Page 49 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“Oh, you’ve got it bad,” I tease.

I’m soft about Nova but I’m keeping my mouth closed. For now anyways.

“Shit. She’s getting in my head now.”

I laugh and he gives me a shut-the-fuck-up look. Which makes me laugh harder.

“Shut up, dickhead. I better go and get to work now,” he says standing up.

I glance at my watch and check the time. “Yeah. I need to get across town for a meeting.”

“Will I see you tomorrow night?” Harvey asks.

I stack the papers on top of my laptop and rise from the sofa, taking my cup with me and walking to my desk. Lowering the coffee, I check my calendar. “No,” I say.

“Why?” he asks, approaching the desk. “Do you need to work?”

“Yeah. I’m going out for celebratory drinks. I signed the contract with Mr. Spencer. The one for the ophthalmology instruments.”

I know we’ve discussed this before.

“Nice, brother,” he says.

“Yeah, massive deal. This is going to change my hospitals. And more importantly, it will allow us to treat more complex patients.”

“So proud of you,” he adds with sincerity.

“You too, Harvey. You too. And keep me updated.”

“I will. I will,” he says, raising a brow at me. “And any news with you?”

“About what?” I ask, confused.

“Women.”

I swallow hard. He doesn’t know about Nova, so I don’t know why there’s a lump in my throat.

I want to tell someone about Nova, but it seems a bit too early. He's shared about his dilemma, but I don't have time right now. I’m lucky if I've got five minutes to explain Nova. And Nova is not a five-minute conversation. No, she’s so much more. We have so much in common. Yet I don't want to share all these little things. I want to keep them private for a little longer.

Because if I explain everything, he’ll jump to the conclusion that I'm falling in love with her. But that’s impossible. I’m dedicated to my job; I don’t have time for love.

Friends talk on the phone, go to events together, and buy each other things. There’s nothing more to it. But if I try to tell Harvey or any of my brothers that I want to spend time with a woman, they’ll ask more questions. And fuck, I have questions I need to answer first.

What makes me want to protect her and keep her safe?

Protect her from the sadness of the world.

Yep. Fuck. I'm getting soft. Definitely not telling my brother.

And anyway, after the celebratory drinks, we’d be done. There'd be no reason to see her again. So there's no reason I need to tell my brother because there’s no relationship to explain. Other than my pathetic crush on the beautiful brunette.

“Unfortunately, no. Nothing to report yet,” I lie through my teeth but know it's for the best.

“So it's only me. Well, thanks for your opinion. And don’t say a word to anyone, you hear me?”

I keep my mouth closed even though it wants to smile widely. I do the zip sign my Grams does over my lips.

“My lips are sealed,” I say.

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