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“Stop.” She jabbed her fingertip at his chest.
He caught her around the waist to kiss her thoroughly. “You stop.”
“You’re smooshing me,” she said against his shoulder.
His phone buzzed with a new voicemail. One glance and he winced. He jabbed the play button, and his father’s curt voice echoed through the phone.
“William. No time for attorneys. The Colorado Springs station received another offer. They’re entertaining it, and the whole thing doesn’t look good for Crestone. Their managers are headed to Confluence, and I’m meeting with them this afternoon. You’re expected to attend. Call me when you get this.”
His father’s irritating command seriously grated. Of course William would attend, but not because his father commanded. He wouldn’t be left out of a meeting that important. Which meant his plans for the day just changed.
He tossed his phone on the bench a bit harder than necessary.
“Everything okay?” Lucy glanced up from under her eyelashes.
He felt her gaze straight in his chest.
“We’re headed back.” He stomped inside.
He had a feeling that even if the meeting was a success, he’d need to make a few trips over the mountain to ensure the buyout moved forward.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A quick wrap-up with the management at Twin Lakes, a chat with the local deputy, one arrest warrant issued, and William and Lucy loaded the truck. They were on the road in record time. Once they saw the video there wasn’t much management could say. The desk clerk admitted to the double bookings but held out on the thefts until she realized there was video. The resort had a load of bad publicity coming their way once the story broke. At the moment, that was the least of William’s concern.
They turned into the KDVX parking lot, and he glanced across the cab of the truck to Lucy. Her forehead leaned against the glass, her expression tense.
The connection they had started to build would be strong enough to survive reality. William hoped.
Didn’t he deserve to be happy? He’d screwed up a lot in his life. He’d also spent years redeeming himself. Enough was enough. He wanted to be with her. Whatever she was willing to give, he was ready to take.
“I have to wrap up a few things here. Stick around, and I’ll follow you home?” He threaded his fingers with hers.
She pulled away and shook her head. “I need to get back to Mitzy. Simon didn’t make it over this morning.”
He climbed out of the truck. “Lucy.” Her name lay heavy on his lips. “I’ll only be a minute.”
Lucy pulled her fake ring off and slipped it into his hand. Heart heavier than warranted, he closed his fingers around the cubic zirconia. She paused. Dropped her hand to his arm. “I’m scared, Will. Because of the way I’m feeling about us. What we have. How it’ll work now that we’re home.”
The fear in her eyes made his gut clench. “Let’s go slow then.”
She nodded. “Slow.”
“You’ll stay so I can follow you home?” he asked, tracing her bottom lip with his thumb.
She nodded. “I’ll go check my voicemail or something.”
He chuckled and walked her to the door. Once she was safely inside the security door of the building he glanced back to his truck, Parker leaned against his tailgate.
“Tell me I didn’t see what I just saw.” Parker crossed his arms.
“Don’t know what you saw, so no comment.” William lugged the equipment cases from the truck bed and stacked them beside a tire.
“Despite the fact that I’ve known you for years, or maybe because I’ve known you for years, I have to put out a big ol’ what the hell are you thinking? She’s staff. You can’t fool around with staff.”
“I care about her.” And it was none of Parker’s goddamned business.
Parker cursed under his breath. “Like all the women before her?”
