Page 51 of Point of Contention

I groaned. “I’m sorry, guys, I just…”

“Didn’t want to face us after lying to us for four weeks?”

My eyes flicked to Marisa’s and I swallowed hard.

“You know you deserve that, right?” Marcus asked.

When I met his gaze, he shrugged. “Time to face the music.”

He slipped his hand into Hector’s and they walked to the elevator, Eloise and Marisa in tow.

“Well, come on then,” Marisa called over her shoulder. “No time like the present to begin making it up to me.”

I sighed with relief, then hurried to join them in the elevator. The doors closed, and I bit back a smile. This would be okay. We were getting back to normal, the internship I’d earned was mine again, and I could handle eight weeks at Reed Tower—

The elevator smelled like him.

Good grief, could someonepleasethrow me a bone?

Why had he been in this elevator? He had a nice,fast, private elevator, couldn’t he make that one smell of him and leave me the heck alone?

Chapter Eighteen

Cabot

Just as I shouldn’t have been in the lobby awaiting Rylan’s arrival at Reed Tower this morning, I definitely should not have been standing on the curb, a lavender latte in hand, awaiting her exit at the end of the work day. And yet, here I was.

I had a million-and-one other things that needed my attention.

Like my father making me jump through hoop after fucking hoop to prove my competence.

Was it a game? Had he simply grown bored?

He hadn’t even tasted retirement and already needed new ways to be entertained.

When Rylan stepped outside shortly after five o’clock, I exhaled at the sight of her.

Then rolled my lips together to keep from smiling when she immediately locked eyes with me and her heated glare struck an amused chord within me.

“Ms. Blake.” I inclined my head and extended my hand toward her, offering her favorite coffee.

“No.”

“No?” I tilted my head.

“No, Mr. Reed.” She tilted her head back and narrowed her gaze. “I know it’s not a word you are used to hearing, but I’ve quit drinking coffee.” She couldn’t resist one longing glance at the coffee cup in my hand, the terrible liar.

“Okay. Suit yourself.” I took off the lid and blew on the steam, forcing the scent toward her. “Seems you’ve quit a lot of things lately.”

She sucked in a gasp, then quickly closed her mouth, lips pressing into a fine line.

I licked mine as I fought a smirk.

Her gaze fell to my mouth.

Checkmate.

I released the smirk and leaned toward her as I took a sip of the latte. “Off to your other job, I presume?”