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“Good,” he said. “Excitement means motivation. And motivation means results.”
I sighed. “It doesn’t always have to be about results,” I said. “We should enjoy our work, too. After all, didn’t you once tell me how good for the world this was?”
“That doesn’t help me achieve it,” he said. “What helps me is progression. Pushing on. Keeping forward momentum, keeping focus. Speaking of which—”
“Speaking of which,” I said. “This has the potential to be a great campaign. But I need to know you’re behind me.”
He looked up at me. Even if he was tired and grumpy, Eric had a focus and a conviction that stirred all kinds of feelings in me. Admiration, for one. Even though I knew he was pissed with me.
“Is there something about the whole wedding idea that bothers you?” I asked.
His eyes snapped to mine, and he fixed me with a hard stare.
“You asked me to keep it professional, Jamie,” he said. “And Karen’s right. It’s a great idea. So why don’t we focus on those things?”
“All right,” I said quietly. “But even if we’re not friends …”
“Then what?” said Eric. I watched his strong arm as he delicately pushed a pen into place on his desk. For someone so large and strong, he could be gentle. He was always gentle with things. And he knew how to be gentle with people, too. Even if he forgot sometimes. I saw the good in him for a moment, and in that moment, I realized that I would always be attracted to him. I always feel that burning tension that connected us like an iron cable.
“I still want you to look after yourself,” I said. “I can’t see you work yourself into the ground. Even if you want to.”
Eric nodded, and then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Is it really that obvious?” he said.
I nodded and smiled back.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll call it a day. Head home and get some sleep. We’ll have some prototypes for you by Monday.”
“Great,” I said. “And you’re coming with me, right?”
“Coming with you?”
“Market research. We’ve got to go see some fancy engagement rings, right?”
“Right.”
“So, I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Sure,” rumbled Eric irritably. But I could tell that he wasn’t amused by my attitude.
“Okay,” I said, as I stood up.
I turned to go and was crossing the room when he said, softly, “Good work today.” And for a moment, I wanted to turn around and beam and tell him all the things I had on my mind. That I cared for him, that some part of me, however dysfunctional that part was, just wanted to please him.
But I knew that if I told him, I would want to show him. I would want to wrap my arms around his broad shoulders and rest my head on his chest.
And I couldn’t do that.
If I did, I have to tell him about Cassie.
Chapter Sixteen
Eric
NEXUSwasaglittering,gorgeous jeweler. It was hidden behind a dark storefront in downtown Boston. In the aisles, Jamie and I stood, watching the city’s wealthiest and most elegant clients moving through the rows of glass cases.
Some of the most beautiful jewelry I ever saw surrounded us. The glass cases held hundreds upon hundreds of glittering necklaces, brooches, earrings, and rings. Thousands of rings, fashioned from delicate silver and white gold.
I watched Jamie as she bent down to inspect one of the products. It was a gorgeous sapphire enclosed in a square silver frame, on top of a white gold band.
