“Why are you working with donors?” Penny asks.
“He came through the VIP relations to grab seats in our center ice suite and loved working with me, apparently. I’ll loop in Wills once I find out what’s going on, but I’ve researched him, and he’s pretty impressive.”
“What’s his name?” Penny asks.
“Huxley Cane. Have you heard of him?”
Penny shakes her head. “No.”
“Well, he has a business with his two brothers, and they’ve made some impressive moves. They’re investors in The Jock Report.”
“Oh wait, I do know about them. Didn’t Ollie go to one of them for a job?”
“Yes, she went to JP Cane, who connected her with Ryot Bisley. Anyway, they run a few charities, and being that they’re now friends with Silas, I’m trying to pull all the connections together. And to be honest, I’m slightly intimidated.”
“Why?” Penny asks.
“During my research, I learned very quickly that Huxley Cane is the type of man who doesn’t take shit from anyone. He’s very cutthroat in the boardroom. He’s made moves to benefit his company and his brothers, and he did it at such a young age. Not to mention . . . he’s very good-looking.”
“Is he married?”
I nod. “Yes, recently, and I believe his wife just had a baby. I swear I’ve seen his wife before.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw a picture of her, and she looked so familiar. I couldn’t place her, and it’s still driving me nuts.” I shake my head. “Anyway, it should be interesting. I want to get settled in here and prepare for tomorrow’s meeting.”
Penny glances around. “Well, then let’s get you set up and unpacked. Maybe run to the store and grab a few things to liven this space up a bit.”
“No, I don’t want to disturb his peace. He probably has it empty for a reason.”
“Does he?” Penny stands and moves around the living room. “Or maybe he needs someone to come into his life to brighten things up because he’d never do it himself.”
“Either way, I’m not going to be that girl. This arrangement is purely so I have a place to stay. I have no intention of trying to help Halsey with whatever is going on in his head. I doubt I’ll even see him that much.”
“You say that now . . . until he starts walking around the apartment without a shirt on.”
“Doubtful,” I say, standing as well. “Halsey doesn’t seem like that kind of guy. Anytime I’ve spoken to him, he’s either really quiet, stumbles over his words, or is soft spoken. He’s not like Eli who would walk around without his shirt on because he’s a conceited idiot who thinks everyone will fall to their feet over the placement of his nipples.”
Penny chuckles, and in a swoony voice, she says, “Eli does have great nipples.”
I roll my eyes and move toward my bedroom. “Please don’t start on those again.”
She follows me. “You’re the one who mentioned them!”
I stareinto the full-length mirror on the back of the door of my new bedroom, grateful there was one here. I feel like that’s not something you think about until you don’t have one.
I smooth my hands over my long navy skirt that flows down to my ankles. I paired the skirt with a white sleeveless bodysuit that I’ve left unattached at the crotch because my torso is too long to snap comfortably. No one likes a frontal wedgie, not even the kinkiest of ladies. Self-induced camel toe is never comfortable.
I spent a good portion of my night working on my fake tan. After washing it off last night, this morning has left me with the perfect golden bronze glow. It’s taken me a few years and a lot of tutorials online to master my fake tanning routine, but now I have it down to a science, and it’s looking good, giving me the confidence I need for this meeting today.
And to top everything off, I slicked my hair back into a low ponytail, leaving it parted in the middle, and added some dangling blue earrings that pull the whole outfit together. I think I’m as ready as ready can be.
Nerves bloom in my stomach, but I push them down as I grab my neon-green bag with a thin gold chain strap and cross it over my body.
I didn’t see Halsey last night because he got home late, and I decided to hide away in my room, working on my tan. But as I open my bedroom door, I smell coffee, indicating he’s awake and, for some reason, seeing him this morning makes me nervous. Maybe because I haven’t really hung out with this man, and I’m about to see him in a vulnerable state, fresh and early in the morning.
But as I move into the main living space and spot him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, staring ahead with a cup of coffee in hand, I realize that maybe this won’t be as awkward as I’m anticipating.
