Page 131 of Dream Chaser

“In my personal version of heaven. Just need you to know something.”

“What?”

His green eyes twinkled, soft. “You’re not leaving this bed. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you in it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Alejandro

January

Ipulled Nova closer, her back to my chest. She stirred, mumbling something incoherent. It fucking killed me to wake her up after so little sleep, but she wanted to stop by her apartment before going to work. Next time, I’d make sure she brought a change of clothes to my place.

“Nova.” I lay a string of kisses on her bare shoulder. “It’s almost eight.”

She sighed. I moved the curtain of her auburn hair aside, exposing her ear. “You can stay and sleep in.” I gave it a playful bite. “Your boss will tell everyone you had an early meeting.”

“That’d scream privilege.” Nova rolled onto her back, blinking as she cupped my jaw. “Oh my God, you’re ready for work? That’s not fair. Should’ve woken me up earlier.”

“We went to bed at three a.m., and you need extra rest because of your iron.”

A smile tugged at her mouth. “Worth it.”

It had been—and I’d gladly spend the rest of the day in bed with her. Instead, I made her coffee and watched her down it hastily—then she got dressed, kissed me, and rushed out of my apartment.

My thoughts were still with her as I entered the office.

“Have you seen this, boss?” Levi asked, waving a magazine. “The pictures turned out great.”

“Not yet.” I took the January issue of Sports Insider from him and flipped through the pages until I found the article. I skimmed it, pausing to read Nova’s interview. She was alone in the picture on top, smiling, a camera in her hands.

Finally happy. No more sadness in her eyes.

I finished reading and returned the magazine. As I settled at the desk, my phone buzzed with a text.

Asher: Buenos días. Are we still on for tonight?

We were going to watch the rerun of today’s Sports Union Madrid game at a new sports bar with Rys and Elio, who were in Emerport on business.

Me: Yes. 9 p.m.

Asher sent me a thumbs-up. I set the phone aside and pulled up the pitch deck for the sportswear brand I’d been working on. Barely a few minutes later, familiar footsteps made me look up from my laptop.

“Good morning,” Nova said, dropping her purse onto the chair. She hung her coat, then sat at her desk, rubbing her forehead as she leafed through her agenda.

Not a glance at me. We decided to keep our relationship private, more for her sake than mine, but this was odd.

At ten, all of us sat at the oval table in the conference room for the traditional start-of-the-year meeting. Although each of us focused on different tasks, there was enough overlap to make it relevant for everyone.

Joshua and Zach had filled me in on the latest additions to our client base—another motocross and superbike rider.

“It’s a good time to branch out,” I told them. “Particularly to baseball and tennis. Let’s discuss getting certified tomorrow.”

Joshua scratched his chin. “Too many out-of-office commitments, Alejandro. Monday might be better.”

“Agreed,” Zach said.

I twirled a silver ring around my finger. “Then it’ll have to wait for another week. Next week, I’ll be out of the office.”