As Van helped me from the table, I began to button the front of the shirt. My task was almost complete when he asked about my research. While I would have loved to float endlessly in the post-orgasmic bliss, I stared up at him, surprised and pleased with his interest. In all reality, I was also anxious for his opinion.
“I started thinking about the balloon payment.”
“What about it?” He asked as he reached for a necktie lying over a chair.
I ran the fabric through my fingers. “Is that satin?”
Van’s lips curled into a grin. “If we go down that road, we’ll both be unavailable to have meetings or do work.”
“Will I be tied up?” I asked with a bat of my eyelashes.
“You’re playing with fire.”
“I like fire.”
“Oh, I promise a forest fire when I get back. First, tell me about your thoughts on the balloon payment.”
As he tied his necktie and donned his suit coat, I told him what I’d been thinking. “It seems like it would take more than the cancellation of my wedding for a bank to demand such a high payment. I’ve been going through documents, wondering if the balloon payment was a condition of the original loan. So far, I haven’t found anything, but if it was, Dad would have known it was coming.”
Van stood straighter, looking all GQ, the complete opposite of my post-orgasmic mess. “And so did Butler.”
I shrugged, gathering my hair back to the top of my head. “I really don’t know what Skylar knew.”
“Marlin. If he knew it was coming due the first of the year…” His words trailed away.
My eyes widened. “That’s why he wanted to sell. If he had the shares by yesterday, he could have arranged a sale before Wade defaulted.”
“It would have been tricky. He couldn’t have let the prospective buyers know that the looming payment was coming. He was cutting it awfully short.” Before I could respond, Van added, “Then again, the sale would satisfy the loan in its entirety and avoid the balloon payment.”
“It would benefit him but would result in Wade being swallowed by Big Pharma.”
“His plan would have ruined Wade, but all of the shareholders would benefit.”
The thought churned the coffee in my stomach. “Even my parents.”
Van nodded.
“I’m going to keep digging.”
Van’s palms came to my cheeks, lifting my face as his lips met mine. “For the record, I don’t like waking without you.”
Something with his tone reverberated through me. “Are you holding me captive in my bed?”
He shook his head. “Never. And also on the record” —he tilted his head toward the computer screens— “I’m fucking impressed. You were born for this. Don’t ever let me or anyone keep you from following your gut.”
“I wish my gut wasn’t making me question my father.”
“Keep digging and maybe it will clear him.”
Pressing my lips together, I nodded.
“I love you,” he said with another kiss. “And I won’t be long. Your lunch will be arriving in an hour. I’d prefer if you didn’t leave the suite. If you do, let me know.” He stood straighter as a shadow passed through his eyes. “You’re not captive, Julia.”
A smile came to my lips. “I was joking.”
“I’ve made enemies and right now, things are public with our engagement. It would be safer for you to stay here.”
“I don’t plan on going anywhere.” I looked down at the shirt. “Besides, I’m not dressed.”
He playfully tugged on a button. “You’re too dressed.”