AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why don’t you get out and ask her,” he said, not looking surprised to see her there. I opened the door and he said, “Don’t worry about your luggage. I’ll have it brought to your suite.”
“Thanks.” Looking at Meri all dressed up, I turned to Bennett and said, “Just don’t have it brought up anytime soon.”
He laughed. “Text me when you want it.”
I nodded and went over to Meri. “This is a pleasant surprise. No work today?”
“I was working, but I had a meeting with Finn and Reesa. There is so much I need to talk to you about.”
“I have a lot I need to tell you too. But first, this,” I said, leaning over and kissing her. Each time our lips made contact, my body came to life, and I never wanted to let her go. “How about we go up to our suite and we can talk.”
I knew she had her own home, but she also had neighbors who didn’t miss much of what went on around them. She didn’t need them seeing me come and go on and off. Meri said she didn’t care about the rumors that would start, but I was. They all had so much respect for her, and I didn’t want to be the one to tarnish that.
When we got inside the suite, she led me to the couch. I could tell she had something serious to talk about. It was making me nervous. What if what she was about to tell me made it impossible for me to ask her what I needed to?
“Should I go first, or you?” I asked, hoping that she would let me.
“What I have to talk about will take a while, so maybe you should go first,” she suggested.
Now she piqued my interest. What had the O’Connors’ said to her that was so big that it would take time?
“Unless you aren’t ready to talk about your news yet. If that is the case, I can go first,” she said when I hadn’t talked.
“No. I’ll go first.” I’d been thinking about it the entire flight and probably wasn’t going to pay close enough attention to what she was saying until I talked to her.
“Okay. I’m listening,” she said, sitting up straight on the couch giving me her full attention.
“Sweetheart, this isn’t a business meeting. Well, not really. I am here to talk about a merger.”
“A merger? Are you acquiring something new?” she asked.
“No. A blending of two. I want to talk to you about...us. Meri, I know I told you that we could make this work. And we are both doing our best to do so.”
Her eyes watered and she got up from the couch. “Please, Ryker. Don’t tell me that you can’t do this any longer. I...I know it’s not easy, and I know if we can just try a little while longer, it will get easier,” she said, plopping back down on the couch beside me. “You told me that some things are worth fighting for.Weare worth fighting for, Ryker. I’m not giving up on us that easily.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t understand...”
“Yes I do. The election is next month. After that we will hardly see each other. And you’re worried that...that...”
“That I won’t be able to be without you?” I asked and she nodded. “You’re right. It is painful lying awake in bed, not being able to kiss you goodnight. That’s why I travel here so often. To see you.”
“I thought you had meetings with Reesa,” she said.
“An excuse. Everything could be done online. Everything but what is most important to me.”
“What is that?” she asked.
“Holding you. Being with you. I come to Tabiq, for you,” I said clearly so she wouldn’t misunderstand why I was there.
“But your company. Your merger. You need to work on that as well,” she said, always worried about me.
“I am. Right now.”
“You’re merging with a company in Tabiq?” she asked.
“No. I’m hoping for a more personal merger. One that takes two lives and blends them into one.” She didn’t say anything and just looked up into my eyes. “Meri, I’m doing a horrible job at this, but what I’m trying to say is that I love you.”
“I love you too, Ryker.”
