Chapter26
Snowflakes brushedagainst her nose as she walked to her office on her first day back to work. Her apartment was now clean as a whistle as sleeping wasn’t possible for her. Now it was time to go, but everything about her life feltempty.
In Miami, the sunshinehad been warm and inviting. She closed her eyes and imagined Peteragain.
Someone threw snow at her feet, and she opened her eyes to see the city cleaners hard at work trying to keep the roads clear. She hugged herself. Thiswashard.
She threw the door to work open, and no one greeted her. She proceeded to the elevator and hit the button to her officefloor.
The secretaryat the front desk nodded, but she spoke to someone on thephone.
Belle went to her office and saw the huge bouquet of flowers. She grabbed the card and read Peter's note,Thinking of you, always yours. PeterMorgan.
She picked up her phone to call him, but then froze. She stared at the clock. It was New Year's Eve. He was at his party. The flutters inside her grew, outweighing theemptiness as she thought she'd tell him she lovedhimtoo.
She had a chancewithhim.
This job offered a big office with no one in her life. This wasn't the best choice. She turned on her heels, flung open her door, and almost ran into the seniorpartner.
He said, "We're so happy to haveyouback."
Peter loved her. Leaving him for this cold place was the stupidest thingshe had ever done. She needed to throw her arms around him and be willing tochange.
"I'm not staying. I have a plane tocatch."
Her boss nodded, but then asked, "Why? Are you needed for a deposition orsomething?"
She'd not lose out on love a second time because she had to work. Her shoulders felt surprisingly light as she said, "No. Consider this my verbal two weeks notice.Iquit."
She had clearly surprised him. Her boss's voice had a higher pitch as he said, "You quit? Why? We can offer you a substantial payincrease."
She threw her arms around him and hugged him. This was the last time she'd walk in this office. "Thank you, but I can't accept. I have to take a chance on love and see where thisleads."
She flung open the door. Her boss's voicebehind her said, "I don'tunderstand."
She grabbed her pocketbook and raised one of her shoulders. "Goodbye. Take care ofyourself."
She flew out the door and raced home to get the picture of her mother and then to the airport. If Peter loved her, then it had to be enough. She'd move. She'd change. There was no otheroption.
The taxi hadto call the house for permissionto drive past the street. As she rounded the corner, her heart hammered. She had to see his face the moment she arrived. If he loved her, she wanted to see it forherself.
She shook her head no. "Letmeout."
The driver waited for her to pay him and then took off. She straightened her knee-length dress. The evening sky in Miami was warm. She wore her white and red work dress as shehadn't wanted to stop to buy a gown. As she stepped onto the lawn, she squirmed in her shoes. Elegantly dressed people in ball gowns lingered on the lawn. Her slightly scuffed work shoes weren't up tosnuff.
She kept her head level and marched to the front door. There was no time for fear, not now. She'd tell him that she loved him. She had to. Thiswasit.
She went to knock on thedoor, but the maid threw it open and said, "Ms. Jordan,you'rehere."
"Caro,right?"
"Yes, ma'am. Mr. Morgan has been miserablewithoutyou."
This was a better welcome than she'd expected. She hadn't really spoken to his staff. She went inside the front door and asked, "Where isPeter?"
The maid swung her hips as she walked. "With his mother near the bay. Come withme. I'll bring youtohim."
She saw how her work dress made her seem like the hired help as she followed the maid. No one stopped her until they crossed the threshold to the outside, and Jennifer leftRafe'sarm.
