Baby, I'm Yours. Carrie Weaver
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Название: Baby, I'm Yours
Автор: Carrie Weaver
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
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“You’ve been around the business a lot, but there would still be so much to learn.”
“I’m a quick learner. And we could hire someone part-time for accounts receivable as profits allow.”
“There will be long hours. You need to be there for your kids.”
“In a perfect world, I could drop everything to ease this transition for my children. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world and I need to find the best solution. Gabe’s parents offered to pick up more of the slack at home. We can do it. And David works here part-time, so I might see him more often.”
Rick noticed a new resolve in her voice. While he admired her confidence, he didn’t want the business to suffer if she wasn’t able to tackle it all. “Let me have some time to think it over.”
“What’s to think over? You may own controlling interest, but only by two percent. This business is as much mine as it is yours.”
He’d never missed Gabe more than at this moment. Their partnership had grown and evolved into an organic, symbiotic relationship. With Becca, he’d be starting from square one. And with a woman he’d slept with, no less. It was a recipe for disaster.
But she had a point about ownership. Technically, he could make unilateral decisions, but it didn’t bode well for keeping the business together. The last thing he wanted to do was be forced to sell.
Running his hand through his hair, he asked, “There’s nothing I can say to dissuade you?”
“Nothing.” Her voice was emphatic.
“I can check with the bank about a business loan or see if I can take out a second mortgage on my house. Maybe then I could buy out your share.”
“No, Rick, absolutely not. I’m here, I’m staying and I intend to be an active partner. It’s the least I can do for my children. The least I can do to honor Gabe.”
How could he say no when she put it that way?
He couldn’t. But he could at least buy himself time. Very few people could maintain the kind of commitments Becca described. Maybe she would eventually be forced to admit it wasn’t a good idea.
“Why don’t we give it a trial run? Maybe sixty days and then reevaluate?”
“Deal.” Becca extended her hand.
He shook, wondering what the hell he’d gotten himself into. “Deal.”
CHAPTER FOUR
RICK CONNECTED to the ball with a vicious swing. It ricocheted off the wall and came back low.
He sprinted a few feet to lob it this time. Wiping the sweat from his eyes, he returned with another lob. The lob wasn’t a strategic play, it was borne from the sheer necessity of playing racquetball by himself.
He’d canceled his court time twice after Gabe’s death. But now, he needed the release of physical exertion. And not the kind that immediately came to mind. Because when he thought of that kind of exertion, he thought of Becca.
His next shot was low and lethal. Dodging left, he barely missed being hit. Half an hour later, he couldn’t catch his breath.
Was he having a heart attack?
Before, he would have brushed off the thought. He was too young, too fit for that to happen. But Gabe had been young and apparently fit and now he was dead.
Exiting the court, he draped a towel around his neck, trying not to look for Gabe. He half expected to turn his head and see his friend standing there, grinning.
“Hey, Jensen.”
Rick turned, but no Gabe. Instead it was a guy he’d seen around the gym.
“Hey.”
“I heard about Gabe. Sorry, man.”
“Thanks.”
Rick couldn’t recall the guy’s name. Rob, Bob, something like that.
“I’m Bill Connors. My partner and I have the next court time.”
“Oh, yeah. See ya around.” Rick turned, unwilling to watch the twosome enjoy a kick-ass game when his partner was six feet under.
“Thing is, I was wondering what you’ll be doing with your court time. Didn’t see you here last week. Me and my buddies wouldn’t mind taking it off your hands.”
Rick slowly turned to face Bill, his hand clenching his racquet handle. It was all he could do to keep from taking the guy’s head off. He had lost his best friend, his business and racquetball partner. He’d be damned if he was going to lose his court time, too.
“I’ve got a new partner starting next week,” Rick lied. “But I’ll keep you in mind if I decide to give it up.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
Rick exited the parking lot faster than was necessary, anger buzzing through his system. The problem was, he didn’t know why he was so pissed off. Maybe because he had absolutely nobody with whom he wanted to partner up on the racquetball court. Rick was the kind of guy who was content with one close friend. That had been Gabe. No wonder he felt the loss so keenly.
When he reached the rental agency ten minutes later, Rick swung his car into the parking lot and sighed. There was a pickup parked in his space beneath the shade tree.
Finding a spot at the back of the lot, Rick was in a pretty foul mood. First with Bill trying to take his court time, now with David Smith stealing his parking space. It seemed as if the kid had been challenging him a lot lately.
His irritation grew darker as he entered the agency and saw the light on in his office.
He nodded and said a curt good-morning to the Saturday staff.
His suspicions were confirmed when he walked into his office.
“David.” It came out more a challenge than a greeting.
“Hey, Rick.”
“You want to get out of my seat?”
David’s chin came up. “It’s my father’s company, too.”
“Yes, and your father has a desk. I suggest you use it.”
“It’s…weird not to see him there.”
The challenge was gone and all Rick saw was the young boy who had done cannonballs into the pool the first time Rick had been invited to the Smith house for СКАЧАТЬ