Setting his jaw, Reed stalked to the elevator and punched the down button, then waited for the doors to open and marched right through them.
All without a backward glance.
…
Darcy bit her lip as Skyler’s knowing blue eyes twinkled from the other end of the couch.
“He’s just what?” the other woman teased.
“He’s just…” Darcy gasped. “…my boyfriend.” Her eyes widened. “Holy shit, he’s my boyfriend.”
“And?” Skyler prompted.
“And I love him.” Her pulse quickened. “Damn it, Skyler, I love him.”
“Hey, why are you angry at me? Actually, why are you angry at all?”
“I’m not angry. I’m…”
She shook her head a couple times, hoping it would knock her jumbled thoughts into balance.
She was in love with Reed. When on earth had that happened?
But no, she knew exactly when it happened—when he’d shown her the true meaning of passion. When he’d opened up to her about the loneliness of childhood and how hard it had been to grow up without parents. When he’d taken a little boy under his wing and given him the father figure he’d craved.
When those deep blue eyes locked with hers.
When their lips met.
When…God, whenever she was with him.
Reed Miller might not have looked like her ideal mate on the surface, but Darcy knew without a doubt that he was perfect for her. He challenged her, he thrilled her, he made her feel alive in a way no other man ever had.
“Do you think he loves me back?” she blurted out.
Skyler responded with a soft laugh. “Oh, Darce, you better believe it. Trust me, I saw the way Reed looked at you when you were dating AJ. He had it bad. And he has it even worse now. That man is infatuated with you.”
Her teeth worried her lower lip again. “Yeah, but does he love me?”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” Skyler hopped off the sofa with a burst of energy. “I was just about to visit Gage at the club. Why don’t you come with me and talk to Reed?”
Darcy’s legs felt weak as her friend tugged her onto her feet. Talk to Reed? And say what? That she loved him?
What if he didn’t say it back?
“I don’t know,” she said uneasily. “Maybe I should think about it some more before I talk to him.”
“Think about what?” Skyler tipped her head. “You told me that he hinted he wanted more, right?”
“Yeah, he hinted. I reminded him that it was a fling, and he said for now.” She swallowed. “That doesn’t mean he wants a relationship.”
“Darce, that’s totally what it means.” Skyler gave a stern clap of her hands. “Stop being a wuss. You’re coming with me to Sin, and you’re going to talk to Reed.”
It was obvious the other woman wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Skyler all but dragged Darcy out the door and pushed her into the elevator, and then she did the same in the parking lot when she shoved Darcy into the passenger seat of the car.
A moment later, Skyler sat behind the wheel, smiling happily as she drove toward the club, while Darcy wrung her hands together with growing anxiety.
This was precisely what she’d been so afraid of. Getting attached. Falling in love. But those fears had been based on her old opinion of Reed, when she’d believed he was shallow, reckless, and temporary. Being with him had shown her a whole different side to the man, and he had been hinting that he was interested in more than a casual affair. She’d been the one holding back, but the insufferable man had broken all of her ground rules and bulldozed through her defenses, until her guard was down and her heart was wide open.
Darcy didn’t say much during the drive, but it didn’t matter, because Skyler chatted about her plans to move into Gage’s townhouse and all the preparations she had to make. By the time they arrived at Sin, Darcy’s nerves had begun to ebb. The fact that they were in the parking lot didn’t hurt, either—it only reminded her of the night Reed had ravished her in the backseat of her car, and the thrilling memory brought a grin to her lips.
Yeah, life with Reed was nothing if not thrilling. She couldn’t believe she’d even considered not keeping him around.
“Ha, look who’s in a good mood now,” Skyler teased as they strode through the club’s back door. “You’re totally thinking about all the lovey dovey sex you guys are going to have tonight, huh?”
She grinned. “Guilty as charged.”
Since Reed could usually be found in his office pouring over invoices and timesheets while Gage worked security on the floor, the two women parted ways in the hallway. Skyler ducked into the club through a staff door in the hall, Darcy headed for the stairs at the end of it, but before she could climb the first step, AJ appeared at the top of the staircase.
“Hey,” he greeted her, bounding down the stairs to plant a warm and totally platonic kiss on her cheek. “If you’re looking for Reed, he’s serving tonight.”
She furrowed her brow. “How come?”
AJ shrugged. “No clue. He just said he was feeling too antsy to be stuck at his desk and announced that I was gonna have company behind the bar.” He touched her arm. “I need to duck outside and help the guys unload a liquor delivery. Go on ahead. Reed’ll be happy to see you.”
She sure hoped so.
And she also hoped he’d be able to take a break so they could speak in private. The last thing Darcy wanted to do was tell him how she felt by screaming over a deafening dance beat.
The club had only been open for ten minutes, so it wasn’t at all crowded when Darcy emerged into the shadowy space. She immediately spotted Reed at the bar, her heart beating faster at the sight of him.
And then not beating at all when she saw what he was doing.
His roped arms rested on the sleek counter as he leaned in to whisper something in the ear of a very pretty, very busty brunette in a skimpy halter top. Miss Thang was sitting on a stool with her legs crossed and her indecently short miniskirt riding up her thighs, a throaty giggle piercing the air as she responded to whatever Reed had said.
Darcy’s body went cold. Was he seriously flirting with another woman? Right in front of her?
Granted, he hadn’t seen her yet. But still.
Gritting her teeth in anger, she marched up to the bar, halting two feet from the brunette.
Reed’s expression didn’t change when he noticed her. His rogue grin stayed in place, and he tipped his head in greeting. “Hey, Darce.” Then, to her staggering shock, he turned right back to the brunette and said, “Anyway, I want to know more about this modeling agency of yours.”
Darcy’s mouth fell open. “Are you kidding me?”
The rage simmering in her stomach only burned hotter when she glimpsed the irritation in his eyes. “Hold that thought, baby girl,” he drawled to the other woman. “I’ve gotta take care of something.”
Baby girl?
Darcy had never been more insulted in her life as Reed drifted to the far edge of the bar, gesturing for her to follow. Her hands trembled and her throat closed up, hurt and anger forming a lethal cocktail inside her.
“What the hell is going on?” she demanded once they were out of the brunette’s earshot.