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"You mean everything to me." He kisses my palm. "Now where's my steak?"
***
"No one can grill a steak like your mama could but that wasn't half bad." My father wipes the last remnants of mashed potatoes from the corner of his lips. "Now let's get to the nitty gritty of why I'm here."
I look across the table at him and I feel a nervous knot form in the pit of my stomach. "It's about Mark and some shares I have in his company."
"That real estate company he owns?" he takes a long sip of the water as he gazes over the glass at me.
"Yes." I nod. "He gave me ten percent when we split."
"It must be worth something?" He's scanning the dessert menu and running his finger across the page as if to check the prices.
"Someone told me it was worth ten million." I cringe as I say the number. My father comes from humble beginnings and although he worked hard to make a very comfortable life for my sister and me after our mother died, we didn't have anything in excess ever.
The menu falls from his hands onto the table as his jaw drops. Then, as if in slow motion, he shakes his head from side-to-side a few times. "I heard you wrong, princess. My hearing isn't what it used to be."
"No, you heard me right." I swallow the last few drops of red wine that have been taunting me from the bottom of my glass since before dinner arrived. "I was told the shares are worth ten million dollars."
"You're rich." A wide grin takes over his face. "You're rich, Ivy. Sell them back to him."
"No." I know this is the point where I should start explaining about Jax. I should launch into a detailed description about how we met and what he might or might not mean to me, but telling my father I'm involved with Mark's business partner can't go over well. I'd just mended one broken fence tonight; I didn't want to break another.
"Mark doesn't want the shares?"
"I don't know. We haven't discussed it." I shrug my shoulders and steady my breath before I continue. "Actually, Mark's partner wants to buy the shares."
"Sell them." He says it matter-of-factly as if there's no room for consideration of any other idea.
"Do you think I should?" I quiz wanting him to tell me it's the absolute best idea I've ever had.
He motions for the waiter before he turns back to me. "Will it mess things up for Mark if you do?" He throws me a playful grin.
I can't help but smile back before I nod.
"There's your answer." He winks before ordering something decadent off the menu for dessert. "You only live once, Ivy. Make him pay."
Chapter 5
"You're exactly as I remember you, Ivy." His voice is deep and melodic and I'm surprised by how much he's changed since I was younger. He's even more attractive. His jaw has filled out and his black hair is a perfect contrast to his deep blue eyes.
"I'll take that as a compliment." I try to smooth out a crease in the skirt of the red dress I'm wearing. "I'm thankful that you could see me at such short notice, Mr. Moore."
"It's Nathan." He motions to a leather chair situated directly in front of his desk. "I chased you with frogs when we were kids. I don't think Mr. Moore is appropriate."
I laugh at the memory of our shared childhood. "How is Sandra? I haven't spoken to her since graduation."
"She's still back in Boston. Well, actually she's living in Medord now. She got married. You knew that, right?" He leans back in his chair.
"No." I do little to veil the surprise in my voice. "To who?"
"Travis Mitchell."
"Shut up." I blurt out before pulling my hand to cover my mouth. "I'm sorry." I giggle at the wide grin on his face.
"I know, right?" He runs his hand over his chin. "He knocked her up right after graduation."
"She has a child?" I'm shocked hearing the sordid tale of my best friend from high school's adventures in marriage and motherhood. I can't believe she married the boy who had been shamelessly declaring his love for her since middle school.
