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he’d done.

But he did need to face what he’d done head on, and offer an apology.

Though he wouldn’t be surprised if Lucy’s father didn’t throw him out on the spot.

Or have him arrested for assault. In fact, he was surprised that hadn’t already happened,

considering Fairchild’s connections.

The floor was quiet as he walked toward the room. He paused, listening for the sounds of conversation. There weren’t any. It was late afternoon so he figured maybe

Lucy was seeing to things at the office. He peeked around the corner. Raymond was in

there by himself, so he stepped in.

Fairchild’s eyebrows raised, but he didn’t look angry.

“Mr. Dalton.”

“Mr. Fairchild.”

He looked good. Had color in his face, and there were no IVs hooked into him or any

other machines. That was a good sign.

Lucy’s father laced his fingers together and laid them in his lap. “Have you come to

gloat?”

What did he mean by that? For putting him in the hospital? “No, sir. I came to apologize. I let my temper get the better of me and I went off on you. I’m sorry. I should

never have done that. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“You didn’t hurt me.”

“Sir, I think I did. You’re in the hospital.”

“Not for long. Just waiting for my discharge papers.” Jake tried to mask his relief. “You’re going to be okay, then?”

“You’ve won, Jake. I’ve already made calls to release the permits. You’ll be back in business tomorrow.”

“It was you.” Jake didn’t know whether to be relieved or furious. Probably both.

“Yes, of course it was me. And my daughter knows everything. She overheard me talking to Alex. Celebrating. I faked my heart attack. And now I’ve lost my daughter.

She’s left me.”

Jake waited to see the remorse on Raymond Fairchild’s face. The hurt at what he’d

caused.

It didn’t appear. Instead, the man was angry.

He hated losing.

Unfreakingbelievable.

“I hope you’re happy,” Fairchild said.

Jake shook his head. “I’m not happy at all. I wish things could be different. For Lucy. I’ve never seen a woman more devoted to her father, and a man so completely

blind to what he had. She loved you. And all she wanted was your love in return.”

“I do love her.”

Jake snorted. “You don’t even know what it means.”

“I’ve given her everything.”

“Except what she really needed from you. For someone who’s supposed to be so smart, you’re really stupid, Fairchild.”

Raymond lifted his chin and sniffed. “She’s angry right now, but Lucille will come around to my way of thinking. Eventually.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. She’s a Fairchild. She has grown up with the finest things life has to offer. Do you think she’ll be satisfied with someone like you?” Jake let his lips curl. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I’ll bet she won’t be fooled by a prick

like you ever again.”

Fairchild’s lips set in a thin line, his face turning a bright red. “You can leave my room. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

“Gladly.”

Jake turned and walked out the door.

He thought he’d be happy to hear that his permits would be released.

Instead, only one thought occupied his mind. The only thing that really mattered.

Lucy.

Lucy waited until the staff had cleared out for the day before she headed into the office to grab some important files. She didn’t know where she was going to go after that.

Not to her home. She didn’t have a home anymore. And certainly not to Jake’s.

Not after

what she’d done to him. He’d never want to see her again.

She palmed her stomach, the thought of everything she’d lost because of her stupid

mistakes making her knot up inside.

She packed up the files she’d need over the next several days and picked up her briefcase, deciding to stop off at the coffee shop for a latte. As she passed by the construction site, her heart ached. She pushed on, determined to shut Jake out of her

mind.

When a wolf whistle rang out, she stopped dead in her tracks and whirled around.

There, leaning against one of the huge yellow pieces of machinery, was Jake, his arms folded across his chest. God, he looked good in worn jeans and a white shirt.

He

pushed off the machinery and walked toward her.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey.”

“I saw your father today.”

Her eyes widened. “You did?”

“Yeah. I went to the hospital to apologize to him.”

“Jake, you didn’t have to—”

“Yeah, I did. I went off on him like a crazy man. That’s not like me. I don’t blow up and lose my temper like that. But I also don’t like being manipulated. I knew your father

had squashed my permits.”

“Yes. He did. You were right and I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m sorry, for embarrassing you at work, and for pushing your dad around.” She lifted her chin. “He deserved it.”

“No he didn’t. I should have called you with what I knew and let you do some investigating.”

“And I should have believed in you right away. I’m through siding with my father.

He’s used me for the last time.”

“I’m sorry, Lucy. I wish he could be different.”

She shrugged. “I’ve come to the realization that he’s incapable of loving me.

That’s

not my fault. It’s his problem.”

“You’re right, it is.”

They stared at each other for a few minutes. Then Jake took the briefcase from her

hands. “Heavy.”

“I took several of my case files from the office so I can work at…well, wherever home will be for the next few days until I can figure things out.” He looked down at the briefcase in his hands, then swept his gaze back up to her.

“I liked having you work at my kitchen table next to me.” Her heart seemed to hover somewhere in the middle of her chest, fluttering like wild

butterflies. “I liked that, too.”

“We’ve both made mistakes throughout our attempts at having a relationship, Lucy.”

“Yes, we have. And for the ones I made, Jake, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m kind of new at this, so I screwed up. I’m impatient. I hated your father interfering, and I didn’t take tender care of your heart and your feelings like I should

have. That made me no better than