Wynn’s day had gone exactly as it had before. She’d picked up Buttercup, who was now safely tucked away with Shadow at home. She would take care of persuading Jack and Maria to adopt her tomorrow if she had the opportunity, or she’d just go to the shelter and adopt her all over again.
Everything was done at work, and no one had lost their job. When Wynn had entered her office, Evelyn was turned in her chair gazing out the window. She was just about to head out for the day when Evelyn summoned her. “You wanted to see me?”
Evelyn spun her chair around to her desk and reached for something in her drawer. “I think this day deserves a celebration. Don’t you?” She set two Waterford highball glasses and a bottle of bourbon on her desk.
“It was a pretty good one.”
“You have plans tonight?”
She glanced at her watch and calculated the time she could spare. “I do, but I have time for a drink.”
“Great.” Evelyn poured them each a finger of bourbon. “If you want ice, you’ll have to fetch it from the canteen.”
“Neat is fine.” She took one of the glasses and held it up. “To saving jobs.” That benefit resonated most for Wynn.
Evelyn clicked her glass against Wynn’s. “To saving this company.”
She sipped her drink and enjoyed the burn as it crossed her tongue and entered her throat before she pulled a chair next to Evelyn’s and faced the window.
Evelyn spoke to the window as she drank. “I have to say, I didn’t expect the turnaround from you today. Working with you rather than against you was refreshing. You and I make a good team.”
“I agree. We do.”
“To be honest, I knew you had a plan of your own and fully anticipated a battle. I didn’t expect all those nice things you said about me to leadership.” Evelyn shook her head. “Did you mean them?”
“Yes. Absolutely. Everything I said was true.” She hadn’t seen the benefit of Evelyn’s wisdom until the past few days, and she’d developed an admiration for her. Evelyn always seemed to be looking out for the employees and the company.
Evelyn sipped her bourbon. “I’ve been kind of an ass to you since you started reporting to me, and I thought you’d retaliate.”
“True. As I told you earlier, that was my original plan.”
Evelyn laughed. “What prompted the change?”
“I guess you might say I got a glimpse of what my life would be in the future if we remained on paths working against each other. Kinda of like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.”
Evelyn swirled the liquid in her glass. “That’s a much deeper explanation than I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“You knew you’d lose and wanted to keep your job.” Evelyn smirked.
“Maybe that too.” She smiled slightly and drank the remaining bourbon in her glass. If Evelyn only knew how much today had impacted her future, she’d be stunned. She’d keep that information to herself, for Evelyn would never believe her if she told her the truth. Obviously they both had a lot to learn about being humble, which they could both gain from watching Jack.
The voice that came from behind them was loud and angry. The clang of the door against the wall prompted them both to twist in their chairs. Davis had pushed by Evelyn’s assistant and was coming at them hot.
Wynn launched out of her chair and blocked his path, taking a hard hit to her shoulder as she fell against the desk. She bounced back and gave Davis a palm strike directly to his nose, which stopped him. He immediately grabbed his face as blood dripped from his nose.
“What the fuck?” He looked at the blood in his hands. “You broke my nose.”
She held her shoulder as pain shot through it. “You assaulted me.”
“Call security.” Evelyn shouted to her assistant. “And medical.”
Wynn turned to Evelyn. “I’m sorry.”
“No. Thank you for stopping him.” Evelyn pulled her eyebrows together and touched her shoulder, and Wynn winced at the pain. “Are you hurt?”
“My shoulder may be dislocated.” She was familiar with the feeling. It wasn’t the first time.
She was going to be late picking up Carly tonight, and Carly hated it when people weren’t punctual—one of the things she’d learned over the past few days. She found her phone and ordered a car to drive Carly to the event. Hopefully that would be okay. She’d instruct the driver to come here to get her after he dropped off Carly. She wouldn’t have time to run by the house and change, which was disappointing. She wanted to look her best for Carly tonight. She’d have to wear the suit she’d put on for work this morning. In fact, her shoulder hurt so badly, she couldn’t even change into the spare shirt in her office. She’d just started a text to Carly when the medical crew entered the office and went toward Davis, who sat in a chair holding a wad of tissues under his nose.
Evelyn pointed at Wynn. “Check her first.”
One of the on-staff doctors came to her immediately. “Where are you hurt?”
“My shoulder.”
Evelyn assisted the doctor in removing Wynn’s coat before he examined her. “Have you ever had a dislocated shoulder before?”
“Once. In high school.” She’d been on the softball team and had collided with another player while fielding a ball.
“I’m going to try to move it back into place.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes and braced for the pain, which came almost immediately. She bit her lip to avoid screaming.
“Got it.” The doctor ripped open a package, adjusted a sling to hold her arm semi-immobile, and placed it on her arm.
Apparently nothing was broken except Davis’s nose. Thankfully the company had an on-campus clinic and she hadn’t had to go to the emergency room. She sent a text to Carly telling her she was sending a car and hoped she wouldn’t be angry.
* * *
Carly was confused when the driver from the car service rang her bell and said Wynn had sent him to pick her up and take her to the restaurant. He knew all the particulars of where and when the event was being held, so she believed him.
“Where is Ms. Jamison? Are we picking her up next?” She slid into the backseat of the car. Her place was closer to the venue than Wynn’s, which was a clear indication they weren’t.
“She’s running late.”
She checked her phone, and just then a text from Wynn popped up on the screen.
I’ll meet you there. Running late at work. Fixing things. I sent a car.
Irritation filled her, spoiling her mood. She had never been a kept woman and didn’t intend to be. She closed her eyes and calmed herself before she responded.
Already figured that out. This is not how things will work between us. I’m not a convenience and won’t ever be considered one.
Definitely not my intent to make you feel that way. More bubbles appeared, went away, then reappeared before another message came through. Wynn was obviously rethinking her message. I’m really sorry. I’ll probably be explaining this whole day to you again tomorrow. Hopefully you’ll still believe me.
Carly had to laugh at that. The whole scenario was unbelievable.
That’s entirely possible. She sent the message back. Then she hesitated before she typed, Hurry. If that’s the case, we don’t have much time.
After their conversation this morning, Carly had been thinking about Wynn all day, and she really wanted to explore whatever was happening with her. She was still on the edge of believing her, but that could change soon. If Wynn was only trying to get into her pants, she wouldn’t have been late. Wynn’s behavior at the party would dictate how the night would end.
She’d been at the event for close to an hour when Wynn came in the door, escorted by another woman. She blinked her eyes to make sure she was seeing things right. The woman had a bottle of something in one hand, and her arm was laced through Wynn’s arm. What the fuck? Now she was really angry. Everything Wynn had told her this morning appeared to be a fabrication.
She rushed across the room. “Is she why you didn’t pick me up?”
“Not exactly.” Wynn looked from Carly to the woman and then back again.
The woman interrupted them. “Let me explain. I’m Jean. A friend of Wynn’s.” She held up the bottle. “She came by to get the Louis XIII. I thought I should bring it myself since she has some drugs in her.”
She’d been so upset, Carly hadn’t even noticed the jacket draped over the sling holding her arm. “Oh my God. What happened?”
“Dislocated shoulder. Things got a little out of hand at work today.”
Now she felt absolutely awful. She’d reached all the wrong conclusions about Wynn without even giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Jean laughed. “Apparently saving jobs can be dangerous.” She handed the bottle to the bartender. “Keep that under lock and key.”
Jean leaned Wynn against the bar as she glanced around the room. “So, where’s this sister of yours?”
“I’m going to introduce Jean to Jordan. I think they’ll hit it off.”
“Oh. Let me find her.”
“No.” Wynn’s voice was urgent. “I sent her a text before we came in. She’s going to meet us here.” Wynn reached into her pocket but quickly put her hand on the wood rim of the bar for balance.
She took the phone from Wynn’s pocket and held it up for her.
“The code’s Julianna’s birthday.”
Carly typed in Suzanna’s oldest child’s birthday and read the text from Jordan to Wynn. “She’s on her way over now.” She slid the phone back into Wynn’s pocket before she slipped under her shoulder to help steady her.
“Sorry. The muscle relaxers the doc gave me are really strong.”
“You’re fine. I’m just glad you’re all right.” Someone else would have to take care of what was left to be done tonight. She needed to get Wynn home to rest. After she caught Suzanna’s eye from across the room, Suzanna did a double take before she weaved through several groups of people to the bar.
“What the hell happened?”
“Just a small accident at work.”
“I don’t think that’s completely true.” She glanced at Wynn. “Somehow she got a dislocated shoulder. I’m not sure why she even came tonight.”
“I came because of you.” Wynn smiled widely. “That’s why I’m always here.”
Suzanna grinned. “Apparently she’s been given some super-powerful truth serum.”
She quirked her lip up to one side. “Seems that way. She needs to go home and rest.”
“I’m good here.” Suzanna glanced around the room. “Why don’t you take her and explore more of that free-flowing truth?” She pulled her eyebrows together. “How did she get here?”
“Car service, I assume.” She hadn’t told Suzanna that Wynn had sent a car for her earlier. She fished Wynn’s phone from her jacket pocket and handed it to Suzanna.
“She’s got the car for the night. It should still be around here, somewhere. I’ll send a message that she’s leaving, and you can take her out front.” Suzanna handed the phone back. “Just tell him to wait while you get her inside her house. Then he can take you home.” She glanced around the room again. Suzanna was always watching to make sure everything ran smoothly. “Oh, and you’ll probably need to let Shadow, her puppy, outside to go to the bathroom.”
She has a puppy. Her heart melted at the adoption story Wynn had told her earlier. Could this woman be any more perfect?
While she’d been talking to Suzanna, Jordan had made it to the bar and had now captured Jean’s complete attention. They didn’t need to stay any longer.
* * *
Wynn had woken when the car pulled to the curb due to an emergency vehicle passing them going the other way. Once they arrived at her house, Carly walked with her to the porch. She seemed steadier now, the pain medication probably wearing off. Wynn struggled to take her keys from her coat pocket, so Carly found them and opened the door. Immediately a black puppy and a larger chocolate Labrador greeted them.
Wynn scooped up the puppy. “Hey, Shadow. How’s my sweet girl?” She nuzzled her against her neck before she handed her off to Carly and reached down to pet the other dog. “And how’re you, Buttercup?” She crossed the room to the back door, let them outside, and stepped onto the patio.
She followed her out. “Suzanna doesn’t know you adopted another dog yet?”
“Nope. She’s Shadow’s mom. I just got her today. Couldn’t leave her at the shelter.” Wynn grinned. “I already told you that, didn’t I?” Wynn still seemed a little high from the pain medication.
She nodded. “It’s a beautiful night.” The yard was lined with accent lights that brought attention to the multiple flower-filled pots surrounding the grass. “You have a gorgeous yard.”
“Thanks. I don’t get to spend as much time here as I’d like.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Work is busy.” Wynn rubbed her forehead. “I’ve been trying to make it to chief operating officer before my thirtieth birthday.” She shook her head. “Not going to do that.”
“Because?” Her education had taught her how to ask open-ended questions to get to the heart of any subject.
“Tomorrow’s my birthday, and today I changed my whole plan.” Wynn stared into the yard. “It was completely necessary. What I had planned for today was going to ruin a lot of people’s lives.”
“Then I’m glad you changed it.”
“Me too.” Shadow appeared at Wynn’s feet, and Wynn scooped her up again and held her against her chest. “All done, baby?” She kissed Shadow’s nose before she turned around, went back inside, and waited for Carly and Buttercup to follow her. “I’m sorry. I totally ruined your night.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I should be thanking you. I got out of cleanup, which is always a plus.”
“You’re so sweet.” Wynn sighed. “Why can’t we ever make this work?”
“We can discuss that tomorrow.”
“You won’t remember any of it. We should use our time wisely.” Wynn grinned and bounced her eyebrows at her.
She was so cute, so relaxed, so happy. Carly hated to reject her, but whatever future foundation they built together would not start this way. “Why aren’t we together in the future?”
“You married Jordan.”
She was stunned. “What?” Jordan had never had any interaction with her even at her fund-raising events. How could she go from being so intrigued by Wynn to being married to Jordan? Wynn must have done something to put some distance between them, or Jordan must have done something really spectacular.
“My sister sucks, and you fell in love with her anyway.”
That response didn’t give her much to go on. “Why would I marry your sister when you and I clearly have so much more in common?”
“She’s very charming. But she can also be a complete ass. You’re not happy.” Wynn took a bottle of pills from her pocket and fumbled with it.
“I’m not?” She took the bottle from Wynn, popped the top off, and let one spill out into her palm.
Wynn shook her head. “And that sucks because I’m in love with you.” Wynn popped the pill into her mouth and washed it down with a drink of water from the sink.
“You are? In the future or now?” She stared into Wynn’s eyes and could see her feelings clearly. The thought of marriage had always worried her. Finding someone to spend the rest of your life with was enormously important. Second chances in life were scarce. Actually connecting with the woman she would be with forever was much scarier than anything else in the world. How did Wynn know her so well without really knowing her at all? “Are we involved in the future?” This whole story Wynn was telling seemed crazy. She refused to believe she would cheat on her wife. Why was she even buying into it?
Wynn shook her head. “Nope. We’re not going down that path. Can’t.” She went to the bedroom, took off her jacket, then stepped out of her loafers before she unbuttoned her pants and let them fall to the floor. “You refuse to get a divorce.” She yanked the blanket back and slipped under the sheet. “You think your reputation won’t withstand the scandal, and I would never hurt you.”
That’s exactly what Wynn was doing now. She was breaking her heart without having even held it. “You need to rest.”
“Yes. Rest.” Wynn patted the spot on the bed next to her and then curled on her side facing her. “Please stay. I want to wake up next to you and watch the sunrise. I’ll be good. Promise.” She let out a heavy sigh. “Say you’ll remember me tomorrow, lying here with you, staring into each other’s eyes, even if it’s only in your dreams.”
“Of course I will, silly. I’ll never be able to forget you.”
She lay down next to Wynn and scrunched the pillow beneath her head. She wasn’t ready to leave yet, and she’d sent the driver on his way after he’d dropped them off. “Have you ever watched the sunrise on the beach?” It had been one of the things Carly had imagined in her future—stepping out from her home onto the beach each morning. “Sitting in the sand, wrapped in a blanket to keep the chill from filling you?”
Wynn nodded. “You wrapped in my arms within that blanket. My heat keeping you warm.”
The vision rushed through her head, and she warmed at the thought. “Yes. Exactly that.” She stroked Wynn’s cheek. “You seem to be my match in every way.”
“I’ve been waiting for the day I can see the sunrise on your face—in your eyes.” Wynn’s eyes drifted closed. “Destiny.”
She remained silent as she imagined waking up next to this beautiful, compassionate woman until she heard long heavy breaths of sleep coming from Wynn, which happened quickly due to the pain medication. “I could easily fall in love with you.” Carly covered Wynn with the blanket, careful not to move her arm, and covered herself with the throw from the bottom of the bed. The whole scenario, lying here with Wynn, listening to her breathe, was oddly comforting. Familiar even.