She relaxed a little more. “You start over.”
All the pieces clicked together at once, as the meaning and consequences of those three words slammed through his thoughts. Starting over meant finding investors again, risking the same thing that happened last time: one of them screwing the company over. And if it was her suggestion, it probably also meant getting her involved. After all, she specialized in making the numbers work, and she hadn’t tossed the idea out there so they could let someone else do it.
He slid away from her. “No.”
She shifted on the couch to face him completely, one leg tucked under the other knee, and her eyes narrowed. “You said you’d hear me out.”
“Nothing to hear.” He should have listened to the instinct that told him this was a mistake, and never for a moment indulged the part of him that thought he was falling for— No, wrong, that thought didn’t exist. “If that was an option, we would have already done it.”
“You don’t know if it is or not. Just give me a few hours with your books—”
And there it was. “No.” There was no way he was repeating what had happened with Kelly. “It won’t work.” He grabbed his clothes from the floor. This wasn’t how he wanted this day to end.
She was on her feet in an instant, anger and hurt flashing in her eyes as she collected the rest of her clothing and yanked it on. “I was wrong about you. I won’t make that mistake again.”
What did that mean? He wasn’t going to ask.
She clenched her jaw, staring him down. The moment stretched between them. She turned on her heel and stormed toward the door. The entire house shook when she slammed it behind her.
He sank back into the cushions. That had been painful, but it was the right thing to do. Thinking with his dick last time had cost them everything; he wasn’t making that mistake again. Even if Rae hadn’t been a fling. Even if they’d never slept together. Or dated. Or fantasized about the relationship becoming more…
Don’t go down that road. Starting over isn’t an option. He and Scott needed to sign the buy-out offers and move on.
Chapter Eleven
Zach dropped into the chair in his office, and air whooshed out through the seams in the leather. He rested his head on the cool glass of the desktop and took a deep breath. There was no reason to leave anything behind; he wouldn't be coming back. But the office had been his second home for so long. It was going to take more than a couple minutes to pack it all up.
He made a mental note to ask Legal if he was still entitled to the furniture, or if that was company property. Even though he had come in early specifically to clear out before anyone else got in, reluctance made him drag his feet. Nostalgia was hitting him harder now he’d had a chance for everything to sink in. His focus drifted around the room, eventually falling on the table in the corner where he'd negotiated some fantastic deals, including hiring some of the most talented people in the industry.
He couldn't see the scratches in the polished walnut from where he sat, but he knew it was covered with them. More memories flashed through his mind. Talking to Scott about rehab. The night he and Kelly had decided to test out how sturdy the furniture was.
The memory morphed, and it was Rae instead. Her legs wrapped around his waist. Her almost too-thin shirt shoved up, turquoise bra loose. The tiny sighs she made when she was content…
He shook his head to banish the thoughts. Maybe he wouldn’t miss the table after all. It could stay and haunt the new management for all he cared. A knock drew him out of his thoughts. Scott claimed the chair across from Zach’s desk. The familiarity of the moment brought a sad smile to Zach's face.
Scott looked around the room, gaze lingering on the modern art decorating the walls. “It'll look strange in here when you're gone.”
“Not like you'll be around to notice.” Zach didn't try and keep the bitter tone from his voice. It wasn't worth the effort, and Scott would know it wasn't directed at him. “You done packing up?”
“As much as you are.” Scott slid down in the seat and settled his arms on the rests, legs sticking out in front of him. “I grabbed a couple of personal things. My laptop. I'll get the rest when they force me.”
Zach frowned. The longer he lingered in the room, the more it settled in…it was all over. The only job he'd ever had. The only real one, anyway. What were they going to do now? People didn't actually retire at twenty-eight. How boring would that be? He dropped his forehead into his hand, shoulders slumping.
“Gentlemen.” Vance’s stern baritone sliced the lingering cloud in the room.
Swell. Is there even any reason to be civil at this point?
Scott shifted so he was half facing the door.