Page 61 of Boss with Benefits

As the evening progressed, Lulu held center stage for most of the night. She was dynamic and outgoing like Rachel. There were subtle similarities, and not-so-subtle ones. They both had the same dimple under their left eye and the same eye color. Even their mannerisms were alike—the way they chewed on their bottom lip when they were unsure, the little scrunch of their nose when they were amused.

It was wild. I snuck another glance at Rachel. She had been uncharacteristically quiet. She wasn’t the vibrant, talkative woman I knew. Mrs. Arya, to her credit, seemed firmly in Rachel’s corner. She was polite to Hao and Lulu, but her loyalty to her daughter was clear in every protective glance, every gentle touch of Rachel’s hand.

Hao hadn’t said much all evening, and Rachel’s gaze wandered over to him often. She was fidgety, and I worried she was building up to something. Perhaps Lulu had been sensing it too, which was why she had been keeping the conversation going all night.

As our entrees were cleared, Rachel set down her fork with a clatter, her eyes blazing.

Oh no.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she said, her voice shaking. “How can he sit here and act like everything’s fine? You abandoned me. You left me in the NICU like I was nothing. And now you want us all to break bread and bury all that. You wanted to meet me so badly you stalked me around New York City but you just sit there and say nothing!”

“Rachel.” Her mom put her hand on Rachel’s arm, more for comfort than scolding. Her face looked pained.

Hao said nothing but his face was stricken, and Lulu’s eyes darted between Rachel and her grandfather. When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything, Mrs. Arya stood up. “This may have been a bad idea. I think Rachel needs more time.”

Rachel looked up at her mom, relief in her eyes.

“We should go.” I stood as well.

At the front, I paid the bill for everyone as Rachel and Mrs. Arya waited outside. I stepped out into the humid night, but suddenly Lulu pushed past me.

“Rachel, wait!” She handed Rachel something scribbled on a napkin and pressed it into Rachel’s hand. “This is my number. Please, message me. I can explain more. If you want.”

Rachel hesitated, then nodded, tucking the napkin into her bag.

Rachel’s mom gave her daughter a tight hug and then hurried toward her car. Earlier, she had explained that she had to drive back upstate tonight because she was on call tomorrow.

I guided Rachel away from the restaurant, walking down a quiet treelined street, and then ordered an Uber.

“The getaway car is on the way,” I said, placing a hand hesitantly on her shoulder.

She leaned into me, letting out a shaky breath. “That was…interesting. A long-lost cousin and everything.”

“I’m proud of you,” I said and immediately cringed. “If that’s not too weird.”

She looked up at me, a small smile on her face. “Kinda, but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy, so I’ll take it.”

Our eyes locked and my gaze fell to her lips, those sweet, glossy pink lips. I wanted nothing more than to lean down and kiss her. Instead, I squeezed her shoulder and said, “Anytime, Rach.”

As we climbed into the Uber, she rested her head against my shoulder, and before we crossed the bridge she was sleeping soundly. I stared down at her creamy skin, light freckles sprinkling her nose and the tops of her cheeks. It was the most peaceful I’d seen her since she came into my office all those weeks ago on her skates going on about the strange man following her.

I wondered what revelations Lulu might bring and if Rachel would even reach out to her. I’d seen what happens when you don’t face your feelings. On the force, it always led to a breakdown.

A piece of hair had fallen out of her topknot and lay across her face, and I brushed it off. She stirred and then settled back into the crook between my neck and shoulder.

I was so head over heels for this woman.

My eyes watered and I ground my jaw, shoving the emotion down, but the ache in my chest was unbearable. I could no longer hold back. “I love you, Rachel Arya,” I whispered so softly my own ears barely heard it.

I held my breath, waiting for her to whip her eyelids open and snap something sarcastically at me. But she didn’t stir. I exhaled and stared out the window as the lights of the city rushed by. Saying it felt good. And that was enough for now.

30

DERRICK

Iwas in the back office of the deli, elbow-deep in invoices, cursing the day we decided to upgrade the deli’s point-of-sale system, when my stomach growled. I walked to the front to grab some food. My father was behind the counter, slicing prosciutto with the precision of a surgeon, and I snatched a slice and dropped it in my mouth.

“Hey,” my dad protested, but he was smiling. “Go get a sandwich from the fridge.”

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