Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Daphne shook her head. “So like his dad. He ate the equivalent of three adult meals and he’s looking forward to a snack. And I meant what I said. This is all going to be all right, and I am going to make you the most beautiful wedding cake.”
“I thought we were being patient.” He watched her go. Well, shit. Lou was going to be in an awful mood if her mom had been pushing her.
He rushed to the elevator, punching in the code that took him to the top floor, where his baby worked to change the world. Or at least to make it easier to protect the world. Every time he watched her work, he was in awe of her.
Because she was the smartest person he knew, would ever know. Because she was transcendent. The truth of the matter was no one would know her. They might know the things she invented, the enhancements she created that made the world work better. They wouldn’t stand and cheer for her in a stadium, but she was every bit as special and gifted as a Michael Jordan or Meryl Streep. She was unique and special, and she would figure it out even if she rejected him. She would find what she needed.
Was he talking himself out of it again?
Psyching himself out was more like it.
He was a grown man who was now hearing his mom in his head. Telling him he could do this, that he was good enough.
If he wasn’t then he would change and make sure he was because he loved Lou, and no one in the world was going to love her the way he did.
The elevator doors opened, and he forced himself to walk through. Patience. He wasn’t going to think about what Daphne had said. Boomer had advised patience, and he was following the plan. They’d been on his timeline and now they were on Lou’s, and he had to chill and hope she came to her senses before they were too old to enjoy their lives.
Because he would be sitting here waiting for her.
He strode down the hall as Lou’s door was opening. Kala walked out and sighed when she saw him.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Kala sounded like she meant that, which made him wonder what terrible thing was about to happen.
“You are?”
Kala nodded, walking toward him. She settled her big bag over her shoulder. “Yep, because I’m pretty sure Daphne broke her. I don’t know what she said because I was feeding a young Boomer. I’m not joking. Something’s wrong with him. Anyway, Daphne came down to the cafeteria when Jayce was ready for dessert, and I came back up here and Lou is all fucked up.”
Damn it. He’d known it. He had to calm Lou down, and that meant denying himself everything he wanted. But he would do it for her. “I’ll handle it. You taking off?”
“I figured you would stay with her the rest of the day.” Kala started for the elevator. “I’ve got some stuff she wants me to talk to Zach about. Timelines and such. He’s picking me up in a couple of minutes because Kenz is hanging with the foreigners, and I have to hide. Sometimes this job sucks.” She stopped in front of him. “You know you look guilty to the outside eye.”
His gut threatened to twist. She was talking about The Jester. “Lou thinks I did it?”
He still wasn’t sure what “it” was, but he didn’t want Lou to think he did it.
Kala’s eyes rolled. “Not even for a second, and if my opinion is important, neither do I.” She reached up and put a hand on his cheek. “Take care of her. You know I love you, TJ, right?”
“Shit. Am I about to die?” It felt a little like that moment in the Godfather when Corleone knew it was Fredo.
“I am not that bad, cousin.” She stepped back. “And I am perfectly capable of love. Also, you need to talk to my dad about joining the team. This isn’t going to work if you’re on a different continent.”
“Uh, I already planned to do that.”
She strode away. “Well, I’ll tell everyone it was my plan anyway. Wear a condom, TJ. I’m not ready to be an aunt again.”
He watched her disappear and then used his key card to enter what he thought of as Lou’s paradise lab. It was big and sleek, with every technological feature Drew Lawless’s money could buy. He walked through the entryway with its small reception desk for an assistant Lou never hired. Many a time he’d sat at that desk and played games while waiting for Lou to make her latest breakthrough.
He made his way to the main lab where Lou was sitting at one of the long tables, carefully studying her laptop.