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“Of course you do,” Sadie said, staring into those beautiful eyes of his. “It’s your signature move. Whenever a conversation or a negotiation starts going in a direction you don’t approve of, up come the defenses. And now that I’ve officially resigned, I can tell you that I don’t like it when you do it.”
He frowned. “Is that right?”
“Yes.” Sadie planted both hands on her hips. “You know, it’s pretty great being able to just say what I’m thinking.”
“I’ve never known you not to,” he pointed out.
“Oh,” she said with a laugh, “you have no idea the restraint I’ve shown over the years. Well, until now.”
Those grass-green eyes narrowed on her. “Feeling pretty sure of yourself now, are you?”
“I’m always sure of myself, I just don’t usually tell you everything I’m thinking. I have to admit,” she added, “this is very freeing.” Sure, she’d miss her job. And she’d really miss Ethan. But this was the best thing for her, and since she had to leave anyway, she was going to allow herself to enjoy her last two weeks with him. She’d be completely honest and hold nothing back. Well, she wasn’t about to admit she loved him or anything, but other than that... “Also, I hate your coffee.”
Now he looked insulted. “That’s the world’s finest Sumatra blend. I have a supply flown in every two months.”
“Yes, and it’s awful. It tastes like the finest Sumatran dirt.”
“I don’t think I care for this new blunt honesty policy.”
Sadie grinned. She’d surprised him, something that was nearly impossible to do because Ethan Hart was always thinking two or three steps ahead of everyone else in the world. “Well, I think I like it.”
“I could just fire you and be done with it,” he warned.
“Oh, we both know you won’t do that. You don’t like change, remember?” She shook her head. If nothing else, she was completely confident in saying, “Never going to happen.”
When a knock at the door sounded, they both turned and Ethan ordered, “Come in.”
She was going to miss that bark of command.
“Mr. Hart? Ethan Hart?” A woman walked into the room carrying a baby that looked about six months old.
Instantly, Sadie’s heart melted. The tiny girl was beautiful, with big brown eyes and wispy, black hair. She was chewing on her fist as the woman holding her crossed the room.
“Yes, I’m Ethan Hart. And you are?” The icy king-of-the-universe tone was back in his voice.
“Melissa Gable.” She swung a black diaper bag off her shoulder and dropped it onto the visitor’s chair. Digging into it one-handed, she came up with a manila envelope and handed it to Ethan. “I’m from Child Services. I’m here to deliver Emma Baker to you.”
“Who’s Emma Baker?” he asked warily.
“She is.” And Ms. Gable handed the baby to Ethan.
Two
Not too long after his argument with Ethan, Gabriel was at his girlfriend Pam Cassini’s house and his frustration felt as if it had a life of its own.
After the futile meeting with his brother, he’d hated walking back to his office, knowing everyone there had heard the argument and had known he’d lost. Gabe hated that Ethan wouldn’t listen to reason and he hated having been born second. If Gabe had been the older brother, things at Heart Chocolates would be done differently.
“Instead,” he mumbled, “I’ll always be the little brother.”
The junior partner, forced to fight for every scrap of recognition. Maybe he should have just gone home to the penthouse apartment he kept in Huntington Beach. He rented out half the top floor of the best hotel in the city and enjoyed the views and the convenience of twenty-four-hour room service and housekeeping.
Today he was in a foul mood, so he should have gone off by himself. But he didn’t want to be alone, either.
“Oh hell, just admit it. You wanted to see Pam. Talk to her.”
In the last six months, Pam Cassini had become more important to him than Gabriel was comfortable admitting. He hadn’t been looking for any long-term relationship when he met her. And maybe that’s why he’d fallen into one. He was no stranger to women wanting to hook up with one of the Hart brothers. But Pam was different. She was strong and smart and ambitious. She had her own career and she was as passionate about it as he was about his. He admired that.
