Page 59 of Faking the Shot
Her breath hitches, her gaze flickering with something I can’t quite place. Good. Let her feel this. Let her see that she’s not the only one fighting to hold it together. Let her know she’s not alone in this pull that’s been driving me out of my mind.
Chapter Thirty-One
Valentina
The Fumble Recovery Plan
Everything is such a mess.
When I came here this afternoon, I thought it would be a simple apology. Kaden’s technically my brother-in-law’s client, so I figured I owed it to Jacob to hear him out and smooth thingsover. But, of course, Kaden Crawford had to turn everything upside down.
Instead of just apologizing, he offered me a job. Not through the PR firm that threw me under the bus—no, he wants to hire me directly. And, as if that wasn’t enough to leave me reeling, he added a curveball: he missed me.
He. Missed. Me.
Not just professionally—he missed me as a person. He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and I had no idea what to do with that.
Then, he made things even more complicated by suggesting we date. Like it’s some casual thing you throw into a job offer.
Now, I’m sitting at Kaden’s sleek dining table with my laptop open, a notepad beside me, and a growing sense of unease. Staying to work on this plan wasn’t supposed to be part of my day’s itinerary, but here I am.
Across from me, Kaden sits with his brow furrowed, flipping through some papers like he’s actually taking this seriously. His damp hair curls slightly at the ends, evidence of a recent shower, and the plain black T-shirt he’s wearing clings to his biceps in a way that’s unfairly distracting. I focus on my notes, refusing to let myself get sidetracked by him.
“You’re quiet,” he says, not looking up from the papers. “Should I take that as a good sign, or are you plotting my demise?”
“Neither,” I mutter, scribbling a note about upcoming press opportunities. “Just trying to figure out how to make the world believe you’re not a complete asshole.”
“Good luck with that.” His lips twitch, and he sets the papers down. “So we’re only focusing on the job part, huh?”
“And the dating part,” I say bluntly, raising an eyebrow. “Because, seriously, who combines a work proposal with a dating proposal?”
“Someone who knows what he wants,” he replies without hesitation.
I stare at him, unsure if he’s being serious or just trying to throw me off balance. “This isn’t exactly how people usually approach things.”
“Well, I’m not exactly usual,” he says, leaning back slightly. His voice softens. “I know I fucked up, Val, but I’m not playing games. I missed you. Not just because you’re great at what you do, but because I like having you around. A lot more than I probably should.”
For a moment, I don’t know how to respond. The words feel heavy, weighted with meaning I’m not ready to unpack. “Let’s just stick to fixing your image,” I say finally, glancing back at my laptop. “One thing at a time.”
“Fair,” he says, but there’s something in his tone that tells me this isn’t the end of that conversation.
By the time we’ve hashed out a few ideas, my stomach growls loud enough to echo in the room. Kaden raises an eyebrow.
“Hungry?”
I shrug, embarrassed. “Didn’t have time to eat lunch and it is almost eight o’clock.”
“Figures. You’re always working.” He pulls out his phone. “What do you want? Chinese? Pizza? Thai?”
“Whatever’s fastest.”
He grunts, scrolling through options. “Thai it is. But you’re picking the dishes. I don’t need another repeat of that pineapple chicken disaster from last time my siblings were here.”
“Wait—did you just admit you made a mistake?” I gasp, clutching my chest dramatically. “The great Kaden Crawford slipped?”
“It was Killion’s fault for distracting me.” He glares at me, though the corner of his mouth quirks up and he sighs. “Don’t push it, Holiday.”
I grin and lean over to take his phone, deliberately brushing his hand. The brief contact sends a tiny spark zipping up my arm, and I hate how much I feel it.
