Page 51 of Never Let Go

Rethinking my idea to reconnect with the older lady, I put that conversation on ice and decided to talk to Amanda about it on our next date. It was only two days away and it was the second to last one. I had to make it count, and maybe it was better to be focusing on that than on my grandmother and my mom anyway.

24

SHELBY

Nerves barreled into me ahead of my meeting with Foster. I carried the coffee I’d just made myself back to my office, finding it difficult not to spill any because my hand had started shaking so much. In less than fifteen minutes, I would be seeing my old crush again and I didn’t know if I was ready.

Not because I still had any of those feelings for him that had lingered at our first meeting and not because I was afraid they would resurface. It was just that he was a reminder of the past. A reminder of what I’d wanted so desperately those days and had never gotten.

Besides, anyone would want to impress the person they’d had such a big thing for back in the day if they suddenly saw them again twelve years later. It was human nature.

“Shelby?” Mr. Harrison’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts and I blinked the hallway back into focus, finding him walking toward me with a kind smile on his lips.

“Mr. Harrison. Hi. How are you?”

“I’m fine, thank you for asking. How are things going with the Chesterfield account? Almost all wrapped up, I hope?”

“Absolutely, sir,” I said honestly. “I’m actually on my way to meet with the primary beneficiary right now. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“Marvelous.” He beamed at me, reaching out to pat the side of my arm in a decidedly grandfatherly way, all warm, and comforting, and supportive. “That has been a job well done. You’re exactly the sort of person we needed around here.”

Pride surged through me, my shoulders a little wider and my chest a little puffier, but it only lasted until I realized that my meeting with Foster was now two minutes sooner than it’d been before.

I rushed back to my office, cursing under my breath when some hot coffee splashed out and ran over my fingers, but I didn’t slow down. I needed to be ready for this, mentally and physically. After spending the rest of the time I had making sure all the papers were in order, I smoothed out my pencil skirt and then reminded myself that I had Tyler now.

This wasn’t a big deal.

My door opened, and as Foster walked in, it sure felt like a big deal. With those big green eyes, that thick hair, and the casual jeans with a button-up shirt he was wearing, he was still as attractive as ever. He didn’t make my heart race anymore, but he was a good-looking man and I had eyes. I couldn’t deny that I still thought he was hot.

“Hey, Shelby,” he said easily, reaching out to give my hand a quick, friendly shake. “How are you?”

“Good, thanks. I’d ask how you are, but I’m going to go ahead and just assume that you’re doing incredibly well after that deposit was made.”

He chuckled, shrugging one of his broad shoulders, and he took a seat. “You’d think so, but to tell you the truth, it’s been a bit of an adjustment.”

“A bit?”

He paused for a beat, then laughed and shook his head. “No, not a bit. A lot. A huge fucking adjustment that I can’t seem to get used to at all. Every time I think about that money, I get lightheaded. It doesn’t sound very macho to admit that, but it’s true. My inheritance is giving me health issues.”

“I bet.” I smiled and leaned back in my chair instead of passing over the paperwork right away. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Those brilliantly green eyes hovered on mine for a beat. “Do I want to? Not really and yet strangely, whenever I get half a chance, I do end up talking about it. It’s weird.”

“It’s not weird, Foster. One day, you were living your life, and the next, you became one of the richest men around. I think it’s okay if that takes a minute to sink in.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, maybe. So what have you got for me today? You’re taking it all back, are you?”

“No one told you?” I joked with wide eyes before I laughed and pushed the folder toward him. “We’re not taking it back, but we need you to sign for receipt of the funds that were transferred and a few other documents.”

“I didn’t realize I’d have to sign so many things,” he mused, grinning at me. He put his fingertips on the folder and pulled it the rest of the way toward him. “How many pens do you go through to give people money?”

“A lot.” I handed one over to him. “I’m sorry if these meetings are an inconvenience, though.”

“They’re not. At all.” He lifted his gaze away from the paperwork to meet mine, and I felt a familiar little tug in my heart when he did.

Internally berating the silly organ, I reminded myself that Foster hadn’t wanted me and that Tyler did. The two men were a lot alike actually. They were both intelligent, well spoken, and funny. The difference, however, was that I refused to pine for someone who didn’t want me when there was someone wonderful out there who did.

“It’s just that I thought our last meeting would be the last one,” he said. “I don’t mind coming in here and I definitely don’t mind getting to see you when I do, but I am surprised at how many meetings it takes to get from point A to point B.”