The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,434

my face in his strong hands. The pride in his gaze brings the sting of grateful tears to my eyes. “Kal, this is what you’ve always wanted. And it’s not a longshot. They’d be damn lucky to have you.”

“Really?” My voice is hushed by hope.

He smirks and genuine amusement lights his eyes. “Stop fishing for compliments, babe.”

Relief loosens the breath trapped in my chest and I laugh.

He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’m so proud of you. Tell me everything while we eat. I’m starving.” He lets me go and walks over to the counter where he laid the food out.

I’m confounded by the trajectory of my emotions. When I graduated from journalism school and started my career, a chance like this was my biggest, wildest ambition. And as I contemplated my future in the hours since I got the call from my agent, I was sure that this was the thing I wanted more than anything.

Until Remi came home and planted the seed of a new, even wilder dream.

I approach him tentatively, unsure why I’m pressing this now when I should let it go. But I can’t; Not until I understand exactly what he’s feeling. “Remi… you want to have a baby?”

His considers me with wary eyes, and he’s quiet for so long that I’m afraid he’s not going to answer. But then, his expression grow wistful and he smiles. “Of course, I do. But I’m not in a rush. You’ve got to see this through and when you get it, you can’t get pregnant right away. You wouldn’t qualify for FMLA, and no matter how much of a star you become, you’re going to want that job protection.”

“Always the optimist and the lawyer.” I smile my appreciation.

He winks and then tilts his head as a thought occurs to him. “You could just negotiate maternity leave into your contract.”

I ponder that while he piles steaming cheese drenched ziti onto a plate. “There’s a lot of travel with the job. The studio segments film in Atlanta, but there’s usually a location segment that would mean I’d be somewhere else every week. Would you want to move? Could you?”

He chuckles and hands me the food. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. And no matter what happens, we’ll figure it out together. I’ve got you. Eat.” He presses a fork into my hand and gives me a mockingly stern look.

I’m not convinced by his show of certainty, but I need more time to think about everything, so I do as I’m told.

“So, when’s the interview?” he asks when I swallow my first mouthful.

“There are six rounds of interviews. The first one is a video call, and it’s next week.”

His brows shoot up to his hairline. “Six?”

I shudder in agreement. “I know. But they want to be sure. My agent said to expect to wrap it all up late December. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve got it in me to go through three months of that kind of scrutiny.”

He scoffs, but his smile is as bright as it was when he first walked in the door. “This is your shot. You’ve been ready, Kal. It’s yours for the taking.”

I lower my eyes and watch his face through my lashes. “So…you’re happy?”

He kisses me. “So damn happy, baby,” he whispers against my mouth and I taste that lie on my lips for the rest of the day.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Chapter 3

Confidence

Pride and Pies

I’m no quitter.

There’s not mountain on earth high enough to keep me away from something that I want. So, I’ll be damned before I let Eliza Rivers and her pettiness ruin my family’s Christmas Eve.

“Confidence, you don’t have to do everything yourself.” The softness in my mother’s scold only irritates the anxiety I’ve been battling all morning.

“Mama,” I snap turn to give her a stern glare. “I’m not trying to do everything myself. These pies are the one thing Hayes asked for. I couldn’t find anyone to make them at such short notice. So, I have to.”

She leans back against the counter and folds her arms over her chest, never breaking eye contact with me. “I see you’ve got your tablet open to a pie crust recipe.” She points at the tablet I have propped on the counter of my center island next to the index cards of notes I’ve prepared for each of the recipes I’m attempting.

“Well, I’ve never made it before.” I explain, the effort to keep my patience tightens my voice tight and