Determined: To Love: (Part 2 of the Determined Trilogy) by Elizabeth Brown

him and smiled. “Hmm. I don’t know; I think I need to keep an eye on you. I don’t want any other woman seducing you while I’m not around.”
    “That, baby, is not something you have to worry about. You are in a class above any woman I’ve ever met,” he said, kissing me on my forehead. “So, what do we have for lunch? I seem to have worked up an appetite.”
    “Cobb salads and iced tea. And chips for me.”
    “Awesome,” he said, taking a box from me and picking up a fork and napkin from the table.
    “So… I took the job,” I said gently, as I opened my salad container.
    “You did?” David said, covering his mouth as he chewed. I think he was surprised. “Did she accept the edits to the contract?”
    “Yep. There were no questions. They just accepted what I sent them. Thank you again for your help with that.”
    “So when do you start?”
    “I told Curtis yesterday. I figured I could start part-time, but officially leave after three weeks. It’s a small gallery, and I want to give him enough time to find someone.”
    David took a swig of iced tea and looked at me. “So how did he take it?” David knew how tight I was with Curtis.
    “Surprisingly well. He was actually encouraging. He thought it was a good step for me.”
    “That’s good, baby. How do you feel?” David put one hand on my knee while he reached over to my side of the coffee table and stole a potato chip.
    I smirked at him; it was always fun to see Mr. Healthy dabble on the dark side.
    “Good. Excited. Nervous. It’s a big change.”
    “But one you are totally ready for and an opportunity you have earned.”
    I smiled. He always knew how to make me feel better.
    I took a swig of iced tea. “So, what about you? How is your day going? Is everything okay? You seemed pretty mad at that guy on the phone.” I was still very vague on what exactly David did all day, but wanted desperately to be supportive.
    “Everything is fine. Or it will be. Hey, I was going to ask you later, but are you able to get the weekend off? I have to fly to the London office for a couple of meetings, and I was thinking it might be nice to make a weekend of it.”
    I stared at him.
    “Uh. I can’t. It’s Dad’s birthday this weekend, remember? We were going to go to Saratoga?” I was so bummed. I had never been to a foreign country, despite having a passport at the ready. “When are you going?”
    “I have to leave on Friday.” He frowned. I could tell he was sad to miss the birthday. Or was it me? “Why don’t they come with us?”
    “Mom would never…” I said. It was true. She hated flying with a passion. “And Erin doesn’t have a passport.”
    David looked truly perplexed. Usually at times like this, he was able to use his wealth to buy a solution, but this time it wasn’t happening.
    “Do you have to go?”
    “I’m afraid so. It’s a critical meeting. I’m so sorry, Samantha.” He sighed and turned to me. “But Samantha, I do not want you going anywhere without Elliot. Do you understand?”
    “I’ll be fine. It’s Saratoga, for goodness sakes.”
    “I’m serious. There are too many unknowns right now.”
    He wasn’t going to let this one slide.
    “Yes, chief. Roger that, 10-4.” I mock-saluted him. He rolled his eyes and smiled.
    ~
    After lunch, I headed back home. I had planned to spend the afternoon officially ‘moving in’ the things I’d brought from my place, since I wasn’t sure how long I’d be staying. Part of me wanted to believe it might be longer than it would take to catch Brian, but I didn’t let myself linger with those thoughts. Everything with David was perfect right now, and I didn’t want to jinx it by hoping for more.
    I started the move in process by taking my toiletries to the bathroom. Once in there, I realized that it was sort of silly that I’d brought anything with me—David had equipped the house with most anything I’d needed. That included a toothbrush and most of the toiletries I