Camera Shy (Lessons in Love, #1)(115)
“But you have to play nice with Mason,” I continue. “He’s going to be there, too.”
She makes a disgusted face.
“Free vacation, honey. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“What did you decide about all that anyway? You’re really going to ditch Mason after all you guys have gone through with Arrow?”
“Wow, look who is singing a different tune,” I say teasingly. “Has the war finally ceased?” I wink before I shake my head. “No. I came up with the perfect solution. I am going to keep Arrow Consulting intact and offer an exclusive non-compete offer to Legacy Resorts. So we’ll get their fat paycheck, I’ll give Mason his fair share, and Arrow Consulting will be an exclusive resource to Legacy.” I pinch my fingers together and kiss them. “I don’t want to say I’m a genius but…” I pop my shoulders with a big grin on my face. I’m just trying to cheer her up. “Everything is going to be okay. You could move to Vegas with me. We can still get a place together.”
“I have to be in L.A. for—”
“I know.” I wish she’d just give up her acting career and find something that makes her feel good about herself. But I also know Palmer’s talented. Everyone finds their path in their own way. “If this is what you want, then see this show as a big stepping stone. You landed an amazing job, Palmer. It’s not in your control who invests in the project. So take the experience, go home, and go hard. Another opportunity will come your way. I promise you, friend. I love you.”
“I know.” She presses her fingertips against her closed eyes. “But…I don’t know…I’m scared that you have this new life, new friends, and a new man so quickly. I’m your oldest friend. I’ve been with you forever. You’re really going to ditch me for some random hot guy? I thought…”
I hang my head when I remember the promise I made to her weeks ago. Before Finn. Before I found this new version of myself. I told Palmer we were in it together and she could count on me. She needs me. Mason needs me. He’s not my boyfriend, but he is still my business partner.
I don’t want to be the girl who ditches her oldest friends for a shiny new life that truthfully I probably don’t fit into. Maybe this is moving too fast. This summer was just a break from reality, but now real life seems to be catching up.
“We’ll figure it out together, Palmer. Don’t worry. I’ll be there tomorrow, okay? I’ll text you as soon as I have my flight details.”
“Okay,” she says through sniffly tears. She dabs again at her red, puffy eyes. “I love you, Aves. I don’t deserve you.”
“Well, you’ve got me.”
“Finn Harvey, I have a face, you know.”
Finn reluctantly peels his eyes away from my chest to meet my gaze from the opposite side of the limo. “I’m sorry, did you say something?” he asks. “It’s hard to hear you over your sexy tits.”
I try to scowl at him, but a reluctant smile breaks through and he responds by unbuttoning the top of his crisp, gray polo suggestively. To my surprise, Finn showed up at my place to pick me up for the party in nice dark jeans and a gray polo. He’s dressed the same way he does when he takes me out to a fancy dinner. When I asked him where the hell his costume was, he informed me that only the women dress up at Cass’s costume parties, which to me seems very much like a hunter-and-prey type of situation, but hey…when in Vegas.
Finn reaches behind him to roll down the partition halfway.
“How’s traffic?” he asks the driver.
I hate to admit it, but I could get used to the limo treatment. It’s not the luxury aspect. I don’t give a rat’s ass about the extended limo, champagne on ice, or plush leather seats. It’s the fact that every time we take a limo, I get to spend the ride playing footsie with Finn and staring into his bright baby blue eyes instead of watching the side of his face light up under red-and-green lights.
“A little congested,” the driver responds. “But don’t worry, we’ll get you there on time.”
“Don’t rush,” Finn replies to the driver, even though his eyes are forward, locked on my clamshell mermaid bra. “We need about twenty more minutes. If we arrive sooner than that, circle the block, and under no circumstances are you to roll down this partition. Clear?”
“Yes, sir,” the driver responds apathetically like he has no idea, or no interest, in what Finn is insinuating.
I’ve worked with a lot of top-dog CEOs in the past few years. There’s a certain air of authority a man gets when he knows his commands will be followed with enthusiasm. Finn has traces of a CEO’s attitude. It comes in little flashes. Most of the time he’s soft, sweet, and charming, but there’s a top-dog boss living inside of him. A side that seems to only come out when he’s turned on or pissed off.
Once the partition is up again, Finn grabs his dick through his slacks and bites his lower lip. “All right, Queen. You know what we do in limos. Spread ’em.”
This time I full-on scowl. “No.”
He cocks one eyebrow. “Excuse me? Sweetheart, I reminded you about fifty times that you’re the most beautiful woman on the planet, brought you a limo, and rubbed your sexy little feet for the past ten minutes because you said your heels hurt.”