Page 7 of Tinsel in Telluride

The snark is on the tip of my tongue, but I somehow manage to keep it to myself. “I’m calling about setting up some time for us to meet and discuss the Monarch Hearts’’ chapter. Your assistant let me know you’d be handling it directly, and I should coordinate with you.”

There’s a beat of silence, and I think maybe the call has been disconnected when Luca finally speaks. “Okay. Then let’s figure out a time you can come out here after the first of the year, so we can get everything set up.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to work,” I snap, followed by a wince as I remember this is my job, and he is the owner of the Monarchs, not just my maybe-baby-daddy.

I sip my wine and let out a weary sigh. “The commissioner wants everything on his desk by the thirty-first. I don't need to come out to Los Angeles. Most of the other chapters I was able to get squared away over a few phone calls. The in-person stuff will come later when we get the rec centers built.”

“Hmm,” Luca muses and I brace for what I’m sure is going to be a bullshit answer. “Unfortunately, that’s not going to work for me. I’m already out of town, and I won’t be back until after the holidays.”

“You won’t have access to your phone or email?” I ask, grasping at straws. “I could just coordinate with your assistant.”

“As Roy told you, I’m going to be handling this myself, and no, reception will be spotty here at best.” I don’t miss the hint of smugness in his tone. “You’re lucky I was able to take this call at all.”

The bastard knows what he’s doing. I’d bet money he’s retaliating because I didn’t answer his call the week after we hooked up. Then again, after he saw me at spring training. Or the ten other times he’s tried since.

Shit.

Willow’s going to kill me.

Our first big partnership and I’m already fucking it up.

“Please, Luca.” I soften my voice, apparently no longer above begging. “I need to get this done for Willow by the end of the year. You know how important this is to her.”

“I know exactly how important this is tobothof you. Which begs the question, why have you waited until the last minute to do this?”

“You just happened to be the last team on the docket,” I lie, hating the way it’s become so easy to do so, but I also don’t like the way he emphasized the wordboth. Like he’s trying to make sure I know this is about me too.

If only he knew the truth.

“I’m sure.” Luca’s voice drips with sarcasm, and I can picture the sexy way he cocks his brow when he’s caught me in a lie.

Tell me you want me, Little Thief.

I hate you.

Which only makes you want me more.

Damn it.

I can’t think about that right now.

“Listen,” I implore. “What can we do so this gets done in time? Willow can’t afford to be in hot water with the commissioner after the scandal with her father this past year.”

He hesitates and I picture him chewing his lower lip the way he did just before he told me I could leave or hate fuck the shit out of him.

“Meet me in Telluride.”

I blink, convinced I’ve misheard him. Because there’s no way he just asked me to go with him on vacation. “Colorado?”

“You said you need to get this done by the end of the year. I’m in Telluride with some friends for the holidays. Come here.”

“I can’t just crash your vacation with your friends. Nor do I want to. You hate me, remember?”

Luca doesn’t miss a beat and fires back. “I absolutely do not hate you. And don’t think of it as crashing a vacation. Think of it as a work trip with a little tinsel.”

“What is it with everyone and tinsel? It’s not even a good Christmas decoration.”

“I didn’t know you were a grinch, Ms. Bennett.”

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