“Where are you going?” I whispered.
“To bed.” He touched my cheek. “I’m crashing hard.”
“Don’t go.”
“Don’t ask me to stay.”
I sighed, understanding his fear. “I love you.”
Bending over me, Gideon pressed his lips to mine. “Don’t forget to put your passport in your purse.”
“I won’t forget. Are you sure I shouldn’t pack something?”
“Nothing.” He kissed me again, his lips clinging to mine.
Then he was gone.
I wore a light jersey wrap dress to work on Friday, something that could go from work to a long flight easily. I had no idea how far Gideon was taking me, but knew I’d be comfortable no matter what.
When I got to work, I found Megumi on the phone, so we waved at each other and I headed straight to my cubicle. Ms. Field stopped by just as I settled into my chair.
The executive chairman of Waters Field & Leaman looked powerful and confident in a soft gray pantsuit.
“Good morning, Eva,” she said. “Have Mark stop by my office when he gets in.”
I nodded, admiring her triple-strand black pearl necklace. “Will do.”
When I passed along the request to Mark five minutes later, he shook his head. “Betcha we didn’t get the Adrianna Vineyards account.”
“You think?”
“I hate those damned cattle-call RFPs. They’re not looking for quality and experience. They just want someone who’s hungry enough to give their services away.”
We’d dropped everything to meet the deadline for the request for proposal, which had been given to Mark to spearhead because he’d done such an amazing job with the Kingsman Vodka account.
“Their loss,” I told him.
“I know, but still … I want to win ’em all. Wish me luck that I’m wrong.”
I gave him a thumbs-up and he headed to Christine Field’s office. My desk phone rang as I was pushing to my feet to grab a cup of coffee from the break room.
“Mark Garrity’s office,” I answered, “Eva Tramell speaking.”
“Eva, honey.”
I exhaled at the sound of my mother’s watery voice. “Hi, Mom. How are you?”
“Will you see me? Maybe we could have lunch?”
“Sure. Today?”
“If you could.” She took a breath that sounded like a sob. “I really need to see you.”
“Okay.” My stomach knotted with concern. I hated hearing my mother so upset. “Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”
“Clancy and I will come get you. You take lunch at noon, right?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you at the curb.”