Page 36 of Chasing Hope

She jabs my bicep, her finger—I repeat, her fuckingfinger—making a shiver run down my goddamn spine as she teases, “Always so secretive about your codes.”

Not the only thing I’m secretive about. I’ve been able to hide the fact I’m madly in love with you for twenty years.

“Because I like them to be complete before talking about them.”

“You mean you want them to be perfect.”

Rocking my head from side to side, I admit, “A little.”

She pats my shoulder. “I’m sure it’s good, Valenti. All your projects in the past have been amazing.”

Peering at her out the corner of my eye, I say slowly, “Thank you.”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“You don’t compliment me often. Hard not to be.”

“That’s because your ego is big enough as is. You don’t need me stroking it.”

“What if I said pretty please?” I call out as she follows the sounds of chaos, her hips swaying.

Cindy’s scream of excitement fills the air once she spots Evie, her blue summer dress flowing around her.

Turning, she smirks. “I’d stroke it if you got on your knees and begged.”

Cindy’s eyes widen. “Ooh, what are we talking about over here?”

“Valenti wants me to stroke his ego,” Evie says with an exaggerated eye roll.

Cindy fixes me with a look. “Is that right?”

“And I said he’d have to get on his knees and beg,” Evie teasingly adds.

Scoffing, I move past the pair. “I know when I’ve lost a battle. Stand down, ladies.”

“Awe, but I wanted to see you beg!” Cindy whines.

“There’s only one person I’d get on my knees for,” I announce, leaving the girls watching me with open mouths.

And it wouldn’t be to have Evie stroke my ego, is what I don’t say.

Emmy comes running past me, Bambi on her heels barking, and where Emmy is…

Kieran rounds the corner, keeping an eye on his daughter.

When he spots me, a smile lights up his face. “Valenti! Dude, where the hell have you been?” He wraps me in a quick embrace. “Locking yourself away coding?”

“Nah, just been busy helping Evie out,” I say, clapping him on the back.

Kieran pulls back, a knowing smile lighting his face.

I point at him, growling, “Don’t start.”

Him and his goddamn ability to read people. He’s the onlyone on the team that has noticed the feelings I’ve harbored for my best friend’s little sister. The fucker took one look at me while she was in the same room, whistled low, and clapped me on the shoulder with a gruff, “Oh you have itbad.”

He lays a palm across his chest now, affronted. “Me? Probe into people’s lives? I would never.” He follows my line of sight to Evie deep in conversation with Cindy. “I’m presuming lots of cold showers are happening though.”

My teeth snap shut.