Smiling, she glanced down at the desk and stiffened. Her smile vanished.

I looked at the stack of papers that Piper had left there.

On one side were the plans with the renovation details. On top of the other stack was a memo from my assistant Robbie, informing me that the company jet was ready and fueled at Denver Airport. It was on standby for whenever I was ready to leave for the Maldives.

“You’re leaving,” she said tonelessly.

“Not today.” I wondered why a panicked feeling suddenly hit me. “My assistant always does this when a new acquisition is finalized.”

“Because that’s when you need to go.” Her tone was bland and her face blank, but there was something in her eyes that I didn’t like and couldn’t read.

“Tessa—”

She gave me a bright smile. “No, it’s fine. I mean, I always knew you’d leave. I guess I…we just got used to having you around.” She stepped back.

“Tessa.” I grabbed her arm. “I… We could still see each other.”

“What?” Her gaze locked in my face, searching for something.

“I could fly back here sometimes.” My brain searched for options. “You could visit me when you have vacation. The Maldives are very nice.”

She blinked slowly, then gave me a tight smile. “I’m just a small-town girl, Ro. Not a globe-trotter like you.” She pulled back. “My place is here. I’m sure you’ll meet some fabulous woman on your next trip. That’s how it goes, right?”

She looked pale now. “Tessa⁠—”

“I need to…go and check on some things.” She whirled and hurried out.

Dammit to hell. I hit the damn pile of papers, the memo fluttering to the floor. Then I strode after her.

Caden and Piper appeared in the doorway.

“If you’re looking for Tessa, she’s gone.” Piper eyed me. “I’ve never seen someone move that fast outside of a sports field.”

I cursed. “I think I fucked up.”

Piper arched a brow. “I heard your father arrived and made a scene.”

Caden watched me. “And Tessa cut him to shreds and made him leave the building.”

“She did. She was…amazing.” The memory was one I’d hold dear for a very long time. I raked a hand through my hair. “Then we came in here and she saw the memo from Robbie.”

Piper perched on the desk. “Ah.” She snatched the offending memo off the floor. “That the jet’s ready to whisk you away to a tropical paradise.”

“She shut down. I…” I felt like I had a rock in my gut.

“You said it was temporary,” Piper said. “You both agreed.”

“Yes.” I spun to face the windows.

“Is that still what you want?” Caden asked.

“I don’t fucking know. I don’t want to leave her, but I’m not built for relationships, and she sure as hell is. She deserves better.”