Page 106 of One Big Little Secret

…he’s asking me to go?

Oof.

But more money. A perfect offer I’m hard-pressed to refuse. But at the same time, yikes.

“How long is it?”

“Four days. We’d leave this Thursday.”

Four days away from Arlo.

Four days away from home withPatton.

“The venue’s a beautiful resort in Utah. Highly rated and ultra-exclusive, one of the most decadent luxury spots in the country,” he promises.

Oh, boy. My heart dips.

If I wasn’t sitting, I’d need a chair right now.

Holy hell, this is a big ask.

A conference, which is big anyway, and a mini vacation, which I desperately need. When was the last time I had onewithoutArlo?

God.

“Salem?”

“…this is a lot,” I say. “Could I ask around and maybe think about it?”

His gaze sharpens. The hot, conflicted look he gives me makes my stomach knot all over again, though I don’t know what it means. It makes me think of last night, but incredibly, he hasn’t even mentioned it.

I don’t know if I want him to.

I don’t get what’s happening.

“Of course you can,” he says, “but I hate to remind you thisisa job requirement. It’s also an excellent opportunity to broaden your horizons and learn from a crowd who can teach you more than I can. I’ll have the company sitter on standby if your usual lady can’t help, or I’ll comp her myself if she can. This is very last minute and I won’t be putting anybody out.”

Yeah. So last minute, it feels like the roof is coming down on my head and I don’t know where it’ll leave me.

“Broaden my horizons… for the job, you mean?” I check.

“Obviously. It’s business,” he clips. I think he’s avoiding the subject I desperately want him to talk about most.

“I see.”

“I need you to join me, Salem,” he says, and the sound of my name—the way it hovers on his tongue like he’s tasting it—is enough to snap my gaze back to him.

“Okay. I’ll see what I can do. Utah better be more than smelly salt flats and big rocks, though. I’m holding you to it when you saidluxury.”

“Do you still think I’d disappoint you, Miss Hopper?” His eyes narrow.

And there goes my heart, pattering away like it’s broken.

I can’t answer that, so I just shake my head.

For the first time today, his smile reaches his eyes.

The more Ithink about it, the more excited I am, slowly coming to terms with a decision that feels less crazy by the hour.

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