Connor debated his next comment mentally before he spoke. “Cameron doesn’t have your business acumen. He’d never have the lifestyle he has now if it weren’t for you. Make sure his counsel to you isn’t heavily influenced by that.”
“I’ll do that.” Donovan walked toward the door. “Your retention bonus will be in your bank account by the end of the week. And one final thing…in the review of potential assets…include Dyer’s.”
It felt as though his father had sucked all the air out of the room.
Include Dyer’s.
His father had resolutely rejected the idea of procuring Dyer’s. He’d wanted no part in buying something he felt he should have owned. No matter what tactic Connor had tried, he hadn’t budged from his position.
But now he wanted it. Now, after Connor had let go of the idea of acquiring it himself. Now, after he’d confessed his growing feelings to Emerson.
The idea of his father getting his hands on Emerson’s company was against everything Emerson stood for. Quality over quantity. She’d told him enough times.
What would it do to their fledgling relationship if Emerson understood it was a possibility? He’d asked her so many questions about the business in their conversations, she’d assume he’d been plying her for information.
Which he had.
At the start.
Before he’d realized how much the business meant to her, before he’d realized what a wonderfully caring woman she was, the way she put her family first. Before he had seen her in her element in the distillery, before he’d seen her raw and naked and vulnerable in his bed.
Before his father had made it clear he was never going to purchase it.
Fuck. His father had played the one move he hadn’t seen coming.
He couldn’t include her distillery without risking their relationship, and he had to do everything in his power to make sure that didn’t happen.
Chapter Eight
“We are so ridiculous,” Emerson said, looking at Ali who sat opposite her, tucking into a stack of pancakes.
Ali’s cheeks were stuffed with food, but she pointed her fork in Emerson’s direction, chewing until she could swallow. “Yes, but this is way better than suffering through another workout.”
Instead of going to their class as planned, they’d left their cars in the gym lot and walked until they’d found a spot to eat breakfast. Emerson looked down at her own plate. Waffles, strawberries, and a side of whipped cream. Oh, and syrup. Lots of syrup.
“We’re stuffing our faces while wearing active wear.” Emerson sighed as she took another gooey mouthful.
Ali laughed. “This is true. But tell me this. Would you rather be here or doing burpees?”
Emerson shook her head. “Is that even a real question?”
“What can I get you?” she heard the server ask behind her.
“Could I get a Greek yogurt, plain. Blueberries on the side. Two egg white burritos, and no salsa.”
Emerson knew that voice and turned to see Connor checking his phone, his brow furrowed. He was dressed in a black suit, his hair still wet. She knew he’d been to the pool. Her body lit up at the sight of him. God, he was so delicious.
“That sounds like a disgustingly healthy breakfast,” she said.
Connor looked up and flashed a smile that showed his dimples. He checked out her plate as he walked to her table. “And that looks like something we should eat on the weekend…in bed. Oh, sorry,” he said, glancing over at Ali. “Didn’t realize you had company.”
Emerson laughed. “Connor, this is my best friend, Ali. Ali, this is Connor.”
They shook hands as Emerson scooched over in their booth. Connor sat down next to her, placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
“Would you like some while you wait for your order?” she asked.
His hand slid along her leg beneath the table. “Don’t tempt me. I love waffles.”
In response, she dipped a piece of her waffle in the cream, added a strawberry, and ate it in one bite, over-exaggerating her moan as she chewed.
Connor raised his eyebrow as Ali laughed. “So, did you two just finish up at the gym?” he asked.
Emerson shook her head and grimaced. “We parked at the gym. Does that count?”
“And we walked lots of steps here. Like all the steps,” Ali added.
Connor grinned. “It’s all about balance, right?”
“Two egg white burritos and Greek yogurt,” the server called.
“I gotta go. Have a meeting in half an hour.” He kissed her cheek. “Nice meeting you, Ali.” He stole a strawberry from her plate and dipped it in the cream before popping it into his mouth. “Mmm. You are such a bad influence. Call you later.”
She watched as he grabbed his food and disappeared onto the street.
“Okay. You did not tell me he was that cute,” Ali said, waving her fork accusingly. “Like, holy shoulders, Batman.”
“It’s ridiculous how good looking he is. Clothed and naked. And he’s a good human being, too.”
“This sounds like more than a casual thing.”
Emerson took another bite of her waffle, thinking she might make them for him on the weekend. “I think it is. It’s just a struggle to find the time I want to spend with him.”
Ali reached for her hand. “Em. I love you. With my whole heart. Your dad put so much responsibility on you, it’s almost not fair. But if something is really important to you, you’ll find time for it. Even if it means eating breakfast at stupid o’clock. Right?”
Emerson knew Ali had a point. She just didn’t know how to reprioritize.
She was still thinking about Ali’s words later that afternoon as she discussed pricing with Jake.
“We can only make what we make,” Jake said with a shrug of the shoulders. “That’s the volume we can sell. If we can’t afford to refurb right now, we’ll deal. If we can’t buy a new still, we’ll deal. Have you considered increasing the retail price for Dyer’s Medallion?”
They’d market reviewed and tested that price a million times. “You know why we settled on it.”
Jake nodded. “I do, but that was before we knew it was going to win a medal
