His frown told me he’d expected a different answer.
He put his hands on my shoulders, and those chocolate brown eyes pierced straight through my soul. “Please, Lainey,” he pleaded. “I miss you so much. I made a mistake, but hell, I’m human. Is there any way you’ll forgive me? Please just consider taking the job.”
I frowned. “I’ll think about it,” I said again. As I turned to walk away, my chest ached. It hurt to breathe.
“Your mom is right, you know.” His voice was quiet, but it carried in the empty hallway.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and turned to face him. “How so?”
“I couldn’t even dream of finding someone like you in this lifetime or the next. You’re smart, and kind, and everything I could ever ask for in a partner—both in and out of the boardroom. You showed me what love is, and no matter what you decide, I will be forever grateful for that Lainey. It hurts like hell that I broke your trust, because you are my heart. I can’t live without you.”
My wall crumbled into dust. He was everything I could ever want in a man. He didn’t complete me, because hell, I was complete to begin with, but he was the perfect complement, one that I’d be hard pressed to find in someone else.
I let out an exaggerated sigh and put my hands on my hips. “What are the starting wages?”
His expression turned hopeful. “What?”
“For the marketing position.” I tried to act bored, like I’d seen on the law shows when people bargained for more money, even if a grin twitched at my lips.
His dimples made an appearance. “I’m sure it can be negotiated.”
“I want at least ten thousand higher,” I said, completely serious. “Make it twenty.”
“But you don’t even know the wage yet.”
“I know. But I’ve been on a shoe-buying hiatus for six months and plan to make up for lost time. Plus, there’s the issue of the clothes ruined by Bruce.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Taylor, but I think I can manage that.”
I smiled. “I’ll have my people call your people.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels. “Does this mean it’s a yes?”
“Under one condition.” I held up a finger. “As long as I get to abolish the garlic rule at the company.” I smirked.
“That can be negotiated.” He swooped me into his arms and pulled me close. His brown eyes melted the rest of my resolve, and when he leaned down to kiss me, I met his lips with hope for the future, hope for us, swelling in my chest.
“I love you, Lainey.”
“I love you, too, Brogan.”
Epilogue
Lainey Taylor Rule of Life #467
An office with a view trumps a cubicle any day of the week.
Six months later…
“Power looks good on you, Taylor.”
I smiled and stared out at the panoramic view of the Seattle skyline. As marketing manager, I had my very own office, and my very own assistant. Sure, the office wasn’t a corner one, but my eight by ten window wasn’t too shabby. It even came with remote control blinds, which I may have been playing with all morning. Mom was coming to visit next week. She’d finished her radiation and was in complete remission.
Brogan walked up to my desk and smiled. “I designed a new employee manual, and I’m going to implement it this week. Would you mind skimming over it and seeing what you think?” He clutched the leather-bound book in his hand.
“Sure. Does this mean I have the power to delete any of the rules I deem arbitrary?”
His lips tipped up in the corner, and he slid the manual across my desk. “Don’t let it go to your head. Wouldn’t want to have to report you to the CEO.”
“What is he going to do about it?” I drummed my fingers along the surface of the table and raised a brow.
“I say let the punishment fit the crime.” He pointed down to the book. “Will you just read the last page? That’s where I made the most changes.” He tugged at the knot of his tie and swallowed hard, uncharacteristically nervous.
I shrugged, not understanding why this last page of rules was so important it couldn’t have been emailed to me. “Sure.”
He looked at me expectantly.
“Oh. You mean now?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, still not understanding why this was so important it couldn’t wait until after our dinner date tonight.
I flipped open the book to the last page and started to scan down the rules. I could tell a lot had been changed because the book had shrunk by at least an inch.
My breath caught in my throat when I saw the first one was about me. As I read the second one, my pulse beat rapidly against my temples, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
Rule #762
Lainey Taylor is always right. She’s the smartest, kindest person I know, and I don’t know what I did to deserve her.
Rule #763
She seems to have horrible taste in movies, but always let her have her pick on Netflix because she ends up being right.
Rule #764
Don’t ever break the four cups of coffee rule. Ever. Under penalty of death.