Page 62 of The Re-Proposal

Mimi laughs. It’s rare to hear that. “If you call anyone else to style her, I will take it personally.”

“Noted.”

I hang up, smiling at the thought of Clarissa with all her new shoes. Mimi is amazing at what she does, which is why I trust her to style me for the many stuffy networking parties I attend.

The fact that Mimi convinced Clarissa to accept a gift from me is fantastic. I make a mental reminder to add a generous tip to Mimi’s sky-high fees.

Every cent is worth it.

I leave the comfort of my town car and enter the hospital.

The reporter is behind me, stalking my every move.

Doberman and his team are out of sight. I informed them of our new guests and instructed them to stay incognito.

Vargas and the doctor greet me when I stop in front of Joel’s hospital room. The kid is already waiting in the hallway. He’s sitting in the wheelchair, looking pale. He’d seemed bigger when we first met. I guess it was all attitude.

The doctor shakes my hand. “We’re assigning a home nurse to his care. Joel needs to avoid too much external stimulation. No scary movies. No excessive exercise. No jump scares. His heart is holding on for now, but he can’t push it beyond its limits.”

“I understand,” I say soberly.

This kid is more vulnerable than a gold fish. Did Vargas think this through? What if the boy turns belly-up on my watch? What kind of press will we have then?

“When it comes to the heart transplant surgery, we’re hopeful. Joel’s name is on the list and I informed your assistant that—”

My phone buzzes.

It’s the head of my law team.

I lift a hand. “If you informed my assistant, then consider me clued in. Excuse me.”

I walk away to answer the call.

When I return, the doctor is gone. Vargas is waiting with Joel. The kid is scowling at me.

“Here.” Vargas motions to me. “You push him outside. I’ll have the reporters film you getting him into the car.”

I grab Joel’s wheelchair and we take off through the hallways.

Women turn and stare when I stalk past. Their eyes drip from me to Joel and then back to me with a soft expression.

I take note of it.

Maybe Vargas was right.

Maybe Joel is my secret weapon to breaking down the walls around Ris’s heart.

“Is that a thing?” Joel grunts.

“What?” I stop the wheelchair so an older couple can waddle past.

The grandma wiggles her fingers at Joel.

Joel smiles at her but, the moment she’s gone, he goes back to scowling at me. “You walked off in the middle of a conversation.”

“I had a call.”

“It’s like ‘rude’ is your default setting.”

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