Скачать книгу

ever notice her.

      She recalled the silky softness on her fingers when she raked them into his hair. She’d wanted to climb that wall of masculinity to the summit. He’d been a perplexing mix of rigid and pliant during that kiss. Unraveling his straight-edged spine sent a zing of pleasure through her that hummed inside of her still. Had she seen him come unglued before last weekend? She didn’t think so.

      “I need to talk to Brannon,” she told her mother. She’d been saying that a lot lately—to others and to herself. “Royce and Brannon were glaring at each other in a meeting today and I can’t help thinking that’s my fault.”

      Royce had been distracted in the financial meeting, and she’d bet she could also take credit for that. He’d been far from flustered, but when his eyebrows carved a deep line in his forehead, she’d read his expression as easily as she had his email. He needed help. So, she bailed him out.

      “Brannon was out of line. You two are cute together, but marriage?” Deena shook her head. “I love that boy, I do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Royce is the one for you, but darling, you’re not married. You’re certainly not engaged. You weren’t anything when you shared that kiss except for curious.”

      And turned on, but that was too crass to mention.

      “You’re right.”

      “Perhaps the near-miss engagement is making you think about having a family. You’re healing from losing your father. It’s normal for your thoughts to turn inward.”

      “Coffee with the widow’s group is helping.” Taylor loved her mother but even Deena would be the first to admit that she’d never been what anyone would call “introspective.”

      “They’re a lifeline. As far as your own future, don’t pressure yourself. You love to do that, and I can tell you’re trying to plot and plan. Let the future unfold on its own instead. See how that goes.”

      Easy for Deena to say. She loved to go with the flow. Taylor preferred directing the flow whenever possible.

      “Who do you think Jack will name as his new CEO?” Deena propped her elbow on the table, wine in hand.

      “Not Gia. She never wanted to run that company.”

      “Smart girl.” Deena smirked. “I imagine it’ll be Royce, don’t you?”

      “I could see either of them as CEO, but Royce’s being older could be an advantage.”

      “Maybe Jack will name you.”

      “No.” Taylor held out a hand like a stop sign. “I like my inherited position. It suits me. Plus, I like to think that I’m making Dad proud.” She was going to say more but a lump in her throat stymied the words.

      “Oh, honey.” Her mother gave her a quick hug before bending over the table to address her quietly. “He’s so proud. I know it. Charles always talked about how you’re his legacy, Tay. You’re like him in all the right ways. None of my underachiever tendencies. If you had a craft room filled with art supplies, you’d have a million-dollar business behind it. I just give them away.” She smiled, though, knowing it wasn’t a fault but simply the way she was. “When you’re ready to start a family—no matter who you start one with—you’ll succeed. Plenty of time for that, though.”

      “Thanks, Mom.” Deena Thompson always said the right thing.

      “I have a craft room to retire to and I know you’re not interested in spending the entire evening with me. I suspect you have work to do even after eight o’clock?”

      “You know me well.” Taylor was looking forward to it, though. Her laptop was a comfort.

      Her mother left the room, Rolf at her heels.

      On the drive home, Taylor thought of Royce and what he was doing tonight. If he was home answering emails or tinkering with a spreadsheet. Had he thought of her since the kiss?

      He would have had to... Wouldn’t he?

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4QAYRXhpZgAASUkqAAgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/sABFEdWNreQABAAQAAABQAAD/4QN7aHR0cDov L25zLmFkb2JlLmNvbS94YXAvMS4wLwA8P3hwYWNrZXQgYmVnaW49Iu+7vyIgaWQ9Ilc1TTBNcENl aGlIenJlU3pOVGN6a2M5ZCI/PiA8eDp4bXBtZXRhIHhtbG5zOng9ImFkb2JlOm5zOm1ldGEvIiB4 OnhtcHRrPSJBZG9iZSBYTVAgQ29yZSA1LjAtYzA2MSA2NC4xNDA5NDksIDIwMTAvMTIvMDctMTA6 NTc6MDEgICAgICAgICI+IDxyZGY6UkRGIHhtbG5zOnJkZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMTk5 OS8wMi8yMi1yZGYtc3ludGF4LW5zIyI+IDxyZGY6RGVzY3JpcHRpb24gcmRmOmFib3V0PSIiIHht bG5zOnhtcE1NPSJodHRwOi8vbnMuYWRvYmUuY29tL3hhcC8xLjAvbW0vIiB4bWxuczpzdFJlZj0i aHR0cDovL25zLmFkb2JlLmNvbS94YXAvMS4wL3NUeXBlL1Jlc291cmNlUmVmIyIgeG1sbnM6eG1w PSJodHRwOi8vbnMuYWRvYmUuY29tL3hhcC8xLjAvIiB4bXBNTTpPcmlnaW5hbERvY3VtZW50SUQ9 IjM0RDA0OTRCMDY0NzAxRDc1NzY4Qzc3NTEyNzEzNzg4IiB4bXBNTTpEb2N1bWVudElEPSJ4bXAu ZGlkOjAyRTdFMEZGRDI3QTExRTlCQ0ZGRjRBN0Y1OTE2NUVGIiB4bXBNTTpJbnN0YW5jZUlEPSJ4 bXAuaWlkOjAyRTdFMEZFRDI3QTExRTlCQ0ZGRjRBN0Y1OTE2NUVGIiB4bXA6Q3JlYXRvclRvb2w9 IkFkb2JlIFBob3Rvc2hvcCBDUzUuMSBNYWNpbnRvc2giPiA8eG1wTU06RGVyaXZlZEZyb20gc3RS ZWY6aW5zdGFuY2VJRD0ieG1wLmlpZDpGMzA1NzQ2NzUwMjI2ODExOERCQkI5NzlGODkyOUMyOCIg c3RSZWY6ZG9jdW1lbnRJRD0iYWRvYmU6ZG9jaWQ6cGhvdG9zaG9wOmUxYzIzNTEwLWRmZmYtZDQ0 Ni05N2Y0LTZkM2VlNjJlZmJlOCIvPiA8L3JkZjpEZXNjcmlwdGlvbj4gPC9yZGY6UkRGPiA8L3g6 eG1wbWV0YT4gPD94cGFja2V0IGVuZD0iciI/Pv/iDFhJQ0NfUFJPRklMRQABAQAADEhMaW5vAhAA AG1udHJSR0IgWFlaIAfOAAIACQAGADEAAGFjc3BNU0ZUAAAAAElFQyBzUkdCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB AAD21gABAAAAANMtSFAgIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAEWNwcnQAAAFQAAAAM2Rlc2MAAAGEAAAAbHd0cHQAAAHwAAAAFGJrcHQAAAIEAAAAFHJY WVoAAAIYAAAAFGdYWVoAAAIsAAAAFGJYWVoAAAJAAAAAFGRtbmQAAAJUAAAAcGRtZGQAAALEAAAA iHZ1ZWQAAANMAAAAhnZpZXcAAAPUAAAAJGx1bWkAAAP4AAAAFG1lYXMAAAQMAAAAJHRlY2gAAAQw AAAADHJUUkMAAAQ8AAAIDGdUUkMAAAQ8AAAIDGJUUkMAAAQ8AAAIDHRleHQAAAAAQ29weXJpZ2h0 IChjKSAxOTk4IEhld2xldHQtUGFja2FyZCBDb21wYW55AABkZXNjAAAAAAAAABJzUkdCIElFQzYx OTY2LTIuMQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEnNSR0IgSUVDNjE5NjYtMi4xAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABYWVogAAAAAAAA81EAAQAAAAEWzFhZWiAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWFlaIAAAAAAAAG+iAAA49QAAA5BYWVogAAAAAAAAYpk

Скачать книгу