CHAPTER TWELVE

Trevor

As much as I’d love to have sat there all day and ask Emma questions about herself, I knew two things. One, she needed to open up in her own time, and two, I still had a lot to get done. After she shut my office door, however, I did feel as though we’d made some progress in her warming towards me.

The next time I heard from her was a knock when the sun was going down.

“Come in.”

“It’s near six o’clock. How much longer are you here for?”

I glanced up to see her standing in my doorway, bag in hand, obviously ready to go home for the evening. How could it be so late already?

“A little while yet. What’s your take on Phillip?”

Her face gave away nothing regarding her feelings about the owner of the Stone Group. “He’s tough, but fair. I thought your father knew him?”

I shrugged. “He does, but I’ve never actually met him. Seeing as I have this presentation for him in a couple of days, I thought I’d get your opinion.”

She hesitated but then simply said, “He respects Simon, so if Simon signs off on your presentation, then you’ll do fine.”

“Thanks.” My head was pounding from the numbers. I considered myself smart enough when it came to business, but there was a lot to consider when it came to evaluating a company for purchase. Oftentimes the best deal wasn’t the most profitable company because the purchase price would be high. The key was to find a diamond in the rough, so to speak, and shine it once it was purchased. At least that was the philosophy I kept thinking of.

Emma snapped me out of my thoughts. “So, how late are you planning to be?”

“I can lock up if that’s the issue.”

“It’s not.”

She chewed her lip in an adorable way that made me want to suck on it. So much for friend-zoning my feelings—they were busy figuring out a way to friend-suck her bottom lip.

“What about Rufus? Won’t he need out? Or is your sister back in town?”

I grimaced. My poor dog. Hopefully, he could hold it. “No. She’s still in Houston. The dog walker came about four hours ago, but I’m waiting on a phone call from Phillip, so I don’t want to be in the car.”

She sighed heavily. “Is he walkable?”

My brows shot up in shock. She couldn’t be hinting what I thought. “What?”

“Will Rufus pull me over or go crazy if I take him outside for a quick bio break when I get back to the complex?”

She might pretend she didn’t have heart, but it was quickly becoming apparent that under her tough exterior there beat a good one. “He’s like walking furniture. Probably the easiest dog in the world. True, he will get excited once you take out his leash, but make him sit, and he’ll be all yours. But are you certain you don’t mind?” The very last thing I wanted was to take advantage of her generosity and allow her to feel uncomfortable, given she was nervous around big dogs.

She wavered but then walked forward holding out her palm. “I wouldn’t offer if I minded. Give me your key. And will he be hungry?”

I couldn’t hide my grin and hoped like hell Rufus would be on his best behavior and not slobber her. “He’d be your best friend for life if you give him two scoops of his food when you get back from his walk. It’s in the kitchen along with his bowls, but he can also wait another hour or so if you’re not comfortable.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

I put my key in her hand, more than impressed that she’d gone from the baby step of petting him to offering to let him out. “I’m in apartment number 310, just down the hall from you. Thank you, Emma. I owe you big time.”

“No, you don’t. This is for Rufus. Just so you know.”

I had to keep myself from smiling. “Absolutely.”