Page 59 of Dream Chaser

“But not a home.”

“You get it.” Nova glanced at me as we reached a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. “I have this Pinterest board of the stuff I’d love to decorate it with. Plants. A mirror. Pretty plates and glasses.”

I clenched my jaw, frustration climbing. It fucking gutted me her so-called husband never gave her those things or made his house her home.

“It’s silly, I know,” she added as we crossed the street.

I released a tight breath. “Of course not, Nova. You deserve to have all those things. And your own place. I loved sharing an apartment with Manu and three other guys in college, but I was relieved when I bought my apartment in Spain.”

“I liked your place here, too.”

“It’s great,” I said. “The area’s safe with lots of amenities. You could try to rent something nearby.”

Yeah, so she could be closer to you, dumbass. I shook my head as if those thoughts would flee my brain with the motion.

Nova chuckled. “Once I’ve saved enough. A girl can dream, right?”

“She should have lots of dreams,” I said as we approached Eleanor’s building. “And chase all of them.”

“Thank you for the motivation.” She drew to a stop and winked. “Boss.”

A teasing smile bloomed on her lips.

I ran a hand over the back of my neck. “Don’t. Just call me Alejandro.”

Because hearing her call me that in that soft voice of hers made me imagine things that were far from professional or acceptable. Things I had no business imagining. Not only was I her boss, but she had only just started to spread her wings. There wasn’t anything between us. There couldn’t—and wouldn’t—be.

Maybe I’d believe that if I repeated it often enough.

“Okay, boss,” Nova whispered. “Sorry. I mean, Mr. Guerrero.”

Anything but Alejandro. Her smirk told me she was enjoying riling me up way too much. It was refreshing. Dangerous, too.

“Alejandro,” I insisted. “Get some rest, Nova. You deserve it.”

“No problem. Putting up with you wasn’t that hard,” she said, backtracking. “I’m glad I could help. Email me the pitch deck once it’s ready. I’ll take another look.”

“Thank you. Good night, Nova.”

“Night, boss.”

I swallowed a chuckle and shoved my hands in my pockets, watching her head into the brightly lit foyer. She paused once inside, then waved at me and turned around.

I lingered on the sidewalk for a beat, then took my time walking home, thinking.

Replaying the hours we’d spent working on the pitch for Iron Core.

Wondering why I felt calmer than I had in months.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Nova

October

This wasn’t how I imagined the morning of my birthday would go.

“What do you mean he couldn’t be served?” I gripped my phone until a dull ache spread through my knuckles. This was the third time Preston had dodged my lawyer’s attempts to deliver the divorce papers.