Page 126 of The Innovator

He got up from his chair. “Got a hot date. See you later.” As he walked off, he picked up the call.

Two hours later, I showered and prepared to head over to the airport, where I’d purchased a private jet to be at my beck and call. It was the only way to get me everywhere I needed to go in a timely manner. I had to be present at all of Natalie’s events so that any man who wanted to ask her out would know she was with me, even though she wasn’t.

Before I got into my car, my phone pinged with a text message.

Remington:Got a crazy idea for you. Dare to try it?

They knew how competitive I was.

Grayson:I never back down from a dare. What’s the wager?

Remington:1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet. Worth over 500K. You game?

Grayson:I never say no to rare wine.

Remington:You haven’t even heard the dare.

Grayson:Dude, what is it? I’m tired, and I’m getting ready to hop on a flight.

My brain was exhausted, and I just wanted to land in Paris, get to my hotel, and sleep so I could escort Natalie to her event the next day.

As I drove to the airport, Remi called to explain his idea. Man, my friends were nuts.

I wanted to back out. “It’s too much work.”

“We got you. We’ll all help.”

“Don’t you have better things to do?”

“Nah. This is more fun,” Remi said. “To see my boy happy makes me happy.”

I snorted. “Did Audri teach you that line?”

“And?”

I laughed for the rest of the ride, wondering how this dare would pan out.

CHAPTERSEVENTY-ONE

NATALIE

Grayson had accompanied me to my events for the last few months. Today, he didn’t need to be present for a promotional event with a fashion magazine. But he stood in the studio watching me and the models . . . especially the male models.

He walked me to my apartment because the photo studio was just a block away. We stopped by a bench and he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me. The dark circles under his eyes had worsened. He hadn’t shaved in a few days. It sounded strange, but I couldfeelthe fatigue in him.

“Are you sick?” I asked, touching his face. “You look exhausted.”

“Does lovesick count as an illness?”

A small smile curved my lips. He had been true to his words, showing up at all my events. The wall that had stood between us crumbled brick by brick. I was letting him back into my life again. In actuality, he’d never left. But I feared this could be another mistake on my part.

What if starting over meant opening myself to heartache again? I was in a good place right now. There were no expectations, but there was also no love. Though I loved him, the magic was lost when it wasn’t reciprocated. To pine over someone who didn’t feel the same about you was painful and exhausting.

“I think you need to go home and rest. You don’t have to come to every event. I appreciate—”

“I love you, Natalie.” He tightened the embrace, kissing the top of my head.

My heart blossomed, and the velvety petals flowed around my stomach. I let him hold me because if he hadn’t, my body would’ve collapsed in shock and elation.

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