I blew out a breath. “Please, Tyler. This would be perfect. It won’t piss anyone off because there’s no emotions involved—I’d never fall for you again, and you’re not interested in me, so no one can get hurt. Tell me. What would it take?”
He paused, his gaze falling to his mug, then rising again. “Your great-uncle is Arnold Danziger, isn’t he?”
Oh. I could feel myself emotionally retreating, wary. “Yes.”
“CEO of Danziger Media.”
“...Yes.”
“I could use an internship with him.”
I was almost disappointed. I don’t know what I’d expected—when your family was appallingly wealthy, everyone wanted a piece, even people also from well-off families. Still, I’d hoped Tylerwould ask for something less tangible, more along the lines of him teaching me to flirt—a little silly, a little entertaining, but not a real-world monetary asset. “I can’t promise you an internship.”
“An interview, then.”
“I didn’t know you were interested in media.”
He hesitated, then shook his head. “You know what—never mind.”
“Never mind which part?”
“All of it.”
Allof it seemed a bit extreme. “What about meeting my great-uncle?”
Tyler shook his head. “One meeting doesn’t leave an impression. In marketing they say you need seven impressions before advertising sticks.”
“I can’t get yousevenmeetings! They’re only here a week.”
“Five, then.”
“Two.”
“Four.”
“Three.”
“Done.” He nodded slowly. “Three meetings, and I’ll teach you to flirt.”
My shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank god. When can we start? Tomorrow? I could come over around one.”
“Okay. Should we shake on it?” He raised his brows. “Or kiss to seal the deal?”
I narrowed my eyes, aware he was goading me. Determined to get the upper hand, I leaned across the island and bussed him quickly, my lips glancing against his fleetingly before I pulled back.
His eyes went wide and surprised. Then he broke out in a wide grin. “You desperately wanted me to be your first kiss, didn’t you?”
“You’re so full of it.” I gave him an arch look. “And honestly, I wasn’t so impressed.”
His grin widened. “Shira Barbanel.” He shook his head at me, and then a laugh burst out of him.
And try as I might, I couldn’t stop myself from joining in.
CHAPTER SEVEN
An hour after Tyler left, my family arrived in a rush.
They poured into Golden Doors, pushing and yelling, a shifting mass of cousins and luggage and babies and chaos, and I could feel my heart expanding, my whole soul brightening. The triplets rushed in, followed by aunts and uncles, toddling Steffie trailing in their wake. She hadn’t quite mastered walking and shuffled briefly before falling to the ground, rump in the air.
