I nearly choke when I see the number.
"That's what I'm offering for the week," he says. "To help me find the perfect gifts, plan the party, make sure everything is exactly right. I'll cover all expenses, of course. And if you need more time or resources, we can discuss that."
I can't stop staring at the number. It's more than I make in six months of grocery deliveries. It's textbook money. Rent money. Hell, it's "finally fix the check engine light" money.
"Why me?" I ask, because this feels too good to be true.
"Because you knocked a romance novel into my groceries and apologized like it was the end of the world. You shopped for my groceries like you were shopping for your own, texting me when the produce didn’t look great or something was out of stock instead of just replacing it with something cheap just to get it over with," his mouth quirks again. "I need someone thoughtful. Someone who pays attention to details. Someone who cares about getting things right. That's you."
My heart is pounding so hard I'm surprised he can't hear it.
This is insane. I don't know this man. I've been here for all of ten minutes. And yet…
And yet there's something about the way he's looking at me. Not like I'm just another delivery driver. Not like I'm beneath him because he has a mansion and I have a Honda with a broken air conditioner.
He's looking at me like I matter.
"I—" I take a breath. "I don't even know your name."
"Ethan," he says, extending his hand. "Ethan Cross."
I shake it, and his grip is warm and firm. Professional. Safe.
"Lily Preston."
"So, Lily Preston." He doesn't let go of my hand right away. "Will you help me?"
I should say no. This is weird. This is definitely weird.
But the money. The way he's looking at me. The fact that I haven't felt this alive in months…
"Okay," I hear myself say. "I'll do it."
His smile is slow and devastating.
"Good," Ethan says. "Can you come back tomorrow? We'll need to sit down and go over everything."
"Tomorrow works."
"Six o'clock?"
"Six is perfect."
He finally releases my hand, and I immediately miss the warmth.
"Thank you, Lily." He steps back, letting me pass. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak, and practically flee to my car.
It's not until I'm halfway down the driveway that I realize I'm grinning like an idiot.
My phone buzzes as I pull through the gate. I have Siri read the message to me as I drive.
Madison: Anyone else having a wild Wednesday or is it just me?
Chloe: Define wild. Because I just had someone order a decaf oat milk latte with seven pumps of sugar free vanilla topped with full vanilla cold foam and I'm questioning humanity.
Maya: That's not wild. That's a cry for help.
