Hailey: She also worships you and is a wealth of information.
Reid called the next second.
“Hailey.”
It was the first time he hadn’t called me Ms. Connor. My entire body felt on fire. How was this happening?
“Reid, hello.”
“So, what exactly did Bianca say?”
“Sung your praises. Gave me her perspective, and more insight into you than even you did. I didn’t ask her about you, by the way. She just....”
“Went on? Yeah, she’s good at that.” He sounded as if he was smiling. “I’m not making your job easy, am I?”
“Well, Bianca put it perfectly. Talking to you is like drawing water from a rock.”
“Ouch.”
“No worries, though. Bianca is eager to talk.”
“So many sources of information about me, yet I know nothing about you.”
“You’re the client,” I reminded him. “You don’t need to know about me.”
“You’re wrong.” His tone was full of authority. He didn’t really think I wouldn’t challenge him, did he?
“Why is that?”
“I’m more open with people I know.”
I bit my lip. I had clients who had become my friends, and it had started the same way: I’d had to personally get closer to them before they truly trusted me enough. But something instinctively told me this wasn’t such a good idea when it came to Reid.
“Bianca said that about you.”
“My sister knows me well. You denied me that second drink, but I’m sure we can find an activity that pleases you.”
Oh, yeah. I have a few ideas. You could start by using those lips.... Nope, I wouldn’t go there. I couldn’t.
“I have a packed schedule this week. Do you run?”
“Only under extreme circumstances.”
I laughed. “Why not? It’s relaxing.”
“I swim to relax.”
Now that I’d love to see. Reid Davenport wearing only swim trunks? Sign me up now.
“But I’m open to alternatives. What do you have in mind?”
“I’m participating in a run to raise awareness for the dangers of drinking and driving on Wednesday. It’s a leisurely thing. Jogging. No set time or anything. Starts at three.”
“Running with other people? Sounds excruciating.”
“I see. You subscribe to the hell is other people school of thought?”
“I think that quote was invented for me.”