“So that explains why you dumped me for lunch.”

The smile I held stretched my face to the point that I covered my mouth and laughed. It was 8:46 pm and I was trying to get back into Santana’s good graces by treating her to dinner. The pizzeria we sat in was busy for a Monday night. I supposed the patrons were trying to get over the day just the same as we were.

“I didn’t dump you for lunch.”

At the unassured look on Santana’s face, I cajoled, “I promise!”

“Somehow,” she said, “I don’t think you put up a fight.”

“But, you don’t know because you weren’t there.”

My stomach growled as a waiter passed by us to deliver pizza at a nearby table. The smells of freshly baked bread, mozzarella cheese, and savory, ripe tomato sauce filled my nose. College jocks cheered and whistled when the waitress arrived at their destination. Santana turned to their ranting, and a few of them sent winks and blew kisses our way. She smiled demurely then turned back to me.

“I’m about ready to go over there and flirt with them if I can get a slice of pizza. Wonder what’s taking them so long with our order. Didn’t we sit down at the same time?”

I nodded as my eyes lingered on the steam that rose from their piping hot dish. “Yes,” I said, “We did.”

“Don’t try and change the subject,” Santana berated.

“How am I trying to change the subject when you’re the one who changed the subject!”

A smile formed at the corner of her mouth and she leaned forward. “What exactly did Fredrick say?” Before I could answer, she held a finger in the air and shook it. “I want details. No, he made me do it speeches, either.” She peered at me with untrustworthy eyes.

“Well, he did,” I shrugged. Santana glared. “Okay, you want details. It seems that Julian Alexander Rose—”

She interrupted. “That’s the guy whose brother is engaged to your sister, right?”

“Yes, that would be him,” I said. “For whatever reason, he decided that now was the time to give Fredrick the exclusive first look at a photo spread he’s modeling in Dubai, and he’s personally asked that I write the story.”

Her mouth fell open. “So, you’ll be traveling to Dubai with that gorgeous hunk of a man?”

“Apparently.”

“Oh, you’ve gotta be more excited than that.”

“Why should I be?”

She smirked at me and ignored my question. “Continue,” Santana quipped.

“Julian asked me if I had plans for lunch and I told him, yes, but Fredrick made it a point to say I didn’t so we ended up…” My sentence trailed off.

“You ended up what?”

I shifted in my seat. I had a feeling Santana was going to accuse me of being a harlot once I told her how our afternoon turned out.

“Don’t get quiet now,” she chirped.

“We ended up in his hotel suite.”

Santana’s eyes popped.

“It’s not what you think. I didn’t know we were going there, but by the time I questioned Julian, we had arrived.”

“So?”

“So what?”

Santana made an exasperating attempt at rolling her eyes.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

My eyes left her to wander around the restaurant. “Where is that pizza,” I whispered almost to myself.

“Desiree!”

My eyes snapped back to her. “Hmm?”

“Did you sleep with him?”

This time my mouth fell open. “Of course not!” I screeched glancing around to see if anyone heard her. “Why would you think I would do something like that? Show’s what you think of me.” I folded my arms and poked my lips out like a sulking child.

“Oh don’t give me that. Julian is the same man you talked about nonstop for a full week after returning from Chicago. And, might I add, he’s the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”

A smiled ushered to my lips, and a giggle tickled from my throat.

“He is pretty hot,” I said. “But looks can be deceiving.”

Santana nodded just as a different waitress approached with our pizza.

“Thank God!” She reached for a slice and the steam rising from the dish fogged her glasses.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am. Your pizza was ready fifteen minutes ago, but it slipped and hit the floor, so we had to make another one. We normally don’t take as long; please accept our apologies. This one is on the house.”

“Thank you,” I said. Santana and I dug in immediately. But, as soon as the warm layer of melted cheese hit our tongues, we both yelped and laughed. I sent a cool breeze over the top of my slice in an attempt to cool off the simmering sauce.

“Mmmm,” Santana moaned, “This is good, burned tongue and all.”

I snickered as I continued to blow on my slice. After a few bites, Santana prodded me to go on with my afternoon story. I gave her a few details; purposely omitting the fact that I’d almost thrown myself at him because my neglected sex life needed the healing I knew he could give.

“Wow,” Santana said. “Sounds like a delightful afternoon.”

I nodded again as no words came from my mouth. My thoughts traveled to Julian’s lips and the tight grip he held me in as I sat stupefied in his lap. The scent of his cologne mixed with his natural aroma assaulting my nose as if he sat before me now. His thick eyelashes and strong nose was the only thing I could see at the moment.

Santana’s arm reached out to me, her fingers snapping. “Earth to Desiree.”

“Hmm?” I blinked coming back to the restaurant and it’s tantalizing smells of rich pizza.

“Girl, you’ve got it bad.”

“What are you talking about?”

Santana shook her head slowly. “It’s too late. You can’t pretend you’re not attracted to him. I caught you daydreaming.”

I wanted to put up a fight and simply suggest that she was crazy. But I wasn’t fooling her, no more than I was fooling myself. I shrugged. “What can I say, I’m in lust.”

We both giggled and ate a few more slices of pizza.

“So what does this mean for your position at the Report? Are you still thinking of moving back to Chicago, or are you staying here with me?” Santana perked up laying it on heavy by batting her eyes, hoping it would entice me to stay.

“I’m not only thinking about it, I’m still going to move back. The only difference is, reporting on this story will build my brand. That way when I apply for a position in Chicago, it will look great on my resume. I shouldn’t have too hard a time getting a prominent spot.”

Santana’s lips twisted slightly. “With all the work you’ve done, you don’t need one story to seal the deal for you at any newspaper. They’d all be lucky to snag a reporter like you.”

I perked up. “Aww thanks, Santana.”

“I’m serious. I’m not saying it to boost your ego.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I was thinking,” Santana paused, and I evaluated her.

“What?” I asked.

“What do you think about me possibly moving to Chicago with you?”

My brows rose then I frowned. “No way, I couldn’t ask you to do that. Everyone you know is here in Houston.”

“First, you wouldn’t be asking me to do anything and secondly, I would love to venture out and see what another city has to offer. Besides, I would know you.” She wiggled her brows.

I sat back in my seat. “You’re serious.”

At the dumbfounded look on my face, Santana folded her arms across her chest. “Of course, I am. Just tell me now if you don’t want me to go.”

“No, of course, I would love for you to be there! That would be awesome! I just don’t want you to commit to something you haven’t given much thought to. I would feel responsible for your misery.”

She laughed. “I hardly doubt I’d be miserable.”

“If this is something you would really like to do, then you could stay with me and my mother until you found your own space.”

She perked up again and squealed.

“But I have to forewarn you. My mother can be something like a pistol.”

She laughed. “Hopefully I’ll be her favorite.”

“I don’t know about all that.”

Santana laughed again. “So, it’s official then.”

“Is it?”

She gave me a begrudging look.

“Okay then,” I said. “It’s official.”

This time we both squealed.

“What’s your next step with your assignment?”

“I have an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow. It was a blessing to even get one so quickly, but I told him it was an emergency.”

“Oh my goodness, he’s going to think you’ve got rabies or something.”

We both snickered.

“He’ll find out shortly that I don’t. However, when I get home I need to pull out my dusty passport and see if it’s any good.”

“How long have you had it?”

“Feels like about eight years now, give or take.”

“I think you get ten years before it expires.”

“Either way, Julian says if it is expired we can grab a visitor’s visa.”

“Seems he has everything covered. Almost as if this was premeditated.”

I quirked up a brow and stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Suddenly, out of nowhere, this man decides to give Fredrick an exclusive look? And at the last minute no doubt. You’ve got a week to get yourself together. Who plans a trip at the last minute like that?” She answered her own question, “Seemingly, he does.”

“I don’t see your point.”

“Clearly. No one is beating down the door at the Houston Report to offer exclusives. Then, on top of that, he’s required you to write this exclusive?”

“He didn’t require me, per say.”

“Oh, girl! Now you’re just messing with me.”

“So you think he did it to what?”

“He has the hots for you just like you’ve got the hots for him.”

My phone dinged. I reached into my bag and pulled it out exhaling a heavy sigh.

“Who’s that?” Santana asked.

I groaned. “Fredrick.”