All It Takes (Romancing Manhattan 2)

“Good girl,” I whisper, but she doesn’t hear me as she sniffles through her tears.

“But I’m the one who got punished because Claire lied and said she didn’t do anything to me first.”

“And they believed that?” I ask.

“It was my word against hers, and she was the one bleeding.”

God, she sounds so grown up right now. Where is the chubby toddler that I swear she was just four minutes ago?

“Violence isn’t the way to handle the situation,” Carter says, sitting back in his chair. “And you will apologize for hurting her.”

“Dad!”

“I’m not finished speaking.”

She closes her lips, frowning again.

“I am proud of you for standing up for your friend. Being loyal is an excellent trait, and I want you to always do that. But the answer isn’t to act out physically.”

“What was I supposed to do?” she demands.

“Walk away,” Carter suggests. “Tell Claire that she’s mean and you don’t want to be her friend, gather your lunches, and go sit somewhere else.”

“She would just laugh at us,” Gabby murmurs.

“Let her laugh,” I say. “Seriously, who cares what Claire the B thinks? Let her laugh, but you won’t have to sit with her anymore, and you’ll be with your true friend.”

“On Monday, you will apologize to Claire. Let’s hope that Claire tells her parents the truth, and that we don’t get sued for any medical bills that come out of this.”

“They can’t do that,” Gabby says.

“Yes, they can,” Carter and I say at the same time.

“And if they do,” I continue, “we’ll deal with it. Because just like you have Lily’s back, we have your back.”

Gabby nods. “Since I was helping a friend, can I have my phone back?”

“On Monday,” Carter replies. “You’re suspended from that for now too.”

“This sucks,” she grumbles.

“We’re going home early today,” Carter says as I stand to go to my own office now. “What do you have tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s Friday,” I murmur, thinking. “I have my meeting with Bruce in the morning, and then I think Sienna and I are having dinner with Finn and London tomorrow evening. You should join us.”

And bring Nora.

“Not this time,” Carter says, shaking his head. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walk down toward my office, pausing at the conference room that Sienna’s working in. The door is open, and Matt is leaning over Sienna’s shoulder, reading.

His hand is on her.

And that doesn’t fly with me.

“How’s it going in here?” I ask, leaning against the doorjamb.

“I found a journal,” Sienna says with a smile. “This is my great-grandmother’s journal from when she was dating my great-grandfather.”

“And it’s explicit,” Matt adds with a grin. “Great-Grandpa was a bit of a freak.”

Sienna laughs, but my eyes are pinned to Matt’s hand on Sienna’s arm, which he immediately moves away.

“I think it’s time for lunch,” I announce, and all four of the clerks stand, ready to get something to eat.

“See you in a bit,” Christy says to Sienna. “Do you want anything?”

“No, I’m good. Thanks.”

They leave and I close the door, then lock it.

“Seriously, this woman should have written romance novels,” Sienna says, still reading the book in her hands. “She was way before her time. She could have given Fifty Shades a run for its money.”

“He was touching you,” I say, sitting next to her. She looks up with a frown, confusion on her face.

“Who was?”

“Matt.”

She blinks quickly. “When?”

“Just now.” I rub my hands over my face, pissed at myself for being jealous, but unable to stop it. “And I didn’t like it.”

“We were reading this journal,” she says, holding it up to show me. “We were laughing, and he touched me.”

“And he didn’t take his hand away until I gave him the stink eye.”

Sienna closes the book and sits back in her chair, watching me. “You’re jealous.”

“Fuck yes, I am.”

“Quinn, you have no reason to be jealous.”

“Doesn’t make it any less of a thing.”

She sighs and moves from her chair to my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me long and deep.

“Trust me when I say, I have zero urge to do that to Matt.”

“I’d kill him otherwise.”

“You’re awfully violent.”

“When it comes to you? Yes.” I kiss her again, but my muscles are relaxing now. “I won’t apologize for feeling territorial. That’s what being in love with you does to me.”

She smiles, her whole face lighting up. “I don’t mind. Just don’t beat anyone up.”

“I’m not Gabby.”

She tilts her head in confusion, and I tell her all about my niece’s suspension from school.

“She was doing what she thought was right,” Sienna says. “And that Claire sounds like a bitch.”

I laugh and hug her close. “That’s what Gabby calls her. Claire the B.”

“Good name for her. I got a call from my mom the other day and forgot to tell you. She invited us to dinner on Sunday.”

“Both of us?”

She nods and bites her lip. “Seems Lou told her we’re dating.”