so, she could cast her attention in some other direction, thank you very much. Because Linc was not for her and she’d accepted that fact and got over caring about it a very long time ago.
She had, right...?
‘Thank you, Linc, for the commitment you’ve made to do this review.’
If the words were a little stiff and formal, that couldn’t be helped. Surely that was better than falling all over him, even if only inside her own thoughts.
‘I know it’s time away from the other demands of your life.’
‘I suspect some of those demands will follow me here, but I’ll do my best not to disrupt you.’ A teasing smile came and went.
Cecilia ignored how that smile made her tummy flutter. It had to be the kind of smile that one friend might share with another, or a person who’d known another person for years, or a boss who felt comfortable with his employee. And Cecilia fell into the latter category. Yes, she’d known Linc for years, but they were work associates with a lot of professional ground walked over in that span of time.
Therefore his smile must be a perfectly normal one that meant nothing whatsoever outside those bounds. He couldn’t help it if he was cute.
Great avoiding of his appeal, Cee.
He went on. ‘I don’t want to make a painful time out of this for you.’
‘I’m sure it will be fine.’ No matter the outcome, she knew Linc would be fair in his assessment. Whether she could eliminate the painful knowledge of her reawakened awareness of him was another challenge altogether.
But it was one that she had to achieve, and she could not let the rest of her life mess with her head, either, while she got through the review. That would be easier said than done, when one part of it gnawed at her ceaselessly and she was still stinging over another part.
Well, no-longer-interested-and-nothing-could-keep-me-here-now Hugh could go and trip over and fall into a duck pond, for all she cared. And the other thing just...was.
Cecilia drew a breath.
Her personal life might not be as calm as she would like, but she could manage—and Linc didn’t need to know about any of it.
She detoured to leave her plant cuttings and basket in the potting shed, and then led the way to her office. ‘Come on in. How long do you think the review will take?’
‘Depending on how much I get interrupted, it shouldn’t take more than a few days.’
His gaze searched hers just a little bit too keenly for her comfort.
‘Great.’ She gestured to where a second computer and desk sat at a diagonal angle to her own, and pushed those other thoughts as far back in her mind as she could manage. ‘I don’t mean it’s great that you won’t be here more than that. You know what I mean...’
Did he? Was he hearing her words falling over themselves in a way that was quite out of character after her usual modulated approaches to him?
So get over it, Cecilia. You’ve been to see him at his city office, where the staff all complain that he’s hardly ever there but say it fondly, as though they’re glad that he gives them the autonomy to do their best for him while he’s out spreading his holdings even further. You’ve been to the warehouse home he shared in the past with his brothers. He’s seen you at each of the nurseries you’ve managed. Multiple times, in fact. This is no different.
‘The financials are all on there.’ She used her best I’ve-got-over-it tone, which would at least make sense to her. ‘Along with my strategic forecast for the business for the upcoming couple of years.’
The hand she’d been waving around now hid itself in a fold of her sundress’s knee-length skirt.
‘Thanks.’ Again his lips curved into that hint of a smile. ‘I’ll jump straight in.’
‘I’d best get on with my work, too.’ Cecilia dropped into her chair. ‘I have invoices to get into the system from the weekend’s trade.’
She did not mention that she’d spent so much time ensuring that the outdoor aspects of the nursery were impeccable in recent days that she’d allowed that invoicing to get somewhat behind.
She’d known Linc would be here and that he’d want her around—at least to start with. This way she could work while she answered any questions he might have.
That’s right. You weren’t hiding out doing your favourite tasks just because they help you not to think about other things.
Cecilia had a major event coming up for the nursery. She simply didn’t have time to think about anything else. Not family stresses, not her abandonment by Hugh and certainly not this morning’s odd noticing of Linc in a way she had stopped herself doing for years.
Cecilia jabbed the start button of her Slimline computer. ‘I’ll be here all day in the office to be sure I’m available for any questions you may have.’
‘I appreciate that you’re so well organised for the review, even with a big event looming on the horizon.’
Linc MacKay murmured the words as his plant-nursery manager shuffled her bottom into her office chair and peered down her nose at the computer screen in front of her.
She looked beautiful today...a summery woman with golden skin. Her shoulders were bare but for a couple of spaghetti straps on the deep red sundress splashed with a bold floral design, and her lips were highlighted in a subtle lipstick.
Linc had rejected her innocent overtures six years ago, even though he’d felt a spark of interest at the time. It had never truly gone away, and he had felt that fact keenly today. Seeing her in the beautiful sundress, showing such a feminine side of herself, Linc felt as though he were seeing her in a whole new light.
And because that awareness wasn’t acceptable to him, he forced his focus to her business acumen.
Cecilia was determined and motivated and very capable when it came to running a nursery. Her push to gain a share in this one had impressed him, and she’d earned that opportunity over the last six years.
She was an intriguing woman, Linc acknowledged silently, and his glance returned to her once again. Slender, with shoulder-length hair every shade from ash to dark blond and eyes the colour of bluebonnets...
Where had he been?
Right. Her inner strength and drive impressed him. Linc told himself not to think about how sweet she looked, how he felt as though layers had been pulled from his eyes and he could see her clearly for the very first time.
‘I’ll review the strategic projections first.’ He pushed the knowledge of her appeal to the back of his mind, where it had to remain. ‘Those will form a solid basis for the rest of my review. They’ll also help me to spot any areas where the business might not yet be living up to its full potential.’
‘I’ll be keen to discuss any weak areas with you.’ Cecilia sat very upright in her chair. ‘I pride myself on trying to keep everything strong. I’ve printed a copy of the projections document for you.’
She
