“Interfamily ambush. This is new. They’re taking this to the next level.”
She looked up at me from between her fingers, and maybe she realized I was a fraction of a second away from claiming that kiss I so desperately needed, because her eyes widened.
“Reid, I don’t know what to say,” she murmured.
“You don’t have to say anything right now. Just know that I’m here to show you that we belong together. I’m not leaving until I win you back, pretty girl.”
***
Hailey
After Reid left, I was in a frenzy. Next morning, I woke up with the strangest feeling that I was still dreaming. It had been a good dream, though. Reid had starred in it. I blinked open an eye, and then the other. My heart was beating faster. Holy shit. It hadn’t been a dream. He’d been here. Here. For me. I was jittery all through my morning routine, barely paying attention to what I was doing. My mind was on Reid. What was he thinking? Where was he now?
I didn’t have to wonder too long about that, because when I stepped through the doors of the nearest Starbucks, there he was. Looking as irresistible in his jeans and polo shirt as he’d looked yesterday in that suit.
“Morning,” he greeted.
“Fancy seeing you here. Coincidence?”
I had a déjà vu of him showing up at that movie screening, when I asked him the same thing. His eyes sparkled. He remembered too.
“Absolutely fucking not.”
“Mmm... Bianca striking again?”
“No, just my power of observation. It’s the only Starbucks in a five-block radius.”
“I see.”
&
nbsp; “Would have ordered your usual too but didn’t want to risk it getting cold. Didn’t know exactly when you’d show up.”
He was already holding a coffee cup but waited patiently while I ordered my treat.
“We can sit right there.” He pointed to two comfy-looking armchairs by the window.
“Hmm... I sense you have a master plan in the works.”
The responding grin slayed me. “What can I say? You know me too well.”
Once we were both sitting, he asked, “How is work?”
“Boring. We don’t have many clients. We’re mainly trying to acquire some, but honestly, even for the clients we do have, the work just isn’t very riveting. I spoke to Cameron, and everything’s calming down considerably in LA.”
One corner of his mouth twitched. I narrowed my eyes.
“I’ve heard that Marion’s fashion show was unexpectedly canceled. Did you have something to do with that?”
“Will saying yes earn me points?”
She smiled. “Maybe.”
“You’re being hard on me. But I deserve it. Yes, I did. And just to come clean, you’ll find out soon enough that Victor what’s-his-face no longer works for LA Lifestyle. Also had something to do with that.”
“You didn’t.”
He leaned in, straight into my personal space. “I told you I’ll protect you. That’s me keeping that promise. I love you, Hailey.”