Page 96 of Bargain With the Boss

“And that’s why you’ve slept on the couch for the last three nights?”

Because I’d worked until I was too blurry not to sleep. Because the thought of going home to my king-sized bed alone was enough to make me insane, which threw me back into work mode.

“I’ve done it before, it’ll happen again.”

“Are you sure everything is fine, sir?”

I tugged the black and green T-shirt over my head. “Everything is one hundred, Dev.”

He gave me a bland look. “One hundred?”

“Aces. Perfect. Life is a dream.” I patted his arm on my way by.

“Sir, talk to your friends.”

I ignored the words as I strode through the main office. Instead of avoiding my staff, I answered a few questions. When I couldn’t push off the trip to the lake any longer, I headed downstairs to the garage. Part of me wanted to jump on my motorcycle and head out of town, but thoughts of Sydney would just follow me.

I’d been trying to outrun them for days now.

I didn’t even know what to say to her. She didn’t owe me anything—even telling me that she was going to take that fucking pill.

That was the problem.

She didn’t owe me anything and God, I wished she thought better of us—of me.

I snapped on my helmet and hit the throttle on my bike. The kick of it dented the ice that had been sitting in my chest for days. The holiday was fast approaching, and I’d normally be planning or attending a party on the lake.

Sydney had been in my life a few short weeks and I’d allowed myself to get sidetracked far too easily.

I had to keep my eye on the prize.

I hit the bend and caught sight of Lakeview Terrace. Well, more like the shoreline.

The building was little more than a shell. The workers had come in and framed out the expansion for the old gallery and from where I was, I could see how much better the footprint of the delicatessen would be. Instead of a simple end unit, I could see the finesse of Gavin’s blueprints coming to life.

I slowed as I climbed the shredded lip of the blacktop that led to the worksite. It had been chewed up with all the trucks coming in and out. I knew the blacktop would be one of the last things we did, but it didn’t make my ass hurt any less as I rolled through the parking lot to where Gavin’s beast of a work truck was parked.

Jude’s SUV was lined up beside it as well as a smaller car in an improbable teal.

Jude and Sydney were huddled together by the weather beaten picnic table. The red maple was in its full glory, thick glossy leaves filling in as spring made way to summer.

My fingers were so tight on the handlebars, they ached when I let them fall to my lap.

I had to face her eventually.

It wasn’t like she was going to disappear. She was part of FHK whether I liked it or not.

“Finally.” Jude stood.

“I said I’d be here.” I glanced at Syd who was slipping out of the bench seat. She was wearing white sneakers instead of her heels and a sundress with little purple flowers. Her red hair was scraped back in a simple ponytail and instead of her usual brown sunglasses, she wore mirrored aviators that hid her gaze.

Even pissed at her, my feet drew me up the hill toward her.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on your paternity leave?”

Jude grunted. “Yes. But you’ve been acting like a little bitch so here I am.”

Sydney stiffened, then linked her fingers in front of her and looked down at the ground.