“Cecilia can more than handle things while I’m here. You need to learn to let go.” And then out of nowhere it was out my mouth. “And you need to be okay with me not being there.”

“Where is all of this coming from?” my father practically shouted. The idea that there could be a world where I wasn’t at the helm of Ganas in any capacity was something I’d suppressed for so long, it felt almost foreign to think about. But I could see it again.

“I will be there for the closing,” I responded, ignoring his question, my vision full of Alba. “I have to go, Dad.”

I pocketed my phone and went inside the conference room.

“Hey.” Why did I sound like I’d been doing shots of gasoline all night?

“Dunkin’ Donuts coffee?” She pointed at the cup in my hand. I’d forgotten I was holding it. “I didn’t know you were aware that was an option for caffeinated beverages.”

“It’s for you.” I offered it to her, extending my hand. When she narrowed her eyes suspiciously, I said something to get us back on steadier ground. “I told them to put an extra pump of artificial hazelnut-flavored syrup substance in there for you.” She pulled a face, but finally reached for it, and when our fingers brushed, that now familiar zap of electricity ran through me.

“Thank you,” she told me, bringing me out of my lusty thoughts, then proceeded to take a thirsty gulp. She held the cup with both hands as she glanced at me with a mischievous expression. From the raised eyebrow and the little smile on her lips I figured she was about to make fun of me. I didn’t care. I loved seeing her relaxed around me. “You need to keep an eye out for the CSA, they might come pick you up at any moment.”

“The CSA?” Her grin got bigger at my question.

“The Coffee Snob Agency.” She busted up while I shook my head at her.

“You’re a cheeseball,” I told her, unable to hide the smile on my face. She didn’t fight me on that, since the joke had been terrible, just gave me another one of those sassy grins I’d never seen in New York and kept guzzling her coffee.

“You look good.” I kept my attention on her face, not letting it drift down to the swell of her breasts, knowing that little bit of lace was calling to me like a beacon. But she was too preoccupied to notice my staring.

“Looking professional and being prepared is the one thing I can control this morning. The rest...” She didn’t have to say that she was worried about Chase. I was worried about him. He had been an asshole to her at every opportunity and I expected him to be one this morning.