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Of course it’s not. If there was another way I would have found it by now.
Beth gives me a reassuring pat on the arm. “You do what’s best for your business. And for yourself. I just wanted you to know that if you decide to sell, you don’t need to worry about upsetting me.”
I manage a small smile at the gesture. “Thanks, Beth.”
***
“You’ve been quiet,” Deacon comments later on as I’m driving him home. “I figured you’d be over the moon right now, father of the bride and all that.” He reaches across the console to run his fingers through the hair at my nape. “You’re way hotter than Steve Martin, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“What?”
“Steve Martin—Father of the Bride.”
I roll my eyes. Deacon and his movie references. “That’s not what I’m worried about,” I say wryly. “And I am over the moon. Although I think I’ll be taking the hands-off approach to wedding planning. Best to steer clear of Hurricane Piper.”
Deacon snorts in amusement. “She’s that bad?”
“She won’t become a bridezilla or anything,” I assure him. “She just likes things done in the exact way she wants them and doesn’t have patience for people messing up.”
He nods, his fingers continuing to brush through my hair. It’s so soothing and comforting, I just want to pull over and crawl into his arms. Obviously that’s not a possibility; not only because we’re driving through Lower Manhattan, but because Izzy is asleep in the back of the car. I glance in the rearview to check on her, and see that she is indeed still snoozing.
“So what’s up then?” Deacon asks, concern in his voice.
“Beth thinks I should sell MesiTec,” I tell him.
He shifts in his seat to stare at me, brows raised. “The company my brother’s trying to buy?”
“Well, it’s your brother’s client, but yeah.”
“But that’s Leah’s company,” Deacon says, and my heart swells at the way he says her name, as though he also knew and loved her.
I nod. “Yeah. But Beth pointed something out to me that I hadn’t really considered before—that I’m not really saving it by not selling, I’m just clinging onto it because I can’t bring myself to let go.”
“That’s a completely valid reason,” he says gently. “If you’re not ready to sell, that’s okay.”
I offer a wry smile. “You’re not a businessman, Deacon, and I love that about you. But I can’t keep holding onto an asset for purely sentimental reasons. Not when its sale can breathe life back into the entire corporation.”
“From everything you’ve told me about Leah, I think she would have been happy to have given you that lifeline,” Deacon says gently.
Lifeline.I’ve never thought of the MesiTec offer that way. But I have to admit, it takes a lot of the sting out of selling to think of it as Leah reaching he hand out to save me from drowning. Or something sappy like that.
I nod, my throat tightening. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”
“And if you are going to sell, this might be a good week to do it—I think Sully could really use a win right about now.”
I wince at the reminder of the garbage article that some online tabloid printed about Stapleton last week. I’ve never really liked the guy—although I guess now I’m going to have to make an effort, aren’t I?—but I wouldn’t wish something like that on my worst enemy. Add in the fact that it completely screwed with the guy’s relationship and I’m left in the very odd situation of feeling sorry for Sullivan Stapleton.
I offer Deacon a warm smile. “Alright. I’ll put Leona onto it tomorrow. And I guess once your brother and I are no longer business rivals we can all sit down for a nice dinner together. And then I can kick his ass for having me tracked by a PI.”
Deacon’s lips twitch in obvious amusement. “I agree with the sentiment, babe. But why don’t you letmekick his ass?” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “And then after dinner I can lick yours.”
CHAPTER31
DEACON
“Friendsgiving?” Tanner asks curiously. “That’s an actual thing?”
I nod. “Yep. At least that’s what most of us call it. Skyler calls it “Spanksgiving” but I’m sure that’s just because he likes to be punny. There isn’t any spanking. At least, not at Spencer’s place…well, not at Spencer’s place while everyone’s there.” I give a shake of my head. “I really need to stop talking.”
