“Forward? With what?”
“We came up with a plan. We can combine our stock under a legal umbrella. Together, we and the Butlers can fight whatever Sherman does. Forget about working for him or for God’s sake, marrying a man you don’t know—”
“I do know him, Dad. I know him, and I trust him, more than I trust Marlin. Do not combine your shares with him. Those are my shares. I don’t want you to do that.”
“Little girl, it’s the only way to show the banks and investors that we’re strong and withstand this attempted coup.”
“I’m not a little girl, Dad.” I stood and paced by the fireplace and windows. “It’s not a coup. Van is talking to his press secretary right now. Tomorrow before the markets open, the world will know that he bought the stock and that despite his history, he wants Wade Pharmaceutical to succeed because he’s marrying me.”
“Julia,” Mom said, “I texted the pilot. He said we can fly directly to a small airport in Ashland. He needs to get the plane ready and file a flight plan. Once we take off, we can be there in an hour and a half.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want you to come here.”
Mom’s voice lowered. “Has he hurt you?”
He left a hickey on my left breast. I didn’t say that. “No, Van hasn’t hurt me. He’s helped me. He’s listened and now he wants to help with Wade.”
“Marlin,” Dad said, “will never agree to this.”
“It isn’t Marlin’s decision.”
There was a soft knock before the door to my suite opened. I spun toward him. Van’s green gaze was filled with concern and inquiry, questioning my conversation. His hair was wet and his suit was replaced by a t-shirt that fit tightly over his wide shoulders and a pair of pajama pants. It was the first time I’d seen this casual attire. I lifted my hand to his chest, feeling the steadiness of his heartbeat.
“Do you want me to talk to them?” Van asked softly.
I shook my head and spoke into the phone. “Mom, Dad, I’m going to go now. Don’t come here, not yet. I’m spending the holidays with my fiancé.”
“Don’t—”
Disconnecting the phone, I didn’t hear the rest of their reply.
Van’s lips curled into a grin. “I like hearing that word from you.” He reached for my hand. “Are you okay? What did your parents say?”
I let out a sigh and laid my phone on a nearby table. “They were shocked.” I reached for him with my other hand and looked down at where we were touching. It wasn’t as dramatic as last night on the dining room table, and yet the simple comfort at having my hands in his brought a smile to my face.
Van squeezed my hands. “That’s understandable.”
“Dad doesn’t trust that you’ll help.”
“He’s a smart man.”
My eyes opened wider. “You promised.”
Van snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me flush to his chest. “He’s smart because I’m the last man he or Butler should trust.” His green stare met mine. “I’ll prove them wrong, Julia. For you, I’ll help save your family’s company, but you should know that when I’m done, the Butlers will no longer be major or minor stockholders.”
I stared up at him. “What’s your connection with the Butlers?”
“It was a long time ago. It involved Logan first.”
“Logan? You mean Uncle Logan?”
Technically, he was Skylar’s uncle, but using the aunt or uncle moniker was something we did interchangeably for one another’s relatives since we were young.
Van scoffed. “That’s him. Marlin became involved. You can say that I hold grudges.”
Julia
Van’s gaze shimmered with the gold flecks. “If you want to go home to your parents for the holidays, I wouldn’t stop you. You aren’t being held here against your will.”
I grinned, looking down at his arm around me. “I am being held, it’s not against my will, and I like it.” I shrugged. “Chicago is the last place I want to be. As far as the holidays, you don’t so much as have a wreath on your door. I get the feeling you’re not too into celebrating.”
“I’ve lived alone a long time. There’s not a lot of festivity when you’re by yourself.” He took my hand and led me to the soft leather sofa. “I’ve already attended the obligatory parties. And I hosted the one for the Sherman and Madison executives and office staff.”
“Here in your home?”
Wouldn’t he want decorations if he did that?
“No,” Van said, “at a restaurant in Ashland.”
I leaned my head against his shoulder. “This was supposed to be a special time, a week before my wedding.” I scoffed. “I had three days and two nights booked downtown at the Conrad with my bridesmaids.”
“Including...?”
“I only had two, despite my mother wanting an entire court.” I sighed. “If you’re asking if Beth was included, the answer is yes, as my maid of honor, she was.” I gave that some thought. “I suppose she wouldn’t have been drinking.”
“Have you spoken to Beth?”
I shook my head. “Mom said she had.” My stomach twisted. “I’ve spoken to Vicki, the other bridesmaid. When it comes to Beth, I don’t wish her ill; I just can’t talk to her yet. Talking to Skylar at the hotel was enough.”
Van’s fingers gently ran through the length of my hair. “I’ve said it before, Butler’s an ass.”
“We had a house being built. It wasn’t done.” I sighed. “I imagined hosting large gatherings there.”
Van reached for my chin, pulling my eyes to his. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I’m sorry that you’ve been hurt, Julia. I’m here if you want to vent or lament. I didn’t hurt you, and I never want to be someone who does, but just because you’re away from your family and friends, know that I’m here. You’re not alone. You never will be.”
An unexpected tear rolled down my cheek.
Van wiped it away with his thumb. “Seeing you cry breaks my fucking heart. I won’t lie; it also makes me want to ruin him and his entire family.”
“He has a baby to support. Ruining him would hurt an innocent child.”
Van turned toward the window, staring out toward the frozen bay. His jaw was set and his expression hard to read. I didn’t know if he was thinking about what he could do to hurt Skylar or if his thoughts were about something else light-years away.
Before I could ask, he wrapped his arm around me.
Instead of the silence that settled around us feeling awkward, it was comforting as I laid my head back on his shoulder. The t-shirt against my cheek was soft, and his shoulder beneath was hard, the perfect pillow. “I don’t need to celebrate the holidays.”
It was as if my words brought Van back from his thoughts. “I have to go into the office tomorrow morning. It’s Saturday and Christmas Eve. Half the exchanges will be closed before I arrive. It doesn’t matter how much of a workaholic I am, I can’t conduct business when everyone else around the world is unreachable.” He kissed the top of my head. “That means that I’ll be back a little after noon. Unless...”