Page 51 of I Choose You
“My head feels like it’s spinning. You look so goddamn good in that dress. And those boots are fucking killing me. And then Monroe was trying to chat you up, and I saw red.”
“Why would that make you upset?” I asked. My heart was beating wildly. He’d kissed me like I was the air to his lungs, and then he brought me up to his room. Or his childhood bedroom, at least.
Oh, shoot. Realization was sinking in. We were at his father’s house. On Christmas Eve. With a massive number of people downstairs right now.
“I don’t know. I just know I didn’t like it. You can do better than Monroe. He’s an ass.”
“You said the same thing about Seb. Is there anyone you think is good enough for me?”
He took a moment to answer, his eyes boring into me. His tongue swiped across his bottom lip. Was he thinking about our kiss? Could he still feel me on his lips like I could feel him?
Reid shook his head and sighed. “No, Claire. Not even a little.” He walked past me to the mirror, taking the small photo of him and the girl from the frame and pocketing it. “We should get back downstairs.”
The air in the room shifted. He saidhishead was spinning? What did he think he was doing to mine? Sometimes it was like Reid left every emotion on his sleeve. But other times, it was like talking to a wall.
“Then let’s go back downstairs,” I said, a practiced smile on my face.
Reid placed his hand on my wrist, stopping me as I reached for the plate sitting on the bed.
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t tell him it was fine this time. I wasn’t even sure what this apology was for, specifically. For the heart-melting kiss? For the games that he was playing with my emotions? For leading me up to his bedroom and then effectively dismissing me?
Besides, that picture in his pocket spoke volumes… and it was telling me to back away.
17
Reid
“Hi, Andrew.” I heard Claire’s peppy voice answer the call for the millionth time today. Each time, she answered in the same bright tone, as if his constant interruptions were no bother at all. He was her boss, I got it, but that didn’t stop it from grating on my nerves. She had put the call on speakerphone, and I could hear every word from where I was in the next room.
“How are we doing with the timeline?” he started, no hello, no greeting.
“Everything is on track…”
“We can’t experience any delays on this, Claire.”
“I completely understand…”
“Good. Because if you can’t get this job finished on time, there won’t be a next one. Do you understand?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Now, I need you to do some more research on the Richmond House that Derrick’s working on. Is that going to be an issue?”
“No, not at all. I’ll take care of it. When do you need it by?”
“Now. Today.”
“Today, right…”
“So, is there a problem?”
“No, there’s no problem. I’ll get it…”
“End of day. Derrick can’t get started without it.”
“Absolutely. You’ll have it in your inbox… hello?”
