Page 110 of The Work Wife

“I’m sorry. Lance said we wouldn’t have a shot at the job if I didn’t keep my mouth shut. We assumed we were out of the running.”

Holly looked just as confused as they did. “He threatened to pass on your bid and you still came to tell me the truth?” Her eyes were wide.

“We knew we wouldn’t be able to enjoy working on the project if we had gotten the job in that way,” Jamie said. “Wes and I discussed it and I have to say, it was difficult to let the opportunity go, but there was really no decision to be made. We had to tell you the truth.”

“Well, now I get to tell you the truth.” She smiled at them. “Atlantic Global is my father’s company. Lance is only involved through marriage, and as part of the divorce settlement he will be leaving the company. So it’s my decision who we get to build our headquarters, and I’d like to see your designs.”

The smile on Jamie’s face made him want to kiss her again, but he stayed in control while she jumped up to grab a tablet and started taking notes.

Once Jamie and Wes had everything they needed to start working up a portfolio of design options, Jamie walked Holly down to Rob’s office so she could sign a preliminary contract.

They’d actually pulled it off. Jamie’s crazy idea had worked. And they’d not only gotten the job they’d hoped for, they’d also found each other.

* * * *

Memories of what she and Wes had done in their office the day before teased her as Wes came over to her side of the office. Cindy wouldn’t be going to lunch for another hour. And they had a lot of work to do to get ready for the McCafferty proposal. But she was tempted to reach for him.

He looked so good, leaning against her desk in his jeans and T-shirt. She wasn’t sure she would make it an hour.

“I’d like to take you away this weekend to celebrate. We’ll need to leave on Saturday at four.”

She smiled at this offer until she noticed the way he didn’t make eye contact before he stepped away. Oh, no. He couldn’t possibly mean—

“In the morning.”

That’s what she’d feared he was going to say. “I have to get up earlier on a weekend than I do on a workday? Do you know how ridiculous that is? It’s barbaric.” Her voice came out as a whine, she couldn’t help it.

“You can sleep on the way if you’d like, but I don’t think you will. It’s a pretty cool surprise.”

“It had better be. You know how I feel about mornings.”

“I do. It’s impossible for me to forget because you’ve reminded me eight hundred and forty-three times.”

“Are you sure? It seems like more.”

“I might not have counted the first sixty or so.” He winked before he bent down to kiss her. “Trust me, you’re going to think it is worth it.”

* * * *

On Saturday she got out of the cab and stared out at the ocean. It was still dark, but there was the slightest glow that revealed the expanse of the sea in front of her.

“You rented a boat for the weekend?” she said, real excitement coloring her words.

“Not exactly.” He pulled up the handle on the suitcase they were sharing and gestured toward the wooden walkway to her left. “Last one on the right.”

She stopped at the last one on the right and then squinted up at him. He said he hadn’t rented the boat, which meant he must have borrowed it from a friend.

She didn’t realize he had such a rich friend. Even with her lack of knowledge about boats, she knew this was a yacht. It looked like the kind used on movies, when the person in the movie was filthy rich.

“Wow. This is so cool. Did you bring one of those white captain’s hats and the blue blazer?”

“Sorry to disappoint, but no.”

She looked him over with a grin. He hadn’t disappointed her. He was wearing loose jeans and a thick sweater. He looked sexy, while she was huddled up in her winter coat feeling like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

“I’ll show you below. Wait until you see the stateroom.”

He carried their bag down the tiny stairs, through the small galley kitchen and sitting area.