Chapter Twelve

Clearly the universe had it in for him.

It had been two weeks since the conference, and instead of life getting easier without Caitlyn, it was getting more complicated.

How many times in the last fourteen days had he stared at her number in his phone? His thumb had hovered over the call button a dozen times without ever pushing connect. Because what could he say? Nothing she didn’t already know. They were a bad idea.

Even if he couldn’t get their one night out of his mind.

He missed the easiness of the conference. Hell, he even missed having Spencer nearby to help him sort through these conflicting feelings. Caitlyn was only a few blocks away, and yet the distance seemed farther than ever.

I want to see her.

It’d been an urge he couldn’t squash since the moment the plane had landed. At night he dreamed about her; during the day she filled his memories.

I can’t get turned around over a woman.

He never had in his entire life, and he wasn’t about to start now.

Particularly when he had another female to worry about.

Damien rubbed his forehead, trying to ignore the woman sitting on the other side of his desk.

“I asked you a question,” she said, tapping her perfectly painted nails on the mahogany wood.

“You did,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “But you see, Mother, you don’t get to waltz back into the company and demand anything. I own the controlling interest, not you.”

“Yes, yes, your father wrapped that all tightly up in a bow before he passed.” She waved her hand. “No matter. You’re my son. I have a right to know when you’ll take the new anxiety drug to market.”

“No, actually, you don’t. Besides, that drug is still in testing and will be for months.”

“Then speed it up. You have to get it out before someone else duplicates your science. We’ll lose millions if you don’t.”

“And there it is. Running low on cash, are we?”

His mother stiffened. “Do not speak to me that way.”

“Why not? You abandoned me to Father’s tender loving care throughout my entire childhood. I can speak to you however I want.”

He stared at the woman who shared half of his DNA and felt nothing but the usual pit in his stomach. She was perfectly put together, as always. Her Chanel suit matched her pink pumps. The bleached-blond hair was styled so that every lock was in place. Nothing about his mother was ever sloppy or cheap. She’d always enjoyed the lifestyle his father’s company had afforded her. And now she was here doing to him what she’d once done to her husband—milking him to sustain the life she wanted to lead without a hint of any emotion warmer than greed.

For far too many years growing up, he thought his mother was a normal example of what women were like. It was one of the reasons he’d never wanted anything to do with the institution of marriage. With an example like his parents to follow, no doubt he’d end up divorced in five years.

Caitlyn is nothing like Mother.

The unwanted thought hit him like he’d touched a live wire. The last thing he needed was to compare the two strong-willed women in his life.

But she’s not really in my life.

In the time since he’d returned home, there’d been no word from her. Not that he’d expected to hear anything until a business matter arose.

Expecting is not the same as wanting.

If he was going to be as honest as he prided himself on being, he had to admit he…missed her.

A lot.

“Mother, it’s been a long day. I’m tired. If the only thing you’re here for is to demand confidential information you have no right to, I’m going to have to cut this visit short.”

She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed with him. “There’s so much of your father in you.”

It didn’t sound like a compliment.

“Yes,” he agreed. “There is.”

Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen.

“At least you have his gift for leadership,” she said with a sigh. “That’s something, I suppose.”

“Feeling the love today.”

“Don’t be tedious, Damien. As it happens, checking on the company wasn’t my only reason for dropping in.”

“No?” He arched a brow. “I can’t wait to hear what you say next.”

“I’m throwing a little family dinner tomorrow and I want you to come.”

He blinked. “The only family left is us, and apart from a yearly Christmas meal, we don’t do dinner.”

“I’d like to change that.”

For the first time in years, his mother surprised him. Words stuck in his throat as he struggled to think of what to say. Was it possible that after all this time she wanted more of a relationship with him?

Would I want us to be closer?

A few weeks ago, he’d have scoffed at the offer.

But if his relationship with Caitlyn could change so drastically, was it possible he’d been too black-and-white in his thinking?

Swallowing, he tried to push down the flick of hope he didn’t want to acknowledge. “Were you thinking a monthly Saturday night dinner?”

Aversion swept over her features before she schooled them back into indifference. “Sweetheart, I think we do better with some distance between us, don’t you?”

“You said you wanted family dinners.”

She waved a hand. “One. This weekend. An old friend is in town, and her daughter is one of the wealthiest heiresses on the East Coast. I thought she’d be a good match for you.”

Disappointment swept through him, tugging at his chest far more strongly than he’d anticipated.

What, did you think Mommie Dearest would suddenly realize she loved you all along?

It’s not as if he’d ever needed a mother anyways. Besides, if she wanted to introduce him to someone she liked, that meant she had some interest in his well-being.

“Tell me about her,” he said neutrally, Caitlyn’s face flashing in his mind.

His mother stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Why would I know anything about her? Her family comes from old money, and this match will make excellent business sense. Be at my house by seven o’clock for cocktails, won’t you?”

Pain shot through his gut. Money. This was about money. She hadn’t found him a woman she thought would match him. She’d brought him a meal ticket to a larger bank account.

Serves you right for thinking there was anything affectionate about this woman.

What had Caitlyn done to him? He was getting soft.

Particularly because the second he thought about her, he wished she were here.

“I’m busy,” he said. “Rain check.”

“Damien—”

“Do you want me playing suitor or do you want me keeping our product release schedule on track?”

Her lips tightened. “I suppose I could move the dinner.”

“I was unclear. Let me rephrase. If I ever walk down the aisle, it will be because of a blow to the head. I don’t want to meet your heiress or any other woman you ever deem appropriate for me now or in the future.”

“Don’t be overly dramatic, son. There’s no one else to carry on the family name. But if you need a few more years of your bachelor ways, I won’t argue. For now.” She reached for her designer bag and stood. “But I still think you should meet the girl. An engagement can be strung out for ages, you know. No harm locking her down for the future.”

“No.”

“So stubborn.” She checked her reflection in her compact before dropping it back into her bag. Walking around the desk, she bent to kiss the air over each of his cheeks. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

“Have it your way.” She headed for the door, calling over her shoulder, “Be a dear and transfer some extra funds into my account. Half a million should do it.”

The door closed behind her before he could reply.

Leaning back in his chair, he ran a hand over his face. Every time he saw his mother, he felt like he’d just come through a battle.

But the encounters didn’t usually leave him so drained.

Don’t let her get to you. The woman is poison.

And the only blood relative he had. Where did that leave him?

Loneliness was not an emotion he ever gave a second thought to. But the gnawing pit in his chest was a clear sign today was different.

Pushing from his desk, he stalked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up one of his office walls. The busy city sprawled out before him. He loved this vantage point. The sight was a testament to his success. Not everyone could stand above the teeming metropolis, housed in his own personal empire.

But today, not even the million-dollar view could calm the emotions churning within him.

Leave. You’re done for the day. Get out and find a bottle of scotch and a random companion.

Except the thought of picking up a stranger held no appeal whatsoever. It hadn’t since the conference. He didn’t want one meaningless night. He wanted…

Caitlyn.

Yet another woman who had no problem walking away from him without a backward glance. Calling her would be a weakness, and he didn’t need any more of those.

He didn’t need anyone else. Ever.

Did he?

…

“Jeremy, I literally left the office twenty minutes ago. Couldn’t you have brought this up earlier?” Caitlyn asked, juggling her phone and the bags in her hands. Craving a little comfort food, she’d done a shopping run on her way home. Popcorn and wine lay in her immediate future.

“R&D just came to me with the new projections. We’re not going to hit our last-quarter release date. Something happened in testing.”

She sighed. Great, just what she needed this week.

“Okay. Leave the new forecasts on my desk and I’ll review them in the morning. Let R&D know I’ll be requesting a meeting to be debriefed on this as well.”

“Will do, boss.”

“Signing off for the night,” she said before disconnecting the call.

Fishing out her keys, she bustled through the front door and dropped the bags on the floor.

Another delay.

It wasn’t good. They needed every edge they could get, and the one thing they’d been on top of was their timelines.

Damien would have a field day with this.

The thought caused a pang in her heart.

You promised to stop thinking about him.

He was supposed to be out of her life in any way but professionally. Yet in the two weeks she’d been home, she hadn’t been able to stop herself wondering what he was doing.

Weak. What would Dad say?

She couldn’t sacrifice her focus for a man. Ever.

Even if said man haunted her dreams every night.

Shaking her head, she kicked off her heels and breathed a sigh of relief to be free of them. Grabbing her groceries, she padded to the kitchen.

Her home was small, all things considered. With the company’s success, she could have afforded an upgrade, but as long as she lived alone, she didn’t mind the cozy feel of her little two-story house. She loved that she could shut out the world and nurse a cup of tea on her back patio or stream a movie in bed. Something that sounded like an excellent plan tonight.

She set the bags on the kitchen table and started unpacking them. It’d been an endless day, and the sunshine was long gone. In a few hours she’d be back at it. Rinse and repeat, every day. Nothing in her routine ever changed.

Except when you’re at conferences.

Her hands tightened on the wine bottle she’d picked up. Coming home had been just as she’d feared. Instead of banishing Damien from her mind, their night together had changed something for her. Something important. Try as she might, he was more than just a competitor now.

Not that the feeling was mutual.

There’d been no word from him since the conference ended. No text to see if she’d made it back safely, no call inviting her to dinner. He’d probably erased her from his mind the second he walked back into Reid Enterprises.

What was wrong with her that she hadn’t been able to do the same?

She grabbed a wineglass from the shelf with a bit too much force. There was no one to be mad at but herself. They’d made it very clear where they stood before they parted ways. One thing she could say for him, he hadn’t left her with any illusions.

We’re rivals. Nothing more. No softer emotions are involved here.

And once she exorcised this inconvenient yearning, she’d be fine, too. All she needed was time.

Time and wine.

My personal motto.

She’d just poured herself a large glass when the doorbell rang. Glancing at the clock on her microwave, she wondered who would drop in so late. It was a quick jog down the hallway to reach her front door, but when she pulled it open, the last person she expected to see was waiting for her.

“Hey, cupcake,” Damien said. “Can I come in?”