Page 89 of Fire

Gwen’s heart started pounding. There was no way Frank would agree to that, and she’d lose her chance at the job. She had a fleeting thought—was that Blake’s goal all along? But no. She’d told him she didn’t want to take the job. He could’ve agreed with her, and they wouldn’t even be there now.

It felt like forever when Frank finally said, “Fine.”

Gwen’s heart skipped a beat. Holy shit, she’d be making triple her current salary.

Blake scratched out and filled in the new number then handed the papers to Frank. When he handed them back, she saw he’d initialed the new amount.

Blake offered the contract and a pen. “It’s okay to sign them now, sweetheart.”

She grabbed the pen, but before she pulled it from his hand, she gave him one last chance. Looking him right in the eyes, she asked, “You sure?”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Positive.”

She signed the contract.

“Stay with me tonight.”

They had just gotten back to the car and Gwen was on a high from signing the contract. And making so much money!

But she still had obligations to her other job, at least for a couple more months or until they found her replacement—whichever came first. Sighing, she admitted, “I would love to, but I have work tomorrow.”

“I’ll take you to get your things. My place is closer to your work than yours, anyway.”

That was true. “Don’t you have to work tonight? You’ve been away from the club all weekend.”

“I have my manager. If there’s a problem, he’ll call.” He captured her hand. “I just got you back. I’m not ready to let you go yet.”

Well, when he put it that way… She grinned. “I’d love to.”

He leaned over the center console and gave her a heated, if too brief, kiss. “Thank you.”

Starting the car, he pulled out of the lot. “How about we go out and celebrate.”

She laughed. “I think you keep forgetting the part where I have to work tomorrow.”

“It’s early still. We can celebrate and make it an early night.”

“Not too early, I hope.” She threw him a sly smile, which he missed because his eyes were on the road.

But the playfulness must have come through in her tone because his eyes darted to her and he grinned. “Definitely, not too early.”

She ended up staying at Blake’s the rest of the week. And got a call from Allie at work on Friday.

“Girl, are you ever coming home?”

Gwen laughed.

“I’m serious. I miss you.”

That sobered her fast. “And I miss you. Come to Fire tomorrow night. We’ll hang out.”

“Okay, I have so much to tell you.”

“I need to catch you up, too.”

Gwen got to Blake’s a little after five and had to admit, not sitting in rush-hour traffic didn’t suck. Having a primo parking spot was nice, too, even if her little Honda did look out of place tucked next to Blake’s Aston Martin.

Yes, she now knew the make of the car Blake drove. In fact, they had a very long discussion on cars one night, and she now felt semi-completely educated.

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