Page 181 of The Silver Fox Brother

"I think you should talk to her. If you don't want to call her now, then at least make sure you talk to her when you get back to New York. As soon as possible."

I don't answer. I just take another sip of scotch.

"Knox—"

"I gotta go," I say, cutting him off.

Fletcher sighs. "Alright, buddy."

I hang up and set the phone back on the desk. Then I sit on the edge of the bed and stare at it. I should call her. Ask her what happened. Ask her if she said yes. Ask her if everything that happened in Naples meant anything at all.

But I don't. My pride won't let me. My ego is hurt. My pride is hurt. I don't know what to think. I don't know if she went back to him. I don't know if that photo is the answer to every question I've been avoiding asking.

I pick up the phone and pull up Winter's contact. My thumb hovers over the call button. Then I set it back down.I go through those motions at least a dozen times before the night is over.

At some point, I try to find sleep, but it never comes. I just lie in the dark, staring at the ceiling, knowing that in a few hours I have to get up, fly back to New York, and deal with whatever the hell this is.

But tonight, all I can see is that photo:

Rowan on one knee. Winter standing in front of him. And me, three hundred miles away, powerless to do anything about it.

***

The next morning, I land at Teterboro at 10:30am. Victor is waiting on the tarmac and drives me straight into the city. I don't go home. I go directly to the office.

I've been gone for a number of days and the emails have piled up. Investor calls that need returning. Contract revisions that need reviewing. Project updates from Fletcher, Marcus, and half a dozen other people on my team.

I sit at my desk and work through them methodically, forcing myself to focus on anything other than that photo in the newspaper.

Two hours pass before there's a knock at my door.

I look up. "Yeah."

Marcus opens the door and steps inside.

"Winter Hayes is here. She says it's urgent and needs to speak with you."

My chest tightens.

I take a deep breath and look back at my computer screen.

"Tell her I'm in meetings."

Marcus's eyes widen slightly. He hesitates.

"Sir?"

"Tell her I'm in meetings," I repeat without looking up.

"Okay. I'll let her know."

He leaves and closes the door behind him. I stare at the email on my screen without reading it. Five minutes later, my phone rings. I pick it up.

"What is it?"

Before Marcus can respond, there's a knock at my door. I hang up the phone and sit back in my chair.

"Come in."