“Be serious, Roxie,” Bambi said, though there was enjoyment in the words.“Roman might lose his role onUndercover Ops.”
“Not your fault, or Struan’s.Let Roman take responsibility for Roman, for once.Maybe he’ll grow up and get with it.”Unlikely.“If he doesn’t, let his life fall apart.It’s on him, he’s a grown up.”
Him taking ownership of his own actions wouldn’t be something that happened fast.He hadn’t managed it yet.Narcissism like Roman’s didn’t wash out in the shower.
“I can’t wait for you to come to New York; you’re going to love living there.”
“Wasn’t too long ago I’d barely been out of Wishbone.”
“Now you’re an international, cosmopolitan woman.Welcome to the club!”
The guys came trailing through from the other room.“We’re going out for food,” Tripp said.“You coming?”
“Nothing better to do,” Roxie said on a sigh, drawing Bambi to her feet as she rose.“Someone call and find out where Porter is.We can’t have him wandering around on his own.And Astrid.We need Astrid too.”
Once again, Hatfield was confused.“I thought you had dinner plans.”
“I do,” Roxie said.“Right now, Tripp just made them.Weren’t you listening?”
“What about the presentation?”
“Presen… Right, there’s a presentation.Did I know there was a presentation?There’s a presentation, apparently.”
“Shit,” Tripp said as a troop of people came barreling in.“Are we back in college?I’ll need to copy someone’s notes.”
She didn’t recognize any of the new people.Was she supposed to?Maybe.They set up a laptop and temporary screen to blast their presentation.
Bambi met Struan on his way to the couch.They sat together, listening to Hatfield direct the others.
“Like you remember anything except chasing tail at college.”
Tripp came to her.“Food.”
“Presentation, then food,” she said, threading their fingers together.“You know I need you on this and you can’t resist a damsel in distress.”
“You’re a lot of things, Rox Out.”He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck to turn her to face the others and murmur above her ear.“You ain’t no damsel.”
“Sit!Sit!”Hatfield gestured at the loveseat.She dragged Tripp over there to sit down.If she had to endure this, so did he.The lights dimmed and Hatfield flicked the slide to open his arms at the displayed logo.“Welcome to the Roxiverse!”
TEN
ONCE HER BEDROOM door was closed, she headed for the closet.It had been a long day.Somehow, they felt longer when she wasn’t coming home to her guy.Before she reached her destination a phone rang.
Hers?Stood to reason, except…
She paused to track the sound and, ah, right there in the dock by the bed.Her phone.Like magic.Astrid was a true gem.
Slipping her feet from her shoes, she went to pick it up.“Casanova,” she exhaled his name and sank to sit on the edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry, baby, I’ve been trying to get away all day.”
“Casanova, Casanova, Casanova,” another whispered chant.“Skippy.Skippy.Skippy.”
And he didn’t even have to ask why.“You met our new producers, huh?”
“You don’t get away for long enough to call the future bearer of your children, but you get away long enough to find out who she met?Who told you?Tripp?”
“I knew today was the day.”
