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Nellie sat at her desk, unable to focus. Wedding plans filled her thoughts and excitement had her heart racing. The only damper was that she still needed to tell Coop that he wasn’t wanted at the office or at business-related functions. Caught between demeaning Coop and keeping the peace with Grandfather, Nellie rubbed her temples.
Shoving those thoughts aside, she focused on her ring and thought of all the little things in life that she wanted to do with Coop.
Her door slammed, and she jumped up.
Red-faced, Grandfather paced in front of her desk. “You ignored me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard the whispers, and I come in here and see that it’s true. I told you that who you dated reflected on this company.”
“And I haven’t had Logan at the office.” Her heart broke as she said it.
“You can’t work here if you insist on marrying that mechanic.” His voice even, there was no mistaking the ultimatum.
It was an easy decision. Nellie picked up her purse and walked toward the door.
“Leave your badge and keys. I don’t want you in this building.”
She separated the office keys from her ring and dropped them on the floor along with her badge. If she could make it out of the building without killing him, she’d consider that a success.
Two steps out the door, Grandfather grabbed her arm. “I’ll have security escort you down.”
Tanner ran up. “I’ll walk with you, Nellie.” Apologies and confusion filled his brown eyes.
Grandfather patted Tanner on the shoulder. “Thank you. Have her bring you up to speed on what she’s working on. That’s all yours now.”
Now Nellie wanted to cry. Tanner put up with being pushed around more than she ever did. With him as the golden child, it would be much worse. Tanner was already engaged to Angela because Grandfather had suggested it.
Nellie waited until she was alone with Tanner before speaking. “Tomorrow we’ll talk about all the stuff I was working on.”
“I’m so sorry. I don’t even—” Tanner looked like he might be sick.
She shook her head. “I really can’t talk about it. Not now.”
Silently, they rode the elevator to the first floor, and she ran out the double doors before Tanner could apologize yet again.
Nellie pulled out of the lot and drove toward the shop. Part of her didn’t want to bother Coop at work. He had a business to run, and it wasn’t as if she was injured. The other part of her wanted to be held.
Unable to stay away, she parked in a lot across the street and spotted his boots sticking out from under a car.
She didn’t want to tell him. He’d blame himself, but he’d be wrong.
After staring for nearly fifteen minutes, she let out a deep sigh and headed home. Like any other day, he’d be over after work. She could wait until then.
As soon as she got home, she changed out of her business suit. In leggings and a baggy t-shirt, she went to the grocery store. She’d find a recipe and make dinner for Coop. That would fill her day, give her something else to think about other than the rat who married her grandmother.
In the store, she gathered everything she needed to make a roasted chicken, vegetables, rice, and dessert.
When she got back to the house, she turned off her phone, blared the radio, and set to work. She had all day, so she got started on the apple pie first.