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Can we talk? First about business. Then maybe the other.
I stared at those last three words for a long time.Then maybe the other.It wasn't much. It wasn't a promise or a declaration or anything close to what he’d said to me at the party.
But it was the truest thing I could manage tonight. It was more than I had given to anyone else in a very long time.
I hit send before I could take it back.
Then I put the phone face down on the blanket beside me, tucked my nose against the top of Benny's head, and waited to see what came back.
CHAPTER 11
Paxton
Of course. I'm here for however long you need. Just say when.
That was the response I sent to Grizzly after he texted me asking to talk. I was ecstatic he was reaching out. Not only for my career but also for the possibility of more between us.
I read the text over and over in the dark of my hotel room with a stupid grin on my face that I was grateful no one could see. Even if they had, I wouldn’t change my reaction. I wanted to be giddy about this. Wanted to embrace every new moment with him.
We set the meeting for the following morning. Ten o'clock in his office to handle the business of him becoming my agent.
I could do business first. Business first was fine. Business first was what I’d come here for, technically, and if business first meant I got to sit across from Grizzly Thorson for a couple of hours with a legitimate reason to be there, then I was going to show up for it with everything I had.
I ironed my shirt, which was rare in and of itself. The crisp button-down looked a bit formal once I put it on with my dark jeans. Rolling the sleeves up helped. Still, I worried it was going to give the wrong impression.
Pops noticed before I could ask his opinion. "We’re ironing shirts now?"
"It was wrinkled," I defended.
He looked at me over the top of his coffee cup. He didn't say anything else. He didn't need to.
The office was a short drive from the hotel, which I already knew from the day I’d shown up unannounced and found Grizzly out sick. Walking through the front door this time felt different. I wasn't a surprise. I’d been invited.
Cheyenne was at her desk when I came in. She looked up, recognized me, and her whole face opened into a smile that made me feel welcome. "Paxton. Good morning. He's expecting you."
"Morning. Thank you for having me."
She waved me off warmly. "Please. We're glad you're here." Then she leaned forward slightly and dropped her voice to just above a whisper. "For the record, he's been pacing and talking to himself all morning."
I bit back a smile. "Good to know."
Moseley appeared from around the corner like he had been waiting for a cue. He was wearing a button-down similar to mine, though where mine was white, his was an olive color. He pointed at me. "Okay. I just need a second. Last time you were here, I didn’t appreciate having greatness in my midst."
"Take your time." I chuckled as I leaned against Cheyenne’s desk.
After a moment of staring, he shook his head. "You're really here."
"Unless this is a vivid dream for us all, then yes, I am."
He pressed his lips together and nodded several times. "Cool. That's cool. This is very normal and professional. Welcome to the agency."
"Thank you, Moseley."
He stepped aside and gestured grandly toward the short distance leading back to Grizzly's office. It was like he wanted to demonstrate it was the most important room in the building. Cheyenne covered her mouth with one hand to hold back her laugh. I kept my face straight for all of their sakes and headed back.
Grizzly was indeed pacing behind his desk when I came through the doorway. He had on a dark button-down, and a jacket hung on the back of the chair. His glasses barely hung on at the tip of his nose as he looked over a stack of papers in his hands that I was pretty sure represented my immediate future.
He looked up when I knocked on the open door frame, and the expression that crossed his face shifted multiple times before settling on a neutral position. Given that I’d seen a bit of joy and maybe even some lust in there, I felt hopeful of how the post-business talk would go.
