“I believe it. One of them crawled right into Damien’s lap and ate part of his breakfast.”
I chuckle. “Do we need to get Damien another breakfast? Leilani won’t mind.”
She shakes her head and plops down on the couch in my office. “I miss you so much in San Francisco.”
“I miss you, too.”
“Why do I get the feeling you won’t be moving back?”
I shrug. “I haven’t decided. Jackson wants us to be committed, but I think being with him will still be really hard. Not only is he intense, but he’s incredibly handsome.”
“And, that’s a bad thing?”
I nod. “Women are always throwing themselves at him. Literally. Wait staff give him their phone numbers, women call the office daily asking for time on his calendar, and I understand that the marriage proposals are averaging about one every three or four days. They go up whenever he’s profiled in the media.”
“Do you think that would go away if he was married or put it out that he was seeing someone?”
I shrug. “It’s really more than that. I adore Jackson, but I don’t want this world. I want a nice little house, a few kids, and a husband who adores me and comes home to me every night.”
“Why can’t that be Jackson?”
“I’m not sure deep down he wants that. He thinks he does, but Jackson’s married to his work, and in the back of my mind, I keep thinking he’s only attentive because he’s worried about losing me as his assistant. We can’t find anyone to take over, and it’s hard for him.”
“Isn’t the sex amazing, though?”
I blush. “Probably the best I’ll ever have, but…I’m not sure I can take Jackson walking away from me when he’s no longer interested. That’s always been my concern. I just keep talking myself into ignoring it for a while.”
“Why would you think he’d ever do that? What has he said that makes you think that would happen?”
I take a deep breath. “I can’t put my finger on it. He’s a lot like my dad. I just see what my dad did to my mother…the constant stream of women in his life. And, like my dad, when Jackson is hot about a project or a woman, he has tunnel vision. But once he’s done, they’re gone—never to be talked about or seen again. I can’t.” I struggle to hold back the tears. “I can’t set myself up for that. Please don’t say anything. I’m going to tell him when he comes for Memorial Day weekend.”
Gabby brings me into her arms. “He’s not your dad.”
“I know that, but I just can’t sort through all this. He did give me twenty percent of Soleil Energy. I’ll have money for the rest of my life.”
Her eyes grow large as she looks at me. “He did what?”
“Jackson gave me five percent from the employee allocation and fifteen of his personal allocation, and he gave the shares to me outright. No vesting.”
“Holy shit. This solar film is all over the news and the internet. They’re calling it a real game-changer. Not that I don’t think you deserve it, but what was his reason for giving you such a high percentage?”
“My job title gave me five percent. And he gave me fifteen of his because I keep him on task, helped write the patent application with the IP attorney, and was the one who caught our CFO stealing.”
“You don’t have to live in a closet ever again.”
“It was a big closet—I could put a twin bed inside,” I remind her. “A little bit of money goes a long way in Texas. I can buy a nice house and find a nice guy and start a family. I think I’ll set it up so the Lancaster Foundation gets the lion share of the money.”
“When is the plan to go public?”
“There isn’t one. Jackson’s hoping to keep the company private for as long as possible, so I’ll get twenty percent of the net profit.”
“That man is in love with you. Has he told you that?”
I shake my head. “He’s made noises, but I think he thinks he is in love with me. It’s probably short-lived.”
Gabby sighs loudly. “You deserve to be loved—even by a drop-dead gorgeous billionaire. Don’t walk away so easily.”
“We’ll see.” I look at the clock on the wall. “We need to have some lunch by the pool, if you’re interested. Otherwise, Brian should be looking for you to get you to the heliport in a little over an hour. Jackson and I did this tour when we came on our first visit. It’s stunning to see places you can’t get to by car or by foot. You’ll love it.”
She kisses me on the forehead. “I’ll just grab something from Leilani in the kitchen. See you tonight at dinner.”
I nod. “I’m buying.”
“Of course you are. You just told me you were a millionaire.” She winks at me and waves as she goes in search of Damien and Brian.
I text Jackson as I watch her go.
Me: Gabby and Damien made it okay. They’re off for the helicopter ride.
I take a deep breath and think for a moment about what Gabby said. Maybe I’m not giving Jackson the chance he deserves. I return to my phone and add how I really feel, which I don’t usually offer until he’s offered it first.
Me: I wish you were here.
My phone rings, and it’s him. “You wish I was there?” he asks.
“I do,” I say in a low voice.
“That makes me very happy. I should make sure Gabby and Damien come
