AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maybe I did.” He smiled down at her. “But it’s still nice to have my suspicions confirmed.”
Chapter Eight
Lucy woke up the next morning wrapped in Caleb’s arms at the ranch. Her parents and Dan had gone back the previous evening to take care of the B&B. Isla had reassured her that if anyone did turn up needing somewhere to stay then she knew how to handle it. Lucy had promised to return for lunch—something she was already looking forward to because for once in her life her parents were happy with her and mad at Dan.
She’d wanted to stay with Caleb to support him through his upcoming meeting with Chase Morgan, the VC who currently owned thirty percent of his company. She’d done a bit of surreptitious research while Caleb was out working in the barn and found nothing bad. Chase even commuted between his offices in Silicon Valley and his family ranch near Bridgeport. If anyone might understand where Caleb was coming from, it was Chase.
She whiled away the hours while Caleb and his dad were working by reorganizing the kitchen pantry and writing Isaiah a shopping list for the next time he went down to one of the bigger towns.
Caleb came in about fifteen minutes before Chase was expected, dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and headed for the shower.
“Won’t be long. Dad’s staying in the barn—keep Chase sweet if he turns up before I’m done.”
“Will do.” Lucy was good at being charming. She’d learned at her grandma’s knee.
At 9:55 there was a tap on the side door. Lucy went to open it and revealed a relaxed-looking cowboy complete with Stetson, boots, and Wranglers. “Hi, I’m Chase Morgan. I think Caleb is expecting me.”
“Oh.” She looked him up and down. “I was expecting you to be wearing a suit.”
He grinned at her. “Not when I’m on vacation.”
“I’m Lucy Smith. Caleb’s”—she paused to think of a suitable word—“significant other.”
“You live here?”
“I live in town. I run the B&B.”
“Nice.” He wiped his feet on the mat, came in, and glanced approvingly around the kitchen. “Looks just like home—except with fewer kids running around.”
“Caleb should be here any second. He was just taking a shower.”
“Glad to hear it, if he’s been out working.”
Lucy couldn’t help but like Chase Morgan. He was way less threatening than she’d imagined. Caleb came in and reached out his hand to Chase.
“Good to see you. Thanks for coming all this way.”
“It felt like the right thing to do,” Chase said.
“I’ll bring you guys some coffee,” Lucy offered. “You can take it through to the family room and talk.”
“Thanks.” Caleb nodded. “And bring three mugs. I want you to know what’s going on, too, Lucy.”
She was glad he’d included her. If he hadn’t, she would’ve been loitering in the hallway unashamedly eavesdropping. She set the coffee mugs and a plate of cookies on a tray and took them through. Chase was sitting by the fire and Caleb was standing by the window looking tense. After putting the tray beside Chase, she went over to Caleb and squeezed his hand. “You’ve got this.”
“I wish.” He took a seat opposite Chase and Lucy sat beside him. “I haven’t changed my mind. I don’t want to live in Seattle. I want to be here with my family.”
Chase looked at Lucy. “And now I understand why.”
“I can’t run my company from here because it’s too hands-on, which means I have to get out.”
“Got it.” Chase took a sip of coffee. “Here’s how I see your options. You shut everything down, fire your employees, and walk out with nothing, which after all your work seems way too harsh.”
“Agreed.”
“Or you sell your business to Melco, the company that’s been dying to acquire you for years.”
“I could do that, but my reasons for not doing so before still stand.”
