“What does that mean?” she asked.
It meant he couldn’t tell her what he’d said at that board meeting without revealing that he was in love with her. He was hesitant to tell her that for many reasons, but he sure as hell didn’t want to declare his love for her in his car on their way to work. Romance might not be his strong suit, but when it came to Heather he was determined to do this right.
“It means I’m not sure how they’ll feel about our trip,” he said. “Especially since we haven’t cleared your name yet.”
“We?” Her tone was icy. “Simon, we aren’t proving anything. I’m working to clear my name. Me and my lawyer. Stay out of this.”
“In addition to your lawyer, Linda is also helping. So are Dover’s IT guys, who are trawling through internet forums to find the hacker,” he said. “Hell, I’ve been upgrading my security system at my apartment and I got my lawyer to question my building’s super. A lot of people are already helping to clear your name whether you like it or not.”
She sighed. “I appreciate everything you’re trying to do. But don’t do anything specifically for me. Treat this like you would with any other employee. Make decisions based on what’s best for Dover.”
Days ago, when he realized that he loved her, he had made a vow to himself. A vow to put Heather before Dover. He meant to make good on that vow even if Heather begged him not to. From now on she came first. Always. She just didn’t know it yet.
TWO HOURS LATER, HE concluded his meeting with members of Dover’s cyber security team. With the shadow of the hacking still looming over them, the company had to take major precautions and revamp its cyber security.
He scrolled through the messages on his phone and found one from Heather. She wanted him to come down to the media relations department to have a quick meeting with Linda. Pocketing his phone, he headed out of his office and made his way downstairs.
“You made it.” Linda looked up as he stepped into her office. She was sitting in a plush chair beside Heather, the two of them leafing through a binder Linda was holding.
Heather looked up at him, and he couldn’t help himself. He smiled at her. They’d only been apart for two hours, but to him it had felt like an eternity. Seeing her beautiful face again warmed his heart. Took the weight off his shoulders.
Linda glanced from him to Heather. “Did you enjoy your trip to California?”
“It was fine,” Heather said stiffly.
Suddenly, he remembered that she had suggested they act like there were still tensions between them. Smiling at her had probably not been a good idea on his part. “Yes. Fine.”
“Don’t tell me you two had a fight,” Linda said.
“There was a room mix-up,” Heather said bitterly. “I suspect Simon did it on purpose.”
“I did not—”
“Oh, crap.” Linda shook her head. “This is all my fault.”
Heather frowned. “How on earth is it your fault?”
“I’m the one who screwed up your rooms,” Linda replied. “Only it wasn’t a screw-up. I got some of the hotel staff to switch the room numbers and give you a master card. I figured if you two ended up in the same room you’d reconcile and—”
“What?” Heather’s voice rose an octave. “Why would you think something like that?”
“Didn’t Simon tell you?”
Heather shot him a glance, confusion flashing in her eyes.
Linda gave him a pleading look, as if she needed him to save her from her revelation. “Oh... well... I meant...” Linda’s face went bright red and she swallowed hard. “Nothing. Forget I said anything. I obviously made a mistake.”
“Obviously,” he said through gritted teeth. Linda had been at that disastrous board meeting. Which meant she had heard him declare his love for Heather. Linda had been the one to get them alone together in that room. If Linda revealed why she had done that, it meant he was going to have to reveal his feelings for Heather. And he wasn’t ready for that. Not ready at all.
His heart slammed in his chest as Heather stared at him expectantly.