Wild Open Hearts (Bluewater Billionaires) - Kathryn Nolan Page 0,14

fundraising experience that would hopefully grow Lucky Dog’s budget for many years to come.” She leaned in like she was sharing a secret. “And, obviously, you can expect a large personal gift from me as well.”

“Thank you,” Elián said. “Very much.”

I knew this game.

I held up my palm. “A gift and what?”

Luna tilted her head, quizzical. “What do you mean?”

“What if I don’t want you to film here?”

“Why wouldn’t you want us to help you?” she asked, lips pursed.

“Because I don’t like the idea of being used,” I said.

Luna stared at me. I stared back, not even trying to tone down my glower. To her credit, she didn’t back down. Instead, she lifted her chin and assessed me cooly.

“I looked at Lucky Dog’s website on the way over here,” she said. “It’s 2019 and you have almost no online or social media presence.”

“So?”

“Maybe there’s a reason why you need help with money.”

“I’m not sure you’d fit in here at Lucky Dog. I saw your pictures,” I said. “You’ll have to get your hands dirty.”

She looked actually hurt—and I immediately regretted my full asshole mode.

“I’d love for people to stop using my Instagram feed as a barometer for my work ethic.” Luna stood up—shoulders back, spine straight. There was a fire in her eyes I respected, even as my guard was still raised. “I’d love to get my hands dirty here, Mr. Mason. And if you think I’ve been able, at thirty-two, to become one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the entire world by posting pictures on Instagram, then you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She said this sweetly, but I wasn’t convinced she was that sweet.

“I don’t…” I exhaled through my nose. “I don’t want you filming me or interviewing me. I don’t want you to blast our private financial situation out to millions of strangers who are going to think I’m doing a shit job. They don’t understand what it’s like to—”

I clammed up.

Luna assessed me, cocked her head. “I don’t understand. I’m offering you the opportunity of a lifetime and you’re turning it down because you don’t want people to know you need help?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“I want to do good,” she said. “And I want to do it here.”

“You want to use us to improve your reputation,” I countered.

“Is that wrong?” she asked. “My reputation is important to me. It’s who I am.”

We were standing almost toe-to-toe, Jasmine and Elián forgotten in the background.

“I think you should do good just to do it. Not market it.” I crossed my arms. Her nostrils flared, but I caught a flash of emotion in those dark eyes. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared. “I don’t like strings attached to my money.”

“It’s not strings. It’s media attention,” she said.

We were like two boxers in the ring. We could have sold popcorn. And I kept digging and digging, ignoring the look of fury on Elián’s face.

“To summarize,” Luna said shortly, “I’d like to come work at Lucky Dog a few days a week. Film it. Bring the world to your mission. Raise you an exorbitant amount of money while doing so. And you’re saying…”

“No,” I said.

Elián looked away from me—which caused a stabbing sensation in my chest. I’d seen my own father have these same stubborn impulses, running the MC with a streak of angry pride.

But I wasn’t going to be indebted. Not to anyone. And especially not to someone just trying to use me.

Luna looked almost sad for a second. But she tossed her long, wavy hair. Turned away from me to shake Elián’s hand. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you. Hopefully we’ll meet again. Say goodbye to Jem and Wes for me, will you?”

“I will,” Elián said. I tried not to notice that Luna had remembered everyone’s name. She and her team swept out of the room, taking all of the light with them.

Elián closed the door but didn’t turn to me.

“Listen,” I started to say, “hear me out—”

“You know that stray from the beach?” he said.

“Uh, yeah,” I said, startled by the misdirect.

“She’s here and terrified. Jem needs your help. I’ve got another intake to take care of.”

I rubbed my beard. “Okay. I’ll go help her. We’re cool though, right?”

Elián opened the door, backing out of it with his palms up. “You just sent our last chance out the door.”

“You know having my picture online is a complication,” I said. “It’s been twenty years but I’m pretty damn sure my family is always watching. You think the Devils