“No, but it’s a little shocking. I’ve been independent forever, and we just sort of happened. Do you have anyone like that in your life?”
“I never did until I met Tank. But he didn’t give me a choice. He has a way of weaseling into people’s lives and getting them to open up. To be honest, I called Tank before I called Rob and Justin about doing the work here, and I trust Rob and Justin with my life. But my thoughts went to Tank first because he’s that person for me.”
“He must be very special. Is there something going on between you two?”
“Not romantically. But Tank is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a best friend.” Cait kicked at a mark on the floor with the toe of her peach Converse and said, “But now I feel like I can trust you and Deirdra, too.”
“You can, and I feel the same way about you.” Abby took a deep breath and said, “Relationship revelations are scary. Thanks for reminding me that that’s normal. Let’s go tell the guys we want to do both the counter and the window.”
“What about Aiden’s opinion? Do you want to text him first?”
“My wise big sister pointed out that there’s a difference between want and need. I want to get his opinion, but I don’t need it to move forward, whereas I need him naked in my bed again before I lose my mind, which I realize also qualifies as a want. See? I know the difference.”
As Aiden boarded the eleven-thirty flight from LA to Boston, he wondered how he’d ever thought a life consumed with work had been a life at all. The work hadn’t changed. Though road shows weren’t his favorite thing, strategizing and the competitive environment had always lit his brain on fire, adding to his drive to take over more companies, to help others succeed, and to carry on his father’s legacy with the highest level of integrity. But every minute of the last three days he’d spent helping George and Damon raise capital, he’d wanted to be back on Silver Island, helping the woman he was falling hard for make her dreams come true. He’d never put anyone above work besides Remi. He’d never slighted a client, and though he’d never been very involved with a woman, he’d thought himself to be a gentleman, couth enough never to slight a woman.
But here he was, taking a seat beside George Pennington, feeling like hell because Remi hadn’t spoken to him since he’d called her Monday morning to let her know where he was, and any way he looked at it, he’d slighted Abby. He’d chosen work over her. She’d texted him pictures of the renovations being done at the restaurant today, and it only made him wish he’d been there even more. She was perfectly capable of overseeing the work, but he’d have loved to be there to see and feel her excitement as the changes came to fruition.
George put on his seat belt and rested his head back with a sigh. “I’m getting too old for this.” He was in his early seventies, with snow-white hair, kind dark eyes, and the best business sense of just about any man Aiden knew.
I’m getting too smart for it.
George’s eyes opened and he said, “I want to thank you for joining us at the last minute.”
“No need to thank me. I’m always here for you—you know that.”
“I do, and you’ve proved it many times over. I knew your father for a long time, and I know how much you and your sister meant to him. He would be proud of both of you, Aiden, but what you did for your sister . . .” George nodded and said, “There are not many men like you, and I’m proud to be among your clients.”
“Thank you, George. That means a lot to me,” he said, although he didn’t feel worthy of that praise after sweating out every minute, wishing he could leave. It was times like these that Aiden wished he could speak to his father again, to gain some of the fatherly advice he’d missed out on when he was younger.
Aiden’s phone vibrated with a text. He pulled it out, hoping it was Abby. He’d texted her before boarding, but she and Cait had stayed late at the restaurant, until after the Wickeds had left, and painted the wall Cait was going to use for the mural. He was sure she’d already turned in for the night.
Remi’s name appeared in the message. He opened it, and a picture of Remi scowling, eyes narrowed, arms crossed, stared back at him with the message I’m still not speaking to you.
George glanced at the phone. “Oh boy, kiddo. It looks like you’ve upset the applecart with your sister.”
With myself, too. “She’s not pleased about a business decision I made.”
“She’s questioning your choices.” George laughed incredulously. “You’re the smartest businessman I know. A real chip off the old block.”
Maybe that was the issue. He’d paid all of his attention to the way his father had handled business, but he’d failed to pay as close attention to the way his father had navigated the crossing of paths between work and his personal life. Aiden the businessman was exactly where he needed to be, but Aiden the man, Aiden the boyfriend, wanted to get the hell out of there and see his girl. “This is one of those times it would be nice to have my old man to lean on.”
“I’ve got a pretty good shoulder. You’re welcome to take it for a spin.”
He trusted George, and so had his father, so he gave it a shot, keeping it in the realm of business. “Have you ever wanted a deal so badly, you were willing to risk everything for it, even if it’s completely different from anything you’ve ever done? New, uncharted territory, with an overwhelming amount of room for errors? So much room that you weren’t sure you wouldn’t fuck it up?”
“Me? No. I’m far too conservative. But I know what your old man would say.”
That piqued Aiden’s interest.
George met his gaze and said, “He’d tell you that the most important deals are made with your heart.”
Aiden scoffed. “Come on, George. You can do better than that. You know my father didn’t allow his emotions to affect his business dealings.”
George arched a brow and said, “You’re right, because he believed there was only one deal worth risking everything for, and it was one he’d made years before you were born, the one he saw every night when he walked through his front door.”
A rush of emotions hit Aiden, and his father’s voice blew through his mind. The best part of my day is coming home.
“I hope that helps.” George eyed him curiously. “This deal you’re thinking about must be a doozy, because I’ve never seen you unsure about anything since the day I met you the summer after you graduated high school. Do you remember that?”
“Yes, that was a great summer.” Aiden had spent the summer before college shadowing his father at work, and he’d gone with him to meet George and his team for a quarterly meeting. He could still remember how proud he’d felt in his suit and tie, standing beside his father, his mentor, his idol, shaking George’s hand—firmly, as his father had taught him, without breaking eye contact. He’d felt like he was on his way, on the one and only path he’d ever wanted. Now he needed to find a way to remain on that path while making room for another one without running them both off course.
“To this day, I’ve never met a sharper kid,” George said, drawing him from his thoughts. “You have always known exactly what you were doing, Aiden.”