It’s on the tip of my tongue to congratulate him when I realize he’s talking about me. “What?” I ask, dumbfounded by what he’s said.
He moves forward until he’s sitting on the edge of his seat. “Lia, this is what you’ve been trained for. You’ve told me that your dream is to take a company and apply your new knowledge to make it better. You’re intelligent, driven, and insightful. I have no doubt you can succeed and I’d like to be by your side for it. I know you aren’t planning to go to work until after the baby is born, which is fine. It will take a while to finalize the takeover details anyway. You’ll be able to set your own timetable. Plus, as a partner, you’ll also have a flexible schedule that will make things easier for you with the baby.”
“Oh, my God.” I’m stunned as I stare at him. He’s offering me a dream come true, but I can’t help but feel it’s out of some misplaced sense of guilt. Like he’s trying to make up for the fact he wasn’t a part of my life until recently. I swallow the lump in my throat as I say, “Lee, it sounds…amazing. Beyond that really…but you don’t need to do this.”
Now he looks puzzled as he asks, “Do what?”
“You know…buy me a company because you feel bad about what happened to me. I promise that I’m not angry with you. And I really appreciate you offering to do this for me…but it’s too much.”
“I will admit you were my motivation in buying the company, but not for the reason you think. I found out about the company through a mutual friend. I had no vague interest until he filled me in on their background. Then I was intrigued. I understand and even admire you for not wanting to work at Falco, but this company will be ours alone. Pete can assist me with it until you’re comfortable coming onboard.”
“But I don’t have any hands-on experience,” I protest weakly, still reeling from his offer. Truthfully, I’m so tempted to say yes that I’m finding it hard to practice restraint. His excitement is contagious, and I find myself grinning with him.
“We all have to learn,” he says simply. “Years ago, Victor Falco gave me a chance. I’m not going to sit here and make it sound pretty or glamorous because it wasn’t. But, without him, I’m not sure where I would have ended up. I grabbed that opportunity with both hands and took the ride of my life. Let me do that for you. My daughter. This isn’t charity or some misplaced attempt to clear my conscious. You’re a Jacks, and even if you weren’t, I’d like to think I’m smart enough to have recognized a little of myself in you even without a blood tie.”
“I…don’t know what to say,” I murmur as I sink back into my chair.
“Just think about it,” he encourages. “I’m sure you’ll want to discuss it with Lucian, who will no doubt be pissed that I’m trying to steal your savvy business mind away from Quinn Software.”
I smile in reply, but secretly hope Lucian won’t be offended that I’m actually considering Lee’s offer. I love Lucian and his intelligence is one of the many things I admire about him. It would be amazing to work alongside him, but not as his girlfriend and mother of his child. No matter how hard I tried, there would always be people who assumed I’d gotten the position because I was sleeping with him. He deserves better than that—and so do I.
Lee and I are standing in the foyer as he prepares to leave when Lucian walks in the door. He looks surprised to see my father but gives him a friendly handshake. He walks to me, dropping a kiss on my upturned lips before sliding his arm around my shoulders. “Hey, baby,” he says softly before turning back to Lee to exchange a few words.
When he shuts the door behind our guest and leans against it, I notice how tired he looks. He’s stressed, and it’s beginning to show. I step forward and take his hand, tugging him gently. “Let’s go relax. I’ve missed you today.”
He lets me draw him to our nightly spot on the sofa. “I miss you from the moment I walk out the door each morning until I return in the evening,” he says lovingly.
He goes to get my feet and I stop him. I pat my lap and motion for him to lie down and put his head there. The fact that he rushes to comply tells me that he needs my touch tonight. I begin running my hand through the thick strands of his hair, rubbing his scalp soothingly. There’s a comfortable silence between us as we unwind from the day and just enjoy being together. “Is there anything new?” I ask, not wanting him to go to bed with everything bottled up inside.