Page 29 of One Midnight Kiss

“Your car is being towed,” I said. “They’ll take care of the tire and get it back to your office tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, staring down at the bottle in her hands. “I’ll pay you back.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” I said quickly. But then, because I saw an opportunity, I decided to take it. “But you do still owe me one drink.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. “This counts, doesn’t it?”

“Not even close.”

We were quiet for a moment, the tension easing slightly between us. I didn’t feel the same urge to get under her skin, to rile her up. I just wanted to talk to her, really talk. Her eyes scanned the apartment. I noticed her notice one of my hoodies tossed over the back of a chair and a pile of paperwork scattered on the coffee table.

“Come sit down,” I said and gestured to the black leather couch.

I went to the wall panel and turned on the gas fireplace. The windows that covered two of the walls in the open living area provided a nice view of the city along with the water in the distance. She sat down and pulled her legs under her. Between my large clothing and her stripped down version of herself, she looked tiny, vulnerable, and I felt a strong urge to keep her safe. From what? I didn’t know, but I felt it all the same.

Heat from the fireplace flooded the room, the flames dancing and casting a soft light over the room. I sat down in my favorite recliner. I knew she was out of her element. I wanted to make her comfortable.

“Do you think your marketing concept will be successful?” I asked, watching her carefully.

She took another sip of her beer, her expression thoughtful. “I hope so,” she said. “I’m normally confident in my proposals. Always, actually. But I don’t know much about the tech industry. It’s different. Your whole AI tech is new for me.”

Maybe that was why she didn’t do the pitch. She was used to being the boss of all things. I could help her. I could give her some confidence. “I’m going to a tech symposium in Silicon Valley in two weeks,” I said. “You should come with me.”

She looked up, startled. “What?”

“You heard me,” I said. “It’s a good opportunity to learn about the industry, see what’s out there. Plus, it’ll give you a better idea of how to position our brand.”

To my surprise, she didn’t immediately say no. She stared at me, searching my face for something. I wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but I hoped she found it.

“Fine,” she said at last. “I’ll go.”