“Of course. Same to you.”
We shift topics to the latest on-set gossip, but I have a hard time focusing on the rest of our dinner. All I can think about is if Wyatt would tell me if my contract is in jeopardy or if he would not mention it at all under the guise of professionalism.
thirty-five
. . .
WYATT
I’m backin the TWA offices and stop by Blair’s office to surprise her with her favorite coffee from Caffe Luxxe before I join Lance and the rest of the team for meetings that will last all day.
My heart rate speeds up when I see her, and my hands twitch with the desire to touch her. She’s so fucking gorgeous in a black pencil skirt and a basic white button-down shirt. She’s wearing those damn heels again. I swear I will fuck her with only those shoes on at some point. She’s pulled her hair back today; it makes her look like a sexy librarian, and the stir in my pants agrees.
She looks happy to see me, so I shut her door to give us a moment of privacy.
“I didn’t know you were coming by!”
I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my chin on top of her head, breathing in that citrus and vanilla scent I love so much before giving her a quick kiss.
“I took a chance you might want a coffee.”
“I love this place! How did you know?”
“I didn’t, but it seemed like a place you would like.”
The look she gives me makes me want to confess that I’m ready to move her into my house. We can have our wedding out on the beach and live happily ever after. Kids negotiable.
“How was dinner last night?” I ask. We exchanged a few texts, but between her late dinner and my working late to prove to my dad that I was taking this merger seriously, we didn’t get to talk.
“It was great! Naomi mentioned something interesting, though.”
She hesitates while I stay quiet. I give her time to decide whether she wants to confide in me.
“She said TWA is going to lay off a ton of staff to hit targets before the deal closes.”
Blair keeps her eyes latched on mine with a look that says she won’t ask me directly but she wants me to tell her what I know. It takes every bit of restraint to keep my face neutral. It’s not the time or place to have this conversation. I don’t want to lie to her, but I’m not ready to tell her anything.
“So, how long have you and Naomi worked together?”
“Oh, gosh, almost five years now. She moved to LA from NY but arrived fully connected in this town.”
“Do you guys hang out much?”
“Ok, message received. You’re going to be late for your meeting,” she says. Her eyes narrow in suspicion, so I lean in, hoping a kiss will distract her.
“Have dinner with me tonight?”
“Fine. But let’s order in. You come to my place.”
She runs her hands down my chest, smoothing over my shirt. She’s avoiding my gaze, and I can tell she’s disappointed by the direction of the conversation. I just need her to trust me for a few days, and then she’ll understand why I couldn’t say more now.
“I should be done by six, and then I’ll head over,” I tell her as I lean in for one last kiss.
When I open Blair’s door, I almost run into Lance, and the irritated look on his face rivals the guilty shock on mine.
“Wyatt,” he says, “I didn’t know you were already in the office.”
“He had some questions on behalf of Sophia. He’s helping her review a proposal I’ve given her,” Blair says as she steps up behind me to play out the excuse.
