Page 119 of Never To Be Mine

“That I’m the luckiest guy in Los Angeles.”

“Smooth.”

“It’s the truth. Yesterday I was one viral video away from losing my company, my reputation, and you. Tonight I’ve got a nationwide distribution deal and the woman I love sitting in my lap telling me she loves me back.” I shook my head. “Talk about whiplash.”

I held her, both of us content to do nothing else for a good long while.

She yawned and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m sorry. It’s not the company, I swear. I barely slept last night.”

“Me neither.” I ran my hands down her arms and felt her shiver. The ocean breeze had picked up, and she was still in her work clothes, no jacket. “Come on. Let’s get you inside before you freeze.”

I stood, taking her with me, and she laughed as she found her footing. I kept her hand in mine as we walked across the deck.

I followed her down the hallway. We both undressed and crawled into bed. She curled into me immediately, her head finding its place on my chest, her leg hooking over mine like we’d done this a thousand times instead of a handful. I pulled the blanket over us both and pressed my lips to her forehead. Then her jaw.

“I thought you were tired,” I teased.

“Not anymore. I need you.”

“You’ve got me.”

The next morning, I woke up before Juno and didn’t move a single muscle. My alarm went off and I reached out and tried to quiet it before it woke her.

Juno stirred and groaned into my chest. “Tell the bees to go away.”

“Sorry,” I said.

She lifted her head, squinting at the daylight streaming through the windows. “What time is it?”

“Six-ish.”

“Ugh.” She flopped onto her back and threw an arm over her eyes. “I should go home. Shower. Put on real clothes. Pretend to be a professional.”

I rolled onto my side and propped my head up on my hand, just looking at her.

“Or,” I said, “we call in sick.”

She peeked at me from under her arm. “We’re not sick.”

“I’m sick of everyone who isn’t you. That counts.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “My father will never buy it.”

“Your father is celebrating the biggest deal of the year. He won’t even notice you’re gone.”

She chewed her lip, and I watched the internal battle play out.

She grabbed her phone from the nightstand on her side of the bed and typed out a message to Kari. Not feeling well, need to rest, hold down the fort, don’t call unless the building is on fire.

Kari’s response came back in seconds.

Juno laughed and turned the screen toward me: ‘Sick’ with air quotes. Got it. Have a wonderful ‘illness.’ No fires, but if one starts I’ll let it burn.

“She’s onto us,” I said.

“She’s known since the beginning. She’s just been waiting for confirmation.” She put her phone back. “Your turn.”

I texted Toby: Under the weather today. Keep things running.