I still had to interview his sister, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
Eleven
Dax
I stepped into Renee’s office. “I just talked to the developers, and we’re completely scrapping our previous idea. We’re meeting up again in a week to see what they come up with, and I’ll do my own research. So, you need to talk to the manufacturers and put everything on hold.”
Her office was the complete opposite of mine. She had a white desk with a beautiful rug underneath. There were always vases of flowers everywhere. The walls had images of the beautiful countryside, reminding her of our home in Connecticut. Instead of looking like a corporate office, it was an office you’d see in Home and Garden.
She looked up from her laptop then shut it. “Alright, I’ll handle it.” She was in white pants that were high on her waist with a blouse tucked in. Her hair was curled and pulled over one shoulder. “How’d it go with William last week?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“I want your version.”
I sat in the armchair facing her desk. “Pretty decent player.”
“That’s it?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.
“He told me about the hooker in Vegas.”
“He did?” she blurted. “What? I can’t believe he told you that.”
“The guy doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. I like that.”
“But still…”
“And he told me about your little tantrum…”
The blood drained from her face, and she suddenly looked pale.
I grinned at her embarrassment. “Didn’t know you were the jealous type.”
“Oh my god, I’m going to kill him.”
“I thought it was a cute story, actually.”
“That was the most embarrassing night of my life.”
“He seemed to enjoy it.”
“Well, he’s…different.” She looked away, like the memory still got under her skin. “I’m glad you two are getting along.”
“He’s easy to get along with. I like that he doesn’t brag to impress me. I just discover more information through our conversations.”
“Like?”
“The fact that he owns his own practice. Impressive.”
She chuckled. “He’s one of the top five cardiologists in the city, but I’m sure he didn’t mention it.”
“See? That’s what I’m talking about.” I snapped my fingers. “If you’re successful, it doesn’t need to be broadcast. Constantly bragging means you’re insecure. He’s not insecure at all.”
“No, he’s definitely not.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway…I’m doing an interview with Carson tomorrow.”
The second Carson was mentioned, my lungs deflated like punctured balloons. I put her out of my mind as much as possible, and when she’d tried to come in and finish off her questions, I’d intervened and told her we would only communicate via email from now on.
I never wanted to see her again.
Just couldn’t do it.
My elbow rested on the arm, and my fingers stretched across my jawline as I regarded my sister.
“Not happy about that?”
“The interview doesn’t bother me.”
“Then why did you get so low all of a sudden?”
I normally wouldn’t say anything, but Renee had asked for a deeper relationship with me, probably because she had been close to Mom and they talked about a lot of things. She’d turned to Dad for advice too. They were gone, and she needed me to step up. So, I told her the truth. “We aren’t friends anymore.”
“Oh… What happened?” She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk, her hands coming together.
“We got together for a dinner. I thought it was just casual, hanging out with her and her friends. But it was actually to celebrate my birthday, and she got me a cake and everything…”
“That sounds nice. What’s the problem?” Her eyes were soft as she regarded me, like my romantic problems were important to her.
I rubbed my fingers across my cheek. “There’s just something about those quiet moments with her that make me feel… I can’t really describe it. The night before, I went out with the guys and we hit up a strip club and all this bullshit, and I just… It’s not me anymore. And having that quiet moment, just us in that booth, her sitting across from me… made me lose it. I told her I wanted to be with her, that I wanted her to take me back.”
Her eyes widened. “You said that in front of her friends?”
“Like I said, I just snapped.”
“Then what happened?” Her voice trailed off like she already knew the outcome.
“She said no.” I’d relived that moment so many times, the way she rejected me, turned me down like her answer was so concrete that no amount of closeness would ever change our relationship. I’d never felt this way about anyone, not even my ex-wife, and I refused to believe Carson didn’t feel the same. But she still didn’t want me, even if her feelings lingered.
She shook her head slightly. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah.”
“And she doesn’t want anything to do with you?”
“No. I was the one who walked away.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“As friends, she was a lot more open with me and I got to know her on a whole new level, and it’s just making it more difficult. I’m never going to move on if I see her all the time. I’m never going to give other women a chance if I’m sprung on some woman who doesn’t want me.”
Renee turned quiet and just stared.
I rubbed the scruff on my jawline then looked at her. “What?”
“I just… I didn’t know you felt that strongly about her.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does matter.”
“It’s complicated. I wasn’t interested in anything meaningful when I met her, and she wasn’t either. So, our timing is terrible…”
“If you guys are in the same place, then it sounds perfect to me.”
It had sounded perfect to me too. We could both grow together, both move on together, both find happiness in each other. “She doesn’t see it that way.”
Twelve
Carson
Renee Frawley was on a different floor, so there wasn’t much of a chance I would run into Dax. He was probably aware of the appointment and would make sure we didn’t cross paths.
I checked in with her assistant and was ushered in a moment later.
Renee’s office couldn’t be more different from his. It was like a spring day in the park—but inside a skyscraper with a view of more skyscrapers behind her. Vases of flowers were placed throughout the large room, and big, vibrant paintings of hydrangeas next to sea cottages hung above a white desk with a padded white chair.
Renee rose from her chair and greeted me with a handshake—but not a smile. “Take a seat.”