Dear Heart, I Hate You

“I don’t understand.”

“I think you do.” He took a step toward me, and I swallowed hard.

“Is this your office?”

He smiled. “That’s my girl. Yes.”

Overwhelmed, I shook my head, refusing to guess at what all this might mean. If I guessed, I might hope, and if I hoped wrong . . .

My knees were a little wobbly, so I plopped into the leather chair behind the lone desk. Taking a deep breath, I look Cal square in the eye.

“Start talking.”

His eyes dancing with mischief, he said, “I talked my bosses into letting me open a branch of the firm out here. It’s part-time for now, so I’ll be flying back and forth between the coasts for a while. But eventually, my plan is to run this place full time.”

When my jaw fell open, I snapped it shut, completely shocked and surprised by this turn of events. “Is this a joke? Are you kidding? Because if you’re kidding, it’s not funny.”

Cal smiled and sat on the edge of the desk. “I’m not kidding. If my bosses had said no, I would have opened my own investment firm here anyway. You were right about how much California’s small business laws suck, and how brutal they are. I wasn’t ready to take that on by myself, so I’m glad they said yes.”

I nodded, completely understanding where he was coming from. I’d done my own research before making the decision to stay on at my current agency. Going out on my own seemed more hassle than it was worth.

“So you’re going to live out here?”

“Part time, yes.”

“But how is this happening?” I asked, needing every single detail. “Why did your bosses agree to this?”

“My client list here in LA has exploded.”

“Seriously?”

“I think Tabbie and Ron have introduced me to everyone they’ve ever known.”

I laughed as I thought about my old friend Ron. Of course he would have done that for Cal—and for me. I hadn’t caught up with Ron in weeks, and before yesterday, I hadn’t talked to Cal either.

“That’s great. I’m really happy for you.”

“It’s all because of you.”

I shook my head. “No. All I did was introduce you to a couple of people. If you weren’t good at your job, none of this would be happening.”

“Just take the compliment.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Fine. But you take it too.”

“Fine. It was both of us. Thanks, teammate.”

My cheeks prickled with heat. I remembered feeling that way when things were going well between us. How Cal had been the only guy I’d ever felt that way about.

“Where are you going to live?”

“I’m not sure yet. Know any good real estate agents?”

“No.”

He laughed, but I was serious. Kind of. Okay, not really at all.

“You don’t? That’s a shame.”