Page 44 of Sven

Sven liked her riled up, but he did not like this. This was a lot more than that. This was dark, but somehow, she was so calm about it all.

“Wow, that’s what your grandfather had to say?” he asked, shaking his head.

“No, it was the foundation lawyers. I didn’t actually tell my grandfather. I didn’t want to bother him with it.”

Sven nodded, trying to understand. He got that family dynamics with famous family members could get tricky, but she had to know that none of this was okay.

“Damn, I’m sorry, Natalie. That sucks.”

“Yeah, so I guess it’s all out there now, why I’m here and in desperate need of this job.”

He took her hand, needing to make her feel better. But when he did, it was like he opened floodgates. He’d been fighting his feelings from her, but just the feel of her hand in his had his heart racing. It was like he had been struck by lightning.

When he finally got ahold of himself, he looked at Natalie, who seemed to be eyeing their joined hands with a similar emotion to him. He could see the blush creeping up her chest, and her slightly parted lips were calling to him. Instead of that, she quickly pulled her hand away.

“This job,” she said before looking up to Sven. “That’s why I need this job and why we should set some boundaries to make sure it stays professional.”

“Right,” he said, looking at her. “What did you have in mind?”

“Oh, umm . . .” she said, still clearly flustered.

At that moment, his phone buzzed on the counter in the kitchen behind him.

“Why don’t I take Winnie so you can answer?” she said, reaching for Winnie.

“Natalie . . .”

He wasn’t ready for this moment to be over. He didn’t know what he needed, but he was afraid if this dinner ended and then so would their dynamic.

“Please, answer your phone.”

He nodded and went to the counter and got his phone. He answered it without even looking at the caller ID... Rookie mistake.

“Hello,” he said, his eyes still on Natalie as she turned to move Winnie onto her play mat.

“Sven, it’s about time you answered your phone,” his dad said.

He scrunched his eyes shut and shoved his hand through his hair. “I know, I’m sorry, Dad. I’ve been busy.”

“Did you get in touch with any of the trainers I told you about?”

“No, I have trainers and coaches with the Magic.”

“Well, I’m not sure how good they are.”

“I don’t have time for this. I have to go.”

“Sven—”

Sven hung up. His phone started to ring again.

He silenced it and slid it into his pocket. “I’m going to go review some game videos. Are you good with Winnie?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, that was my dad.”

Natalie just sat there, waiting to hear whatever he was willing to share, which, when it came to his dad, was not much.

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