Page 48 of The Re-Proposal

“Why not?” I ask, alarmed. Can’t hedieif he doesn’t have that machine?

“Because,” Joel whispers, “my heart is now beating for you.”

Laura coughs so hard she might hack up a lung.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Joel asks.

I squirm. Time to nip this in the bud. “You’re very sweet, Joel, and you seem like a bright young man, but I don’t think this,” I gesture between us, “is appropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate about it?”

Isn’t it obvious? “You’re way too young for me.”

“Age is just a number,” he coos.

Alright, Jail Bait Cassanova.

Laura stifles her laughter by covering her mouth.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I hiss darkly, noticing her reddening cheeks.

“What was that?” She shades her eyes and arches back dramatically. “You’re like the sun. I can’t look at you.”

“Very funny.” My eyes slide to Cody again.

He and his assistant are still locked in heated conversation.

I pick up the tension in Cody’s muscular shoulders. The way he’s rolling his hands through his hair is a sign that he’s really at the end of his rope.

“Take him back, Vargas,” Cody hisses.

“Sorry, boss. There’s no return label fora person. Do you know how many strings I pulled to get this done quickly?”

Cody lets out an angry huff. He swings around, his eyes meeting mine.

That fiery green gaze sends an instant shock of adrenaline down my spine, and my whole body tingles. My toes curl inside my dusty sneakers—the only other work-appropriate shoe I could find in my closet this morning.

I’m annoyed with him.

Mostly for what he did with Erica.

And for what he’s doing with Joel.

Even though I don’t have all the details, I’m one-hundred percent certain that fostering a heart patient just for publicity is a low move.

Cody’s doing that thing again—the thing where he values money over people. It’s yet another reminder that we’re vastly different individuals who value vastly different things.

I hate that he only cares about the bottom line.

I hate that he doesn’t seem to see a problem with it.

And I hate that my body really doesn’t give a crap about any of my misgivings.

Be annoyed, body. Don’t melt.

Do not melt.

It’s no use.

---