Chapter 24
“Yo
u’re underdressed.”
Ivy blinked. Her eyelashes brushed against the microscope’s eyepiece lens. She raised her head and glanced over her shoulder. “My designer lab coat is at the cleaners,” she informed Penelope. “But at least we match.” She returned to the specimen.
“I don’t have a reason to dress up for an ordinary Tuesday.” Penelope set her coffee thermos on the table beside the scope. “But there is a shiny, black stretch limo waiting downstairs for you.”
Ivy’s head shot up. “What?”
“The driver gave me this note.” Her assistant held out a folded piece of cream-colored paper. “He even knew my name.”
Ivy snatched the paper from Penelope. She flipped the note open and scanned the heading.
From the desk of Carter Burke
Penelope peered over Ivy’s shoulder. “I think you messed with the wrong billionaire,” she murmured. “This one won’t admit defeat.” Her assistant cocked her head. “I wonder if that’s one of the requirements to join the Billionaires’ Club.”
“He’s not part of a club,” Ivy said.
And he understands no. He knows when to back away, she thought. I could have put an end to our date at any point Friday night.
Even after they’d slept together, he’d driven her back to the hotel. He’d kissed her hand and said good-bye. He’d let her go without a fight…until he’d waltzed into her lab and she’d delivered an argument designed to chase him off.
What if he wants to fight for me?
“This note says ‘Please join me for coffee. No gowns this time. But I promise I’ve opened my eyes. I’ll do the right thing.’” Ivy looked up at her friend. “No gowns. I’m not underdressed.”
“I know.” Penelope stuck her hand into the box of doughnuts Ivy had picked up on the way into the lab and selected a powdered treat. “I read the note on the way up. But when you see the limo, you’ll wish you’d worn your fancy black skirt and that vintage cream blouse you bought last year.” Her assistant licked the powdered sugar off the top and then took a bite.
“Maybe I’ll ask the driver to stop at my condo and I’ll change.” Ivy picked up her purse.
“You’re going?”
Ivy nodded. “When the boss sends a limo—”
“He’s not just the leader of the Burke Initiative. Not after Friday night.”
“Maybe he’s changed his mind about the funding.” And keeping the lab open, Ivy thought.
But part of her hoped he’d stuck to his principles. The man she’d fallen for on Friday night wouldn’t throw his shareholders under the bus because the woman he wanted turned him away.
Carter Burke was a good man.
He just couldn’t be hers.
Ivy stepped into the elevator. She reached into her purse as the doors closed. Her hand wrapped around her niece’s ChapStick. She pulled it out and applied a sparkling layer to her lips.
Please don’t do something stupid, Carter. Please tell me you need cancer research and big, fat returns for your investors. Because if you say you need me…
She closed her eyes. What would she do? Would she choose her work over him? She’d turned him away on Sunday. Could she do it again?
Chapter 25
“Carter Burke, what have you done?”
Ivy followed her disgruntled fairy godmother across the Pierre Hotel lobby’s familiar black-and-white checkered floor. Mrs. Lindsey had greeted the limo, taken one look at Ivy’s lab coat, and murmured, “I should have called for a Chanel suit.” Then Carter’s assistant marched Ivy inside.