I roll it to the door and put on my shoes and coat. I opted for a sleek black pantsuit with a low-cut white blouse underneath. Not too sexy, but risqué enough to show I have some edge and taste. I pair it with a low black strappy heel, hoping my feet won’t fall off by the end of the day.

In the rush of everything, I almost don’t hear my phone ringing from inside my purse.

“Hello,” I answer without checking to see who it is first.

“It’s so good to hear your voice.” Mom. I smile to myself, imaging her sitting at the table on the other end, sipping from her large black coffee mug.

“Sorry I haven’t called in a few days. Things got a little hectic at my new job.” I don’t add anything about my personal life because that’s the last thing I want her to know about. She’d probably try to convince me to come home to a ‘nice country boy’ as she calls them. I tried her idea of nice, and it didn’t work out so well for me.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, I’m actually leaving any minute to go to New York for a few meetings with the CEO.” Saying it out loud gives me heart palpitations. This trip isn’t just another meeting . . . it’s a potential multi-million dollar business deal.

She laughs. “You don’t sound all that excited. Haven’t you always wanted to go to New York City?”

“Yes, but on vacation. Not my first ever business meeting.”

“You’ll do fine. Besides, they wouldn’t have invited you if they didn’t think you could do it.”

“How are things back home?” I desperately need to think about something besides two days in New York with Pierce.

“Just trying to get ready for Christmas. Have you decided if you’re coming home yet?” Worry drips from her voice.

“I’m not sure. It depends on work and stuff, but I should know by the end of the week.”

“Well, I hope you do, but I’ll understand if you can’t.”

“I’m really going to try.” I glance up at the clock, feeling the nervousness that faded while talking to Mom creep back up. “I need to get going. My ride will be here any minute, but I promise to give you a call sometime this weekend.”

“Remember to have fun, and Lila, I know you can do this. You’re a smart girl, and you deserve everything that comes your way.”

“Love you.”

“I love you, too.”

By the time I throw my phone back in my bag, the weight on my shoulders isn’t quite as heavy. In a way, Mom is right . . . if Pierce didn’t think I could handle this, why would he risk losing such a big business deal. I honestly don’t think he’d put everything he’s worked hard for in jeopardy.

The doorbell rings, and my heart rate picks up again. Using the glass in the microwave, I straighten my hair then head to the door, opening it to Pierce, who stands suited in his signature gray. No matter how many times I see him like this, I stare longer than I should.

“Ready?” he asks, breaking my visual spell.

“I think so.”

“Here,” he says, stepping around me. “Let me take your bags.”

“You don’t have to do that, but thank you.”

He appears to be in a hurry, which is understandable since we have to make it through Chicago rush hour traffic in order to get to the airport. He strides a few feet in front of me, trailing my suitcase behind him.

“I need to lock the door,” I announce, pulling the key from my purse. Blake hasn’t been home since he left Monday night. My guess is he holes himself away in his studio, painting until he has no choice but to crash. Even after everything that’s happened between us, I still worry about him no matter how much I try to convince myself I shouldn’t.

When I finally turn back around, Pierce is waiting for me, eyeing me cautiously. “Are you okay?”

I wonder if my expression changes when Blake runs through my mind. “Yeah, it’s just early.”

“If you hurry, we have time to grab coffee.”

“Ah, how did you know I was an addict?”

He tilts his head, grinning. “I saw the k-cup collection in your apartment the other night. I assumed you were the addicted party.”

“Let’s get out of here then. You’d hate to see me if that addiction doesn’t get fed.”

“Good idea,” he says, starting down the hall again. As we make our way down the stairs, I wish for the hundredth time this building had an elevator. He’s carrying the suitcase, but I have the stupid heels.

The same black Escalade from the other night waits out front. The driver greets me. “Good morning, Ms. Fields.”

I smile in response. “Good morning.”

“I’ll take that from you.” He points to my briefcase. I hand it to him, grateful to have my shoulder back.

I step into the SUV, relishing in the warmth it offers. Pierce follows, taking the seat next to me. As the car starts down my street, he holds a venti Starbucks cup out to me. “Here.”

“I thought—”

He interrupts, “You shouldn’t underestimate me.”

“Do I need to tell you that I’m not very talkative until I’ve finished my coffee, or do you know that too?” I ask, feeling bold.

One side of his mouth turns up. “I would have figured it out in a minute or two, but thanks for the warning.”

“No problem.”

For the rest of the ride to the airport, I sip on my soy latte. How he knew how I liked my coffee is a mystery to me, but I’m not going to question it. It’s relaxing not to have to take the train, being crowded in with a bunch of people I don’t know. However, that same uncomfortable feeling will creep right back up when the wheels touch down in New York. People I don’t know. Meetings I’ll squirm through because I have no idea what’s going on.

We pull up in front of a building I don’t recognize. There’s only a few people standing on the sidewalk, and O’Hare is usually bustling with people.

“Where are we?”

“We’re taking the company jet.”

Confusion only leads to questions. “If you have a jet, why were you riding coach from Omaha to Chicago?”

He smiles. “My plane was being serviced. Besides, it all worked out, didn’t it?”

I brush his comment aside, feeling a lump form in my throat as I remember the hundreds of stories I’ve read over the years about small plane crashes. “Are those jets safe?”

“I’ve had this plane for six years, and between me and the rest of the Stanley execs, it flies two to three times a week. Never had a problem.”

I nod, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay with it. I’m not. If I’d known, I would have taken an anxiety pill or two before leaving the house this morning. Now, I’m screwed.

“We’re clear for take-off in about twenty minutes. They’ll just need to see your ID.”

My head spins so fast that the next few minutes are a total blur. I hand the lady inside my driver’s license and use the restroom . . . twice. I don’t really recall getting on the plane or buckling my seatbelt.

“Do you need anything before we take off?” the female flight attendant asks.

When I don’t answer, Pierce does it for me. “Bring her a water. I’ll take a coffee, black.”

She smiles warmly. “My pleasure.”

I can’t tell you what happened the rest of the flight . . . it’s all a blur.

MY LEGS SHAKE AS I TAKE the final step off the plane. Never in my life have I been this happy to walk on solid ground. I’ve taken it for granted.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Pierce asks, coming up behind me.

“We survived.”

“That we did, and, lucky for you, we get to take a car to our first appointment.” He surprises me, placing his hand on the small of my back to guide me to a waiting car. I should be used to it by now, but it still sends a little tingle down my spine. Even more so after dinner the other night.

“What’s on the agenda?” I ask as soon as we’re inside the waiting town car.

He displays a wide grin. “Not a fan of surprises?”

“Not usually.”

He runs his finger across his chin. “We’re going straight from here to meet with Wade. More than likely, we’ll grab lunch with him and tour the site. If we make it through all of that, I have a dinner reservation at New York’s most exclusive steakhouse. Thought if we were in the city, we might as well experience it.” He rattles it off without blinking an eye. Just listening to it makes me want to fall back onto my pillow.