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“Multiple moving pieces.”

“No.”

“Time-critical decisions.”

“Stop.”

“Communication failures create cascading problems.”

“Oh my God.”

His mouth curves. “You’re basically ATC with dragons.”

“I will leave this restaurant.”

“No, you won’t. That would be very disrespectful to leave your Daddy alone in the middle of dinner.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re getting very confident.”

“You like confidence.”

My stomach flips. I take a sip of wine. “Maybe.”

He watches me. That look again. The one that reminds me our relationship has another layer beneath the humor.

I set the glass down. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Christopher.”

“You’re beautiful when you’re confident.”

Oh. I look away. “No fair.”

“What?”

“You can’t drop things like that in normal conversation.”

“Why?”

“Because I require prep time.”

“You managed a live tournament in front of thousands of people.”

“This is worse.”

His gaze warms. “Why?”

Because you matter more.

I don’t say it. Not yet. Instead, “Different game.”

Christopher nods. “Fair.”

We’re back at the hotel later. Christopher walks me to my room. He could go home. It’s not far. He doesn’t.

I open the door. Then turn. The hall is quiet. My pulse isn’t.