Page 67 of Who's Loving You

“Could you possibly just listen before you say no? Please.”

I sigh and pull my hands free, dusting them off and crossing my arms over my chest, prepared to listen to all of his BS and swiftly give him an answer.

It will still be no, by the way.

“You’ve been really amazing with helping me clean up my act and keep my job. You’ve gone to my games and that means more than you can possibly realize. I’d like you to think of this little trip as a thank you for all that you have done. I think anyone else would have written me off, and I’m grateful to youandMonty.”

I quirk my eyebrow and ask, “So then why aren’t you asking Monty to go with you?”

“Babe.” The word falls so easily from his lips and while I really hated it at first, the sound fills something in me that I’ve grown to crave. “I don’t think Monty would look as good in a bikini as you would.”

“Okay. Now I’m positive my answer is no. Me andyou in bathing suits is most definitely a bad idea.” I chuckle at his courage to think I’d be jumping at the chance to be alone with him.

“Hold on. Don’t be so sure. I mean, I’m not opposed, but that’s not the purpose. I truly just want a chance to relax and get to know you outside of the fake parameters you’ve set. Can’t two friends have a good time without it having to mean anything?”

The pragmatic side of my brain begins fighting with the long stagnant fun side and I’m caught in the middle of a fierce battle. One side tells me this is a ploy to get me into bed and to keep that maximum security wall steadfast. But then there’s this other part of me that is starting to break free from the confines of barbed wire and impenetrable steel, and it’s telling me to let go for once and enjoy life. Bonus points for doing so with a handsome man by my side.

“Who said we’re friends?” I challenge.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on my desk. “Valentina. I would love to be so much more, but you’re determined to deprive yourself of being happy. So if I can’t have you as my real girlfriend, then I’ll settle for having you as my real friend.”

Punches are thrown as the pragmatic side tries to put the dusty fun Val in her place, but fun Val quickly takes the lead when she elbows pragmatic Val in the face.

I sigh and close my eyes, wondering how bad could it really be. I haven’t taken an actual vacation in about a year, and my trip to Spain with Lucy isn’t until next summer.

“There would be conditions.” His smile turns electric and the frigidness around my heart melts.

Just a little.

“Anything you want. I already found a resort and they said–”

“Wait a minute. First I need to know where it is you want to take me. I’m not going to end up in some frozen tundra. I hate the cold.”

He nods and says, “Good to know. I guess we’ll have to visit my family during the summer. Winter is cold as balls in Philly.” I roll my hand for him to get to his point quicker. “So I thought it would be nice to sit by the beach in Cozumel. I’ve never been so I’m kind of excited about it.”

My eyes widen with excitement. “I’ve never been either, but that’s pretty expensive. Can you afford that on your rookie salary?”

His head is thrown back like I slapped him. “Valentina. Are you serious? Do you know the amount of money I earned from NIL endorsements in college? Not to mention my salary is more than enough to pay for a weekend away with my gir–with my friend.”

My nails tap along the desktop as I continue to think. Do I really want to feel like Iowehim for taking me? I know he said this is all because he thinks he owes me in some weird way. But he seems to have forgotten all about the insane amount of money Monty is paying me to put up with his crap.

“I pay for the flights.” He opens his mouth but I silence him by holding up a finger. “That’s a non-negotiable. I won’t share a bed–”

“I found a two-bedroom suite so no worries there,” he adds.

“Good. And we split the food costs.”

“No.”

“Yes. My rules,” I remind him.

“No, because it’s all inclusive so we don’t have to worry about that.”

“Fine. Then how about I pay for an excursion?”

His eyes look at the ceiling, letting the cogs in his brain work. A little too hard, from the looks of it.

He juts out his hand with a wide smile. “Deal.”