Page 35 of Just My Luck

Rick smiled and looked at the diamond. “Yeah. I have this whole dinner planned tomorrow night.” He snapped the box shut and put it back in his pocket.

“Well, congratulations.” I stood and shook his hand. I meant it.

“Also, when you get back from this trip, just to let you know, I plan on having the board make a few changes around here too.” He shook my hand.

“Such as?” I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Dad was wrong.” He leaned on the edge of my desk.

“About?” I frowned.

“He should have put you in charge,” he said softly.

“I don’t—” I started, but Rick held up his hand to stop me.

“I’m not stepping aside completely, but I do think we can share the burden.” He held out his hand. “If you want to split it with me, that is?”

I laughed, stood up, and shook his hand. “Partners?”

“Yeah.” He smiled. “We can figure out the logistics when you get back, but I think Dad would like it. After all, he taught you everything he knows. I just picked up a few tricks in California on my own.”

“I think I can handle that. Do I get the big office?” I joked.

He laughed. “Hell no, but we’ll see what we can come up with.” He glanced around my smaller space. “If you get this contract,” he teased.

“Sounds good.” I laughed and hugged him.

“I guess it’s a good thing Chris never followed in Dad’s footsteps. I doubt we’d have room for three of us around here.”

The day flew by quickly as I rode on that high. I didn’t even have time to talk to Nova, let alone tell her the exciting news, either of Rick proposing to her best friend or that I’d be a fifty-fifty CEO with my brother.

I knew the board would go for it. Hell, I’d golfed with a few of the members last weekend and they’d questioned why Dad hadn’t left me in charge and let Rick go back to California.

Still, my brother was doing great in charge, and they had no real complaints. Going into this trip knowing he’d realized my importance was rewarding. It somehow freed up my mind to focus on getting the account.

When I finally clocked out of my computer and headed toward Nova’s desk, Sofia was in the office, laughing with her.

“So, this is where the party is?” I joked, leaning against the doorframe. When they saw me, they both burst out laughing even more, like they had done when they’d been teenagers. “So I’m still the joke then?”

“No,” Nova said, standing up and rushing to my side, then planting a kiss on my cheek. “We were remembering the summer you took us to the lake.”

I frowned, then held in a groan remembering the one time I’d tried my hand at cliff diving off a few larger rocks. “I was wearing my brother’s swim trunks. They were big,” I countered, causing them to laugh even more.

“When you came up for air, they were just…” Sofia motioned with her hands. “Right there, floating next to you.”

I smiled. “I do know how to put on a show.” I wiggled my eyebrows and had the pair laughing harder.

“I’m ready,” Nova said after wiping the happy tears from her face. “See you when we get back from Vegas.” She sang the last word and waved her hands in the air.

“Have fun. Remember, not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” Sofia said as she walked out the office door.

“Thanks for that, Mom!” Nova called after her.

“I was thinking Chinese takeout?” I suggested as we walked out of the building.

“Sounds perfect. I still have some packing to do,” Nova said with a half groan.

“You’ve unpacked and repacked like six times already,” I teased.