It’s hard to play it cool around him. Not that I’ve ever played anything cool in my life. I can’t stop grinning when I see him after my latest firing.

“I got fired!” I’ve never been so happy to admit to failure in my life.

A surprised laugh. “Is that a good thing?”

“Oh.” I force my smile down. I can’t let him know I’m happy, what if he doesn’t invite me to the show? “It’s terrible. I’m not happy.”

“You’re not?”

“I’m very depressed.” I suck at subterfuge.

“Well, since you clearly need cheering up, you could come check out my band? We’re opening at the Saloon. I’ll buy you a drink.”

Cool. Play it cool, Jane. “Yes.”

His brows lift. “Yes? It’s that easy.”

I laugh, unable to stop the bubble of joy careening through me. I want to kiss him again. Now. But what if I make it mega weird and he changes his mind?

My smile droops.

He’s going to think I’ve lost my mind.

“I’ll see you later.” I run away before I can do something stupid like throw myself at him and ruin the only good thing that happens on this godforsaken Monday.

“I wish you had said something to me before.” Before today. Then maybe we would have had a chance to go on that first date. Instead, I’m destined to stand here, outside of the Saloon every night, listening to Alex apologize for moving me from his team over and over again before we can get to the good stuff. Not that I’m complaining.

He rubs his chin. “I thought you were with Mark. And honestly, I thought you knew.”

“How could I have known?”

“I thought you’d notice that I’ve been showing up at Blue Wave even when I don’t need anything.”

My brows lift. “You have?”

“Well. Yeah. At this point, everything could be handled with a phone call or delivered by a courier.” He shakes his head. “Do you have any other clients hanging around post-production three times a week?”

I laugh. “I guess not. I never really thought about it.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t notice. I thought I was so obvious.”

It’s pure greed inducing me to ask. “You came in just to see me?” The thought makes me all fluttery. I still can’t believe it.

“Is that so surprising?”

I nod. “Yes. Actually. It is.”

“Why?” His brow furrows.

“I’m me and you’re you.”

He shakes his head. “You need to give yourself more credit.”

“I guess.”

He steps toward me, his hands coming up to my face. “Now that we’re on the same page, if I were to, say, ask you to dinner sometime or something, you would say . . . ?”

I grin. “Yes. Of course, yes.”

He steps closer again.