before and I see the logic, but I'm not capable of letting go. I need to control my own security. I am successful, but not financially secure. I don't know how people like you take all the risks you must have to build something as huge as Phoenix.
Pete smiled and shook out his left hand so that a heavy silver bracelet slid down from under his sleeve. “Read it.”
The heavy curb chain held a bar, engraved with one word, 'Work!'
She smiled at him and nodded.
“Now turn it over.”
She twisted it to see the underside and read, 'Like you don't need the money.'
Holly laughed, “That's easy for you to say. You don't.”
“It was no easier for me when I had this made than it is for you now. Jack and I were a year into Phoenix and we were feeling the same way you are. We wanted to keep it all in our control, and we needed the money. But it was only by learning to delegate and to take risks as if we really didn't need the money that Phoenix could become what it is.”
“I admire that you made that choice, but I don't think I'm that brave, Pete. Like I told you, we're from different worlds, but that's partly because we're different people. I'll never take that leap because I'm too afraid to fall flat on my face, and too afraid of what would happen if I did.” Her eyes clouded over. For a moment she looked very afraid, terrified. What was that about? The fear was quickly replaced by resignation. This wasn't the time to push it, but he wanted to know more. He wanted to help her.
“I don't think we're that different, Holly. Are you open to a little friendly advice?”
“Who wouldn't be from a self-made, multi-millionaire?” she smiled. “Go ahead, share your pearls of wisdom, Bigshot, but you know what they say about pearls before swine!”
Pete shook his head, lips pursed. “You're not going to get a rise out of me. All I'm going to say is, try baby steps. Getting out of your comfort zone is scary, so try just taking a little step then another, instead of making that huge leap you were talking about.”
“Makes sense. Any suggestions as to where I start?”
Pete grinned. “Compromise with me? Leave work at two on Friday?”
Holly laughed. “That was a roundabout way to get half of what you wanted.”
He caught her eyes and held them with his own. “I'll get all of what I want, and so will you. If we can help you with your business hang-ups along the way, all the better. So, what do you say?”
“I say yes, I will.”
Pete grinned, an idea taking to take shape in his mind. “Excellent! We're going to have a great weekend.”
“I believe you could be right, but I need to get back to work if I'm going to cut out early on Friday.”
“Okay, let me get this then I'll walk you back.” Pete had been hoping for an extended lunch, but he wasn't going to push it.
Once he'd paid Miguel, they walked side by side through the lunchtime crowds. Pete noticed how many guys eyed Holly appreciatively as they passed. He put an arm around her shoulders possessively. She looked up at him, eyebrows raised.
“Do you mind?” he asked.
She smiled and curled her own arm around his waist. “Don't mind at all.”
All too soon they arrived back at her store.
“I'm guessing I pick you up here on Friday?”
“You betcha,” she laughed. “It's going to be hard enough to leave that early without having to go home first too.”
“I figured as much. So, until Friday then.”
“Friday at three.” She smiled.
Pete pulled her to him and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose as he held her within the circle of his arms.
“At two, Holls. We have a deal remember? I take my deals very seriously.”
She laughed up at him, “I was just testing.”
He pecked her lips as he held her against him. “You don't want to test me, Holly, not unless you're prepared to find out how hard I can be.” He proved his point, pulling her hips against him so his erection pressed into her. He didn't care that they were standing on the
Pete smiled and shook out his left hand so that a heavy silver bracelet slid down from under his sleeve. “Read it.”
The heavy curb chain held a bar, engraved with one word, 'Work!'
She smiled at him and nodded.
“Now turn it over.”
She twisted it to see the underside and read, 'Like you don't need the money.'
Holly laughed, “That's easy for you to say. You don't.”
“It was no easier for me when I had this made than it is for you now. Jack and I were a year into Phoenix and we were feeling the same way you are. We wanted to keep it all in our control, and we needed the money. But it was only by learning to delegate and to take risks as if we really didn't need the money that Phoenix could become what it is.”
“I admire that you made that choice, but I don't think I'm that brave, Pete. Like I told you, we're from different worlds, but that's partly because we're different people. I'll never take that leap because I'm too afraid to fall flat on my face, and too afraid of what would happen if I did.” Her eyes clouded over. For a moment she looked very afraid, terrified. What was that about? The fear was quickly replaced by resignation. This wasn't the time to push it, but he wanted to know more. He wanted to help her.
“I don't think we're that different, Holly. Are you open to a little friendly advice?”
“Who wouldn't be from a self-made, multi-millionaire?” she smiled. “Go ahead, share your pearls of wisdom, Bigshot, but you know what they say about pearls before swine!”
Pete shook his head, lips pursed. “You're not going to get a rise out of me. All I'm going to say is, try baby steps. Getting out of your comfort zone is scary, so try just taking a little step then another, instead of making that huge leap you were talking about.”
“Makes sense. Any suggestions as to where I start?”
Pete grinned. “Compromise with me? Leave work at two on Friday?”
Holly laughed. “That was a roundabout way to get half of what you wanted.”
He caught her eyes and held them with his own. “I'll get all of what I want, and so will you. If we can help you with your business hang-ups along the way, all the better. So, what do you say?”
“I say yes, I will.”
Pete grinned, an idea taking to take shape in his mind. “Excellent! We're going to have a great weekend.”
“I believe you could be right, but I need to get back to work if I'm going to cut out early on Friday.”
“Okay, let me get this then I'll walk you back.” Pete had been hoping for an extended lunch, but he wasn't going to push it.
Once he'd paid Miguel, they walked side by side through the lunchtime crowds. Pete noticed how many guys eyed Holly appreciatively as they passed. He put an arm around her shoulders possessively. She looked up at him, eyebrows raised.
“Do you mind?” he asked.
She smiled and curled her own arm around his waist. “Don't mind at all.”
All too soon they arrived back at her store.
“I'm guessing I pick you up here on Friday?”
“You betcha,” she laughed. “It's going to be hard enough to leave that early without having to go home first too.”
“I figured as much. So, until Friday then.”
“Friday at three.” She smiled.
Pete pulled her to him and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose as he held her within the circle of his arms.
“At two, Holls. We have a deal remember? I take my deals very seriously.”
She laughed up at him, “I was just testing.”
He pecked her lips as he held her against him. “You don't want to test me, Holly, not unless you're prepared to find out how hard I can be.” He proved his point, pulling her hips against him so his erection pressed into her. He didn't care that they were standing on the
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