Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
CHARLOTTE
Iwasn’t sure if Gerard Chambers would remember me since our paths had only crossed once before, and it had been over two years ago. He looked the same with his gray hair and warm smile.
“Charlotte is the CEO of Arrow Communications,” Gabriel supplied.
I nearly choked. “Acting CEO,” I amended quickly, meeting Gerard’s widening eyes. Gabriel had conveniently skipped the qualifier. “And I believe we had the pleasure of meeting at the Children’s Hospital charity two years ago.”
“Oh, yes.” Gerard nodded. “How’s Wendall these days? Enjoying retirement?”
“Last I heard, he’s in the Mediterranean enjoying a well-earned month-long vacation with his wife.”
“Sounds like a very happy wife,” Anna quipped dryly, making her husband smile. He took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.
They were quite the striking couple.
Gerard focused on me. “Tell him I said hello if you speak with him, would you?”
“Of course. I’d be happy to.”
There was a sudden silence where he shifted awkwardly, rocking on his heels with his hands shoved in his pockets.
Anna broke the tension with a laugh. “Forgive them, Charlotte. I’ve banned shop talk in the house, which means no Juniper, no Arrow, no Chambers Technology.
Which leaves them only two subjects left: feelings or family.
I’ll let you guess which one they pick.” She winked, and I warmed to her instantly.
Elegant, friendly, and wonderfully no-nonsense.
“Ah, there’s my favorite granddaughter.” Gerard appeared relieved for an excuse to pivot to a safe topic. “What do you have for me?”
“Tiramisu and cookies,” she shot back with a grin, handing him one of the cookies. Then, pointing to my son, she added, “Grandpa, this is Charlotte’s son, Austin.”
Gerard brightened, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you, Austin.”
“You, too, sir.”
“He plays baseball,” Gabriel supplied.
“Oh, yeah? What position?”
Austin’s face lit up, and the three of them were off, talking stats and plays while heading straight for another round at the dessert table.
Anna looped her arm through mine “Come on, Charlotte, time to meet the rest of the brood.”
The Chambers brothers were as different as they came, almost like three distinct corners of a triangle.
Dominic, the youngest, was pure charisma, outgoing and clearly crazy about his girlfriend, Kelsey.
Leo was quieter, tall and broad, with tattoos and piercings, but he softened instantly when Addison, bubbly and outgoing, laced her fingers through his.
They were all so different, yet unmistakably a loving family.
As the evening progressed, Gabe came up with two glasses in hand. “Hi.”
“Hi. Vodka on the rocks in a pint glass or water?”
He grinned. “Water, although I can certainly make the other one happen.”
“This is perfect.”
And it truly was. The Chamberses’ back lawn looked like something out of a magazine.
Wide and velvety green, edged with beds so carefully manicured they could’ve belonged to a botanical garden.
Roses, hydrangeas, and bursts of color I couldn’t name lined the borders in neat drifts, their scent mixing faintly with the salt air drifting inland.
Torches and bistro lights flickered to life one by one as the sun sank lower, their glow casting soft light across the patio and giving the whole yard a warm, enchanted feel.
“I’m glad you came tonight.”
I smiled up at him, and the last traces of anxiety I’d harbored about showing up here faded away. “Me, too.”
“I owe you an apology for pushing you,” he started, his voice low and sincere. “I should’ve given it sooner.”
“I’m sorry, too, for doubting your motive. Your family is lovely.”
“Are they?” he teased, stepping closer until his hand found mine, his fingers slipping easily between my own.
“Mhm,” I murmured, my gaze flicking toward the balcony overlooking the yard. “Though they’re over there watching us like it’s prime-time television.”
He glanced up to where his brothers were staring at us without any shame. “They’re plotting their revenge.”
“For what?”
“I was a bit of a grumpy asshole to Kelsey and Addison when I first met them.”
My brows went sky high. “Why? You didn’t like them?”
“It wasn’t that,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I didn’t know them, and I was grouchy and cynical about relationships.”
My mouth curved, amused. “And now?”
“I’ve made it right. We’re good. But you know what they say about first impressions. I definitely don’t nail mine.”
I chuckled. “I do know. But lucky for you, you’re pretty good at a redo. How are things with Samantha going?”
He smiled, the action making me realize how much I’d missed him this last week.
“Things with Samantha are good. Really good. We’re staying here tonight and plan to catch a movie tomorrow. What are you up to this weekend?”
“Austin had a game this morning. Tomorrow it’s brunch with my mom before she and Michelle take off for Hawaii.”
“You’re not going with them?”
I shook my head. “The timing didn’t work this time I leave for New York for client meetings on Monday. I’ll be back on Thursday afternoon.”
“It means a lot that you came today, and I’ll try to be patient and pretend like it’ll be okay to wait until next weekend to spend time together. If you’re open to it?”
My relief was immense. “I’d like that.”
“When do you think they’ll make the final decision?”
I glanced down at where our fingers were connected, the air thickening with the weight of that impending decision. “By next week, I’m assuming. I heard they’ve already let two external candidates go.”
He nodded, the movement slow and thoughtful.
The following silence wasn’t uncomfortable, merely charged with the awareness that whatever happened over the next couple of weeks, it would change things.
I only hoped we could survive the change.