just like I have with so many others, focusing on the tour instead. The magnificent landscapes of frozen ice are enough to make my thoughts seem insignificant in comparison.
Blair seems to think the same thing. In the ice cave, she sidles up to me, her cheeks flushed by the biting cold. “Look,” she says, pointing. “Is that an ice waterfall?”
“Looks like it.” A forty-foot drop of sheer blue ice, diving straight into the glacier.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” The joy in her gold-brown eyes isn’t faked, nor is the sincerity of her smile. She’s radiant.
“Yes,” I say quietly. “It is.” And just as painfully out of my reach as it’s always been, and a game of strip poker had done nothing to change that.
It had only confirmed it.
9
Blair
Leaves that have long since fallen are crusty with frost under my boots as I walk down the city street. The season is changing, and it’s changing fast, bringing with it the same nip in the air that we had up in Whistler the past weekend. A few of the window display I pass have already begun hanging their Christmas decorations.
I tuck my scarf in more tightly around my neck and try not to dwell on the memory. Whatever happened, happened. The only thing I can do now is to be professional—to follow to the letter the agreement we’d made. Civility and profit.
Besides, what had my strip poker escapade changed, really? Nothing—except that I know for a fact Nick is attracted to me. It felt like a victory at the time, to see that he wasn’t as aloof as he’d always seemed. After nearly a decade of admiring him from afar, the realization had been overwhelming.
But in the days since, it’s become a hollow victory. So he’s a man who responds to a half-naked woman. How rare.
It doesn’t matter if he’s attracted to me—he made it clear he’s not going to act on it—and he still doesn’t like me. The only person he ever smiles at or shares a laugh with is my brother.
I push open the door to the innocuous brick building that houses his capital venture firm. No sign, no valet, no lobby. It’s exactly the kind of no-bullshit person he’s always been. I’m not a man who plays games, Blair.
Gina greets me by the door. Her usually calm composure seems frayed, her eyes showing relief when I show up. When has that ever been the case?
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes and no,” she says. “I can’t accompany Mr. Park to the warehouse visit today. I’ve just informed him about it as well.”
I put my bag down on the nearby desk. “Why not? What’s wrong?”
“Family emergency. Nothing bad,” she adds, seeing my gaze. “But frustrating. I have to take care of it. It’s bad timing, that’s all.”
“Whatever you have to do,” I say. “I can reschedule the visit for you, if you’d like.”
“No, no rescheduling. There’s not enough time as there is, and we need to implement the changes for the store. Can you go in my stead?”
My world spins, but only for a moment. Gina is entrusting me with this. “Absolutely. If you have the time, give me a run-down of what you’d planned to do today, and I’ll take it from there.”
Relief shines in her otherwise professional-to-a-fault expression. She nods, her bobbed hair dipping with the movement. “Let’s begin, then. I’ve already informed Mr. Park that you’ll take my place today.”
I ignore the knotting of nerves in my stomach. “Thank you. These are the binders you prepared?”
“Yes, they have your suggestions for logo designs and store layouts in them. Now… this is the itinerary I’d drawn up.” She pauses, looking over at me appraisingly. “I know you two are family friends. But when he’s at work like this, he doesn’t want to waste time. Briefing him on the planned changes should be efficient and focused.”
I nod. Her tone steadies me. There are guidelines to this. Profit and civility. Twenty minutes later, I’m knocking on the door to Nick’s office, my bag slung over my shoulder and the binders tucked under my arm.
He opens the door himself. Towering before me, his dark eyes are guarded. “Good. You’re finished. Let’s go.”
He strides past me through the office and I hurry to catch up, cursing myself for choosing to wear booties with heels. I’d dressed for a quiet day at the office, not a field trip.
Nick holds the front door open for me and we walk side by side to the parking garage next door.