luck,” Finn mutters.
“He can still fix it,” Sienna says to Finn, nodding slowly. “You’ll need to grovel. Apologize like your life depends on it.”
“Because it does,” I mutter. “I was cruel.”
“So much groveling,” Sienna repeats. “And you need to talk. Explain what was going through your head. I mean, I assume she knows you had the vasectomy.”
“I told her,” I confirm. “It was our only form of birth control.”
“Then if you talk to her and explain everything, you might have a chance of making it right. I mean, you love each other. People in love screw up, but then they make it right.”
I frown.
“You do love her, don’t you?”
“Of course.” I swallow hard. Jesus, I love her so much.
“Then my money’s on you.”
“Mine’s not,” Finn says cheerfully. “But you’re going to be a daddy again, and that’s something to celebrate.”
“A baby.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I’m starting all over again after forty. I’m going to be an old dad.”
“Not that old,” Quinn says. “You’ll be fine.”
“First things first,” Sienna says. “You need to get to Nora and make things right. Because coming from a woman’s point of view, you fucked up big-time, Carter, and this isn’t going to be easy.”
“I know. So what do I do?”
“Find her. Be honest with her.”
“Take flowers,” Quinn adds. “And probably chocolate.”
“Jewelry,” Finn says, shaking his head. “This is a job for precious gems. Gold. Hit up Tiffany’s around the corner on your way out.”
I already have that covered.
“I’m going,” I say. Before I can get to the door, a woman pops her head in.
“Mr. Shaw?”
“What.”
She blinks at my harsh tone. “Um, I’m Mary, from HR. With Nora quitting so abruptly, I’ve found someone to fill in for her until we can—”
“She quit?”
A smile spreads on Mary’s face, and now I see it. The reason why Nora doesn’t trust her.
“Piece of work,” Sienna mutters behind me.
“Don’t worry about Nora,” I say to Mary. “I have it covered. And you can clean out your desk and go home. You’re fired.”
“What?” She pales. “You can’t fire me. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I can do whatever the hell I want because I own this company.”
“I’ll sue for wrongful termination.”
All four of us chuckle.
“You do realize you just threatened a room full of attorneys,” Finn says. “You heard him. Gather your things and go.”
She glares, then stomps away.
“That was a long time coming,” Sienna says. “That woman has had it out for Nora for months. Good riddance.”
“It’s about time I protect my woman,” I say, my voice grim. “I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t been good at that up to now.”
“You can make it right,” Sienna assures me.
“Maybe just give her cash,” Quinn says thoughtfully. “I wonder if a hundred grand would be enough?”
“I’ll give her whatever she wants, if she’ll just forgive me.”
“Go get her, tiger,” Sienna says, giving me the thumbs-up. “You’ve got this.”
I don’t have this.
I mean, I do have the ring in my pocket, a huge bouquet of white roses, and Nora’s favorite cupcakes from Magnolia for good measure.
I’m loaded down with offerings of apology.
Now I just have to make her see that I didn’t mean anything that I said. I have to make it right.
I pound on her door and then press my ear to it, listening. I don’t hear any movement. Where else would she go? She’s not at my place, I was just there to retrieve the ring.
I bang again and wait.
Nothing.
Finally, I dial her number and continue to bang on the door.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she says into my ear.
“Open the door, Nora. Please.”
“I’m not home, you big jerk. Why do you want to talk to a cheater like me, anyway?”
I wince. “I deserved that. Please, darling. Please let me make this right. I need to talk to you.”
She hangs up without another word, and I slump against the door in defeat.
She’s not here, and she doesn’t want to hear what I have to say.
I’m screwed.
The elevator doors open at the end of the hall, and she comes marching out, her mouth set in a grim line and her brown eyes narrowed, not looking directly at me.
When she reaches the door, she pushes me out of the way and walks right in.
“The door wasn’t locked? Nora, you shouldn’t leave your apartment unlocked. You don’t know what kind of whack job might just walk right in.”
“Like you?” she counters, leaning on the kitchen island. “Are you really going to lecture me about anything right now?”
I take a