His Million Dollar Risk

by Bielman, Robin

  “His family is important to him. When he talks about them you can hear how much he loves them. I would never want to come between that. In all honesty, I believe Sandra. We both know my father can be a stubborn ass. Jed might be one of his top reporters, but he’s never been the best at checking facts. Wasn’t there some story a couple years ago that he got called on?”

  “You know, I think you’re right.”

  “It makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.”

  “Morale at the office has been lower. I think everyone is starting to feel some tension. You’re going in this morning, right?”

  Charlie had done a lot of thinking on the plane ride. Mostly about Connor, but also about how she wanted to live her life and she didn’t want to live it working for Natural World anymore. She wasn’t sure she wanted to live it around her father anymore, either.

  “Yes.”

  “Good, because I know it’s probably not what you want to hear right now, but your dad was really happy with your story.”

  “You mean our story.”

  “No. I mean yours. I gave him what you wrote and only added a few little things after proofing it, nothing to warrant any credit.”

  Charlie closed her eyes. That’s what she’d wanted. To prove herself and gain her father’s respect. But, she suddenly realized, taking charge of her own life meant more. She’d thought her father’s respect would make her happy, yet the only thing she felt was relief.

  She could finally move on.

  “I’m going to quit tomorrow,” she said.

  Ashley bolted up. “What? This is what you’ve wanted.” Her eyes softened. “Isn’t it?”

  “It used to be. But deep down I don’t want to be a reporter. I never truly have.”

  Ash smiled. “You will kick ass as a children’s book author and skyrocket to the top of the bestsellers lists.”

  Charlie wrapped her in a quick hug. “Thank you. And after I quit, I’m going to tell my father to print a retraction.” Ash’s eyes widened. “If he doesn’t, then we’ll no longer have a relationship. I can forgive him for making the mistake. I can’t forgive him for standing by it. My relationship with Connor aside, I believe his mom. If he doesn’t apologize publicly, then I’m giving my piece on World Heritage Fund to another publication. I wasn’t officially put on the job, so if he prints it without my consent, he’s going to have a big problem.”

  “You’re my hero.” Ash raised her hand for a high five.

  “Let’s just hope he goes for it.”

  …

  A few days later Charlie sat in a red beanbag chair in her favorite bookstore with her laptop open to the headline from Natural World announcing its sincere regret over their error in taking Sandra Swanson’s words out of context.

  It seemed Charlie did matter to her father. So much so, he’d broken down in his office and confessed that the magazine had been suffering financially and he’d worried that a retraction would discredit them even further.

  They talked for two hours. For the first time in her life, they spoke honestly, and while it didn’t fix everything wrong in their relationship, it gave them a starting point.

  A ding sounded, alerting her to a new email message. She clicked on the icon at the bottom of her screen. Her pulse sped up at the subject line and she quickly opened the message.

  Dear Ms. Beckett,

  Thank you for your query. I would very much like to speak with you in regards to your submission, WHAT DO YOU SAY FINLEY QUAY? Please let me know a good time to talk.

  Best,

  Fiona Moore

  Moore Davis Literary Agency

  She pounded her feet on the carpeted floor of the bookstore in sheer delight, and maybe let out a little squeal. She’d sent a dozen queries to agents for her picture book over the past couple of days and already received two rejections. This reply rocked so much better.

  Children’s voices grew in volume and quantity. Charlie shut her laptop to focus on the preschoolers assembling in front of her. She tucked her computer into her bag and ran her hand over the picture book selected for story time this morning.

  One day she’d hold her own book.

  The tiny, smiling faces staring at her brought a smile in return. Blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, so full of innocence and silliness and honesty, they reminded her how wonderful it was to imagine and dream and feel free.

  Plans were good, but they weren’t foolproof. It had taken her a while to figure out the flaw with her intentions. In wanting to please her father, she’d forgotten something very important.

  That the only way to live honestly was to see with her heart.

  Sometimes things didn’t work out. She missed Connor so much it was a physical ache. A pain that reached into her bones and made them brittle. But she’d been lost before and she always found her way.

  A little boy tugged on the leg of her pants. “You gonna read now?”

  “Yes,” she answered, blinking back into the present.

  She read to them and talked with them and she was happy.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Connor sat in his office at World Heritage Fund and stared at his computer screen. His mom had called with the good news, but he needed to see it for himself. Not only had Natural World published a retraction but Thomas Beckett had offered a personal apology as well.

  He fell back into his leather chair. Relief washed over him. Whatever had possessed Thomas Beckett to right his wrong, Connor was grateful. While talking to his mom, she’d mentioned forgiveness and his admiration for her grew. She didn’t hold a grudge. Come to think of it, his father didn’t either. And with the fortune and platform he’d amassed, that spoke of the type of character Connor had tried to emulate.

  So the weird sense of calm he felt toward Charlie’s father shouldn’t surprise him.

  Charlie.

  Every time he thought about her, he wondered if he’d done the right thing. He hadn’t been willing to forgive her had he? She’d apologized more than once, been willing to fight for what they had. And he’d turned his back on her.

  His heart pounded. Why had he done that?

  It had taken him the past few days to figure that out. For the first time in his well-ordered life, all hell had broken loose in his head and heart and it had scared the shit out of him. Falling in love hadn’t been part of his plan and when he saw a way out, he took it.

  Like a coward.

  Like an idiot.

  The love he had for Charlie hadn’t diminished in the least after he’d learned the truth. If anything, being away from her had made him love her more. He’d had time to think about all the ways she fit him better than he’d ever imagined. She’d opened up to him, especially late at night when they lay in bed together and shared memories and stories and confessions. And she’d gotten him to do the same.

  She’d confided her mistakes, her experiences, the chances she’d taken. She had been real. The most real thing he’d ever been lucky enough to have.

  Could she forgive him?

  He studied his calendar. A couple of conference calls tomorrow and a flight to Peru in two days with no return date. One of his VPs could take his place. After that—

  His office phone rang and he hit the intercom button. “Yeah, Gloria?”

  “Mr. Malloy would like to see you in his office.”

  “Will do. Thanks.” Half a minute later, he knocked on his boss’s door. “Come in,” Bill said.

  Connor took a seat at Bill’s desk. “What’s up?”

  “I received a review copy of the article Natural World is running next week.” Bill rubbed his jawline. “I don’t believe it’s something they normally do, but Ms. Beckett mentioned wanting to get your approval before it’s finalized.”

  With all the crap going on in his head, Connor had forgotten about the article.

  “I’ve read it.” Bill turned his computer so Connor could see the screen. “It’s good.”

  Connor gave a tight nod and started reading.
The further into the piece he got, the faster his heart beat. Charlie’s words were like magic. She shared her journey and painted such a detailed and animated picture that he felt like he’d been transported back to all the places they’d visited. If this didn’t make people want to see the Route, nothing would. She also sang his praises, making him out to be a rock star in the heritage protection world and keeping his personal life out of it.

  “It’s more than good.” Connor spun the computer back around and cleared his throat. Bill studied him like he was waiting for him to say something more. “Sir?”

  “Would you finally quit with the sir?”

  “Probably not.” Connor cracked a smile.

  “Thayer is itching to spread his wings, so I thought we’d let him go to Peru instead of you. He’ll swing by your office in an hour or so and you can fill him in on what’s going on.”

  Connor rubbed at his ear. He couldn’t have heard that right. “Do I need to be somewhere else?”

  “That’s up to you.” The older man, wise and happily married for over thirty years couldn’t be playing matchmaker, could he? Because Connor got the distinct feeling Bill was implying he quit acting like an ass and go see Charlie.

  “I won’t be missed if I take a long weekend?”

  “You’ll be missed, but go anyway.”

  He got to his feet. He didn’t need to be told twice. “Got it.”

  “Good luck,” Bill said, before putting his head down and reading something on his desk. Connor couldn’t be sure, but he thought he heard him mumble, “First Dean, then McCall. These boys are dropping like flies.”

  Connor hoped so.

  …

  The real Ashley Morgan turned out to be a cool chick who talked almost as much as Charlie and wanted all-in with helping Connor surprise her.

  Standing out of sight outside the Route 66 Classic Grill in Los Angeles checking his watch every thirty seconds, he hoped like hell Charlie could forgive him.

  While putting things together the past couple of days, he hadn’t stopped thinking about the sweet gasps she made against his lips when they kissed and how he wanted to kiss her again. If she let him, he’d kiss her for the rest of her life.

  The sun hung high in the blue sky, the spring air smelled like oranges and fresh tilled soil. A steady stream of customers had been turned away with a voucher for a free meal—courtesy of Connor—the next time they visited.

  Ashley’s car, a white convertible VW bug just like she’d described over the phone, finally pulled into the parking lot. She jumped out and hurried around the hood to open the passenger door. He smiled when Goldilocks stepped out wearing a blindfold. With no worry of discovery, he moved out of the shadow and looked his fill. God, she was beautiful.

  “Ashley, enough already,” Charlie said. “I’m surprised, okay? I’ve no idea where we are and you didn’t have to go to all this trouble on my half birthday. Which by the way, technically isn’t until tomorrow. Why is it so quiet?” She stretched an arm out in front of her, moving it slowly from side to side.

  “You’ll see in just a sec, okay?” Ashley held onto Charlie’s elbow with one hand and gave him a wave with the other.

  “What are you really up to?”

  “No good, of course.” Ashley let go of her friend. “You trust me, right?”

  “Ash.” Charlie reached for the blindfold.

  His pulse ran wild.

  “See you later, chica! Or not.” Ashley jumped back into her car and started backing out of the lot.

  Charlie pulled the blindfold off and yelled to her friend. “What are you doing?”

  Ashley waved an arm out the window. Connor owed her one.

  It took Charlie only a second to twist back around. He couldn’t make out her exact expression, but heard the huff of breath she released before checking out where she stood. She saw the lone red ’66 convertible mustang parked right in front and took tentative steps toward it.

  He knew the minute she saw the open glove box and Violet Crumbles inside it because her face alighted with anticipation and her head whipped around like she expected someone to jump out and yell “surprise.”

  Not yet.

  She stood still for a minute before sliding her hand along the open windowsill and looking closer into the interior. He couldn’t wait to get her inside that car and do dirty things to her.

  The door to the restaurant opened and the café’s owner, Stan, appeared. “You Charlie Beckett?” he called out.

  Charlie lifted her arm to shield her eyes from the sun. “Yes,” she called back.

  “Welcome to the Route 66 Café.” He gestured her over. “Come on in.”

  Her body startled, like maybe realization had hit. The restaurant. The car. She looked left and right before a cautious, but lively gait took her toward the café’s entrance. God, he loved her. How fearless. Fun. Trusting. Forgiving?

  Connor hightailed it around the building and entered through the back. He got to his spot next to the counter just in time to see Charlie enter.

  And watch her hand fly to the center of her chest. She blinked over and over again, her lips parted.

  A large three-dimensional map of the Route featuring their initials—C&C—and mounted on a piece of wood sat on an easel in the middle of the café. A five-foot tall Ferris wheel made out of Lego bricks stood off to one side. Dandelions filled small glass vases on every table. And giant teddy bears holding hearts that said I love you sat in every booth but one.

  “This way,” Stan said, leading Charlie to the lone unoccupied booth.

  She followed and slid into the black vinyl seat. Stan handed her a “menu” and made himself scarce.

  Connor slipped into the spot beside her. She looked up, hands shaking on the handmade book in her hands. “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi,” she said, breathless. Her gaze dropped back to the book.

  “Open it.”

  Her breath hitched. With a gentle touch, she rubbed her fingers over the cover. 66 Reasons Why I Love Charlie, it said.

  Connor’s first—and last—stab at writing and illustrating a book. His drawing talent left a lot to be desired, but hopefully his words made up for it.

  Charlie opened the book.

  Dear Charlie,

  I fell in love on Route 66.

  Here’s why…

  He watched her read the first page, the second, the third. A smile took hold of her lips on page four.

  When you talk, I don’t just listen. I hear you. And the sound is nothing short of extraordinary. You’ve opened my world to beauty and opportunity and choices.

  A drawing of a dandelion accompanied the sentiment.

  She glanced at him. “There’s really sixty-one more reasons?” Her soft voice sounded skeptical.

  “There is. There is so much I love about you, Charlie Beckett. I’m sorry I walked out on you like I did.” He took her hand, needing to feel physically connected. Her delicate palm trembled under his touch.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t forgive you back in Colorado. I was an idiot. And I know you’re probably thinking that the only reason I’m here is because of what your dad did, but that’s not true. I would’ve come for you anyway. My world looks better through your eyes, and I want it all with you. Good, bad, happy, sad. You’re my due north, and I want to take this journey with you and no one else.”

  Electricity sizzled between them. The intense attraction that had been there since the day they met by the pool became a living, breathing thing. It took every ounce of willpower he had to take this slow when what he really wanted to do was kiss her senseless and touch her everywhere.

  She sucked in her bottom lip.

  “I love you,” he repeated. “The bears can vouch for me.”

  Affection and a gorgeous smile bloomed across her face, calming the frantic beat of his heart. “I’m sorry, too. So sorry for not telling you the truth sooner. And I love you back.”

  He cupped her cheeks and kissed her with all the passion and love that
had been steadily building inside him since the moment she’d come into his life.

  She pulled on his shirt to bring him closer and their lips and tongues gave and received until they both needed to come up for air. Her eyes sparkled with want and fire and love. She swiped her fingers across her well-kissed mouth. “You love me.”

  “I love you,” he repeated.

  Her eyes shut for a brief moment like she wanted to relish those words. When they opened she looked around the restaurant. “This is incredible.”

  “Thought we could give the bears to your favorite charity.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “The car out front, though. It’s a ’66 Mustang and it’s yours.”

  “What?”

  “I plan on taking lots of road trips with you.”

  “Oh, Connor.” She put her hands on his face and kissed him. “And you wrote me a book.” She picked it back up. “It’s amazing. And thoughtful. And…” She waved a hand in front of her face. “I’m gonna cry.”

  “Hey.” He laced their fingers together. “How about we eat instead?”

  She nodded. Connor gave the signal to Stan and a waitress came out from the kitchen and took their order. Burgers, fries, and milkshakes. He loved that Charlie liked to eat.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” he said.

  “I’ve missed you too.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I quit my job,” she added.

  “Congratulations. How did your father take it?”

  “Pretty well. We talked about a lot of things, and I think we’ll be able to have a better relationship moving forward.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “So where do we go from here?” She looked at him sideways, a shy lilt to her voice that made him love her more.

  “I came here planning to figure out a way to see each other as much as possible, but since you’re no longer employed, how would you feel about moving to Idaho? It’s where I live.” He ran this thumb across her knuckles.

  She turned to face him. “You want me to move in with you?”

  “Hell yes. I don’t want to be away from you for longer than necessary. One less flight to be with you would be fantastic. But, I’d understand if you wanted to stay close to your family and friends since I’m constantly out of town.” He held his breath. He was asking a lot, but the minute the invitation had left his mouth, he wanted it. Badly.