Page 72 of Terms and Traditions

“I’m not firing her, Emmett.”

“Not asking you to. Just asking if she’s a liability. You’re responsible for other people’s livelihoods.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I snapped, pausing my pacing to stare at the predawn hue of the Tetons and sprawling snow-covered meadows and woodlands between us. “I realize I might have fallen in love with the one woman who’s most inconvenient to love from a business perspective, but I’m not jumping ship on her just because it’s complicated.”

Emmett had the audacity to chuckle.

I held the phone away from my ear, staring at it confused. “Care to share why you’re laughing? There is nothing remotely funny about this.”

“Oh, I know. I just never thought the day would come when you’d finally get over your insecurities and commit to a woman. You’ve let Alexis live in your head for far too long.”

“We’re dating, not married.”

“I know. But Stephanie is the only woman who tempted you to break your no-serious-dating rule, despite Ryan and I setting you up on blind dates. She’s the first woman you’ve fought for at the risk of your company. The company’s been everything to you, Nash. Now you’ve found someone worth fighting for. Don’t mess it up.”

Emmett’s words stuck to me like pesky burrs while I finished packing up my suitcase and scanned the room, checking for any last items I’d forgotten. Little did he know messing things up was my chief concern.

A jaunty knock came at the door. “Coming!” I called, half hoping it was Stephanie, though the hour was a bit early.

Nana stood in the doorway, a grim expression on her face. A rare look from everything I’d learned about the vibrant woman so far this week.

“Nan—Charmain, what can I do for you?”

She waved me off. “Nana is fine, young man. I’m hoping you wouldn't mind a stowaway for your drive back to Washington.”

I blinked in surprise. Had I heard her correctly? “You’re coming back to Spokane? Does Steph know?”

Nana grinned, a little ferally. “She probably forgot, but she’ll remember once she wakes up. I cleared it with Liz.”

In her bright orange fleece cardigan and houndstooth slacks, Charmain Russo Addams was a formidable war strategist I had no desire to argue with. Besides, having her around might be good for Stephanie right now. “Of course. I’ll make sure the seats are all clear.”

She eyed me with a smirk. “You don’t strike me as a man to have to make sure. That vehicle is spotless.”

I chuckled. “You caught me.”

“Good.” She snapped off a quick nod. “When are you planning on leaving?”

“Around ten. Steph’s still sleeping.”

Nana snorted. “That girl could sleep through an apocalypse. She’s no morning person.”

“Don’t I know it, but I want her to get as much rest as possible. We’re in for a long fight.”

Curiosity lit Nana’s sharp hazel eyes, so much like Stephanie's I realized. “You’re standing by her.”

“As long as she’ll have me.” This woman was it for me. In an uncertain world, I was certain about that.

Reaching up a hand, Nana softly patted my cheek with her wrinkle, age-spotted hand, decked in a turquoise ring. “You’re a good one, Nash Prescott. An old woman can tell.” She tottered off before I could say anything. “I’ll be ready by ten!” she called.

Stephanie rapped at my door half an hour later, two coffees in hand. She scanned the hallway as I opened the door before hopping inside and bumping the door shut. “Coast is clear. Any news?”

Apart from the dark crescent moons under her eyes, I had no indication of how she was handling all this.

She offered me the dark blue pottery mug and cradled the remaining white mug in her hands, inhaling the soft steam.

I took a swig of the coffee for fortitude. “Not much. Nolan promised to call when the legal team had something, and IT is still doing their thing, so…” I waved a hand vaguely.

She nodded slowly from where she leaned against the closed door. Given whose territory we were in, we were trying to keep our voices down. “It wasn’t me, Nash. I swear.”