Page 135 of Hard Pass

“Yes, to both.” He dazzles me with his smile, easy and unbothered, and for a second, I forget everything waiting for us outside those doors.

He looks at me like this is simple. Like this is manageable.

“You’re being ridiculous,” I say, even though my lips betray me with the beginning of a smile.

“And you’re beautiful.”

My smile comes automatically, instinctively, like my body recognizes it before my brain has time to argue with it. My life is upside down, but then he says something like that and I want to melt.

“You’re laying it on thick, Valor,” I say, trying to pull myself back into something resembling control. “You feeling okay?”

“Always.” He flashes a grin. “I met your replacement today.”

Oof. That’s not exactly the best way to help me relax. “And?” I ask, trying not to show how much hearing that sucks.

His mouth twitches. “We’ll just say that he’s definitely not you.”

“Meaning?”

“Certainly not as hot.”

I laugh before I can stop myself. “Well, that’s what got us into this mess, so I hope not.”

“Worth it.” His answer comes too quickly. Too honestly. He watches me for a beat before leaning back in his chair. “But seriously, he just asked questions. Wanted access to film and schedules and medical reports. You know the drill.”

“I do.”

“I gave him access to whatever he needed, but I can see why you’re Marcus’s number one.”

“What?” The comment surprises me and I shouldn’t care about the comment, but I do.

“You came in prepared with the ability to handle a surly athlete and ready to battle.” He watches me above the rim of his glass as I quietly preen at the praise regardless of how bittersweet it is. “He has the personality of a wet noodle.”

“That’s a compliment, I think.”

“It’s definitely a compliment.” His eyes drag down to my lips, to my chest, and then back to meet mine. “Enough about work.”

“Not technically my work anymore.”

“Temporarily,” he says, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Why’d you pick me that night?”

I do a double take. Talk about a subject change. “What?”

“In Cabo. Why me of all the guys in that bar?”

The question catches me off guard, but I still remember.

He was standing on that riser, drink in his hand, completely unaware of the way the entire room bent toward him. Like gravity shifted and everyone else just followed it.

“You were charismatic in a way I’d never seen before. I don’t know. I looked at you and saw everything I never thought I could be.” I smile, the memory clear as day because the man across from me is even more so now, if that’s even possible.

“Hmm.” He pauses, the lines etched in his face softening. “And then you went out and became it.”

I roll my eyes, but there is no real bite behind it. “Far from it.”

“Not from where I stand it isn’t.” He shrugs.

I shake my head and try to ignore the way his words settle somewhere deeper than they should.