Page 58 of Dream Chaser

“Just an idea for a call to action,” she said. “I think you’ve got it all figured out now.”

I took the notes from her hand. “Thank you.” Our fingers brushed, and suddenly, it was hard to ignore how soft her skin was. How beautiful she looked. How when she talked, I wanted her to never stop so I could keep listening to her voice.

I pulled my hand away. Cleared my throat.

Traffic hummed behind the window. The clock marked eleven p.m.

“It’s late,” I said. “Did you drive here?”

Nova shook her head. “I walked.”

“Well, we’re almost neighbors. I’ll accompany you home.”

Luckily, Nova didn’t object. I locked the office, and we stood by the elevators, waiting.

“This is where we end up stuck,” she whispered.

I failed to hold back a laugh. “Twice? That’d be too lucky.”

“Lucky?” She cocked her head. “Didn’t you hate every second?”

Shit—way to put myself on the spot.

“I didn’t,” I had no choice but to admit. “It seems like you only disclose important things about yourself in enclosed spaces. Planes. Elevators.”

Nova snorted as the heavy door crawled open. I stepped into the car after her.

“It’s you,” she said, pressing the button for the lobby. “You have that boss look that makes it hard to lie.”

The elevator started moving. “Boss look?”

“The one you’re giving me now. Is there anything else you want to know?”

“Anything you want to tell me.”

Nova toyed with the button on her blazer’s sleeve. “I had fun tonight, so thanks for letting me help.”

The door opened. We stepped into the deserted lobby. “I’m grateful for your help. But I feel bad that working is your idea of fun.”

Nova’s chuckle drowned the echo of our footsteps as we crossed to the exit. “I hope to have more fun soon. Maybe when my friend Scarlett returns from France. Her family owns a perfume business, and she often travels there.”

“What about your birthday?”

Her eyes widened for a second.

“The form you filled in,” I said. “No enclosed spaces were needed to find out it’s next week.”

Nova laughed, shaking her head as we started walking. “I completely forgot.”

I wouldn’t. I’d marked it on my calendar like I marked everything important.

“Any plans for your birthday celebration?” I gently gripped Nova’s elbow and steered her toward the middle of the sidewalk. Even though the streets were largely deserted, it was better if I was the one walking closer to the traffic.

She sighed. “It depends. Not a chance in hell I’m going back to Millford.”

“And if you stay here?” She deserved a great birthday after everything she’d been through, and I could make that happen.

“Ideally, I’d celebrate at my new apartment, but that won’t happen until I’ve saved enough.” She hugged herself. “And I know, I know—Eleanor doesn’t mind helping me out. It’s just that…” Her steps faltered. “I’ve never had my own place. After college, I moved straight to Preston’s. A nice house.”