Page 62 of Irresistible Temptation
“I mean it. Which is it? The business or happiness? What’sreallyimportant?”
There he went, running a hand through his unwashed, unruly hair.
“Aren’t they the same thing?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Hell no, man.” Will slapped his knee and looked at me like I had just said the craziest string of words he had ever heard. He looked out the window at the plane deep in thought. “I used to think they were the same thing…” he murmured before turning to look at me.
“But then I discovered this possible career in music. It made being in the corporate world seem so small. You know, music has always made me happy, but now, playing in front of crowds. Sharing my sound. Seeing people actually sing the lyrics. There’s no other feeling like it. It’s not about the money. It’s about thefeeling.”
I nodded as I absorbed his words, feeling a touch of envy. I had never had a passion like that for anything other than business. Anything other thanmoney. But I knew how happy music made Will, so I understood.
“I’vehadmoney,” he said. “Hell, Ihavemoney. But it’s not what makes me happy. The career I had before wasn’t fulfilling for me. Not that it isn’t foryou.I see how driven you are. I see how much being CEO makes you happy. It’syourthing. But I also see the way you talk about Juliet…”
I smiled slightly at the mention of her name.
“See?” he pointed at my face. “It looks like she makes you happy, man,” he said.
“She does,” I said softly, looking down at my freshly shined shoes.
“Maybe even more than Brandfield Enterprises?” suggested Will carefully.
It was a crazy thought. I had only known Juliet for a handful of weeks now. It seemed ludicrous to think that she could be more important to me than my business I had spent years building. But something Will said resonated in me, like he had planted a seed, and it only just began to grow.
There was a tap on the passenger window, breaking us both out of our deep conversation. I rolled down the window and looked up at the driver of the town car.
“Plane is ready, sir,” he said.
“Thank you.”
I opened the passenger door and slid out of the car, looking back at Will to say goodbye. I gave him a curious glance when I saw him also exiting the car and rounding back toward the trunk the driver was opening to retrieve my luggage. I noticed him pull a leather duffel bag that wasn’t mine from the back. Will picked it up and slung it over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” I asked curiously.
“Coming with you,” he said.
“But—”
“No buts. I know when my best friend needs me.” He started for the plane and I grinned to myself.Thiswas why he was my best friend. We always were there to save each other’s asses.
Chapter 25
Juliet
My eyes snapped open, my nerves serving as my alarm clock. Either that, or the morning sickness. I tore the covers off of me and sprinted for the bathroom, relieving myself in the toilet. I clutched the cool, white porcelain as I got out what I hoped was my last gag.
“You okay?” asked Gabriella from the bathroom door.
I had almost forgotten she was here. She had ended up sleeping on the couch, too tired to go home after a long day and night of a movie marathon and junk food. Sadie regretfully had left to get back to “mom duty” as she called it, but Gabriella insisted on staying. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and looked at me with concern, standing there in a pair of my pajamas she borrowed.
“Mhmm,” I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my arm, feeling so far from okay it wasn’t even funny.
I flushed the toilet and pulled myself to stand. At the sink, I washed my mouth out and began brushing my teeth, desperate to get the taste of vomit out of my mouth. Gabriella leaned against the doorframe, watching me with a faint smile on her lips.
“What?” I asked, with a raised brow and a mouth full of minty bubbles from the toothpaste.
“I just remember this all too well.” She pointed up and down at me.
I groaned. “Does it get any better?”
