Page 35 of The Spring in My Heart

She shakes her head. “Not the only one. There’s also your friendship with my family. Mostly, it’s because you’re qualified, and you apologized. I like that you took responsibility without putting it on me.”

“That’s just being a man, Lux.”

She pushes her hair back. “Right. Um. So, we should probably establish some ground rules. I’m going to be more mindful of your time and let you know in advance. And you?—”

“I’m going to be flexible, even if you have to cancel something, and not assume you blew me off to go party in New York with?—”

Her eyes bulge.

Oh shit. Eres un imbecil, Oliver. You were both in a good place. Why would you bring this up?

She opens her mouth, but I hold up a hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. That’s also none of my business, and you have?—”

“Stop.” Her tone is like a whip cracking between us. “I don’t have to explain myself for that, because it’s my private life, but I can see why you thought that. I did not blow you off to go hang out with Mateo.”

I shake my head. “Seriously, you do not have to explain anything.”

“I know, but I want you to know that I called Cam as soon as I knew my meeting would run over. I told him I would not make it to the train on time. That’s the day Big Apple made the new offer that changed my career. It took too long, and I couldn’t get back in time.”

I nod. I don’t know what else to say. She had a successful day. “You had to go out and celebrate that night.”

She snorts. “The successful part of my day ended very shortly after I got out of my meeting. That wasn’t a celebration, more like a burial of a carcass that had been laying out in the sun for too long.”

“Como?” I frown.

She shakes her head. “That was over when you saw me throw his luggage out the window, which, by the way, I appreciate you not mentioning to anyone. Anyway, let’s agree to have open dialogue and communicate with each other through this project. Deal?”

I offer my hand, and she pushes her smaller palm into it. Her skin is soft and warm, but it’s the come get me look in her eyes that gives me pause and tightens my chest.

How can this stay professional when all she has to do is curve her lips and I want to devour her mouth? All she’s doing is shaking my hand, and I can feel her fingers sliding over my cock like they did three months ago.

“Deal,” she says and pulls her hand from mine.

Was she trying to let go of my hand for a while? Jesus, I hope not. “Great.”

“Why don’t we discuss the new additions and when we can get started?”

I nod, shutting the door on the sucio so professional Oliver can take over. “First, tell me what I can expect now that there are changes like you mentioned.”

“Well, before, it was just going to be me making the videos and setting up my channel, but now, Big Apple Magazine will be sponsoring it, and the expenses are part of the contract.”

“Oh. So, this is a big deal?”

She nods. “Oh yeah. It’s everything I wanted but didn’t know it—if that makes sense.

I shake my head.

She laughs. “It sounds a little confusing, but they’re turning me into a brand with my own channel. I’ll be doing more videos than I had planned. I’ll have more blogs, celebrity guests, and more products.”

Big deal is not even close. This sounds huge. “Congratulations. So now there will be more videos of you out there?”

I have to make a note to go watch them. Or maybe not. God only knows I ended up in the shower, beating my meat, the last time I watched her review of that hotel in Miami, shaking a dirty martini. I wanted to be on her like that skimpy white bikini.

“Thank you. I was hoping to make that happen, but it’s good to have the backing of Big Apple. It will open even more doors.”

“I’m sure. And now they get to pay for the reno since it’s a work expense.”

“Exactly. The only thing is that they’ll want to send their guys to inspect some of the lighting to make sure it’s optimal for recording. I’ll make sure they always let you know when they’re coming.”

---