A Heart For Business draft 2 Read Online Free Page B

talking. 
    She told him about her childhood growing up poor in Chicago, her time at Harvard, and her years working her way up the corporate ladder.  He told her about his privileged childhood attending private schools and the job that had been handed to him on a silver platter by a boardroom full of his daddy’s best friends, and how dissatisfied it made him feel. 
    “The jobs become so empty to me, and yet it’s all I have, so I keep pushing to work harder and be better hoping that will make me feel fulfilled.” Carter confessed. “I wish I could just walk away from the whole company, but then I’d be throwing away everything I’ve ever worked for.”
    “I’m just the opposite.” Vanessa told him. “Work is where I get all my feelings of satisfaction.  No other aspect of my life makes me has happy and fulfilled; especially my personal life.”
    She told him then about all her ex-boyfriends who had never understood her ambition and had been threatened by her success, including the last one.  Relationships for her had always come down to a choice between love and work and so she’d always chosen work.
    Carter told her about the string of women he had dated but how he had never felt any true connection with any of them.  They loved his corporate image as some hotshot executive, they didn’t care that it didn’t really make him happy. They didn’t want to know about his dreams or disappointments, they just saw dollar signs. 
    “I just want to find someone with whom I can really be myself, like when I’m with you.” Carter said, looking deep into Vanessa’s eyes.  He leaned forward, fearing that Vanessa would pull away, but to his delight she didn’t. Drawn in by his vulnerability, she closed her eyes and leaned into him too and their lips met in a gentle kiss, full of tenderness.
    “That was nice.” Vanessa smiled, feeling her heart flutter just a bit.
    “Nice?” Carter mocked playfully.  “I can do better than that.”
    He suddenly grabbed Vanessa and pulled into his arms and kissed her again, only this time with strength and passion. Her eyes flew open with surprise, then slowly closed again as she let herself succumb to the pleasure of his embrace.  She opened her mouth to him and let their tongues intertwine, as his hands caressed her hair and her arms wrapped around his muscular torso.
    When at last they broke apart to catch their breath, they just stared at each other, wide eyed and excited like two teenagers.
    “How was that?” Carter asked, his stomach churning in nervous anticipation.
    “Better than nice!” Vanessa smiled and Carter grinned widely with relief and moved to take her into his arms again.
    “I’d better go.” Vanessa held up her hands in a halting gesture. “You’re still on bed rest and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
    “Then don’t go!” Carter said playfully, stretching out his arms to her in an exaggerated gesture like an actor on stage.
    Spending his days with Vanessa had breathed new life in Carter Davis.  He’d discovered a newfound sense of joy for life.  His sense of humor had returned, as well as his generousity, curiousity, and ambition.  He couldn’t wait for each new day to begin, knowing that he would get to see her, and wondering what wonderful things she would have to say or what entertaining activity she would have planned. 
    Before his accident, Carter had been like an automaton, blindly going through the motions each day, going to work, making boring conversation with others, and going to bed.  Even his career, the one thing that had always given him purpose and pride, was beginning to feel empty to him.  He no longer felt like he was making an important contribution to the world or that his actions mattered.  His relationships were even worse; one night stands with ignorant girls who left him feeling hallow and lonely. 
    Since meeting Vanessa, he had rediscovered what it was like to talk with a woman as an equal and a friend. She