He nodded. “I know the numbers.”
“Then that’s it.” Her arms dropped to her side and she walked past him, heading for his Tesla.
“Ivy,” he called after her. “I’d save the whole damn world if I could. But I can’t.”
His frustration rose up. Damn it! He hated walking into barriers. He hated letting her down.
“It’s not all my money,” he continued, wishing he could say something that would turn them around from this dead end. “Some of my shareholders depend on the returns. They aren’t all millionaires. Some only have a single share, but that doesn’t mean their investment should be worth any less than anyone else’s. This is their retirement. This is the money they use to send their kids to college. I’ve met these men and women at my shareholder meetings. I’m seeing them all again this week. I’ve shaken their hands and given them my word that I would do my best.”
“And you are doing your best for them.” She stopped by the passenger-side door and looked at him. “I meant what I said last night. You’re a good man. I guess I just hoped you’d be my miracle, too.”
“Ivy—”
“Please take me back to the hotel,” she said. “My car is parked up there. And my clothes are in the hotel suite.” She glanced down and ran her hands over the gown. “I think it’s time to leave the fairy tale.”
He opened the driver’s-side door. “I thought fairy tales had happy endings.”
“I think,” she said as she slid into the passenger seat and reached for the buckle, “that they have happy moments. And sometimes, we choose to call those moments the end. But who knows what comes next? Maybe it’s all downhill after that.”
“That’s pretty cynical for a girl who dances in the moonlight at castles in the middle of the night.” He turned the car and headed for the exit.
“That’s not me, Carter. That was just…one wild, hopeful night inspired by—”
“Don’t you dare give that dress any more credit,” he grumbled.
“It wasn’t the dress,” she said simply. “It was you.”
Chapter 20
The Pierre Hotel slid into view as they turned the corner. One more city block and Ivy would step out of his car—and his life.
“I’ll park and walk you in,” he said.
“I have the key. Your assistant gave me one last night. Along with orders to return the dress. Mrs. Lindsey’s not going to be happy when she learns I lost the shoes.”
“The gown is yours.” He steered the Tesla to the hotel’s entrance. “I don’t give a damn what Mrs. Lindsey told you. She works for me.”
A bellhop descended on them, but Carter waved him away. He climbed out of the car and went around to the passenger side. Ivy had opened the door herself, but she took his hand.
Don’t let her go!
He scowled. What kind of fate brought a woman who made him think, feel, and love life again right to his office and then stole her away? Maybe if he could make her understand his impossible position, she would agree to another night. Followed by another, and another…
If you stay, do it because you want to—because you want me.
He’d been clear last night. And, damn it, she’d stayed for him.
But standing beside her father’s grave and telling her that he couldn’t help save other families from suffering like she’d suffered? How did they move forward when he couldn’t help her? When he’d failed to give her what she needed?
He raised her hand to his lips. “Good-bye, Ivy.”
He felt her skin against his lips and part of him begged to throw reason aside and pull her close. He wanted to forget about his shareholders, his company…everything but Ivy Grant.
Impossible.
The determined scientist was a part of his company. He couldn’t continue to act on impulse, stealing the beautiful princess for a midnight adventure.
She pulled her hand free from his hold. “Good-bye, Carter.”