you been? You missed me getting a drink thrown in my face.” Reed hands me a stiff drink as I join him at the bar. I knock it back in one, wincing at the burn.
He turns to the bartender and raises two fingers, signaling for him to bring more.
“Thanks.” I take the second glass and turn, leaning back against the bar.
Reed quirks an eyebrow at me as he studies my face, which must look as grim as I feel. I straightened myself up in a bathroom away from the main ballroom so I wouldn’t bump into anyone.
“Seems like both of us are having a fucking night tonight.”
“Yeah.” I take a gulp of my drink, welcoming the heat it brings with it this time. A bit more of the same, and the tension that has taken over my body might fuck off.
“What happened?” I ask, chasing the distraction his story could bring.
“Harley happened.”
This time, I turn and quirk an eyebrow at him. “My PA Harley?”
“One and the same.” He smiles. “She asked me to introduce her to my date, and you know…” He runs a hand around the back of his neck and winces. “… I couldn’t remember her name.”
I snort as I shake my head.
“Hey, I got the first letter right.” Reed shrugs and takes another mouthful of his drink.
“Really? You want an award or something?” I’m glad I’m not the only one whose night isn’t all plain sailing.
His eyes search the room. “Yeah, or something,” he mutters.
I follow his gaze to where Maria is sitting at a table with Harley, another woman, and Todd. My eyes zero in on his arm draped around the back of Maria’s chair.
What the fuck does she think she’s doing? Running out on me again… and for what? To play happy fucking families with Tiny Tears over there.
“I never liked that guy,” Reed says as Todd leans in and whispers something to Maria. “There’s something off there. I heard he got his membership revoked from Seasons.”
“Really?”
Seasons is a high-end, members only bar and restaurant on the upper westside where a lot of out-of-hours business meetings take place. I’ve been there a few times to meet clients.
“Yeah, I don’t know what for, though.” Reed swirls his drink around in his glass as he watches their table.
Maria jumps up suddenly, her head whipping side to side, one hand on her chest. I slam what’s left of my drink down on the bar.
“Back in a sec, Reed.”
I stride over to the table where they’re all now out of their seats, pulling the chairs back, searching the floor.
“Will’s balls will be on a spike! Remember what he said?” Harley blurts as she throws the edge of the tablecloth up in the air and peers underneath.
“What’s going on?”
Harley looks at me, a guilty expression on her face. “Nothing, Mr. Parker. Suze just dropped her contact lens, that’s all.” The woman next to Harley nods and smiles at me apologetically.
“Maria? Can we talk?” I say to her back, seeing as she hasn’t turned around since I walked over. She pulls her shoulders back and turns her cheek, the pulse in the side of her neck fluttering beneath her smooth skin as she looks back at me over her shoulder.
“Now’s not a good time.”
“It will only take a minute,” I grit out.
“Can’t it wait?”
My eyes fly to Todd, who has just spoken, and he falters as I glare at him, not even trying to disguise the fact I’m contemplating punching him square in the face.
“No. It can’t,” I snap.
He tips his chin and looks at me, his eyes glassy with one too many drinks. “Maria“—he turns and leans far too close to her—”I’ll sort it, don’t worry.”
She glances from Todd to Harley, who nods at her. “Go. We’ve got this.”
It takes a second or two before she turns around, like she’s trying to think of a reason to refuse a second time. When she finally turns toward me, her brow is pinched, lines running across it as she chews on her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my stomach dropping.
I scan her body. She doesn’t look hurt.
“I…” She looks into my eyes and her face clears as though something hits her. “I just need one second.” She holds up a finger in the air and then darts past me toward the main doors of the ballroom.
“Maria,” I call, but she’s already gone.
“She did tell you she was in the middle of something,” Todd says, a slight slur to his voice.
Harley looks between the two of us. She’s known me long enough to know this fucker is skating on thin ice. Luckily for him, I don’t have time to concern myself with his curly-haired drunken ass.
“Get yourself home, Todd. Bar’s about to close.” I blow out a breath in disgust and head toward the main doors after Maria.
Emily is coming through them as I get there.
“Griffin.” She smiles at me. “How’s your head?” She lays a hand on my shoulder as she looks at me. “All better, I hope? Migraines can be awful once they take hold. I didn’t know you suffered with them.” She looks at me as I search the main lobby over her shoulder.
Maria isn’t there.
“Griffin?”
“No, no, I don’t often.” I glance at her. “I’m sorry, Em. I was trying to catch someone.”
“Oh, forget them. They’ll be back in a minute. Probably just gone to the restroom.” She links her arm through mine. “Come, have a drink with me. I need to tell you about the donation that’s just been pledged. You won’t believe it.” She pulls me toward the bar.
“No, Em. I really—”
“Ah! Here he is!” She smiles brightly at an older gentleman with a gray beard. “Griffin, this is Robert Turner. Tonight’s cause is close to his heart.”
Manners and business sense take over and I offer my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Turner.”
His kind face beams at me as he shakes my hand. “Likewise, Mr. Parker. Let me tell you, this woman here is a saint for what she’s doing.” He smiles at Emily. “That hospital deserves every penny.”
Forty-five minutes later, I finally extract myself from Mr. Turner’s story, about how the hospital helped his grandson—which, although very touching, could have been told in less than half the time. Emily could have handled him on her own, but she wasn’t in any rush to move on faster and secure the next donation like she usually is. She was always the first one to do anything when we were kids. Beat me and my brothers every time. First without training wheels, first to get her license, first to secure her place at college. It was like life itself was one big competition. Maybe that’s why she’s a natural at fund raising. She treats it like a challenge. People find it hard to say no to Emily once she sets her mind on them.
“Are you thinking of heading off?” she asks, following my gaze around the ballroom.
Most guests have left; it’s so late. There are a few finishing long conversations, and those who had one too many of the complimentary drinks left, propping themselves up at the odd table.
I haven’t seen Maria return. And Todd has disappeared.
“Go.” She smiles at me. “You’ve got an early start tomorrow. I can stay with the team and make sure everyone is okay.”
“If you’re sure?” I look at her for confirmation, even though this is our usual routine. Emily always handles the last few stragglers, her energy never wavering even at the final hour. On more than one occasion, she’s secured a generous last-minute donation from someone who’s stayed late—especially if the reason of their late departure is the company they’re enjoying without their spouse.
Emily’s eyes land on a man I recognize who works in corporate finance. He’s sat, running his hand up and down the leg of the red-headed woman next to him.
“His wife’s a brunette.” Emily raises a brow at the two of them and then turns to me. “As always. It has been a pleasure. Same again in three months?”
“Sure. Just give Harley the date. We’ll work it out.”
“You’re the best, Griff.” She slides her hands up to the back of my neck and pulls me to her, kissing me on the cheek.
“Do my brothers know you say that?” I chuckle as she narrows her eyes at me.
“Hey! The oldest siblings must stick together. Even though technically I’m also the youngest.” She laughs and then gives me a small wave. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Take you for lunch in the week to say thank you.”
“There’s no need.”
“You say that every time. And I take you every time. So just say yes now and save us the breath,” she says as she walks away, laughing.
“Fine.” I exhale, knowing she’s right.
I waste no time racing out of the ballroom into the foyer on the slight chance Maria might have stuck around and been chatting to someone. I need to speak to her. Find out what the hell is going on in her head. That’s the second time she’s run away from me. No one has ever run out on me once, let alone twice. Why the fuck is she holding back so damn hard? I get that she’s been used and hurt by men in the past. But she can’t deny whatever this is between us. If I can entertain the idea of getting involved with someone I work with again, then so can she.
I blow out a long breath. It only takes a second to realize she isn’t here. I’ll speak to her tomorrow. No more of that shit of avoiding me at work. I’ll book out her entire schedule for the week to have one long meeting with me if she tries to pull that crap again. She won’t escape me this time. Not without telling me to my face that she wants me to stop. I’m not an asshole. If she really wants me to stop, then I will. But only if I believe that’s what she genuinely wants. And judging by the way her body bends to my will when we are together, I doubt that’s the case. Our body, our desires, they’re so innate, so primal—they never lie. She can tell herself that she doesn’t want me. But I know the truth. I’ve tasted it seep from her body. I’ve felt it scream against my fingers.
She wants it as much as me, and she will be mine.
I head over to the main doors to go home.
“Good evening, Mr. Parker.” Earl tips his hat in greeting.
“Good evening, Earl. You swapped to work the late shift?”
“I did. Lenny wanted to take the missus out for an anniversary dinner.” He runs a hand over his silvery stubble. “Keep the romance alive, that’s what I say. Happy wife, easy life.”
“I can see your logic.” I smirk.
“And know when they don’t have eyes for you, too. I admire you young men for your persistence. But if a lady’s heart isn’t for you, it likely never will be. You can’t force it.” He holds a finger up in the air, waggling it as he frowns.
I shove my hands in my pockets and stare out into the evening air. “That’s very true.”
“Like that young gentleman with Maria tonight.” Earl screws his face up. “Todd, is it? The one from the supply company, with the curls.” He twirls his fingers by his ears.
I immediately tense, snapping my eyes back to Earl.
“Why? What’s he done?”
If that fucker laid a finger on her, I swear he will be eating through a tube when I’m done with him.
“Oh, nothing. She’s a strong one, Maria.” His eyes glitter as he looks at me. “I like her. You did well bringing her here.”
“What about Todd, Earl?” I press.
He waves a hand in the air. “Nothing she can’t handle. Don’t you worry. He was insisting on walking her to her door. But she soon got that idea out of him. Last I saw, he was trying to hail a cab.”
I clear my throat. “Good.”
Fucker, I hope it takes him to the next state over and keeps on driving.
“It’s a shame she was in such a hurry to leave. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have missed this.” Earl reaches into his inner jacket pocket and pulls out a long, glittering strand, every part seeming to catch the moonlight and dazzle brighter than the last.
My eyes widen as I reach out. Earl drops Maria’s necklace into my palm.
So that’s what she was looking for.
“I was about to log it with security. It’ll be kept safe and sound until she arrives in the morning.”
I wrap the diamonds in my palm. “Thank you. But I’ll save you the bother. I can give it to her on my way home.”
“Good plan. It doesn’t look like something you’d want to lose.”
“No, it certainly isn’t. Thank you, Earl.”
I stare at my hand and the diamonds trailing out between my fingers. It’s rare… exquisite. It needs special care and attention.
The type only I will give.
