“I see. I’m usually not in the habit of rewarding bad behavior, but I’ll reward you with dinner.”
“Well, if I stay, I’m the one rewarding you for being insufferable and calling Cameron.”
“I promise to spend the entire time making it up to you.”
She narrowed her eyes, but there was a definite wiggle in her ass as she turned.
“I remember you telling me something about more dates before naked time.”
“See, this can double as a date.”
“Making good on that promise to keep me captive here, huh? What if I say no?”
“Dinner. End of discussion.”
“Oh, really?”
“I have ways of getting what I want.”
Her eyes flared, but eventually she looked away, licking her lips.
Half an hour later, servers laid out dinner in the living room. I wasn’t paying the slightest attention to the food. My focus was on Hailey.
“I just love the food here. These are the best spring rolls, and I never thought I’d find anything to top my number one.”
“Where did you eat those?”
“New York,” she said dreamily.
“You miss your old job?”
“Not at all. I mean, I learned a lot, but it was just so dry. I do miss the travel, though. Clients were all over the country.”
“Did you have much time to explore?”
“Not really. Which is why I’d love to go back to a few of those places. Got a ticket booked for Chicago in one month. I can’t wait.”
I could listen to her all night, and even longer than that. I wasn’t into traveling—except if it was business related—but I couldn’t deny that hearing her tell me all about her plans lit something up inside me.
We were about to start dessert when her phone rang.
“I’ll just mute this,” she said, digging into her bag, but then she frowned.
“Take the call, Hailey. Better than fretting over it.”
“Thanks. I’ll be quick.”
She brought the phone to her ear. “Hi, Will. What’s with the late call?”
In a matter of seconds, her face turned ashen. “What do you mean? When?”
I moved closer, instinctively placing my hand on her back, hoping it would soothe her. She was trembling lightly.
“Right. I’ll be there as fast as possible and join the search party.”
Dropping the phone in her bag, she drew in a deep breath.
“I’m driving,” I said.