Chapter Nine
Lance stretched his arms high above his head and leaned over to peer out the office door for the hundredth time that morning. A stupid grin had been plastered to his face since that kiss last night and all he wanted to do was see her face again. It’d been an amazing kiss, something he’d only heard about in movies. The kind that replayed in his dreams, over and over, until he couldn’t sleep anymore, for wanting to find her and repeat the scene.
He’d never believed in meant-to-be or soul mates before, but he was warming up to the idea. For some mysterious reason, his uncle had decided this was the task for him. And at the same time, she was here in this minuscule excuse for a town, just getting out of a relationship. Their timing was perfect. She was perfect. Everything from her kiss to the way she hummed Christmas tunes as she worked. He liked it all.
His thoughts of Gemma were interrupted by the buzzing of his cell phone. One glance at the glass screen made him cringe. Uncle Matthias was calling. If there was one way to put a damper on last night’s events, it was a conversation with his uncle. Still, he couldn’t ignore it.
“Hello uncle.” He held the phone tight in his hand. “Good morning.”
“I just finished reviewing the financial statements you sent to me last night,” his uncle began. “I’m seeing a lot of funds dispersed to operations that aren’t even trying to become self-sustaining. That town has become too dependent on Barkley & Barkley funds. It’s a leaky drain pipe that needs to be sealed off. I’m pulling the plug.”
Lance sprang to his feet. “But wait, didn’t you read my report on the Children’s Home and the animal shelter?”
“I did.” His uncle’s voice rumbled through the speaker. “Seem like noble causes to me, but not huge results considering how much money we’ve dropped into them.”
“But you didn’t see the kids,” he argued. “Those kids need this home. It’s the only place left for many of them. They’ll have nowhere else to go.”
There was a torturous moment of silence on the phone and for a moment Lance thought maybe the call had dropped. But his uncle cleared his throat and coughed.
“I’m not some cold-hearted tycoon sitting in his plush office and laughing at the world’s misery’s,” he said in a low growl. “I feel sorry for those kids. But the truth of the matter is that they’re wards of the state and the state is responsible for them. The past five years have been difficult on the ad sales industry. We’re cutting costs across the board to deal with this terrible economy. And to put it frankly, this foundation has to end.”
Lance scrambled to come up with a solution in his head, some way the foundation could stay alive. “I’ll give up my expensive apartment. I’ll spend less on clients. I’ll even take the bus to work. Would that help?”
Uncle Matthias’ booming laughter echoed through the phone. “Boy, those are a drop in the bucket.”
“We can’t close them down.” Lance could feel his self-control slipping away. He thought of Gemma and Chloe and Laurie and how devastated they’d be without the foundation. He thought of Ricardo without his dogs and little Brandon without a home. The thought made a rage flair up inside him that leaked out into his voice. “You can’t do this. It’s not right.”
“I can and I will.” A similar rage had appeared in Uncle Matthias’ voice. “And I will remind you again of your promise to your father that you’d become a man and take over his partnership someday. Dealing with disappointment is a part of the process. If you can’t handle it, then you’re not a man. And if you’re not a man, you’re not ready to work in this company. Don’t make me regret sending you there.”
Lance sunk into his chair. The weight of his promise to his father weighed heavily on his shoulders. If closing the foundation meant he finally got to make his father proud, he’d do it. But he knew what that meant. Gemma would never forgive him. He’d lose her.
“The community Christmas party is tonight,” he muttered into the phone. “It’s the last big event the foundation puts on every year. I’ll break the news as soon as it’s over.”
“You’d better, my boy.” Uncle Matthias cleared his throat. “Make it a clean break. They’ll survive without us. And then get back to the office so we can start talking about your future.”
Lance hung up and slammed his fist on his desk. There was no way around it. He’d have to end the foundation tonight.
“Are you okay?” Gemma walked into the office, unwrapping a scarf from her lovely neck. He stared at her as she gracefully deposited her purse and coat and leaned on his desk with one hip. “I thought I heard a noise.”
“It’s nothing.” He looked up at her face, the same yearning that had plagued him all night flaring up big time. In about twelve hours, that face wouldn’t hold so much fondness for him. He tried to soak in the sweet curve of her smile as much as he could now, before that smile was gone.
She looked around the office. “Where’s Frankie?”
“He had to run back to the cities,” he answered, really not interested in discussing his assistant. “Something at the office just couldn’t wait. You’ve got me all to yourself.”
“Good.” Her hand slipped across the surface of the desk to rest on his. He grabbed it and pulled her closer to him. “That’s what I was hoping for.”
“I’ve been thinking about you all night.” He placed his hand on her cheek, relishing the soft skin under his own.
“Me, too.” Her eyelids fluttered as he placed a light kiss on her jawline.
“I don’t suppose we have time for a replay?”
She leaned back to get a look out the door. “All’s clear. I’m guessing we have about ten point three seconds before they show up.”
“I’ll take it.” He pulled her in closer and their lips met.
The same explosive feeling he’d had last night came to life deep inside his gut. He lost himself in it, pulling her onto his lap and allowing his hands to roam her back and sink into her hair. She smelled so good, like cinnamon sticks and cider. The small quick breaths she took as she returned his kisses made him want her even more. Ten seconds and more passed by as they lost themselves to each other.
“Um…Ahem? Don’t we have rules about this in the employee handbook?”
Lance and Gemma tore themselves apart to see Chloe standing in the doorway. She was grinning from ear to ear, her braids piled high on top of her head and Santa earrings swaying on each ear. Laurie came up behind her, a shy smile lighting up her face as well.
“I’m not sure,” Gemma said with an evil smile. “But I do remember something in there about me firing your butt if you interrupted again.”
Chloe held up her hands in surrender and slowly backed out the door. Gemma looked at Lance and burst out laughing, her cheeks bright red from either the kiss or the embarrassment of being caught.
“Be my date for the party tonight,” Lance said, bringing her fingers up to his mouth so he could kiss them one by one. “Let me take you. It’ll be our first date.”
What Gemma didn’t know was that it would be their only date. But he couldn’t think about that. All he wanted was one perfect day with her. One day he could treasure when he was back in Minneapolis, alone and devastated.
“Of course.” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’d love to. It’s going to be a New Hope Christmas Party to remember, that’s for sure.”
He had no doubt that she’d remember it forever, but not for the same reasons.