Page 82 of Flirting with Trouble

That gets my attention. “You never told me that. Did you think he shouldn’t have hired me?”

“No. I wish he could’ve cloned you.” Padma laughs. “Once you set your sights on what you wanted, you never backed down, and you didn’t give a hoot about what anyone thought along the way.”

We’ve never talked about how my relationship with Harvey came to be, and I have to ask, “Are you talking about Harvey or clients?”

“Both, I guess. You were a force to be reckoned with for your clients, and that lit a fire beneath the butts of some agents who were getting too comfortable. As for you and Harvey, your relationship was inevitable. Being around you two was like waiting for fireworks to go off. I was happy he found someone who cared about people as much as he did and who truly loved him for who he was. But he was such a composed, in-control person, I think you scared him a little.”

“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” I say carefully. “I know some people thought I was a gold digger.”

“I never thought that, and my guess is, the people who did, didn’t think it for long. I’d never seen Harvey happier than when he was with you, and you always were a dynamo, but you shined even brighter around him. I wish he’d opened his heart to you sooner so you could’ve had more time together.”

A pang of sadness hits. How many tears have I shed over that lost time? How many hours have I spent wishing I’d pushed him harder that first year after we met? And for what? All that heartache and regret couldn’t give us that time back. That time is gone. Harvey is gone.

My throat thickens.

“I missed seeing that spark in you after Harvey died,” Padma says. “But it’s come back now that you’re scouting talent again. It’s a different kind of spark but every bit as bright.”

That’s not from scouting. That’s from Wells. Guilt slices through me, and that urge to run returns. “I have to go.” I hurry over to the closet and grab my purse.

“Is everything okay? Did I say something wrong?”

“No, Pad. Everything you said was spot-on.”

Chapter Twenty

Wells

“You know what, Wells? I like Victory,” Keira says, studying me as I refill her wineglass. “She and I are a lot alike. She’s smart, accomplished, and confident. I respect that in a person.”

“And she’s a total smoke show like you, Kei,” Bellamy chimes in.

“Thanks, Bell. Right back at you,” Keira says, and they clink glasses like they’ve just solved the world’s problems.

My sisters showed up at Rock Bottom half an hour ago claiming to be on a mission to cheer me up. “How is this supposed to cheer me up?”

“I’m getting there.” Keira sips her wine. “You said you thought she wasn’t ready for a relationship, but you guys were seeing a lot of each other, which indicates that you were already in a relationship, so maybe what she’s not ready for is your drama.”

“What drama? I don’t bring any drama.”

A pair of brunettes at the other end of the bar flag me down for the third time since I came behind the bar to help out. Ignoring Keira’s smug expression, I glance at the other bartender, but he’s busy with customers. “I’ll be right back.” I head to the other end of the bar. “Ready for another round?”

The taller of the two women smiles flirtatiously and says, “Only if you’ll join us.”

I’m not in the mood for this shit. The last few days have been torture. “Sorry, ladies. But I don’t drink on the job.”

“We figured you might say that,” her friend says.

“I’m here through the weekend,” the taller woman says. “Maybe we can grab a drink another time.” She slides a piece of paper across the bar.

I pick it up and see Sherry and a phone number on it. There was a time when I might jump on that offer, or more likely, I’d have been the one offering. But now the thought of being with anyone other than Victory turns my stomach.

“That’s really nice of you, Sherry, but I’m afraid I’m spoken for.” I motion to the bartender coming back from his break. “When you’re ready, Chuck will ring you up.” As I head back to my sisters, I crumple the paper and drop it into the trash can.

“See?” Keira says accusingly. “You bring drama.”

I grit my teeth. “I didn’t instigate that, and I turned her down.”

“But Victory has seen you in action,” Keira says.