“You’re welcome. But I want to add one more thing, and you might not like what I have to say.” She tipped her head to the side and eyed him like only a parent could.
“Go on.”
“Just because the past shouldn’t be barrier to whatever’s going on between you and Cassie doesn’t mean it won’t be. Her father is a first-class bastard. No matter how much money you have now, he’ll never see you as good enough for his girl.”
The sad truth was, her own father wasn’t good enough to his only daughter. But that fact only bolstered his mother’s point. The man was an ass. And Derek still wasn’t good enough to bring home to Daddy.
The only question remained, would Cassie still care?
He shook his head, realizing he was getting way ahead of himself. He hadn’t even slept with her yet. Why was he contemplating such serious shit?
Because she wasn’t the kind of woman you toyed with. He’d known that at eighteen, and he understood it even more now.
* * *
Derek looked over the building tops through his office window. The sun shone on the snow-covered landscape, while behind him, Oscar slept beneath his desk. Derek placed his hand on the cold window and acknowledged to himself his conversation with his mother was never far from his mind. He’d been mulling it over ever since, and he always came to the same conclusion.
He wanted Cassie. He couldn’t see past the here and now … and he didn’t need to. If they clicked, he’d deal with what came next. If they didn’t, she’d be purged from his system.
It was time to get his act together and bring his A game. Like he had the night of their first date. But first he needed to apologize.
Good thing she was coming to his office this morning, and he knew just the way to prove to her he’d heard her words and taken them to heart.
He picked up the phone on his desk. “Becky, ask Kade and Lucas to get their asses in here please.”
“You got it.”
He loved the informal atmosphere here and the fact that his assistant put up with him.
Two minutes later, he had his partners in the room. Their presence woke Oscar, and he greeted them with what breed lovers called the Wheaten Greetin’. He flew across the room, hopping on his hind legs, bouncing and licking at each of the men.
“Get down, mutt,” Lucas said, affection in his voice as he stood, braced for impact.
Kade rubbed Oscar’s head. “Why do we have the dog for company today?”
Derek put his hand against the back of his neck. “That’s part of why I wanted to talk to you. Cassie’s coming by this morning, and I need you two to answer any questions she has.”
Kade folded his arms across his chest. “As long as she answers any questions I have first. I need to make sure she’s not taking advantage of my friend.”
Derek rolled his eyes. “I’m asking you to behave. For my sake. I’m the one who screwed up. Letting you two talk to her is one way I’m apologizing.”
Lucas grinned. “Fine. We’ll tell her what an asshole you were back in college. A code-loving nerd.”
“Works for me,” Derek muttered, knowing he wouldn’t get anything better from these two jerks now, but they’d behave later with Cassie. Which was all that mattered.
“On another subject, I’m getting married,” Lucas announced.
“We know. You put a ring on it a few months ago,” Derek said.
“No, I’m getting married soon. Like, on Valentine’s Day. Maxie and I don’t want to wait until the baby is born. We want it all legal ahead of time. Plus, I can’t wait to make that woman my wife. So will you two be my best man? Men? Would you stand up there with me?” he asked, chuckling.
“You know we will,” Derek said, pulling his friend into a brotherly hug before Kade did the same.
“We’re keeping it small. You know, because Maxie isn’t close with her parents.”
Derek understood. Their situation was complicated. It was a miracle they were getting married at all, Derek thought. Lucas and Maxie had had their timing all wrong, Maxie having been married to Lucas’s asshole brother, who’d all but tricked her into being with him. They should have been together all along. But now not only were they a couple, they were having a baby. They were a real family, as it should have always been.
“I’m happy for you,” Derek said.
“I’m happy for me,” Lucas admitted.
“What about you? How’s the missus?” he asked Kade.
“Fucking great. I highly recommend marriage,” he said with a stupid grin.
Derek shook his head. “And Lexie’s sister? Is Kendall holding steady?” Kendall was bipolar and was on an upswing after an extended stay at an inpatient facility for treatment.
“Thank God, she’s fantastic too. She’s walking dogs for people in our building and working at a shelter. Holding down a job, taking her meds,” he said with pride.
“And staying away from Julian?” Lucas asked.
“Yes. She was hurt enough by that bastard,” Kade muttered, his fingers flexing at just the mention of the man’s name.
Julian, one of their college friends who’d been in on the inception of Blink but who’d succumbed to a drug addiction instead of focusing on the billion-dollar prize. He’d reared his head when Blink was ready to go public, almost ruined Kade, and used Kendall, Lexie’s sister, to do it. Most recently, he’d tried to contact Kendall again, something all three men swore they wouldn’t let happen.