Page 6 of Desk & Deception
I sat up slowly, pulling out from under his arm. The little bubble we’d been floating in had popped.
“Why is Kaylee texting you this late?”
He blinked, looking genuinely surprised as he set the phone back down. “She had a question about the contract we sent out to a client shortly before I left the office tonight.”
I stared at him, the words I’d been holding back for weeks finally pushing their way out. “This isn’t normal. None of the other paralegals you’ve worked with in all the time I’ve known you have randomly texted you a question this late at night. She’s acting like she’s on call for you twenty-four seven.”
“She’s young and wants to prove herself.” He sat up fully now, his brow furrowed in confusion. “That’s all this is.”
“It feels like any time I bring her up, you minimize things.” My voice cracked as the hurt I’d been swallowing for weeks finally spilled over. “I’ve literally seen her flirt with you right in front of me. She brings you coffee without you asking and acts like she knows you better than she should. ”
“Baby, come on.” Reid reached for my hand.
For a second, I almost let him take it. Then I pulled away.
His head jerked back in shock, and he rushed to explain, “Nothing is going on. You’re the only woman I want. The one I’m marrying in three months. Kaylee is just eager. The office culture is casual. I think you’re reading too much into this. Everyone jokes around, but it doesn’t mean anything.”
I stared at him, searching his face for any sign that he actually understood how I felt when he discounted the situation like this. But all I found was confusion, and maybe a little frustration that I was ruining our nice night.
“I’m tired,” I whispered, standing. “I think I’m just going to head to bed.”
“Lila—”
I forced a small smile that felt unnatural on my face. “It’s fine.”
I grabbed the wineglasses from the table and turned toward the kitchen.
He started to stand like he meant to come after me, but then he stopped. “Lila.”
I kept my back turned and left the room. Giving myself a minute to breathe, I rinsed the glasses slowly. When I came back, he was still sitting on the couch, looking lost.
We got ready for bed without saying much more. He pulled me close under the covers, but I lay stiff in his arms, staring at the ceiling while his breathing slowly evened out beside me.
He was right next to me, but the distance between us felt wider than ever before.
4
REID
Since it was the biggest he’d gotten in his career, Ryder had invited the team out to celebrate the deal we’d closed for him. He’d booked private dining at Craig’s, which was only about a mile from my office, but traffic was bad as my rideshare driver headed toward the restaurant. It gave me some downtime to think about how the past week had been quiet on the personal front, though.
Things had felt a little off with Lila ever since she mentioned Kaylee acting overly familiar the other night, but neither of us had brought the issue up again. I kept telling myself it would pass. Lila was under a lot of pressure as the key makeup artist on the film she was working on, and I was buried in contracts. Once things settled, we’d be back to normal.
But a thread of guilt shot through me every time I thought about how hurt she’d seemed that night. Even though I hadn’t crossed any lines with Kaylee, the last thing I wanted to do was cause Lila pain.
At least she seemed genuinely excited about the bridal shower my mom was throwing for her next month. Each timeshe’d mentioned the event this week, her voice had its usual spark. Which had given me a great idea.
I booked us a bungalow with vineyard views and in-room wine service in Temecula. I figured we could drive up together on Friday, come back on Sunday, enjoy the shower on Saturday, and have the rest of the time to ourselves. A couple of long mornings in bed with no interruptions, just the two of us. I couldn’t wait to surprise my beautiful bride-to-be with it.
There were fewer than three months until she was my wife. I’d work impossible hours, like I did as a junior associate, if it meant building the future we wanted together.
I was smiling as the driver pulled up in front of the restaurant, doubly glad I hadn’t driven. There were no open spots on the street anywhere nearby, and it didn’t look like anyone was at the valet stand, since they only offered to-go lunch unless you booked private dining.
I slipped on my suit coat and headed inside, scanning the room after I was told Ryder had booked a room on the second floor. My client stood when he saw me, flashing me the same grin that had sold out theaters for the past few years.
“Hawthorne! My favorite dealmaker.” He pulled me in for a back-slapping hug. “Come on, everyone’s here.”
I was the last to arrive. Ryder’s agent and manager flanked him on one side, his publicist on the other. My junior associate, Marcus, sat across from them, looking a little starstruck but holding his own. Kaylee was seated next to him.
