Sure, but how does one go about doing that?”
The warmth in his gaze dimmed, and he eased his hands free of hers. “Like I said, never mind.”
Quick alarm shot through her. She started to lay a hand on his arm but stopped. Instead, she pinched at his sleeve. “No, wait. I’m sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
He stood and paced to the open doorway out to the deck, looking at the wide river beyond them. “Kyla, it’s not my place to tell you how to live your life.”
She held her silence. He had more to say, and she’d give him time to sort through it.
“It’s just …” He turned back, and there was no denying the concern weighing his face and his words. “I worry about you. You seem more and more on edge lately. You don’t laugh or smile nearly as often as you used to.”
Kyla frowned. Was that true? She hadn’t realized—
“And I hardly ever hear you say anything positive about your work.”
She leaned back in her chair, thinking over the last few months. “I think that’s because it’s become just that, Mason. Work.”
“Then why don’t you walk away from it?”
Kyla came out of her chair. “Walk away? From Justice Construction?”
Mason covered the ground between them in two long strides, taking her hands in his, pressing them to his chest. “Kyla, you know how I feel about you. I’ve made it clear I want this relationship to be a permanent one.”
“I know, but—”
“If we were married, you wouldn’t need to work any longer. You’re meant for better things than letting the stress of running a construction company weigh you down.”
“I’m not weighed down.” She stood and went to look out the french doors leading to the balcony. “I’ve worked hard to get JuCo to the place it is now.”
“Darling, I know that. And you’re amazing at what you do.” His gentle tone firmed. “But what point is there in doing it if it doesn’t bring you a sense of joy or accomplishment?”
She bit her lip. What point, indeed?
The touch of his hand on her shoulder told her he’d come to stand behind her. “Sweetheart, you know the last few years have been good for Rawlins Building. More than good.”
Kyla nodded. Mason’s company had won a number of lucrative contracts from Ballat Enterprises, one of the top investment developers in the Northwest. She’d been so proud of Mason when those contracts came through.
“Why don’t you let me buy you out?”
She turned, eyes wide. “Buy me out?”
He took her by the shoulders, his grip gentle. “Think about it. We could merge the two companies. Even combine the names, so your father’s business continues to exist. And you could rest easy, knowing all you’ve done, the business you’ve built with such devotion, would be taken care of, that the employees would be treated fairly, and that the fine reputation you and your father built would go on. If you wanted, you could still be involved a little. But really. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to travel at will? To spend your days relaxing and even having a little fun? Isn’t it time you enjoyed some of the nicer things in life?”
He lifted her fingers to his lips and, much to her surprise, kissed the tips. “Please, darling, let me set you free.”
His lips on her fingers, his gaze caressing her face, Kyla waited for the surge of relief, for the overwhelming sense that this was the right thing to do.
And waited.
Nothing.
Well, that wasn’t quite true. She did feel something—a shiver skitteringacross the top of her skin, like a smooth stone skipping over water, touching down just often and long enough to send ripples through her. But they weren’t ripples of delight. Far from it.
They were ripples of unease.
The silence between them stretched—along with Kyla’s nerves. Finally Mason let out a low sigh and released her hands. “All right, Kyla. I won’t press you.” His gaze caught hers, held it. And she saw something deep in those eyes.
Something
The warmth in his gaze dimmed, and he eased his hands free of hers. “Like I said, never mind.”
Quick alarm shot through her. She started to lay a hand on his arm but stopped. Instead, she pinched at his sleeve. “No, wait. I’m sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
He stood and paced to the open doorway out to the deck, looking at the wide river beyond them. “Kyla, it’s not my place to tell you how to live your life.”
She held her silence. He had more to say, and she’d give him time to sort through it.
“It’s just …” He turned back, and there was no denying the concern weighing his face and his words. “I worry about you. You seem more and more on edge lately. You don’t laugh or smile nearly as often as you used to.”
Kyla frowned. Was that true? She hadn’t realized—
“And I hardly ever hear you say anything positive about your work.”
She leaned back in her chair, thinking over the last few months. “I think that’s because it’s become just that, Mason. Work.”
“Then why don’t you walk away from it?”
Kyla came out of her chair. “Walk away? From Justice Construction?”
Mason covered the ground between them in two long strides, taking her hands in his, pressing them to his chest. “Kyla, you know how I feel about you. I’ve made it clear I want this relationship to be a permanent one.”
“I know, but—”
“If we were married, you wouldn’t need to work any longer. You’re meant for better things than letting the stress of running a construction company weigh you down.”
“I’m not weighed down.” She stood and went to look out the french doors leading to the balcony. “I’ve worked hard to get JuCo to the place it is now.”
“Darling, I know that. And you’re amazing at what you do.” His gentle tone firmed. “But what point is there in doing it if it doesn’t bring you a sense of joy or accomplishment?”
She bit her lip. What point, indeed?
The touch of his hand on her shoulder told her he’d come to stand behind her. “Sweetheart, you know the last few years have been good for Rawlins Building. More than good.”
Kyla nodded. Mason’s company had won a number of lucrative contracts from Ballat Enterprises, one of the top investment developers in the Northwest. She’d been so proud of Mason when those contracts came through.
“Why don’t you let me buy you out?”
She turned, eyes wide. “Buy me out?”
He took her by the shoulders, his grip gentle. “Think about it. We could merge the two companies. Even combine the names, so your father’s business continues to exist. And you could rest easy, knowing all you’ve done, the business you’ve built with such devotion, would be taken care of, that the employees would be treated fairly, and that the fine reputation you and your father built would go on. If you wanted, you could still be involved a little. But really. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to travel at will? To spend your days relaxing and even having a little fun? Isn’t it time you enjoyed some of the nicer things in life?”
He lifted her fingers to his lips and, much to her surprise, kissed the tips. “Please, darling, let me set you free.”
His lips on her fingers, his gaze caressing her face, Kyla waited for the surge of relief, for the overwhelming sense that this was the right thing to do.
And waited.
Nothing.
Well, that wasn’t quite true. She did feel something—a shiver skitteringacross the top of her skin, like a smooth stone skipping over water, touching down just often and long enough to send ripples through her. But they weren’t ripples of delight. Far from it.
They were ripples of unease.
The silence between them stretched—along with Kyla’s nerves. Finally Mason let out a low sigh and released her hands. “All right, Kyla. I won’t press you.” His gaze caught hers, held it. And she saw something deep in those eyes.
Something
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