His Hush-Hush Baby - Holly Rayner Page 0,30

suit jacket. “Are you riding with me?”

“No. I have that meeting in Midtown.”

“Right, of course.” He gave her a nod. “See you at the office.”

As he walked out of the room, he pulled his phone out and called the driver. When he emerged from the restaurant, the car was waiting for him at the curb.

The ride back to the office, he mulled over the conversation with Brie. It seemed telling that Diane hadn’t shared everything about their relationship, if indeed she and Brie were in the process of becoming close friends, as he had inferred.

He figured it could only mean one thing. She truly was over him.

Here he was, kidding himself, waiting around for her to come back. That clearly wasn’t going to happen. As much as he cared about her, he needed to wish her well and move on. Respect her wishes.

The car stopped at a red light. Outside the window was a florist shop. Kai sat a little straighter, an idea forming.

Taking his phone out, he called Oren.

“I would like you to send a bouquet of roses to…” Kai paused. He didn’t remember Diane’s address, and it probably wasn’t online anywhere.

He could cruise by her building to get it, but that was all the way in Brooklyn and he didn’t have the hours that would take. He wanted the flowers and message to go out right away.

“Where do you want to send the flowers to, sir?” Oren asked.

“To Diane at Johansen Design. Send it there.”

“Yes, Mr. Weiss. And is there a message?”

Kai rolled over a few options in his head. This would be his farewell message to Diane, a “good luck and I will always care for you” note.

It had to be special. It had to be perfect.

“Diane,” he said. His heart beat faster, as if she were sitting in the car while he spoke to her directly. “You will be in my heart forever. Love, Kai.”

His throat burned. He could add more, but anything else felt superfluous. He’d said the most important thing.

It might have felt weird to dictate the message to his assistant, but Oren was always the professional. He promised he would place the order with the best-reviewed florist in the city ASAP and then hung up.

Slightly more satisfied, Kai put his phone away. This was it. The beginning of a new era.

The thought should have pleased him, but it didn’t.

Chapter 14

Diane

Diane sat in the break room of Johansen Design, carefully reading the contract for her newest mural for the third time. The first two times through, she’d found it difficult to concentrate.

That seemed to be the theme of her life lately. With everything going on, her mind ran in circles.

“You’ve been staring at that paper for a long time,” someone said.

Diane looked up to find Clara, the receptionist, standing in the doorway.

“Yes.” Diane attempted a smile, but it felt more like a grimace. “Contracts, you know? It’s not exactly thrilling reading.”

“Trevor told me about his plans.” Clara took a seat at the table Diane was already at.

“How do you feel about them?”

Diane’s dad had decided to break the news about selling the company individually to the staff of seven. He still hadn’t closed the deal, but things were moving fast with a larger company who wanted to absorb Johansen Design.

“I’ve loved working here,” Clara said. “I understand the strain he must be under. And you, as well. Heading into early retirement seems like a good plan.”

“It does.”

“You sound less than enthused.”

Diane put the contract down, giving up on it for the time being. “I feel a bit like I’m in between a rock and a hard place, but I figure that once we get to Florida, I’ll love it.”

“You really need to go with them?”

“They need me.”

Clara nodded and patted Diane’s hand. “I understand. You’re a good daughter. You should give my kids some lessons.”

The front buzzer rang, and Clara stood. “Let’s see who that is.”

Diane opened the contract again, but it was still no use. Her brain had turned to mush. What she needed was a walk to clear her head.

Standing up, she went to the tiny room at the end of the hall that served as her office. Since almost all of her work hours were spent at each client’s place painting, she was hardly ever in the room. She’d miss it, though, once she went to Florida.

Like she’d miss everything in New York.

An aching filled her stomach as Kai’s face crept into her mind. Closing her eyes, she shook her head.

“Diane,”