Page 60 of Our Secret Summer

“Half a million for your thoughts,” Raffo said, a naughty grin on her lips.

“Half a mil?” Dylan could now even joke about the painful amount of money she’d lost—about the reason she’d had that job interview the day before. She hadn’t given the interview one more thought since she’d clasped eyes on Raffo. “That’s generous.”

“How much for a kiss?” Raffo narrowed her eyes. She looked deliciously sleepy and as though Dylan would have to hug her for at least the next hour.

“A kiss is free.” Dylan scooted closer. She kissed Raffo softly on the lips. “And I was thinking of Connor.”

“Hm.” Raffo sighed. “After a night like that, he’d usually be the first person I’d call. But that’s not the best idea this time around.”

“I don’t really know how to approach him either.” It was an atypical feeling for Dylan, who was always very open with her son about everything and vice versa. “It’s all well and good that he set up our date last night, but where do we go from there?”

“We can theorize all we want, but we won’t know how he really feels until we talk to him.”

Dylan nodded. “Let’s talk to him separately for the first time, though. I wouldn’t want him to feel ganged up on.”

“Ganged up?” Raffo chuckled. “We’re hardly a gang.” She cupped Dylan’s cheek. “Let’s not overthink it. I mean it. Of course we will take his feelings into account, but… let’s enjoy this.” Raffo’s smile was warm and also a little wild. “Last night was amazing and I want many repeat performances.”

“Please keep in mind that my body needs more recovery time than a nimble thirty-two-year-old’s,” Dylan joked.

“You’re already playing the age card with me? After our first night together?” Raffo swept her thumb over Dylan’s cheek.

The loud ring of Dylan’s phone interrupted them. What time was it? Dylan wasn’t used to getting up for work any longer.

She found her phone on the nightstand. The call was from a number she didn’t recognize. She picked up, anyway.

“Mrs. French, Gustavo Pereira from GMX here. I wanted to reach out first thing. We were incredibly impressed yesterday and I’m delighted to offer you the managing director position at our agency.”

Dylan sat up a bit straighter. She should be beside herself, yet she wasn’t. And after last night, she was intimately familiar with what that felt like.

“Thank you so much,” she said, automatic politeness kicking in. “I truly appreciate that. I’m just in the middle of something. Can I get back to you later today?”

“Of course, I look forward to your call and I sincerely hope it will be a yes.”

“Thanks, Gustavo. Talk soon.” Dylan rang off and checked the time on her phone. It was 9:26.

“And?” Raffo’s eyebrows were arched all the way up. She held up her hand. “Let me guess? They’re cray-cray about you and they want you to start tomorrow?”

Dylan could smile now. “The job’s mine if I want it.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Raffo smiled widely. “Although you look as though someone just called to arrange your funeral instead.”

“Argh.” Dylan dramatically fell back onto the bed. “Not to sound petulant, but I don’t want to be managing director at someone else’s agency. The very reason I quit my previous job was to start my own.” But Dylan had royally fucked that up for herself. She turned to Raffo, like she had done in Big Bear when this very subject had come up and Raffo, simply by widening her lips into a smile, could instantly make her feel better.

Raffo didn’t smile and they were no longer in Big Bear. They were no longer hiding from real life.

“I know I’m being ridiculous,” Dylan admitted. “I will take the job, obviously. I’m a fool to think I can have it all.” She put a hand on Raffo’s warm belly. “And I have you now.”

“I want you to consider something.” Raffo shuffled closer until Dylan’s hand was flattened between their bodies. “Don’t protest, okay? Just listen and then think about it.” She actually brought a finger to Dylan’s lips. “I’ve come into some money recently, in large part thanks to your son. And I have half of a house to sell. How about I invest in your new agency?”

Automatically, Dylan shook her head. She tried to open her mouth for the prompt ‘no’ she had at the ready, but Raffo didn’t let her. Instead, she pressed her lips to Dylan’s and then gave her a stern look—she had plenty of those, as well. “Don’t immediately rebut my offer. Think about it for at least twenty-four hours.”

“I don’t have twenty-four hours,” Dylan said. “I need to call Gustavo back today.”

“If they really want you, they’ll wait.”

“Raffo, babe, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept your money. That puts too much pressure on?—”

“Do I look like someone who just gives money away willy-nilly?” Raffo interrupted her. “It would be an investment on which I expect a return. You spoke so passionately about the agency you want to start. I fully believe you can turn it into a success.”

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