Page 64 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

But his expression was still odd. Impossible to read, but definitely not normal.

“I’ll go,” I said, rising abruptly.

As I passed by, he wasn’t looking at me, but the muscles in his neck tensed as his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I’ll see you in an hour or two, Rox,” Hazel said. “Peter’s coming to pick me up for lunch, but otherwise, I should be here all day…” She was saying something else, but I lost track.

My head was still spinning with confusion as I headed out of her office. I’d barely taken a step out of the room when I heard the shrill voice.

“Hello?Hello?”

I took a deep breath as my eyes landed on Jeff’s ex-wife. Of all the people to be forced to deal with right now. “Hello. May I help you?”

Aileen spun around, and her bright red lips curled in distaste as she looked me up and down. “Rhonda, was it? Can you find my husband and daughter? They’re supposed to be here.”

“My name is Roxy. If you’re looking for Jeff, he’s with the boss at the moment.” I paused, my voice shaky. “Can I leave a message for him?”

Her eyes narrowed to slits as she sauntered over. “Whereis he?”

“I told you, he’s meeting with—”

She scowled as she interrupted, “I don’t have the patience for this, Rhonda.” She cupped her hands together like a megaphone and started calling Jeff’s and Lila’s names.

In a matter of seconds, Jeff bounded out of the office where I’d left them, and Hazel followed.

“Aileen, what are you doing here?” he said, exasperated.

“Where’s Lila?” she demanded, hands on her hips. “By the way, you should fire the receptionist. Very rude and unhelpful,” she said as she jerked her thumb at me.

I gasped. “Excuse me?”

Before she could rant about me, Hazel stepped in. “Roxy is not a receptionist. She’s a project manager.”

“Whatever,” Aileen said, rolling her eyes.

“Why would she be here? You’re supposed to be picking her up this afternoon.” Jeff glanced down at his watch. “In less than an hour. Did you forget?”

The woman had the nerve to snort. “I remember our schedule. Maybe you don’t. You have her on Fridays, remember?”

We all stared at her in disbelief until Hazel finally spoke up. “It’s Thursday.”

“What, no, tonight is—” She halted and then laughed airily. “Oh, usually I go out on Fridays, but this was Carlton’s only free night. I forgot it wasn’t Friday.”

“You have a date tonight?” Jeff’s face was rigid. Washejealous? Did he still love his wife? I mean, his ex?

Not that it mattered, of course.

“I do. He’s taking me to this high-end restaurant in St. Paul. And then we’re—”

“I don’t care what you’re doing on your date. Did you arrange a sitter for Lila?”

“A sitter?” She shook her head. “No, I thought you … well, you can watch her tonight, right?”

He nodded. “What are you even doing here then?”

“I was coming to say goodbye to my child before I leave. I thought she’d be with you.”

Jeff shook his head, his entire body radiating anger. “Why? Don’t you know what time the school day ends?”

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