Page 37

“I’m serious,” Emma said.

“Emma.” Jo looked at her. “I was a millionaire as a teenager. I can afford dinner.”

Right.

Emma ducked her head. If she didn’t pay for anything, it felt too much like Jo was taking care of her, which was—it was weird, was all. Felt like when Jo bought her a dress, even though this time it was just pizza and a vending machine soda.

Emma climbed onto her bed, sat with her back against the headboard.

“You didn’t have to do this, boss.”

“It’s pizza, Emma. It’s nothing special.”

“Well, I appreciate it anyway,” Emma said. “And it’sNew Yorkpizza. It’s definitely special.”

She took a bite.

The noise she made was probably inappropriate. If anyone knewshe was in the room with Jo and making that noise, they’d definitely think they were sleeping together. But what was Emma supposed to do? The pizza wasamazing.

Jo smirked and didn’t look at Emma. Emma couldn’t bother to be embarrassed.

“You’ve basically saved this night for me, boss,” Emma said. “This is—I cannot thank you enough.”

Jo waved a dismissive hand.

They ate in silence for a moment.

“Emma?” Jo said, her voice quiet.

“Yeah?”

Jo was focused on her pizza, like whatever she was about to say wasn’t important. It made Emma think itwouldbe important, made her pay attention.

“Your shirt’s inside out.”

7

JO

The next morning, Jo was ready to head out when Emma knocked on her room door with a cup of coffee.

“I figured hotel coffee might not do the trick,” Emma said. “This is from that cute café down the block.”

Jo took a sip, and it was so good her mouth made words before she could think about them.

“I love you.”

Emma’s eyes went wide and Jo closed hers, took another sip of the coffee. It was just an expression, one she’d used before at work—on Chantal, certainly, and maybe even on Emma, too. Jo couldn’t remember. Before the rumors, she hadn’t paid nearly as much attention to every interaction between the two of them.

By the time Jo looked at Emma again, her assistant seemed to have decided to take the comment in stride. It was only fair—Jo had ignored Emma accidentally kissing her at the wrap party; Emma could ignore an innocuous phrase.

“The café also has good-looking breakfast options,” Emma said.

“I have breakfast plans,” Jo said. “I’ve already arranged for thecar service to take you wherever you would like this morning, then pick me up on the way to the airport.”

Emma swallowed. Jo wondered if she imagined the disappointment on her assistant’s face.

“Sounds good,” Emma said with a tight smile. “Enjoy your breakfast.”