“What stuff?”

She shrugged. “Just some stuff. For the shelter.”

I squinted. “Like…unpacking boxes of donated food? Or cleaning up the dishes after dinner service?”

“Yep. Just some errands. Stuff like that.” She quickly tried to change the subject. “What are you drinking? Is that a Jack and Coke?”

Now I knew she was up to something. And I was pretty sure I knew what it was. “Yep. Jack and Coke. You want your usual?”

She hopped down off my lap and pulled up the stool next to me. “Yes, please. How was your day?”

After I called the bartender over and ordered her Merlot, I swiveled her chair in my direction. “You followed him again tonight, didn’t you?”

Her shoulders deflated, but she didn’t even try to lie. “He had a black eye today. And the gash on his head was re-opened. He probably should’ve had stitches the first time. Now it’s worse, and it looks infected.”

“I love how much you care. I really do. But you need to let the police do their job.”

Wrong thing to say. “Do their job? That’s the problem. They don’t think keeping homeless people safe is part of their job at all. The only time they pay attention to them is if they sit down in a neighborhood that’s too nice. Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Upper West Side installed metal spikes up against buildings, like they do on train trestles to keep pigeons from making nests.”

“I don’t want you following homeless people to parks where it’s dangerous at night.”

She huffed. “I only wanted to find out where he was going so I can go back down to the police station tomorrow and ask them to patrol the area better.”

“What park did you follow him to?”

“You know that old bridge they restored uptown? The one people walk across up near 155th Street?”

“You went all the way up to Washington Heights?”

“It might look nice from the bridge, but underneath hasn’t been cleaned up. I guess the politicians just shook hands and took pictures on the top while underneath it was filled like a junkyard. Did you know there’s a whole little city of people under that viaduct?”

“Peyton, you gotta cut this shit out. I know you want to help, but it’s dangerous in those places.”

“It was still light out, and I didn’t actually go into the camp.”

“Peyton…”

“Seriously. Everything is going to be fine. I’m going to stop in at the precinct closest to the park tomorrow. Hopefully the cops up there remember their job is to serve and protect all the citizens of this city.”

“Promise me you won’t pull shit like this again.”

She smiled and leaned over to wrap her hand around the back of my neck. Gently grazing her fingers on my skin, she said, “I promise.”

Chapter 15

Reese

The office wasn’t the same when Chase wasn’t there. Sure, I was busy and had enough work to do for a month—work that I loved doing—but the anticipation of seeing him throughout the day was missing. He’d only been gone two days on his business trip, but I’d missed him since day one.

I was up to my eyeballs in drafting presentations for an eventual focus group—a cross-section of women who we would try out some branding slogans and product-packaging mockups on—when my phone buzzed late on Thursday. Seeing Chase’s name made me smile.

Chase: Miss me?

I did, but he certainly didn’t need any encouragement.

Reese: Did you go somewhere?

Chase: Cute.

Reese: I thought so.

Chase: I’ve been thinking about our little deal.

Reese: What deal? I don’t recall agreeing to anything.

Chase: Exactly. Which is why we need a sit-down. To negotiate our terms.

The man made caterpillars turn into butterflies that fluttered around in my stomach. I leaned back in my seat and rotated so the back of my chair was facing my open office door. It was late, and there were only a few people still milling around the floor, but I sought privacy as I typed with a smile.

Reese: Terms? Are we discussing a business deal?

I slipped my right shoe off and dangled it from my toe as I watched the three little dots jump around. It was pitiful that I was growing antsy waiting.

Chase: Is spending time in my bed still off limits because I’m your boss?

Reese: It is.

Chase: Then I want time outside of the bedroom.

Reese: I see you at the office all the time.

Chase: I want more.

My heart did a pathetic pitter-patter. I want more, too.

Reese: More how?

Chase: I think this requires a face-to-face, sit-down conversation.

Reese: Like a date?

Chase: Don’t think of it as a date. Think of it as a business meeting where we negotiate terms that lead to full performance of the contract in the future.

Reese: And that full performance would be…

I nearly fell over in my seat, hearing Chase’s voice behind me. “You in my bed, of course.”

I whipped my chair around. “I thought you were away until tomorrow.”

“Came back early. Had some pressing business.”

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Not long.” He pointed to the window. “But I could see your reflection in the glass, and I liked watching your face as you texted.”

“Voyeur.”

“If I can’t have, I’m not above watching. Is that an offer?”

Chase looked like he hadn’t shaved in a day or two. I wondered what that stubble would feel like rubbing against my cheek…and against the inside of my thighs. His tie was loose, his suit jacket draped over one arm, and his shirtsleeves were rolled up, revealing muscular forearms. I definitely had a thing for forearms. When I finally pulled my gaze back up to his eyes, he looked pleased at my being flustered.

“What did you ask?” I managed.

With a knowing grin, he said, “How about dinner? Did you eat yet?”

I picked up the protein bar on my desk that I hadn’t gotten around to. “Not yet.”

He tilted his head toward the hallway. “Come on, let me buy you some dinner. I can’t have my employees working twelve hours a day and starving.”

When I didn’t immediately agree, he sighed. “It’s not a date. We’re sharing a meal. Business associates do it all the time.”