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“Right,” she concludes “The woman from Riptide.” She glances over at me. “Welcome, Allison.”
“Allison,” Dash says next, motioning to the other woman. “This is Bella. My agent and,” he looks at me, “my sister.”
His sister? Did he just say his sister?
He did.
He said sister.
I try not to gape, but I look at her and then him, and damn it, there is relief flooding my body in a ridiculous wave, I’m fairly certain is all over my face. And oh yes, the mischief is back in Dash’s eyes, as he adds, “She’s a bitch, but only to me. She’ll be a good person to know around here.”
“Asshole,” Bella snaps. “I just got you double on your contract.” She shoves his arm and eyes me. “He’s never grateful. Ever. And I’d tell you more—all the gossip he doesn’t want me to tell—but sadly, considering I’d enjoy that, I can’t right now. I have to steal Dash for a conference call with his publisher, but I’ll find you tomorrow. I want to chat about the charity auction. I really appreciate you swooping in to save us.” She motions to Dash. “Come.” She turns and starts walking away, quite obviously leaving him to say his goodbye to me on his own.
Dash shifts his body toward mine. “You thought she was my girlfriend,” he accuses softly.
“I mean, well—it’s not my place to think anything.”
“Why not?”
I blink at him, tongue-tied and finally just say, “I have no idea how to answer that.”
He smiles, and damn, it’s a sexy smile. “You have my number. Call me after your meeting tomorrow.”
It’s both a question and a command, and oddly, considering I’m not exactly great at taking commands, both sit well with me. He turns and walks away, all swagger and hot man, and there is no denying that I’m melting for him, right here in the Hawk Legal café.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I sit down at my desk and do the only thing a girl can do when she’s trapped in a small office with a cookie after getting hot and bothered by a man like Dash Black. I stuff a big bite of the cookie in my mouth. It’s at that moment, that a bosomy, fiftyish redhead in a black dress and heels walks into my office. Because of course, why would I shut my door before stuffing my face?
“Best damn cookie in the city,” she approves, closing the space between me and her to sit in front of me. “I’m Natalie Jolie from Human Resources—no relation to the movie star because I’m just not that lucky in life.”
At this point, I’ve thankfully swallowed without choking and I say, “Hi, Natalie Jolie, no relation to the movie star. I’m not that lucky either, or you wouldn’t have caught me with a cookie in my mouth.”
“You’re luckier than me. I couldn’t get one today. They sell out by lunchtime every day, and I’ve been in meetings. You obviously wowed the boss. I found out about you at seven this morning.”
“I think it’s more about the right time and place for both of us. He needs help with the auction, and I’m here for a few months before going back to New York.”
“Yeah well, I heard your story, and you sounded too good to be true. Reminded me of the last man I dated. I wanted to check you out and check you out fast. So I called Riptide.”
“I would have given you my boss’s direct number, but I never got the chance. Tyler hired me and told me to show up. Then he walked away.”
She laughs. “Sounds like Tyler. The man’s a bull in a china shop, but somehow, he never breaks anything. This time is no exception. I talked to Crystal Smith.”
Crystal being the operations manager at Riptide.
“She wants you back at work,” she continues, “but she told me that she and the entire team at Riptide support your need to be here right now.” She clears her throat. “I know about your mother.”
“I told Tyler. It’s not a secret. She’s in remission. I just—to be frank—I’m not ready to leave her.”
“My mother’s a bitch, and I’d still feel the same way. I get it. And I’m going to tell you the truth, honey, I haven’t done your paperwork. Tyler told me about it this morning, no warning at all.”
“No worries,” I say. “I’m committed to the auction.”
“Good. Allison leaving like she did has been a bit of hell. Fair warning, people are going to confuse you two, and I’m sure she dropped the ball on a few things that were promised to people.”
“What do I need to say if they ask questions?”
“Tell them she had a family emergency and had to take a leave of absence. I don’t want them dragging you down that rabbit hole of questions, and that’s not fair to you. ‘Family emergency’ should keep them from asking for more detail. I don’t think she’s coming back, but Tyler does, so we do what the boss wants. We wait on her.”
