Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House)

“You’re as transparent as a jellyfish, my friend,” he replies good-naturedly.

“We need to talk,” Trent mutters, repeating the same back-pat-hug. “Is she staying in the penthouse or the apartment?”

“The apartment,” I reply quietly.

He leans back, his expression reflecting relief. “Good. Okay. I’ll see you in the morning. Keep your head on straight tonight.” He blows out a breath like this whole thing is causing him anxiety.

I nod and we step away from each other.

Up until now, I thought I’d been doing a good job of keeping the lines between personal and professional entirely separate, but with Linc’s observations and Trent’s disquiet, I see now that maybe my ability to stay professional has become compromised.

I’ve been making excuses to see more of her than I would any other company in any of our partnerships. And flying her to New York to meet with my powerful friends so she could pick their brains is a few solid steps outside of my normal.

London, poised and charming as ever, shakes hands with Griffin, Linc, and Trent, thanking them for a lovely evening, and then we’re heading for the elevator, back to my penthouse.

London stands about three feet away from me, her gaze fixed on the light above the elevator.

“Did you enjoy yourself this evening?” I try to make polite small talk.

Her gaze darts my way, but she remains facing the elevator doors. “After I got over the initial shock of who exactly we were eating dinner with, yes, thank you.”

I’m nervous now, aware that I blindsided her with this dinner. On top of not telling her where the meeting was to take place. At least she has a room to escape to that isn’t inside my penthouse.

London steps into the elevator ahead of me.

I hold my card in front of the sensor and the doors slide closed, locking me inside the small, mirrored space with London.

As soon as we’re in motion, London turns to me. “Lincoln Moorehead and Griffin Mills? Why didn’t you warn me ahead of time that’s who we were having dinner with? Why purposely keep it from me?”

“Because I didn’t want you to overthink it.”

She purses her lips and narrows her eyes.

“I was going to tell you on the way here, but I asked your sisters, and they thought it would be better if I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want you to psych yourself out.”

She props a fist on her hip. “One is the CEO of a media company and the other is a hotel mogul!”

“Griffin’s father is actually the hotel mogul, and I’m a CEO and you manage just fine with me,” I point out.

“It’s not the same and you know it.” Her eyes flash with ire. “You set this whole thing up and kept me in the dark about it the entire time.” She blows out a breath and pinches the bridge of her nose.

“You’re right and I feel like I need to apologize for that. I followed the advice of your sisters, and maybe I shouldn’t have. I didn’t think through the optics of this for you and how it might make you feel, and I absolutely should have.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” The way she crosses her arms tells me I absolutely do.

The elevator doors slide open, and I motion for her to go ahead of me. She hesitates for a moment and then crosses the threshold. She doesn’t make a move past the foyer, though.

I don’t like how glaring the power imbalance is right now. “But I do, because I didn’t consider how keeping this from you would impact you. I also didn’t fully reflect on what I’ve asked of you on a personal and emotional level. And I realize that we’re on my turf, which puts you in an awkward position.” I rub the back of my neck.

“Because you usually don’t keep who you’re having dinner with a secret?” She arches a brow.

“Yes. And until tonight, I’ve never had a female business associate stay here who I’ve also asked out.” I motion to the apartment door. “Which is something I probably should have considered prior to bringing you here. I need you to know that your place in the Teamology initiative is in no way influenced by how you respond to me constantly forcing you into situations that I know will invariably take you by surprise.”

“I didn’t think it would be.” She arches a brow. “Especially considering we’re still working together after I was the one who asked you out last.”

“I can’t work with you and date you,” I remind her.

“I’m aware.”

“You’re allowed to be pissed off at me.” I need to stop being turned on by her sass and her ability to stand her ground.

“Does that mean I need your permission first?” Annnd she’s back to crossing her arms.

“Shit. No.” I run a hand through my hair. “Of course not. I just mean if you want to give me hell, go for it. Tonight was a complete dick move on my part. Look, I need to be completely honest with you because I think you’re under the misguided assumption that I don’t want to date you, which isn’t the case at all.”