by Nina Lane
“Hi, Kate. Luke’s in his office.”
“Thanks.” Kate tightened her hand on her briefcase. “Nancy, is Tyler Stone in yet? I need a few resources from the library.”
“Tyler?” Nancy lifted her eyebrows. “He left about half an hour ago.”
Kate’s heart stuttered. “What do you mean, he left? It’s not even nine o’clock yet.”
“He said he was done with the work he had to do, so he’s gone.”
Gone?
“Pity, huh?” Nancy gave her a conspiratorial smile. “He was a hottie. I loved watching him walk in here every day.”
Kate didn’t respond. She took the stairs to the basement level and hurried down the corridor to the library. The door was locked. A strange panic spread through her chest. She took out her phone and texted Tyler.
K. DARLING: Where are you?
No response. She went to the twelfth floor, noting that Luke’s office door was half open. She set her briefcase on her desk, ran trembling hands over her skirt, and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
She stepped inside. “Good morning, sir. May I have a moment of your time?”
He looked up from his computer and nodded, gesturing for her to sit on a chair in front of his desk. Kate closed the door, hoping her skirt concealed the fact that her knees were shaking.
She sat and folded her hands, taking the opportunity to speak before he did.
“I’d like to apologize for my conduct yesterday,” she said, glad that her voice was steady. “Obviously it was completely unprofessional and immoral, and I want to assure you that I’ve done nothing like that before, and I’ve no intention of doing so again. I disrespected my position with this company, and I utterly violated the code of conduct—”
“Kate.” Luke held up a hand to stop her tirade. “Yes, that’s all true. And if this were a situation in which your conduct affected the company negatively, we’d have to look at disciplinary proceedings.”
“I’m sorry.” She twisted her fingers together. “Is that what happened to Tyler? Nancy in reception told me that he was gone.”
A frown creased his forehead. “Yes, he’s gone. Because he quit.”
Shock flooded her. “He quit?”
Luke nodded. “He took the blame for what happened, said it was his fault, and asked me not to fire you.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he was afraid I would.” Luke’s mouth twisted. “Look, I know he talked you into what happened at the library. It’s just the kind of thing he would do. God knows he—”
“Sir.” Outrage speared through her. She rose to her feet, unable to remain sitting any longer.
Surprise flashed over Luke’s face.
“Excuse me for speaking out of turn, but that is so…so wrong,” Kate snapped. “He did not talk me into what happened. For your information, I seduced him. He was the one who said we shouldn’t do that at work, and of course he was right.
“And more, for a man who started working without an ounce of library experience, he’s done an incredible job. He’s made an effort to learn the collections management system and how to organize resources, he’s learned about proper handling of archival materials, and he’s even started researching how to better store the more fragile items.
“Even more, he’s increasingly dedicated to preserving and protecting Sugar Rush history, which quite frankly, no one else in your family has done before now. So don’t you dare start thinking ‘Well, that’s just Tyler being Tyler, screwing my mousy little assistant at work,’ because that’s not true.”
She strode forward and put her hands flat on the surface of his desk, leaning forward to look him in the eye. Her heart jackhammered, her breath burning her chest.
“Do you want to know what Tyler being Tyler really is?” she asked. “Tyler is dedicated, loyal, passionate, intelligent, creative. He’s an amazing dancer. He would do anything for his friends, sometimes to a fault. He’s always wanted to be valued in your family, but he hasn’t known how because he’s always been overshadowed by his older brothers.
“He knows he’s screwed up a lot, but for once he was trying to fix things. To make them right. If you could see that instead of blaming him when things go wrong, then maybe you’ll discover what an incredible part of this company he could be.”
Not until she stopped did Kate realize she was shaking. Luke stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. She stepped back, drawing in a breath.
Luke was silent for so long that the moments seemed to stretch into eternity.
“First,” he said, “I appreciate your defense of Tyler, though I’ve known him a lot longer than you have.”
“You’ve known him longer, but I don’t think you know him better.” Kate no longer cared that she was overstepping her boundaries. “Maybe you just need to realize that his value is different from what you and your father expected. God knows he needs to realize that for himself.”
She held up her hands to stop him from speaking. “I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business, and that I’m totally out of line. Given everything that’s happened, I’d like to tender my resignation.”
Luke’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look surprised. He must have known there could be no other recourse for her.
“Do you want to leave Sugar Rush?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then why resign?”
“Because I don’t believe this situation is at all fair. And I’ve never seen you treat anyone at this company unfairly. And…” She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “I behaved unconscionably.”
He fell silent again, as if he were thinking very hard.
“If you don’t want to leave, then I won’t accept a letter of resignation from you,” he said. “Only three of us know what happened. Considering your track record at Sugar Rush, I’m willing to forget the incident ever happened. I know it won’t again.”
Kate couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. She didn’t deserve such altruism. “You mean I can keep my job?”
“I would like you to, yes. And the promotion offer still stands.”
Her heart raced. “I…I can’t accept that, sir. A proper VP doesn’t make bad decisions, like I obviously do.”
Luke sat back in his chair and studied her gravely. “I’ve got news for you, Kate. Proper VPs do make bad decisions. And when they do, they come clean and try to fix the problem. But more often than not, their job performance and successes far outweigh their mistakes. I believe that will be the case in your situation as well.”
But she would have to prove it. Luke didn’t need to tell her that. Trust was a tricky thing—easily broken and painfully difficult to regain. She’d broken not only her boss’s trust, but his high regard of her and probably his respect too. She had a great deal to earn back.
“I…I don’t know what to say.” Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She didn’t know what to do. If her father ever found out about this…he would be so ashamed.
“Your mistake was significant,” Luke said. “But I do appreciate your honesty and your apology. I’d expect no less from a potential VP. I’m also a believer in second chances, and I’m willing to give you one. It’s up to you whether or not you want to take it.”
Kate pulled a hard breath into her lungs. If she took what he was offering, she’d spend the rest of her career working to prove that she really was the model employee he’d always believed her to be.
And she’d prove to herself that a great career and a tidy life with a professional businessman had been the right path for her all along.
Tyler had just been a wild, exciting, unexpected detour. One she now had to leave behind.
“Thank you, sir.” She took a step back, anxious to leave the office before her tears spilled over. “I accept and appreciate the second chance more than I can tell you.”
She hurried to the door.
“Kate.”
She turned.
“
Don’t make me regret this.”
“Never, sir.”
“And for God’s sake.” Amusement threaded his voice. “Please stop calling me sir.”
“Yes, si…Luke.”
She slipped out of the office and returned to her desk, burying the waves of emotion beneath a mask of efficiency. She took calls, organized the schedule, reviewed board meeting minutes, and ordered Luke a protein drink. On her lunch hour, she read over all the paperwork for the VP position.
Her phone buzzed with a text. Her heart stuttered with hope before disappointment took its place.
M. NORWOOD: Hello, Kate. Would you like to have coffee tomorrow morning? I can meet you at the Chocolate Café at ten.
She hesitated, her new resolve warring with emotions too deep, too powerful, to be easily shoved aside. And yet, she would have to do exactly that. She forced herself to respond.
K. DARLING: That would be fine. See you then.
She left the office at seven, an hour after the last employee had gone home. She gathered her things and walked to the parking lot. When she approached her car, her steps faltered.
Tyler was leaning against the side of her car, one hand shoved into the pocket of his jeans, his dark head bent over his phone. Kate slowed, her heels still clicking on the pavement.
He glanced up. Across the distance, an arc of electricity crackled between them. Her heart rate increased with that one look, even though she knew—she’d known, since the second Luke had walked in on them at the library—what she had to do. Not only would she never let Luke regret his decision, she would never allow herself to make another mistake like that one.
“Hey, Darling.” Tyler straightened, his gaze roaming over her appreciatively. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I know.” She stopped. Her insides twisted. “It’s nice to see you.”
“You too.” A crease appeared between his eyebrows at her formal tone. “You okay?”
For a moment, she couldn’t respond. In some ways—because of him—she was more than okay. She was better than she’d ever been. And in other ways, she’d never felt worse. Because of her, Tyler had quit the job that was his chance at redemption, both financially and in the eyes of his family.
“Luke didn’t fire me,” she said. “In fact, he said he was willing to forget the whole incident ever happened.”
“That’s great.” He gave her a somewhat uncertain smile. “So why do you look as if you’re about to face an executioner?”
She looked past him. “You shouldn’t have quit. I was the one who started the whole thing.”
“Hey.” He took hold of her chin, turning her face toward his. “I didn’t try very hard to stop you, right?”
“That doesn’t mean you should have taken all the blame. I told Luke it wasn’t your fault.”
“Kate, it doesn’t matter. I’m used to being at fault.”
She tightened her jaw against a wave of frustration. “But you shouldn’t be used to it. Why can’t you see that? Why don’t you know it?”
“Because of you, I’m starting to.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Come on, Darling. Let’s get some dinner and—”
“No.”
He dropped his hand away from her. “No?”
Kate shook her head. A tremble coursed through her. She needed distance from him. Their relationship had happened so fast, and with such force, that if she let herself return to him again she’d find herself caught in the same whirlwind.
Now, of all times, she couldn’t muddy her thoughts and feelings. She had to stay clear-headed, focused. On the fucking path.
She started to walk to the driver’s side. He grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“So give me the keys. I’ll drive.”
“No.” Kate twisted her arm out of his grip, steeling herself against the confused look in his eyes. “Tyler, we can’t see each other anymore.”
“What?” He lowered his hand to his side. “Why?”
“I’m sorry.” Shame rose to the surface again. “I never…I’m a professional. Never once in my life have I done something embarrassing in the workplace, much less totally immoral and unethical. Kissing you in the library was bad enough, but having sex…? No. I can’t forgive myself for that. And with Luke giving me a second chance, even with the VP position…I need to prove that he made the right decision. Even more, I need to prove that everything I’ve been is true. I can’t do that with you.”
He stepped back, darkness descending over his expression. “So that’s it, then? We’re done?”
“Tyler.” Kate dug into her purse for her keys, her hand shaking. “We were never meant to be anything serious. We both knew that from the start. So this is as good a place as any to end it.”
His mouth thinned. “It may not have started as anything serious, but it damned well ended up that way.”
Kate’s heart ached. She opened the car door, turning away from him as she got behind the wheel.
“No,” she said. “It just ended.”
Chapter
TWENTY-FOUR
“Thanks, man.” Henry extended his hand to Tyler. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“You’d better.” Tyler patted the fender of the Mustang, trying to smother a stab of sorrow over having sold the car.
Over the past few years, he’d probably spent more time with the Mustang than he had with any single human being. But as much as he loved the car, he’d give it up a hundred times over if it meant he could finally find his place in the world.
Like Kate did. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, even though she’d closed the door so hard he still heard the slam. According to Luke, after the debacle a week ago, Kate had taken a couple of personal days off before returning to Sugar Rush to start the VP position.
Good for her. She deserved it. And he had to figure out a way to keep going without her. A way that didn’t mean going backward.
He dug into his pocket for the keys and handed them to Henry before walking back to the garage where Charlie was working. He lifted a hand in farewell and headed toward his Trans Am.
Worst case scenario, he’d have to sell this car, too. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. He could live with selling the Mustang, but the Trans Am had been a gift from Evan and he really didn’t want to let it go. Between the car sale and not renewing his apartment lease, he hoped he’d be able to set his plan into motion.
He returned to his apartment, which was as silent as a tomb. The living room was so sparkling clean it would impress even Martha Stewart. Tyler hadn’t thought he’d miss the mess and noise created by his friends, but damned if he didn’t wish they were around to distract him from his own misery.
He boxed up a few more of his belongings and spent a couple of hours scrubbing down the kitchen. He’d been cleaning and packing for the past week, though the exertion still hadn’t rid him of his anger and frustration.
However, it had prevented him from driving over to Kate’s and doing something stupid, like falling to his knees in front of her or holding up a boom box blaring a sappy love song.
A sharp knock came at the door. He opened it. Spencer stood on the doorstep.
“Hey, man.” His brother held up a cardboard box. “You didn’t come back to the lab, and Luke said you weren’t at the library anymore. So I brought these over.”
Tyler stepped aside to let him in. “What is it?”
“Take a look.” Spencer put the box on the kitchen counter and opened the fridge.
Tyler unfolded the box top and removed a stack of chocolate bars wrapped in foil. Each one had the GOLD RUSH logo stamped on the top.
“The 49er truffles are in there too.” Spencer popped the cap on a bottle of beer and took a swallow. “I’m still working on the exact recipe, but those are close. Better than the eighteen-century chocolate, too, since they used a more modern manufacturing process. The Gold Rush bars in silver foil have nuts.”
> “Thanks.” Tyler set the bar back in the box. “Can I keep these?”
“Sure.” Spencer eyed him perceptively. “So what did Dad have to say about your job?”
“Nothing, yet. I’m meeting him downtown for dinner. Probably also for a stern lecture. I guess he’ll put me to work on the factory floor.”
“Then what’s happening with the library?”
“No idea. Luke had put out a call for applications for a librarian, so he’ll have to step up the game.” Tyler looked at the clock. “I gotta shower and get ready.”
After his brother left, he headed into the shower. Thankfully their father had suggested a non-fancy restaurant to deliver yet another comeuppance, but the Dijon Bistro was upscale enough that Tyler dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt instead of his usual jeans.
When he arrived at the restaurant, his father was already waiting at a corner booth. Belatedly, he wished he’d asked Spencer to come along, as a buffer if nothing else, but he knew he had to do this alone. Kind of like Luke Skywalker facing down Darth Vader.
As Tyler sat, he started to apologize—then stopped. He was done with apologizing and feeling guilty. He didn’t want to be a screw-up anymore, but he also had to put all his past transgressions behind him.
“Luke told me you won’t return to the library,” Warren remarked, nodding his thanks to the server as she poured them each a glass of wine.
“Did he tell you why?” Tyler asked.
“No. He did, however, assure me it had nothing to do with your work itself.” Warren eyed him with more perception than Tyler was comfortable with. “In fact, both he and Spencer have been impressed with what you’ve accomplished in so short a time. So have other employees. Seems everyone is sorry to see you go.”
Tyler shrugged. He was sorry to go too, but only because he’d known he could actually finish the job. He’d never be sorry for protecting Kate.
“So how do you plan to continue making the boat payments?” Warren asked.
Good question.
Though he was glad his father had cut right to the chase, Tyler didn’t speak for a moment. He’d rehearsed this speech a few times, but now the words all jumbled in his head.