Heaven knew I could have used all the free coffee I could get my hands on these days.
At least until I started my new gig at Chicago Weddings Magazine. They had called with an offer for a part time remote position—which meant I could stay in New York—to write articles about weddings and event planning and recommend the trendiest spots to hold such affairs all over the country.
The pay was just enough to cover my living expenses, but this totally beat my hotline idea. I didn’t even have to talk to anyone this way.
Which was probably for the best, since I didn’t make many friends at Dean’s.
The snow started falling lightly over the glossy oval ice and its surrounding trees. This is what Christmas meant to me; snow, laughter, peace.
Spending it with people you love.
“I hear it’s much more fun on the ice.”
I froze in my chair before turning and locking eyes with the last person I expected to see.
Scott stood merely a few short feet from me, wearing an open black wool coat, ivory sweater and blue jeans. Even in the most relaxed attire, the man captured my heart.
I turned back to the window as if I hadn’t known him. As if he’d mistaken me for someone else.
Because he had.
No one had ever disturbed my Christmas mornings at the rink. Only Char and one other person knew about my sad little ritual.
Ron.
I sat there, facing away from him, willing him to just go away.
Because even if I could get rid of the lump in my throat; there was nothing left to say.
His voice drew closer. “Mind if I join you?”
I pushed the filled mug aside carefully. “I was just leaving.”
“But you have a fresh new cappuccino. One sugar. Easy on the foam.” He took a seat across from me at the small round table. “What I have to say won’t take longer than the time it will take you,” he pushed the round mug back in front of me, “to finish this.”
I carefully wrapped my hands around the piping hot mug. I felt trapped. What else could the man possibly want from me? A better apology? My first born? Perhaps that was a bad example; I’d have happily carried the man’s child.
I refused to look at him, but something told me he was waiting until I would.
Glancing up for a second, I found his beautiful green eyes gazing softly at me. I nearly winced at the sight. A painful reminder of what I’d lost.
Say what you came to say so I can get out of here. I let out a breath and took two large sips of the scorching beverage and glared at him.
His brows jumped. “Message received. I’ll make this quick,” he swallowed. “You were right. It’s nearly impossible to always get it right when you’re working alone,” he swallowed hard.
I frowned.What?
“I’d never second guess myself or miss an important piece to the puzzle. I don’t typically underestimate anyone, or be completely inconsiderate of those that matter. That was never me.” He took a breath. “Sometime after venturing out on my own, I lost the qualities that got me so far and the ones that made me proud to be the type of businessman I’d become.”
Great. He’s here to remind me how I fooled him.
“In the short weeks that I’d known you, you reminded me of the man I used to be. The one I thought I was. On top of that, you taught me more than you could imagine.”
I tensed as hope tugged at my heart. Even though it was over, at least there was the slightest bit of dignity and respect I could take with me after all this.
But I pushed it aside, remembering the bitter words that crushed me. I took another long sip. Needing for this to be over.
He glanced at the near empty cup and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a thickly folded document.
