Page 104 of Playing Games

“Negotiated?” Lexi retorts as I crack a few eggs into a pan. “There’s no negotiating, Cap. I refuse to sell this software to a medical company that will then sell it off to insurance companies so they can pinpoint patients who are at an increased risk for chronic disease and raise their premiums. If Medivanta can’t sign on the dotted line with those provisions, I’ll find someone else who will.”

Her lawyer laughs, which might seem odd for a lawyer to do, but this is Caplin Hawkins. He’s best friends with Lexi’s stepdad and Thatcher Kelly and almost never takes anything too seriously. Well, besides his client’s contracts.

“Love the spunk, Lex,” he eventually says. “And I hear you loud and clear. I have your back on this, okay? We’re on the samepage. And I can’t guarantee Medivanta will agree, but if they don’t, I’ll help you finalize a contract with a company that will. Sound like a plan?”

“Yep.”

“Okay then, Lexi. We’ll talk later.”

The call ends shortly after that, and I shut off the burner as I fill two plates with eggs and a few slices of a banana. I slide one plate over to her, and she offers me a grateful smile.

“You’re the best.”

I waggle my brows. “You know, you told me that last night too, while I had my mouth on your pussy.”

“Blake!” she giggles around a mouthful of eggs.

“What? It’s true. You did. You said,You’re the best, Blake! Oh my God, you’re the best!” I smile at her. “It was really sweet.”

She rolls her eyes. “I cannot be held accountable for anything I say in the heat of the moment.”

I just smile at her, my mind already going back to the conversation she just had with her lawyer and how fucking huge of a deal it all is. I mean, thirty-two million dollars for something she developed while she was in college? Holy fucking shit.

“You’re going to be the next Iron Man but better. Smarter. More successful.” I smile at my beautiful, intelligent girlfriend. “Damn, I can’t wait to watch you take on the world, Iron Woman.”

“Speak for yourself, Mr. Star Quarterback,” Lexi retorts with a knowing grin. “Your future is bright with endorsement deals and multimillion-dollar contracts.”

And while her vision for my future is certainly one I can get on board with, I realize I need to head out so I’m not late for class. I drop my plate into the sink and walk over to Lexi to pull her off the barstool and give her a big hug.

“What are your plans tonight, Iron Woman?”

“I have a very important cloak-and-dagger sort of ceremony thing.”

I grin. “Sounds very ‘If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.’”

“Oh, it is.”

“And when are you going to be done?”

“Probably in time for you to grab that awesome Chinese takeout and meet me back here to eat dinner together.”

“Okay, okay. I’m loving the sound of this so far…”

“So far?” she asks. “As in, you’re expecting more?”

“I don’t know.” I lift one shoulder. “I was kind of hoping your pussy was on the menu too.”

Lexi giggles, and I lean forward to kiss her lips.

“Love you,” I whisper against her lips. “Have a nice day at work, honey.”

“Have a nice day at school, sweetheart,” she teases.

“Damn, I love being with an older woman. It’s hot.” I tell her between playful kisses. “Oh, by the way, maybe you should see if Medivanta or, you know, another bigwig company is interested in yourPolarizeapp too?” I purposefully overenunciate the word Polarize. “Surely that might be something they’re interested in…” I pause while Lexi pointedly leans back to meet my eyes.

“I never should’ve told you about that app.”

Three nights ago, Lexi revealed the truth of her secret little Blake Boden Experiment to meandthe app she created with me in mind. By the timid way she delivered the details, I think there was a part of her that was worried I’d be upset about it. Quite the contrary, though. Pretty sure it made my love for Lexi—and my ego—grow a hundred times in size.

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