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“Then we’re here to celebrate a very successful trip,” I conceded with a smirk. “Is that more in character?”
“Much better.” She giggled. “Although, I can’t believe our first real date is only happening because of some business trip.”
I frowned.
“Why doesn’t our trip to Christ the Redeemer count?” I demanded, a little outraged that she didn’t considerthata date at all.
“Because I couldn’t do this,” she said, and I was confused for a moment before her foot trailed up along the inside of my leg. I jumped in surprise, my brow cocked.
“I don’t think any of the tourists would have had any issues with that,” I said, the words coming out a little breathless, “if you were stealthy enough about it.”
“I don’t think stealth is my strong suit,” she hummed. “And I definitely would have gotten an earful if someone saw us like this in front of that statue.”
“Like you’d give a fuck.” I laughed, enjoying the tingles that spread up my spine. “You’d probably cuss them out and then kiss me to make them uncomfortable.”
“You know me too well.”
“Then let’s agree that this isn’t our first official date as partners,” I suggested with a grin. “Let’s put that off.”
“Until we get home?”
I smiled, my chest fluttering with nerves and just a twinge of sadness. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I told her.
She lifted her brows, her face open. “Please don’t tell me we’re extending our stay.” She cringed. “I don’t think Terry would be very happy with me if I called to tell him we were changing plans.”
My brows furrowed, chest tightening slightly. “You sound like you want to leave,” I said, skirting around the subject. “Wouldn’t you want to spend more time here?”
She pursed her lips in thought and shrugged. “Of course, I’d love to stay here longer,” she admitted. “But I don’t think it’s feasible with everything we have to get done back home. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re already tired of this city.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m tired of it,” I hedged with a chuckle. “But I won’t lie and say I don’t miss my bed. Hotel beds leave a lot to be desired.”
“I don’t know if I should take offense to that,” Mia scoffed. “Considering I’ve been a part of that hotel bed you’re sneering at.”
“If I could sleep on you every night, my love,” I winked, “I’d be the happiest woman on Earth. But that’s not why I asked.”
“Then why?”
I took a deep breath, watching her face closely as I chose my next words. “I’ve decided that the expansion into Brazil needs to be its own company,” I explained. “A sister company to DawnStar Studios, in other words. It’s a company that I don’t want to leave unchecked. Going through the process of vetting and hiring someone here would be more expensive than necessary and I already have the perfect candidate for the job.”
Mia’s brow furrowed, a reluctant kind of realization washing over her face. “Okay…”
“The candidate is you, Mia,” I said, and she sucked in a small breath. “I don’t think anyone else is more qualified for it, to be honest. I don’t trust anyone as much as I trust you.”
“That’s…” She paused, searching for the words that failed her. “A lot. Reid, are you sure?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my entire life, love.” I smiled.
“But why me?” She frowned. “I’ve only ever been your assistant; I don’t think I know the first thing about running a company.”
I laughed, and we were interrupted by the waiter.
While she ordered, I studied her closely.
Mia’s shoulders were once slightly rounded, as if she were constantly dragging a dead body along behind her. Now, she commanded the space she occupied, her chin high and shoulders back. It made all the difference. If she’d been stunning before, she was breathtaking now that she’d shed the darkness that plagued her.
“What are you smiling at?” She pouted, twirling a single curl between her fingers, a nervous habit she’d recently picked up, I noted.
Recently because she very seldom existed without her hair in a ponytail or bun. I loved combing my fingers through her hair at every opportunity, and it didn’t escape my notice that she’d foregone her usual hair ties just for me.
