Page 51 of Dream Chaser

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my chin. “Interesting. Asher would probably disagree with that assessment.”

Nova laughed, light and carefree. “Would Manu?”

“Oh, yes.” I drummed my fingers on the table. “He’d say control is the last thing I’d ever give up.”

Nova clasped her hands under her chin. “Would he be wrong?”

I shrugged. “You can’t have a successful business if you don’t trust those you hire. But finding trustworthy people is harder than it seems. Took me a while. And I guess both Asher and Manu would be right. I enjoy being in control too much to let go of it easily.”

In the soft evening light spilling through the windows, I’d swear Nova’s cheeks reddened. “You do seem like the type to enjoy it.”

My breath caught. Fuck. Of course, she didn’t mean sex. She couldn’t—at least, not with me.

“I mean”—she cleared her throat, picking up her agenda—“you run a successful business. I don’t think you’ve ever left anything to chance.”

“Correct. The stakes are too high for that.”

I was used to the grind—long hours, late nights. It always paid off, even though my parents preferred I’d work less and settle down. It wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

“Do you wish they were lower? Do you miss fast-food restaurant days and working with Manu?”

She remembered. The awareness tugged at something soft in my chest, the part of me I reserved for those I cared about. “I don’t,” I admitted. “But I’m thankful for that job. It helped me get through school and not starve.”

“You seem like the type to be thankful,” Nova said.

“A thankful control freak?”

A broad grin lifted the corners of her mouth. “Something like that, Mr. Guerrero.” She paused for a beat. “Is your headache any better?”

It was still there—pulsing, insistent—but I’d been too focused on her and our conversation to notice. “Not really.”

“Can I try something?”

I nodded on autopilot.

Nova rose and crossed to my desk, stopping in front of me. “Give me your hand, please.”

My hand moved on its own. Nova’s warm, dainty fingers slid over the lines etched into my palm. Goosebumps raced up my arm, so sudden I froze.

“Here,” she whispered, pressing on the skin between my thumb and index finger. “You should feel a dull ache or pressure.”

All I felt was warmth. The warmth of her touch. Her skin on mine. Her flowery scent. Her soft breaths.

“Do you?” she whispered, pressing harder.

“Yeah,” I rasped. “I think so.”

“You can try it yourself next time,” she said. “Pressing or pinching here relieves headaches. You can do it with the opposite thumb until you feel pressure.”

“Thank you.”

“For now, I’ll try several times,” Nova said. “Tell me when you feel better.”

I swallowed hard, forcing the calm I didn’t feel. “What if I don’t?”

“I’ll keep doing it until it helps, and we’ll consider this overtime.”

I chuckled. “Deal. There are definitely better things you could be doing with your time.”