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"Mmm?" comes his sleepy response, humming against me as his chest presses into my back.
"What…. What happens when you go back home? What happens to this?"
He shifts against me, and his lips find my shoulders again. "You mean you want to make this…?"
"Official?" I say. "Yes. That's really what I want."
"You realize it'll be long-distance, right?" he asks, hesitance in his voice. "I'm still based in Houston, where my office is. I'll come here as often as I can, but I will have important things to do there. Maybe other places to go."
Rolling myself over, I look deep into those blue eyes, azure in the shadowy dark of night. "I'll be busy too, Brett. I just want to know that this matters to the both of us."
Cupping my hand in his, he brings it to his lips. "Of course, you matter to me, Denise. I'd give you anything."
And, deep down to the very base of my beating heart, I believe it's true.
CHAPTER17
Brett
“Alright, everyone. that's a wrap."
I nod in response to Austin's announcement, a fluttering sense of relief in my gut as this final meeting ends.
"Good to hear," I say, trying to keep my voice from sounding tense.
Even after a month of working on this new project, I still haven't gotten used to seeing Austin's face on that big screen. Especially knowing what he tried to do to his sister.
Hopefully, all these newly acquired investments will keep him too busy to bother me and Denise.
"And I've got to say that you were exceptionally thorough, Mr. Cooper." Austin's eyes move to Harris. "You were right when you said he was one of your best."
"We are excellent judges of character here at WestRock, Mr. Lawson," Harris says, a tired smile pinching his wrinkled face.
"Definitely," Austin agrees. "I'm very satisfied with this work. I'll get things going on my end, get my construction guys to survey the properties, and…." He trails off before shrugging. "I guess I'll be in touch."
"Great," I say. And as he finally signs off the call, an entire wave of relief comes crashing through me. Holy shit. It's over. I can finally breathe at the office again.
I'm still not entirely sure what he plans to do with all these places now that he has access to them. But, since he's no longer going after the Sugar Breeze, what he does with his time is not any of my concern.
Harris turns to me, folding his paper folder and interlacing his hands over it.
"Good work, Brett," he says, and as he smiles again, I know he means it. "Better Horizons would have been a painful client to lose."
"Indeed," I agree. Though inside, I wouldn't mind seeing Austin kicked to the curb. "I'm just glad this job went much better than the last one."
Something behind his eyes flashes. "Me too," he says slowly. "So will the board when they hear about this."
Through the cloud of relief, I feel the centering weight of satisfaction.
This is it. I'll finally be a partner at the firm in a few weeks. Since I graduated, it has been my one guiding goal.
Once things are stable for me, I can finally give Denise everything her heart desires. I can get her a beautiful house, a nicer car and even help spruce up the Sugar Breeze Bakery. Anything she wants or needs, I'm going to give her.
Closing my eyes, I bring myself back to the present.
"What's the next project?" I ask Harris. It's always made the higher-ups happy to show initiative.
Predictably, Harris smiles at my offer.
