AVA'S POV
"You were trying to sneak out," he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
I laughed. "You needed the rest."
"And you need me," he replied, playfully tugging me backward toward the bed. "Five more minutes."
"Ethan, I have a meeting this afternoon. Important one."
"Hmm. Let me guess. The one about that outreach partnership Melanie wouldn't stop emailing you about?"
I turned in his arms, surprised. "How do you know about that?"
"I may have been away, but I didn't stop reading your updates." He kissed my forehead. "And I'm proud of you. But I'm also selfish. I just got back, and I want the day with you."
"You'll have the evening," I offered, wrapping my arms around his neck. "And dinner. Maybe dessert, if you're nice."
He smirked. "Oh, I'll be nice."
---
By 1:30, I was seated in the car, reviewing the talking points on my tablet. As much as I wanted to stay curled up in bed with Ethan, my mind had shifted into work mode. Focused. Precise.
