Page 64 of The Renter

“I thought you were moving in with me?” he tests.

“Adam,” I scold.

“I know. I know. We’ll talk about it in August.” He raises an eyebrow. “That’s in a couple of weeks, you know.”

Moving in with him would be the easy button, but it doesn’t feel right. Our relationship is still so new, and on the heels of our first fight, I don’t like the idea of living with him so soon. We’restill in the discovery phase of our relationship and definitely not ready for that step.

The SUV pulls into departures, and Adam leads us through bag check and security. Allison waves at us as we approach the gate, and I’m excited to get to know her a little more.

“Nice to meet you.” She shakes my hand. I get the spidey sense that she has already online stalked me. There’s no surprise by my age or appearance. She’s probably a few years older, is classically pretty, and dressed more professionally than Adam and me.

Nikola handled my wardrobe; two fully packed suitcases arrived at the cottage the other day. Adam isn’t lying about how convenient his life can be, and I hope I’m not underdressed for the event.

“How was your mom’s birthday?” I ask, remembering that’s why I didn’t meet her at the office.

“We went to tea time at the Langham Hotel. It was amazing.”

“I’ve always wanted to do that!” I smile, and Adam gives me a little surprised look before interlacing his hand with mine.

Boarding the plane, we find our seats in first class, and Allison leaves us for economy.

“We couldn’t have flown private?” I tease Adam.

“Not to this one. They have some climate pledge bullshit,” he says, clearly annoyed.

Could my life with Adam include flying private? Right now, I’m more than excited about the first-class seat. I’ve only been on a plane a couple of times and never in anything but the cheapest seat.

“Summit can be intense about a few things.” Adam squeezes my hand. “If you’re caught flying private, you’re banned from the conference—for life.” He rolls his eyes.

“For life! How can they make you fly with the common folk?” I joke.

“Keeps me grounded.” He kisses me, and our kiss lingers, making me feel a little uncomfortable in this public setting.

It’s not long before Declan joins us, his presence adding a new dynamic to our team. He sits across the aisle, his eyes meeting mine briefly before turning to Adam. He’s wearing one of Shirts button downs. It makes my heart race. Why is he wearing it? Why is he fucking with me like this?

“So, what’s the plan for the keynote?” Declan asks, breaking the silence.

“I think we should focus on innovation and security.” Adam takes the lead, sharing his vision for the discussion. He explains, “We have to emphasize the community aspect of the platform too.”

I chime in, “Your marketing team already provided me with some real user stories we could highlight. I think the once-in-a-generation wealth opportunity will resonate with the audience—especially as you face headwinds.”

Declan nods, clearly impressed. “That’s a solid approach. What about the Q&A session? Any thoughts on how we’ll handle tough questions?”

“We should brainstorm some trigger words,” I say, looking between the two of them. These two fucking hot men, staring at me, listening intently to me … so intently. Focus on the work, I remind myself.

The conversation flows naturally, with each of us contributing our thoughts and insights. The dynamic is professional yet friendly, and I can feel a sense of camaraderie building between the three of us.

49

From the moment the plane landed, the first day of the conference in Park City, Utah, is all-encompassing. The location, a five-star ski lodge resort, is so beautiful. I’ve never been out West, and the mountain views from our room are insane. Though, we’ve barely spent a moment there. Where we’re staying is more like a palatial chalet than a hotel room. It’s another reminder of the life Adam leads. It’s the type of life I’ve been working toward, manifesting.

“What do you think about this look?” I ask Adam after changing into wide-leg cream palazzo pants with a white button-down tucked in.

“It’s cute, but I think a dress will play better with the crowd.”

“With you?” I tease.

“Definitely with me. This event is a sausage party, though. Why not lean into it?”