“Pfft. That’s not an answer.” Reed mirrored me by crossing his arms, although he made the stance look sassy by cocking his hip. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see.”
“I hate surprises, Daniel. I need to know everything all the time.”
I grabbed my suit jacket from the back of my chair and put it on. “I have a meeting to get to.”
A thin brow arched high. “That you do.” He opened the door and waited for me outside of it. “I’ll order your lunch from the usual place so it’ll be here when you’re done with the meeting.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t give him a second glance as I turned down the hall to head to the conference room, but I sensed him watching me. Even though I was outwardly composed, I was celebrating on the inside.
Ever since my dad died, I had stepped up and did what was expected of me, shoving away all of my wants and desires. My whole life, I’d worked hard, very rarely partied even in college, and focused on my career. My mom had always talked about me getting married one day, and so when I’d met Olivia, I had considered that to be another expected thing. Marriage and children were part of the model of success that had been planted in my head for as long as I could remember.
But with one decision that Wednesday morning, I had finally chosen something for myself.
Consequences be damned.
Chapter Thirteen
Reed
“I need you. Now.”
“Hello to you too,” Quinn said over the phone. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m going on a date tonight,” I said, holding the phone between my cheek and shoulder as I searched my closet for something to wear. “I want to wear something that’s hot but that doesn’t say I’m a two-bit ho. Any suggestions?”
“Nothing you own makes you look like a ho, Reed. Who are you going on a date with? I thought you were still hung up on your boss.”
“Um.” I bit my lip. “Well, you see… he’s the one I’m kinda going out with.” When Quinn was quiet, I got nervous and started blabbing. “I know what you’re thinking. Okay? And I know it’s bad. Dating the boss is morally wrong or whatever, but Daniel is…” I stopped looking through shirts and slumped against the closet door. “He’s special, Beck. When I’m around him, my stomach gets all fluttery and it’s a little hard to breathe.”
“Sounds like a medical problem you should get checked out.”
“Stop,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m serious here.”
“What do you want me to say?” Quinn asked. “This guy has authority over you. The power dynamic is way off.”
“So?”
“So, I’m worried about you.” Quinn sighed, and it sounded like he was washing dishes because there was running water in the background. “What happens when he turns out like all the other losers you’ve banged and fallen for? Hmm? He won’t just break your heart. He will fire you too. You’re risking your job, your future, on someone who—”
“Oh, and fucking a guy who used to shove you into lockers and bully you so bad you cried is okay?” I snapped. “But you didn’t see me saying shit to you when you told me about you and Monty. I was there for you, Beck. I supported you. Even if part of me worried you were making a mistake, I was there for you no matter what. If you fell, I’d catch you. Because that’s what friends do.”
As an angry tear fell down my cheek, I wiped it away. God, I was so fucking pissed off at him.
“Reed, I—”
“And you’re right,” I continued. “I’m a fucking whore who bangs men to feel wanted, and I date a lot of losers who screw me over. I have Daddy issues and tend to fall for the first guy who comes along and smiles at me, who makes me feel special. But that doesn’t mean Daniel is the same way. In fact, I know he’s not. I thought my best friend would be here for me like I was there for him, but I guess not.”
“Reed! Goddammit, listen to me,” Quinn said in a rush. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t judging you for sleeping around. I only meant that, when it comes to men, you sometimes don’t see things clearly. I don’t want you getting hurt again.”
I let the anger roll off me as I took deep breaths. “I know you weren’t judging me. I’m sorry too.” I grinned. “Wanna kiss and make up?”
“If only you were my type,” Quinn said with an overly dramatic sigh.
“I’m everyone’s type.”
“Hey, that’s my line.”
When we both started laughing, I knew we were okay. That’s the thing with me and Quinn. We could bicker one moment and then act like nothing’s wrong the next. He was my chosen family. My brother.
“Wear the coral shirt with the black jacket,” Quinn said. “Throw on some skinny jeans and those new boots I got you for Christmas, and he won’t stand a chance at resisting you.”
“Oh! That’s perfect!” I grabbed the shirt off the hanger. “Thanks, Beck.”
“Anytime.” There were murmured voices on his end of the line. “Monty says to stop talking on the phone and get ready.”
“Tell Monty he can kiss my ass.”
Quinn laughed. “Have a good night, Reed. Let me know how it goes.”
I changed into the outfit he suggested before touching up my hair in the bathroom mirror. A little bit before six thirty, my phone rang, and my stomach did little flips.
“Hey, you,” I answered it.
“Come outside,” Daniel said. Well, more like ordered.
“Pardon moi?” I walked over to the living room window and saw his car idling in my driveway. “My, my, Mr. Sawyer. You need to freshen up on your proper dating etiquette.”
“How so?” he asked with amusement thick in his tone.
“A date is supposed to come to the door.”
“Is that what all your other dates did?”
“No,” I answered. “They all sat in their cars too.”
Just then, the driver’s-side door swung open and Daniel stepped out, shutting it before walking toward the house. Thank god I had the extra time to compose myself after seeing him. He wore a fitted suit that hugged every inch of his sexy, muscled body and a black coat on over it.
“That’s not fair,” I said into the phone, watching him. “You look like a damn movie star.”
I was rewarded with a raspy laugh. “And you always look like a model. I guess we’re quite the pair.”
Damn him and his flattery. The man was smooth. Real smooth.
Even though I stood in the entryway, I waited for him to knock on the door before opening it. “Hey there.”
Daniel smirked down at me. “Is this better?”
“Yep.” I grabbed his gloved hand and led him into the house. “Come in out of the cold. I just need to grab my coat.” I dashed to the hallway closet and pulled it off the hanger before shrugging it on. “You gonna tell me where we’re going?”
“To dinner,” he answered.
“Oh, so you were serious about the food.” I turned to him with a smile and walked over. “I thought that was code for you were gonna eat me. Or me eat you. Both ways work.”