Page 95 of Burning for You

“If you think your bestie Rupert will help you, think again,” I say. “He’s been scrambling to save himself with his tax evasion case. It’s unlikely his company will survive. I know the man is a fighter, and he will come back. But right now, and for the foreseeable future in the period of time that you need, he’ll be too busy for you.”

“You win this time, Caro,” Josh says. “You may think you’re powerful, but you’re nothing but a whore with an itchy crotch. You’ll see!”

“And,” I take off my engagement ring, putting it on the table. “We’re over.”

“You’d better look left and right, behind and in front of you. I’ll be that speck of dust that will disturb your vision, I’ll be the bump on the ground that trips you, and you won’t know it’s me.”

“You’ve always been dust in the wind, and the bump on the ground that people step on,” I say, standing up.

Josh stands up too, and with one swipe of his arm, he sweeps the plate of croissants and cups of coffees off the meeting table, along with the sheets of Random Valley development plans.

Levi quickly jumps in front of me when Josh attempts to get close. Inch by inch, he pushes my ex closer to the exit, and the man who fooled and betrayed me leaves like a defeated bull.

I inspect the litter on the floor, quipping, “He just wasted his own thirty dollars.”

“Come here,” Levi says, holding my waist.

I nod tentatively, wanting Levi to know I’m not afraid.

“You did it,” he whispers, kissing my crown. “What would I do without you?”

“Can we just…”

Suddenly, a thought occurs.

“Hey,” I say to Levi, inviting him to walk out of the room. “Walk past the door for me, please.” I close the door, letting my eyes do the explaining, and he understands.

Standing on the spot where I once confronted Josh about The Street Messenger reporter Zac Moss’ knowledge of the share buy-out, I watch Levi strutting along the corridor, head turned toward me. It’s like there’s a door in my heart that suddenly bursts open. The memory and the sight of him now renews me and ratifies how privileged I am to have found him.

Then Levi disappears. After waiting a few minutes, I come out to fetch him. “You can come in now.”

He smiles, wiping a tear. He lets go of his breath slowly. “We should take a break and go to Montana for a week or so. Clear our heads and talk about us, slowly. Just us.”

I respond, “That sounds good.”

But my head doesn’t seem to share the same enthusiasm. After all, I still haven’t recovered from the meeting, and deep down I know the victory today is just the beginning. My two opponents, especially Rupert, will not let me get away with this. The tape is still out there, and there are other things they can do to destroy me. At the other end of the spectrum, the press is always waiting for my next blunder.

Will I be able to take it?

Will Levi be able to take it?

Soon I find myself spinning in a haze.

“Carolyn!” Levi grabs me.

My body is shattered and my mind is mush. I’ve given everything to today and there’s nothing left in me to even think about what might happen next—good or bad.

“Just hold me,” I say, burying my face in his Italian jacket. He is holding me, but he does so even tighter now, just like the way I like it.

“I’ve got you,” Levi replies softly. “Shouldn’t we do this in the ladies’ bathroom upstairs?” he teases me. “To be authentic?”

Funny he brought that up.

My tummy is swirling, but it’s nothing like I experienced back when Levi saved me upstairs. It’s not lack of food, and it’s not stress either. It’s something foreign.

Chuckling, I say, “Maybe. But right now, please take me home.”