Did Noah hope to carry on the legacy? Of course. It was far in the future, but he’d always hoped the company might be passed down to him one day. A dream his father shared, especially after Nathan had planned on a completely different career path in Public Relations. The only means to keep the company in the family was through Noah, but even so, he’d never assumed it a foregone conclusion.
Noah resumed his seat, suddenly exhausted with the conversation. “Someone who does their job well doesn’t need to resort to blackmail to move up. It takes hard work and dedication, plain and simple.”
“Things I’ve demonstrated, but people seem so focused on the boss’s son they overlook it.”
“The other principals are in their sixties. Another position will come along.”
“If you’re so sure, it won’t matter if I’m promoted this time, will it? You can wait.”
Noah met David’s stare head-on. “It’s not my decision.”
“No, but your dad listens to you. So does James.” David stood, evidently deciding to honor the time of the client he’d kept waiting. “It would probably be a good idea for you to tell them both you’re not ready, or you think I’m the best fit. You’ve noticed my success and...dedication to the company, as you put it. I don’t care how you do it, but if you want your secret to stay safe, you’ll figure something out.”
David left, and Noah put his elbows on his desk and dropped his head into his hands.
Things just got a lot more complicated.
9
Mia couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss in the tree house. Sure, she’d made progress, thinking about it only when she got into bed at night rather than every hour on the hour.
But seriously, what had it meant, if anything?
And what should she do about it?
She’d been sitting firmly in the “do nothing” camp for the last several weeks by not bringing it up. Still, she thought about it with alarming frequency.
She couldn’t quite believe she’d initiated it, but with the way he’d described his kiss to her? There was no way she could have let that pass her by. It had sounded thrilling and scandalous, and turned out to be both. The way her body—and heart—had responded, it was as if she was meant to be in his arms with her lips on his, all day and all night and forever.
Stupid, stupid, stupid woman.
She’d worked damn hard to keep her thoughts about Noah platonic all these years. Had convinced herself she didn’t want more, and never would. She’d always encouraged him to see other women, despite knowing when he finally settled down with someone else it would hurt. A lot.
It did, in fact. He’d had a few girlfriends over the years, and even if none had gotten superserious, her days were darker when he wasn’t around, like someone had put a black-and-white filter on her life. She’d never let him see it, though, and made sure she seemed supportive on the outside.
It was for the best.
She was more certain of that than ever, now that she’d kissed him.Reallykissed him. Noah Agnew was the one person who’d tempted her to amend her stance on relationships, but he was also the biggest reason she’d built her walls so high. He’d already adjusted his life so much for her. More than she should have allowed. She couldn’t live with herself if she saddled him with her illness forever.
It had only been five weeks since they got married and already she was feeling things. Dangerous things. And not only was that not in her plan, he wasn’t into her that way. He’d made his feelings toward her clear all those years ago, and they’d had a lovely, fulfilling friendship since.
He was a man, after all, and had simply gotten carried away that night. She’d basically jumped on him, for goodness’ sake. Few guys would put a stop to that.
She had to be more careful.
Stop. Thinking. About. It.
She shook her head and looked around, taking in the beauty around her. It was the first week of June and her summer class had started today. It was only one credit hour and geared toward reintroducing scholarship recipients to life as a college student. But she was just so happy to be back on a college campus that she hung around after class to share coffee with some new friends. They’d left the Student Union a half hour ago, but she wasn’t quite ready to go home. She leisurely wandered the campus, taking in the sophisticated redbrick buildings and perfectly manicured green lawns, feeling excited and energized.
But then she remembered the last time she’d done this, and who had been with her. Once again she was back to Noah.
Her last day at Agnew Design Group had been yesterday, and she’d cried when Noah carried the box of her things to her car. Worse, that evening when they got home, she had a little breakdown, freaking out about school and quitting her job, and everything changing. Noah had sat beside her the entire time, soothing her with his presence and calmly talking through her fears without dismissing them.
The woman who snagged him one day would be lucky.Damnlucky, in fact, now that Mia knew what it was like to kiss him.
No, wait, not thinking about that. Focusing on school.
Moving on.