Page 228 of The Sweetest Return

I pointed my pen at her. “That.”

“Use it?”

“I’m stealing it respectfully.”

“Then I’ll invoice you politely.”

“I respect that too.”

Her smile stayed for a moment before her gaze dropped to my bracelet.

“Laila Hart’s photos were gorgeous.”

“They were.”

“And Malibu?”

I knew that tone.

I looked up from my notes. “Which part of Malibu?”

“The professional part, of course.”

“Of course.”

“And maybe the part where Andre Jones rented a plane to make sure you got there.”

I sat back slowly. “Who told you that?”

“Pittsburgh.”

“That is not a person.”

“It behaves like one.”

Unfortunately, she was right.

“Dre helped with logistics.”

Nia gave me a look.

“What?”

“Helped with logistics is what you say when a man carries a folding table at a community event. He chartered a plane.”

“I did not ask him to do that.”

“I believe you.”

“But?”

“But he wanted to. Which is different.”

I sighed and looked toward the windows because pretending to study natural light felt safer than allowing my face to answer for me.

“And speaking of Andre Jones wanting to do things,” I said, turning back to her, “you helped him with that necklace.”

Nia’s lips pressed together.