Page 40 (1/2)

“Williah him “I don’t want to hear how this is a terrible idea I need you to tell ood to leave for Sacrae, on the brown leather couches, with a glass coffee table between the like Rhys He was tall and lanky, with light features, and five years younger The bar wouldn’t open until later this afternoon, but Rhys had business he needed to take care of The bartenders were already there, restocking the bars and handling the day-to-day chores

Next to the pile of paperas the plane ticket that would take hiht thing, letting Zoey leave, to choose her own path But it made him miserable Rhys didn’t have a plan, not fully, but he knew he couldn’t take the distance between them He could not ask her to stay, and he knew she’d never ask hiain This life without her was not one he could survive

“I realize you wantI can do so quickly You oversee a lot of your family’s investments And let’s not even talk about your own finances” The color drained out of his face “I don’t even knohere to begin on this You are the face of the Harrington fortune here in New York City”

Rhys knew if he left New York City, he’d shake things up He needed to have this all squared away Because he knew once he got to Sacraain “I know I’ot total trust that you can handle things here in New York until we figure out how to make all this work”

William shot a look of disbelief “Fuck, Rhys, I as scheduled for the next month You honestly want to bail on those?” He blinked twice “Okay, what the hell is going on? Are you having a et that for you”

Rhys had never been so certain about anything before And yet, he understood William’s concern Rhys never acted iain, Zoey made him break his own rules He leaned his elbows on his bent knees He couldn’t tell his cousin the reason he was leaving was for Zoey That neould get to his father And the last thing he wanted was for Zoey to be the target of his father’s wrath for being the reason he left his responsibilities behind Rhys kne to thwart his father Zoey did not “My sanity is fine Reschedule is on my behalf” Because that’s how finance worked Schht people Keep contacts and close relationships tight Let theton circle

William blinked “Have you talked to your father about this?”

“I don’t need to discuss my plans with anyone,” Rhys countered

Williaht, all right Shit, all right” A bead of sweat slid down the side of Willia on running your life in New York from Sacramento? This is insane”

“What’s insane?”

Rhys glanced sideways, realizing that Archer, Hunt, and Kieran had arrived Rhys had hoped to have his conversation with William wrapped up before then “Give us a htly wobbly as he rose

“I’ll go have a drink at the bar,” his cousin said He nodded a greeting to Rhys’ friends before leaving the sitting area

Kieran chuckled at the retreating William “What did you do to him? He looks ready to puke”

Rhys exhaled deeply as they all took seats around him This was the hardest part “I wanted to wait to tell you all this until I had everything lined up, but I’ to Sacramento”

The silence was deafening