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“My father won’t be working forever. I’m his only heir, and when I’m in charge of his company, I’ll be able to steer it whichever way I want,” he said in a determined voice. He glanced at the sparkly contents of his own glass before taking it to his lips, immediately wishing he drank something stiffer.
Her expression softened, and she smiled. “That’s nice. You’re a good guy, Cole Myler.”
“You keep saying that.”
She ran her finger along his jaw. “I will repeat myself until you’re convinced.”
Damn it. He opened his mouth to say he doubted they’d be together long enough. His breath solidified in his now-parched throat. Why did he sabotage his chance for a real connection with someone? Would he really be so bad at loving her and her children?
“Cole,” said a raspy masculine voice he knew too well.
He turned to find his father standing before him, a tumbler in his hand and a quizzical look on his face. “Hi. Dad,” he said, the word suffocating him. “Meet Nikki. Nikki, this is my father, Craig Myler.”
Nikki nodded, shoulders stiffening. Her neck vein jumped, and she didn’t seem her friendly self, almost as if a barrier had been raised the moment he introduced his father to her. She lifted her chin to him, defiant, and he had to assume she felt strongly about the little he’d told her about him.
A sensation of warmth assailed him, like he had found shelter from a thunderstorm. Never in his life had anyone taken his side against his father. Hell, even he believed he deserved the crap he got from him sometimes.
“Nice to meet you, Nikki,” his father said.
“Hello, Mr. Myler,” she responded.
“How nice Cole has brought a date,” he said, then glanced at Cole with a hint of disapproval. He didn’t think it was nice at all. He’d mentioned briefly he wanted Cole to get to know better one of his friends’ daughter. This clashed with his plans and also sent him a clear message—as much as he wanted to mend things with his father, Cole wouldn’t allow him to dictate his personal life. Working for him and learning the ropes, sure. Bossing about his love life? Something else entirely.
“Have we met?” his father asked.
“I don’t think so,” she said.
“What’s your line of work, if I may ask?” he asked, studying her.
“Management,” she said.
Cole had asked her not to say anything about her real occupation so the board wouldn’t resent her for swaying his mind.
“Interesting. What kind?”
“Is this an interrogation?” Cole stepped forward, trying to keep things light. He patted his father’s back. “It’s nice to see you out.”
“You just saw me out today at the meeting.”
“I meant having fun,” he said, though the idea of his staunch father having fun randomly was amusing to say the least. Cole supposed Craig enjoyed the rare company of old friends for cigars and whisky, but usually in his mansion.
“Right,” his father said casually. “Well, congrats on having your new idea approved.” He raised his tumbler, with a semblance of a smile. “Maybe now we can invest in other places on the West Coast, and each time give you more control.”
“Maybe,” he said, adamant on not sounding too excited about the idea.
“I’ll leave you two to it. Excuse me.” He left, walking in the direction of a group of couples who greeted him happily.
“So what will you do after the retirement home is all settled?”
The nervousness in her voice brought him to reality, grounding him in the present. He stared at her and wished he could remove the flicker of apprehension from her beautiful eyes.
Should he lie? No.
He’d been honest with her from the beginning and couldn’t change now. A lump lodged in his throat, and he swallowed it, the tip of his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. “One of the reasons why I accepted this challenge to help him with Great Escape is to see how I do, so he’ll sell me his stocks and I can be the major stockholder at Myler Enterprises.”
“Really?”
“He’s still a major stockholder. I’m his only heir,” he said, his voice thickening.
