum?”

I'm tempted, but I shake my head. ”I should get back to it.” As we start to rise, I remember what I keep forgetting. ”Ollie told me on Monday to tell you h.e.l.lo. And no rush, but he's wondering what you're thinking about the franchise.”

”Oh.” She's already on her feet, but now she sits back down.

My eyes widen. ”Trouble?”

”No. I don't think so. But I've been talking with Siobhan and I'm going to put it on hold.”

”Really?” I'm both surprised and concerned. This is her pa.s.sion project, and one of the huge problems with her previous girlfriend, Zee, was that she wasn't supportive at all. I hadn't expected the same from Siobhan.

”Not permanently,” Ca.s.s says, apparently reading my mind. ”But Siobhan pointed out that right now, I'm the face of the company. But n.o.body outside the walls of my studio knows me. So I'm going to hire a publicist and start advertising. Really get my name out there. Create a logo. Brand myself. That kind of thing. Because I need that to lure franchisees, but also just to make my brand stronger, you know?”

”I think that's brilliant.”

”It was Siobhan's idea,” she says, and I'm certain she can see my relief on my face. ”I know, right? Zee was such a slug. But Siobhan and I click.” Her grin is wicked. ”In more ways than one.”

She stands again, then reaches down to give me a hand up before pulling me into a hug. ”You and Jackson click, too,” she says. ”And that's important. It'll get you through a lot of s.h.i.+t.”

”Maybe,” I say, hugging her back.

”Trust me,” she says. ”It's all going to be fine.”

I don't answer. I hope she's right, of course, but I can't quite bring myself to believe her.

Two hours later, I'm wis.h.i.+ng I had taken that walk to the museum because my head is about to explode from juggling eight million projects at once. ”I'll find room in the budget,” I say to the recalcitrant supervisor on the other end of the phone line. ”Work twenty-four hours if you have to, but the helipad and the entire area need to be cleared and repaired by Monday.”

I hang up the phone and close my eyes, then press my fingertips to the bridge of my nose. Despite working nonstop since my coffee break, I've still only made a dent in the cleanup. Or in my to-do list, for that matter.

I'm about to dive into the next task when Ethan calls. At least, I think it's Ethan. Since I'm a.s.suming my dad won't pull that horrible stunt again, I take the risk and answer it.

”I'm sorry,” Ethan says. ”I just found out. I can't believe he used my phone. I'm so, so, sorry.”

”It's not your fault,” I say. ”He's the a.s.shole.” I take a breath. ”I'm sorry I didn't call you back right away. Everything's been crazy at work.”

”It's okay. I figured you were p.i.s.sed about Dad telling me and needed to cool off.”

”I wasn't,” I say, even though I was. h.e.l.l, even though I am.

There is a long, uncomfortable silence, and then he says, ”I shouldn't have told you.”

s.h.i.+t. I don't know what to say to that. Because part of me agrees. And yet another part of me hates the idea of more secrets between me and my brother.

”No,” I finally say. ”I was p.i.s.sed at Dad, not at you. And even though I don't like you knowing, I hated us having secrets. And I swear that was the only one on my end.”

I wait for him to tell me the same, but he says nothing.

I frown, not sure if his silence is relief that I'm not p.i.s.sed or obfuscation.

”So, are we okay?” he asks after another long pause.

”We are.” Because no matter my own issues and secrets, I'm not letting anything come between me and my brother. ”I promise.”

”Okay. Cool.” He clears his throat. ”Listen, about Jackson's little girl”

”Jackson wants me to be her guardian if he ends up in jail.”

”Oh, Syl. s.h.i.+t.”

”I'm doing it,” I say. ”And I'm only telling you because of the no-secrets thing. I don't want to talk about it right now.” More, I don't want to talk about it with Ethan. I know what he'd say, and I've already freaked myself out enough about mommyhood for the day.

”Ifine. Okay. Whatever.” He draws a breath. ”Are we cool?”

”We are,” I a.s.sure him. ”And I have to go. I'm not the one still lazing around on vacation.”

He laughs. ”Fair enough. I'll call you in a day or so. Might even make you come down here and help me buy furniture.”

”You found a place?”

”Tiny, but on the beach.”

”Of course I'll help.” As I'm speaking, the elevator opens, and Jackson steps off.

”Cool. Love you.”

”I love you, too,” I say, and when I hang up the phone, I'm smiling.

”I hope that was Ethan or Ca.s.s,” Jackson says as he crosses the reception area to my desk. ”Otherwise you and I are going to have words.”

”My secret lover,” I say, grinning. ”But if you work very hard, maybe you can make me forget all about him.”

”I'll certainly do my best.” He leans against the wall between Damien's door and my desk. His hands are in his pockets and he has the kind of smile that suggests he has things on his mind that aren't remotely related to work. The kinds of things that send a nice little tingle through me.

”To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Steele?”

”I've been thinking about tonight.”

”What a coincidence. So have I.” We're planning to go to the island tomorrow afternoon to check in with the cleanup crew and stay overnight. Tonight, though, we're staying at my apartment again. I had been looking forward to sipping wine on my balcony and relaxing, but looking at him now I'm thinking that a more active evening would be very, very welcome.

”How important to you is our night in?” he asks.

I c.o.c.k my head. ”You have another plan?”