Page 167 of Dirty Rival
“Is that right?”
“Yes, it is. I’m impatient but you’re worth whatever wait we decide on. Let’s go get our tree. What color bulbs do you like?”
“Bulbs? Color?”
She laughs. “Yes. You know those decorations that go on the tree.”
“Whatever gets us under the tree fastest,” I tease, and then add. “We’ll figure it out together.”
“Yes. We’ll figure it out together.”
She smiles, and that beautiful smile lights up the room and my heart. I pull open the door and a few minutes later we’re in the back of a hired car on our way to pick out a tree. We’ve just arrived at Rockefeller Center when Carrie spies a coffee shop. “We have to have coffee while we shop for trees. It’s an unwritten rule.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Well then, by all means, let’s get coffee.”
We’re about to head inside when she grabs my arm and turns me to face her. “Reid.” There’s this vulnerable quality to her voice that has me caressing her cheek.
“What is it, baby?”
“I haven’t put up a tree in years. It felt weird because I was alone but I missed it. I really love that I have you to do this with.”
“And I love that you woke me up and made me live again, Carrie. I love that we’re doing this.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, I do.” I kiss her temple. “Let’s get that coffee.”
She nods. “Yes, please.”
“So many manners,” I tease. “Just remember that word for later.”
“Yes or please?”
“Both actually,” I say, laughing and opening the door for her.
We head inside and order our coffees when my cellphone rings. I pull it from my pocket to find my father’s number. “Give me a minute,” I say, and I don’t wait for Carrie to ask who it is. I don’t need my father destroying yet another moment.
I head for the door and step outside, answering the line. “Father.”
“You got the whiskey, I assume? I expected a thank you call.”
“You mean you expected me to call and defend my woman, but as you probably figured out, she can take care of herself.”
“She’s interesting, and thanks to you, West Enterprises is worth a lot of money. I hope you plan to absorb the company.”
Holy fuck. He’s going to twist this. He’s going to make it seem like I was after her money.
“I think I’ll let you keep her,” he says. “It was a savvy move, son. Drink that scotch and celebrate how damn good you are. I am.” He hangs up.
“Fuck you, father,” I growl, shoving my phone in my pocket.
Carrie walks out of the door and steps in front of me, two coffees in her hands. “I heard that. What happened?”
I don’t want to tell her, but I’m not giving my father a chance to turn this on me. “He thinks I’m marrying you to absorb your company into ours.”