Chapter 13
I stand by my office window, staring out at Central Park. The sun’s shining down on kids skateboarding and people hustling about.
I’ve been clutching my coffee cup Kirstie brought me. I finally take a sip when there’s a knock on the door. Lowering my cup, I stand up and walk toward the door.
It must be someone familiar because Kirstie didn’t call or knock.
Leaning back against the window frame, I take another sip of my coffee, welcoming the warm liquid along with the caffeine hit.
My brother Harvey enters.
I push away from the window, wander across my office, and head toward one of the sofas. On the table my laptop is open and papers for my next meeting are laid out. Grabbing the top paper, I ease back into the soft fabric and prop my leg up on my opposite thigh, getting comfortable.
“Harvey,” I say, resting my coffee cup on my thigh. The warm cup heats my leg as I wait for him to sit down on the other sofa.
I’m surprised to see him so early on a Monday morning. He’s usually as deep into work as I am.
“Brother,” he says with a hard expression. “I know it’s early.”
I twist my wrist and read the time. “Yeah. It’s not even nine a.m.”
“I know. It’s an early visit, but I need your help,” he answers, taking a seat on the cream sofa, but instead of relaxing, he’s sitting on the edge of it.
“Do you need a drink?” I ask, casting my eyes across the room to the drink trolley before facing him again.
He shakes his head. “No. I’m good.”
“What could you need my help for?” I ask curiously.
Harvey, who is four years younger than me, and a brilliant guy, is someone I’m proud of. He pushes me business-wise to focus hard. To not give up and never back down. And to not take no for an answer.
I sip my coffee, wondering what could possibly have my brother on edge like this. He”s never had to ask for help, especially from me.
“What about coffee? Can I get Kirstie to get you one?” I ask. His knee is bouncing up and down and it’s causing me to tap my coffee cup.
He shakes his head again. “No. I just had one. But I changed my mind about alcohol…”
My eyes narrow as I watch him stand and then stride toward the drink trolley. With his shoulders up tight to his ears, he seems tense.
He grabs a glass, fills it with ice then pours a decent helping of whiskey.
I watch him take a drink and then walk back to the seat. This time settling a little farther into the sofa.
I’m still wondering what the fuck is going on with him, but I’m grateful to him for pulling me away from my earlier thoughts of Nova.
I’ve only been able to sleep about two hours tops. Just thinking of her beat-up, shitty old car has me grinding hard on my molars. Is it too much to think about buying her a new car? I knew the moment I spotted the car why she insisted I call my driver and not follow her. She was embarrassed. I don’t want her to feel like that with me. Does she think it would make me think of her differently?
Because it doesn’t. If anything, it makes me want to protect her more. I don”t want to scare her off, but that dump of a so-called car looks like it could blow up at any moment.
I hate the thought of her driving the thing to God knows where, but thankfully, I did get a text last night.
Nova:Remy, I’m home. Get some sleep. More than four hours, please.
Reading her message made me happy. But also, I had to hold myself back. Fighting my emotions for her and her damn safety. I barely know her. I can”t buy her a fucking car.
A phone, easy. But a car? I”m scared she’d run for the hills.
I”m only just starting to get to know her. And what I’ve seen so far, I really like. So having Harvey here today is a great distraction.
Harvey shuffles on the sofa, cradling his glass. “I have a problem with a company that I”m planning to work with.”
I drop the paper in my lap and run my hand over my freshly shaven jaw. “What problem do you have?” I ask, baffled. How does he have a problem buying a company? He buys and sells companies every single day.
“I went in to help this company that’s on the edge of bankruptcy and…” he says but pauses to take a sip of his drink. “I didn”t expect to meet the feisty daughter who is trying to save it.”
The gleam in his eye now makes sense.
“Hmm. There”s something about this one then?” I state, biting back a grin. Glad I’m not the only one messed up over a woman.
He mumbles words I can’t catch. Other than a simple, “Yeah.”
“Is there any way that she can save the company on her own?” I ask.
“Maybe, but I doubt it,” he answers unconvincingly. “It”s a multimillion-dollar debt. I don”t see how she could save it.” He sighs. “But the look of determination in her eyes. The fire, the sassy attitude. And yet, this sense of fear I get from her that she’s hiding something makes me soften for her,” he admits.
I can read his face. He doesn”t like that she makes him feel vulnerable.
Harvey usually walks in determined to buy the company. He”s the youngest Lincoln yet the most ruthless. He”ll take what he wants with no fucks given.
So for a woman to stop him...I wish I could have seen it.
It makes a small smirk rise on my face. “So she”s hot. I get it. But why is she being stubborn?”
“It’s her parents’ company. Her dad died. And she”s trying to save it.”
I wince with sympathy. I’d hate to lose anyone from our family. We’re close. Yes, we fight like all families do but overall, we love each other. We’re a tight knit family who actually enjoy each other’s company.
“Does she have time?” I ask, feeling oddly sad for this woman. It’s strange. I’m wondering why I’m so fucking soft these days.
His knee is still bouncing erratically up and down. “I could probably buy her some time. But not much.”
It’s obviously tearing him up.
“What do you want to do? Do you just want to take it from her?” I ask. I know the answer, but he needs to admit it out loud. He wants reassurance, that’s why he’s here. He wants to be told it’s okay not to be a dick.
“That’s the problem,” he grumbles.
He drains his glass and tips it toward me. “Need a drink?”
I hold up my coffee cup. “I’m okay with just coffee this morning, thanks.” I chuckle. “Help yourself. Drink as much as you want.”
He doesn’t bother waiting. He’s up and on the move, already adding more ice and a splash of whiskey.
He takes a swig before he rejoins me.
“This is the fucked-up part.” He exhales audibly. “I want to give her more time and I don”t even know why.”
I grin wider. I get what he’s saying, I really do. It’s how I feel about Nova.
“There”s just something about the way she wants to fight for her parents that I find attractive.”
“Our family is close. And you see yourself in her. We would do anything for our family.”
“Exactly,” he counters. “And she’s doing the same thing in the only way she knows how.”
“So her standing up for her parents’ legacy is a trigger,” I reply. “Were they in this situation before the dad died?”
“They were,” he replies, taking a sip before looking solemnly at the floor.
“That’s fucked. Even I feel sorry for her,” I admit.
“Yeah, see my problem,” he says, lifting his chin back up to face me.
“If she”s making you feel something in that cold heart, I say give her the time.”
His knee finally stops bouncing. “But what if nothing changes?”
I suck in a breath. “Be kind. But take the business if her time’s up.”
“Or I could pay the debt for her…” He trails off looking at the empty glass.
“Fuck, Harvey. No,” I say. Here I was thinking I was the only one with woman issues. I was thinking of buying Nova a car and Harvey here wants to buy this woman a company.
“You can’t be that stupid. You don”t know this woman,” I add.
He sighs. “I know. I’m being ridiculous. I”ll just have to be firm and not think about her and do my job.”
Hearing him talk about a woman is strange. He”s always been the outgoing, playful brother, especially when it comes to relationships. But I”ve always wondered whether he was just protecting himself. To hear that a woman is affecting him in this way, it makes me naturally curious.
“What does she look like?” I ask.
He rises to take the glass to the trolley, setting it down.
“I don”t know,” he says, taking his seat again.
I give him a look that says I”m not buying this shit.
“Fine,” he says, annoyed.
She’s hot.
I can guarantee that.
“She’s beautiful and has this unique heart-shaped face,” he explains it as if she’s here in this room and he’s picturing her. “Even though she”s determined, there’s this softness about her.”
“Oh, you’ve got it bad,” I tease.
I’m soft about Nova but I’m keeping my mouth closed. For now anyways.
“Shit. She’s getting in my head now.”
I laugh and he gives me a shut-the-fuck-up look. Which makes me laugh harder.
“Shut up, dickhead. I better go and get to work now,” he says standing up.
I glance at my watch and check the time. “Yeah. I need to get across town for a meeting.”
“Will I see you tomorrow night?” Harvey asks.
I stack the papers on top of my laptop and rise from the sofa, taking my cup with me and walking to my desk. Lowering the coffee, I check my calendar. “No,” I say.
“Why?” he asks, approaching the desk. “Do you need to work?”
“Yeah. I’m going out for celebratory drinks. I signed the contract with Mr. Spencer. The one for the ophthalmology instruments.”
I know we’ve discussed this before.
“Nice, brother,” he says.
“Yeah, massive deal. This is going to change my hospitals. And more importantly, it will allow us to treat more complex patients.”
“So proud of you,” he adds with sincerity.
“You too, Harvey. You too. And keep me updated.”
“I will. I will,” he says, raising a brow at me. “And any news with you?”
“About what?” I ask, confused.
“Women.”
I swallow hard. He doesn’t know about Nova, so I don’t know why there’s a lump in my throat.
I want to tell someone about Nova, but it seems a bit too early. He”s shared about his dilemma, but I don”t have time right now. I’m lucky if I”ve got five minutes to explain Nova. And Nova is not a five-minute conversation. No, she’s so much more. We have so much in common. Yet I don”t want to share all these little things. I want to keep them private for a little longer.
Because if I explain everything, he’ll jump to the conclusion that I”m falling in love with her. But that’s impossible. I’m dedicated to my job; I don’t have time for love.
Friends talk on the phone, go to events together, and buy each other things. There’s nothing more to it. But if I try to tell Harvey or any of my brothers that I want to spend time with a woman, they’ll ask more questions. And fuck, I have questions I need to answer first.
What makes me want to protect her and keep her safe?
Protect her from the sadness of the world.
Yep. Fuck. I”m getting soft. Definitely not telling my brother.
And anyway, after the celebratory drinks, we’d be done. There”d be no reason to see her again. So there”s no reason I need to tell my brother because there’s no relationship to explain. Other than my pathetic crush on the beautiful brunette.
“Unfortunately, no. Nothing to report yet,” I lie through my teeth but know it”s for the best.
“So it”s only me. Well, thanks for your opinion. And don’t say a word to anyone, you hear me?”
I keep my mouth closed even though it wants to smile widely. I do the zip sign my Grams does over my lips.
“My lips are sealed,” I say.
“Good. I’ll keep you updated,” he says, turning around and making his way out of my office.
Before leaving, I check my email and read a new one about the need to hire new accounting staff. Immediately, thoughts of Nova come to mind, prompting me to impulsively text her.
Jeremy:Do you want a new job?
I regret it the moment I send it. Why did I fucking do that?
Nova:No. I just got one. Why?
The regret worsens when she replies with a no.
Jeremy:I’m offering you one here.
Nova:Thanks, but I’m happy here.
Jeremy:If you change your mind.
Nova: Thanks, Remy.
With disappointment sitting heavy in my gut, I refocus on work. Standing up, I get ready for my meeting and hit the button on the telephone to tell Kirstie I”m ready to leave. But as I grab my things, my mind drifts. And I can’t help but wonder why she’d rather work for Bentley than for me.