I Have Lived and I Have Loved - Willow Winters Page 0,358

take no for an answer.”

I couldn’t argue with that. I was used to getting what I wanted. And right now, I wanted Harper.

Chapter 13

Harper

I couldn’t ever remember being so nervous. I’d rehearsed and prepared for the Goldman’s pitch and thirty minutes ago I was feeling pretty confident. But as the appointment grew closer, my heartrate had started to speed as if I were sprinting across hot coals.

“So, you’ll handle any questions about the process?” Max asked.

I nodded, picking at the hem of my skirt as we sat in the back of the cab to Midtown. I wished I’d brought some water. My throat was dry and tight. They’d have water when we arrived, wouldn’t they?

It was the questions I was most worried about. I’d been practicing my ass off for this presentation. It might be a warm-up to the JD Stanley pitch, but it was still important. There was six figures in profit to be lost if I fucked this up. That might be a drop in Wall Street’s ocean, but it seemed like a lot of money to me.

My parts of the presentation? Those I’d own. Unlike Max, who appeared to speak off the cuff, I’d written myself a script and memorized it. I’d practiced out loud at home over and over. I knew exactly when to pause, when to ask people to turn the pages in their slide deck, and when to draw emphasis. As long as I hadn’t forgotten the printouts, I’d be fine. I scrambled at my feet, reaching into my business carryall to make sure the papers were all there. They were. Just like the last thirty-six times I’d checked.

“Don’t be nervous,” Max said, smoothing down his tie. “It will be fine. The rehearsal was good.”

How would he know if this was going to be fine? Sure, he’d seen the rehearsal, but when the pressure was on, no one knew how things would turn out. I overcame nerves and pressure by being over-prepared—but I couldn’t prepare for questions, at least not all of them.

“Easy for you to say,” I replied.

“I mean it,” he said, placing his hand on my knee.

I pushed it off. The last thing I needed was to be thinking about him naked. “Sorry, I need to . . .” I wasn’t sure what I needed.

He glanced out the window. “Okay, I get it. What if I was to ask you a favor? Would that help take your mind off things?” he asked.

I didn’t respond, unsure of everything other than my script.

“Amanda wants you to help her get ready for the dance. I said I’d ask.”

That wasn’t what I’d expected at all. “In Connecticut?” I asked.

He nodded. “You don’t have to come, but I know Amanda would like you to. She suggested you and I have dinner together when she left.”

“Is she trying to set us up?” I laughed.

“I think so. She’s a big fan of yours.” Max smiled. “Runs in the family, apparently.”

I grinned. Max and I hadn’t talked about how we felt about each other, so his comment was unexpected. I wanted to reach for him, kiss him, but I didn’t. I needed to keep my head in the game.

“I’d like you to come,” he said.

I liked Amanda, but I didn’t know how I felt about her setting me and Max up on a date. “Is that weird, having your daughter set you up?”

Max tilted his head. “It should be, I guess. But she goes on and on about me getting marrie—dating. I’m used to it.”

“Have you told her that we’re . . .”

“Fucking like bunnies? Funnily enough, no,” he said, chuckling.

Was that what we were doing? Just fucking? I wasn’t sure. I liked the guy, really liked him, but he was my boss and he had a daughter and this whole secret life in Connecticut I’d never seen.

“I think maybe she’s picked up on the fact that I like you,” he said. Butterflies in my stomach took my mind off my quickening pulse. “I know my sister has.”

Liked me? Did that mean it wasn’t just fucking for him? I wasn’t sure it was for me anymore either.

“Scarlett?” I asked.

“Yeah, she’s made a few comments when your name’s come up.” He slung his arm across the back of the seat. “Look, don’t feel any pressure, but I’d like it if you came up, even if it isn’t for the dance—it’s only three weeks away. You might have plans.”

“I don’t.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “You don’t have plans?” he asked. I