“I won’t be coming back for a while,” Leo said. “Probably just to pop in and change before—”
His eyes met mine and I gave a stiff smile and finished what he wouldn’t. “Your date, Leo.” He looked uncomfortable and before he could say more, I clicked on my tablet and reminded him, “I’m in charge of your schedule, remember?”
“Right.” He took a few steps toward me. “But why do I feel like this is wrong?”
“Wrong?”
“Dating. And you—”
“We don’t have to go over this again. It’s really okay. I get it.”
“I don’t think I get it though, Paige. Last weekend I recall having a nice time with you.”
The thought of last weekend and that nice time made my heart race and my cheeks flush. And for a split moment, I got caught up in it.
“Nice, huh?” I smiled.
He nodded and took another step toward me. “Very nice. So nice, in fact, I want to do it again.” Another step. “Say the word and I’ll have my assistant clear my entire schedule . . .” He leaned in to nip my earlobe before whispering, “We can be in bed in five minutes . . . naked in three . . .”
I took a deep breath, wanting nothing more than what he was offering. “I am your assistant.” I smiled when he trailed those lips down my neck.
“Mmm, you don’t say? Well then, what’s the word, Red?”
I opened my mouth to say yes, when Leo’s office door opened instead, and I shot myself away from him before we were caught.
“Hey you!” A cheery voice came from behind me. I turned to see Regan walk into Leo’s office. She paused for a moment, looking between Leo and me. My cheeks were flushing like a mother, and Leo looked a little flustered himself. I felt like I had just gotten caught sneaking out with my high school boyfriend or something.
“Regan, what are you doing here?” Leo smiled, obviously not concerned his sister had shown up instead of meeting him at lunch. He hugged her quickly and she smiled. “We were going to meet in an hour.”
Though Regan was not as relaxed as Leo, there was a kindness about her. Sure, I probably wasn’t her favorite person in the world, but I could tell she wasn’t cruel or mean. She seemed to really care about her family and that was admirable.
“Nice to see you again, Paige,” Regan said, and shook my hand.
“You too.”
“I told Paige that Lyssa is still talking about her,” Leo added with a smile as if trying to score me brownie points.
“Yes, she is,” Regan agreed. “I understand you’re bringing the food tomorrow?”
I nodded. “Yes.” Yikes, that came out a little eager. Truth be told, I was excited to have secured a top chef to make the hors d’oeuvres and finger foods.
“Well, we really appreciate that,” Reagan said.
“I’m happy to help.”
Regan seemed like a genuine person. She was a Savas and obviously wealthy, but she’d decided not to work for the family business, becoming a hospital administrator instead, and she didn’t give off the unease of power and money. In cream slacks and a red blouse, she looked very much a wealthy soccer mom but nothing over the top.
“Knock, knock,” another voice chirped from the doorway.
“Vanessa?” Leo said in shock.
“Hi.” She gave a shy little wave and stepped in, crossing the room to Leo to hug him. I noticed there was something more to the hug. Something like history.
“I hope you don’t mind, I invited Vanessa to our lunch date. She just moved back to New York. Can you believe it?” Regan said with a wide smile and slight nod of her head.
Leo mimicked her action, nodding right back. “How exciting.”
Regan glanced at me with a certain questionable gaze. “Where are my manners? Vanessa, this is Paige, Leo’s assistant.” Regan put a lot of emphasis on the word assistant and I knew why. To make clear to everyone in the room, including me, what I was.