He noticed my lack of presence at his side after a few moments and backtracked to me. “Honestly, Paige, I thought we were beyond that.”

What the hell did he know? I thought about the contract, nestled safely inside my private vault at home. There was no way he’d ever find it. Unless Rory had told someone…

“The secret raffle you held without running it by me first?”

I sighed audibly and straightened myself. “Oh—”

“Good Lord, what did you think I spoke of? You’re as white as a sheet.”

“Nothing. I didn’t know I needed your approval to hold a raffle. If you don’t agree with the use of funds, I’d be happy to replace them from my personal account.”

He smiled and gently clutched my shoulder. “No, of course, you don’t have to run things by me. I would’ve preferred a heads up though. If only to prep the reporter from the Seattle Times who covered the event. He asked for my comment on it, and I had to hustle for words.”

“Well, you’re used to that.” I chuckled in an attempt to shake off the panic still clinging to my insides.

“True, but do try and tell me next time.”

“Of course.” And in two and a half months he wouldn’t have to worry about that sort of thing—well, he would, but it wouldn’t be an obligation on my part.

“You changed that woman’s life, you know?”

I pressed my lips together, recalling the tears in her eyes when she’d opened the white envelope containing the check I’d made out to her on the company’s behalf. The twelve thousand wasn’t a blip in the account we held strictly for charitable organizations and morale booster funds for our employees—but it had made an impact on her and her family.

“She won’t have to return to the shelter for quite some time.” I placed my hand on the knob to the think-tank room.

“That’s my Paige. Saving one hungry soul at a time.”

“You make it all possible.”

“Nonsense. I never handed you your position or the foresight to use it for good in such ways that you do. I wish I could take credit for it. Honestly, I do, but you’ve carved out this path for yourself. Earned it, every step of the way.”

My chest swelled with pride as it always did when I received confirmation for making my father proud—one of my life’s ambitions since birth. My aspirations had taken on a new role several years back when I realized the power, I’d have once my father retired—and in that realization, my shelter idea was born. It was so close to fruition. I’d had plans drawn up for the first building and was actively seeking the perfect location.

Now I just had to make sure and not ruin everything.

I pushed open the door, startling a few of the inventors who crowded around a table in the center of the room, touch pad screens and stylus’ spread across it. Several computer monitors had graphic designs of what looked to be a new version of the exersaucer—though from the looks of it the item was more complex than the simple entertainment-containment we sold now. My thoughts drifted to Bailey—Lettie would be too big for such a contraption—but the baby on the way? It could be the perfect present. I blinked away the thoughts, smiling as I knew the item wouldn’t be in production for at least a year if it ever cleared the board. Still, always good to keep an eye out for my favorite mother to be.

We talked shop for several minutes, listening to the inventor’s frustrations with locking mechanisms and educational tools capable of insertion in the materials available. After a good round of reassurance and encouragement from my father and myself, we left them to their work, and with the promise they had our every confidence.

Something my father taught me long before I ever considered taking a business course—employees are the lifeblood of the corporation. Without them, everything falls apart. Ensuring our faith in them and handing out credit where it was due was as much a part of our company’s success as the products we sold.

“I’m eager to see that one in production.” He said as we walked the halls again.

“Me as well. It’ll be a new wave of educational toys combined with the safety of the child using it.”

“I wonder when you’ll get to purchase one for yourself.”

I choked on my own tongue.

Dad laughed and raised his hands in defense. “Sorry. Your mother won’t stop moping about no grandchildren on the horizon.”

I scoffed. It’s not like I didn’t want children…someday, but I hadn’t even thought of settling down. Not that I had a man to do it with currently anyway.

Rory’s face flashed behind my eyelids, and I clenched them shut. Why, heart, why? It had latched onto him in the last few times I’d seen him, growing deeper each time—not love—but hope. Hope for something more.

Just because he can make you wet in under a minute doesn’t make him your happily ever after.

But it wasn’t just his incredible sex appeal that spurred the stupid hope—it was the way he’d seemed genuinely interested in learning what I cared about, like showing up at the event and going so far to donate. He was still the bad boy the media painted him to be, but he’d taken an effort in my world to get to know me, and that counted for something.

Plus, there was the episode at the hockey game. I’d never seen him more flustered in my life, and I’d been watching him play for years. And he credited me for the distraction. That meant something—I just didn’t know if it was good or bad.

“What about Rory Jackson?” Father interrupted my internal battle.

“What about him?”

“Does he have affections for you?”

“What would make you say that?”

“His contribution to the event alone would be enough, but his speech…he specifically singled you out in an effort to please you.” He arched a knowing brow at me, which told me he already knew the truth. Damn. I must’ve missed a picture online of us kissing—no doubt outside the Shark’s locker room. The moment had been so charged, and he’d clearly needed it so badly, I hadn’t thought twice. Guess our fake relationship was now up for public scrutiny, including my father’s.

“Well, we’re…dating.” The word tasted dry in my mouth. Dating was such a long shot from what we shared. Lovers would be a closer match—but only because lusters wouldn’t sound nearly as proper if I said it out loud.