Page 7 of Holding Her Heart

“I do. I have it in my diary and everything…”

Eden shifted, clasping her hands in her lap. “Well, I was wondering if you’d consider joining my team. Full time.”

“Y-you mean…” Aster’s eyebrows rose as she pointed a finger at her own chest. “You want me to work with you?”

“You sound surprised, Aster.”

“I am. You’re the number one event planner in most of the UK. What could I possibly bring to your team?”

Eden cocked her head, offering Aster a gentle smile. But Aster found herself focusing on Eden’s exposed neck, how her shirt showed the slightest hint of collar bone. Sweet Jesus. “I’ve been running my business for almost fifteen years. And in those years, you’re the best I’ve come across.”

Aster lowered her eyes, her cheeks reddening. “I’m sure that’s not true but thank you.”

“And I want to give you a chance. You stepped up for me a few weeks ago, and I didn’t expect such quality in your work if you were available at the drop of a hat.”

“I…I don’t put myself out there like I know I should. Yes, I know I’m good, but it’s the confidence of standing in front of people and telling them that which I struggle with.”

“So, come and be on my team. You’ll receive a steady income, plus commission on every event you work.”

“I…can I think about it?”

Eden nodded. “Absolutely.”

“And the Pride thing. Can I think about that, too?”

In her heart, she would love to know she was going on holiday, but in this moment, Aster wondered if she would be doing it for the wrong reasons. To share a room with a woman she felt a growing attraction to? No, it would never work. Aster would never torture herself like that.

“Think about it all.”

Aster scratched at her forearm. She did so when she was nervous. But did she need to feel that way? Eden was completely unavailable in every sense of the word, so why not enjoy a holiday…and get a full-time job too?

“Just let me know. The team don’t know this yet, and I trust you to keep it quiet, but Blair has booked us into a fancier hotel. The team are staying somewhere…well, undesirable.”

“Oh, I know exactly where the team will be staying. And if I did go, I wouldn’t be joining them.”

“You could stay with us at the five-star boutique off the strip…”

Aster was tempted. She hadn’t been abroad for two years. But her reasons played on repeat at the back of her mind. Eden watched her expectantly, a perfectly defined eyebrow arched. “I’ll…definitely think about it.”

“Save your new boss from complete humiliation and come along. You know you want to,” Eden said, winking. But it only made things worse. When Eden winked at you, it was only natural to melt into a puddle. “Cocktails. Bikinis. Tapas.”

Please stop. Aster thought. “Like I said, I’ll think about it. All of it.”

Eden sighed dramatically. “Fine. But if someone comes along with a better offer, I want the chance to up my own offer first, okay?”

Aster smiled. Nobody had ever been so excited by her work before. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Nobody is going to come along and sweep me up. Now, let’s get back to the schedule for Saturday. Then I can get home and prep.”

“You have a decent work ethic, Aster Bennett. But me? I want to lie on the couch and drink wine all night.”

“Oh, please. You have everything memorised for Saturday. I’m sure you don’t need to frantically rush around like I do. I’ll walk through my door and panic mode will set in.”

Eden got to her feet, her hands landing on the zip at the back of her pencil skirt. As she walked across the room, lowering the zip ever so slightly, Aster’s mouth hung open. “I’ll be right back. Let me change, and then we’ll discuss the plans.”

“Holy fuck!” Aster murmured. “Why am I doing this to myself?”

4

Eden felt her phone buzzing in the back of her skirt; she kept it jammed into the waistband when she was rushing around at events. She knew who it would be, it was always Liam during the weekends, but she wasn’t available right now. And he knew it, too. The vibrating stopped, giving Eden a moment to think about what she should do. She could take five minutes outside—a business call, if you will—or she could ignore Liam’s calls and do her job.

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