Page 91 of Burning for You
“The meeting rooms at Brilliance have arctic temperatures,” Bear says. “I think a black turtleneck will look great.”
“Yeah, I’ve got one at home.”
“I think you’re ready,” Carolyn says.
“I must say,” Bear says, looking at me sanguinely. “I’m glad that finally Caro sees sense!”
Carolyn cocks her head.
“Don’t get me wrong, Caro. Josh is powerful, and power is sexy. I get that. But he’s evil, as we all know now. And he looks like a Jack-o’-Lantern!”
I guffaw. So I wasn’t the only one thinking Josh looks like a pumpkin. But I simply shrug when both Carolyn and Bear stare at me, obviously trying to make sense of my mirth.
Then I hear a knock on the door.
“Dad!” Carolyn says.
While I’m at ease in Bear’s company, the presence of Albert Meyer is anything but.
“Levi,” Carolyn says. “This is my dad.”
Albert takes a deep breath, staring at the two of us. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he says. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Holt.”
“I might just check how the photo shoot is going.” Bear separates himself from us as Albert and I shake hands.
My feet tell me to follow Bear out of the room as whirs of discomfort wreak havoc inside my chest. The realization that Carolyn is an heiress, as Grant Barnes forewarned, finally hits me. An heiress—meaning her father is a titan.
With authority, the man says to Carolyn, “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Alone, please,” he says.
“Dad, Levi and I are together.” She puts her arm around me.
The bombshell astonishes Mr. Meyer.
And me.
I’m honored that she declares our relationship to her dad with joy, without hesitation. But why now? She didn’t even ask, or hint at me, about her intention to tell him so soon. What I had in mind was, after we put the Random Valley crisis behind us, Carolyn and I would take it slow, talk about us, plan our lives before anybody else came into the picture.
With how firmly she grips me, it feels like we’re going to get married tomorrow.
Carolyn’s dad scrutinizes me from top to bottom, left to right, especially my tattooed arms. That Geyser suit, or whatever color it was, wasn’t my style, but how I wish I was wearing it now.
“Please, I need to speak to you alone,” the man insists.
“Levi should stay,” Carolyn insists harder.
“Very well,” Albert says. “I’ve blown the whistle on Rupert Teller’s HPI to the IRS. They will start pursuing the tax fraud charges, after your meeting with Bright.”
Carolyn nods. “Thanks.”
“How about Joshua? What are you gonna do?” he asks.
“Leave him to me, please. You’ve gotta trust me on this.”
“Of course. But that tape isn’t going anywhere,” Albert says, glancing at me.