Page 61 of Romancing the Grump
Yes,I think, but I won't let myself admit it out loud.
“I’m not that delusional,” I say instead. “I promise I can handle this. I’mfine.”
“Okay,” she finally says, but she hardly seems convinced. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. And whatever you do, don’t sleep with the man. Kiss him all you want, but your faking better stop there.”
“Solid advice,” I say. “I promise.”
Lucy huffs out a laugh. “I honestly cannot believe thatI’mthe one telling you to be more logical.”
“Believe me,” I say. “It’s weird for me, too.”
“On the upside, I do love the idea of Jason P. Roscoe finding out you’re dating a famous hockey player.” Lucy utters the name of my former boss like it’s a curse word, as it absolutely should be.
“Ohhh, I hadn’t thought of that!” I say. “I like that ideavery much.”
“Summer?” a voice says across the annex.
I lean forward and see Nathan, who has poked his head through Flex’s front door. When he finally spots me sitting inside the egg, he presses his lips together like he’s fighting a smile.
Do it,I think.Smile.
But he only clears his throat. “They’re ready for us.”
“Okay. I’m coming,” I say. “Gotta go, Lu. Love you.”
“Love you too. Go get ’em!”
I lean forward in the chair, shifting back and forth as I tryto work my way to the edge of the egg. These chairs really are the stupidest.
After another second or two of struggling, Nathan appears in front of me, his large hand extended.
“Need some help?”
My cheeks flush as I slip my palm into his. “This chair is the worst,” I grumble as he pulls me to my feet.
“Looks like it,” he says softly. We’re standing close enough that I feel the rumble of his words as much as I hear them, and they send a delicious shiver through my body.
Nathan gives my fingers a tiny squeeze, and I look up to meet his eyes.
He doesn’t say anything, which, that’s not all that surprising, but just like earlier, it still feels like he’s talking to me.
“Yo,” Alec says. “What’s the hold-up?”
Nathan drops my hand and takes a huge step back, like we’re middle schoolers in a secret relationship and someone caught us seconds before our first kiss.
“No hold-up,” he says, and then he spins on his heel and stalks toward Alec.
Sure,I think. No hold-up at all.
Just give me a minute to put my heart back inside my chest.
Three hours later, we have a signed contract, we’ve enjoyed a lovely lunch with the Flex team, and all three of us have changed into Flexwear, not because we have any contractual obligation to do so, but just because the clothes really are amazing. The leggings Riley gave me are unbelievable—perfect for traveling—and the hoodies they gave all three of us are butter soft, with a classy Appies logo stitched on thesleeve. They had them custom made just for us. Well, forthem.But I’m already starting to feel like an us. The matching hoodies definitely help.
We’re at the airport now, making our way through security, getting enough attention that I’m beginning to wonder if wearing matching,brandedgear was a good idea.
A few yards away, Nathan is posing for a picture with one of the TSA agents, and Alec has already taken about a billion selfies with people.
“Hey, you okay?” Alec drops onto the bench just past security to put on his shoes. “You look…sad. Or, I don’t know, lost?”
