Page 133 of Dream Chaser

My mouth took hers, hard. Her breath caught for a beat, then she melted into the kiss. Lips moving in sync. Tongues stroking. My hand in her hair, holding her close.

“Together,” I repeated.

“You used your boss tone.” Nova’s thumb feathered over my jaw. “Am I in trouble?”

I shook my head. “I’m not your boss now. Asher and I were going out tonight, but if you need me—”

“No.” Nova pressed her fingers to my lips. “You need a break. Go have fun. I’ll stay in, retouch some photos. The portfolio ones, not the ones I took for work.”

“Show me later?”

She slipped out of my jacket. “Yes, boss. Let’s go back before everyone starts to wonder.”

“Speaking of photos,” I said as we stepped into the elevator, “you and I are traveling somewhere beautiful next week.”

Nova’s eyes widened. “For work? That’s why you said you’d be out of the office.”

“Not for work.” I pressed the button for our floor. “For us.”

A timid smile broke free.

I pressed my palm to her lower back, leaning in closer until her scent filled my lungs. “Pack some summer clothes.”

***

The sound of the football game rose above the din of conversation at The Match. Less than a minute remained, and SUM was losing. Their fans sat at wooden tables around us, wearing the team’s colors and disappointed frowns.

The referee blew the final whistle. Asher tossed a folded napkin onto the table, scoffing. “Whenever Javi can’t play, it all goes to shit.”

Thanks to Javier Rivera’s talent, SUM climbed to the top of the chart, but his injury had put the team’s stellar season at risk.

“How’s his ankle?” Rys asked.

Asher pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Let’s find out, unless he’s already in bed.”

I took a sip of my beer as he video-called Javier.

“Hola tío,” Asher said as his friend answered. “I’m with Ale, Rys, and Elio. Look what we’re watching.”

Asher flipped the camera so the screen came into focus.

Javier groaned. “Dude. Did you call to rub salt in the wound? I just got home. Watching that disaster was painful. All that effort, down the drain.”

“Is your ankle any better?” Rys asked.

“Hi, Rys. Getting there.” Javier ran his palm over his jaw. “But I won’t play for another month. Anyway, let’s talk about something else. How are all of you? Any major updates?”

“Same old here,” Elio drawled. “Taking a break between jobs.”

Elio owned a personal security company. Most of his clients were high profile. Business owners. Celebrities. Politicians.

Something had occurred to me on the drive here while my conversation with Nova replayed in my head. Now I was waiting for a chance to speak to Elio in private.

Javier chuckled. “I might need your services soon. Another feature in a gossip magazine, and I won’t be able to leave the house without a disguise.”

Since signing with SUM, Javier had made headlines multiple times. Especially once he started dating his coach’s daughter.

A meowing black shadow moved in front of Javier’s face. Asher squinted at the screen. “What the hell was that? Do you have a cat? You hate cats.”