Page 5 of The Interview (Executive Suite Secrets)

5

KAYLAN

The date I hadn’t wanted to happen was about to end, and that sucked.

We’d wandered through all the rooms of Krohn Conservatory. The only spot left was the tiny gift shop.

Before Arden could take a single step toward the exit, I darted into the gift shop that was loaded with pretty knickknacks and room for only two or three customers at a time. I had no intention of purchasing anything, but I panicked.

How did I keep this going?

The kisses we’d shared made it clear that Arden was interested. Should I ask him out for an early dinner? There weren’t any other romantic indoor spots to hit in Eden Park. If I suggested we wander the park in winter, we would freeze our butts off in a matter of minutes.

Movie? Clichéd.

Back to my place? He’d think I was moving too fast.

But where to go? I’d rather we go to my place or even his. We’d been interrupted enough by random people and ex-boyfriends. I wanted to talk to him alone.

Okay, I wanted to suck on his tongue and other body parts without the risk of being pulled apart.

“Perfect,” Arden announced as he closed his large hand around something. The man was already turning to the cash register before I could see what he’d found.

“What’s perfect?”

“It’s a surprise,” he answered over his shoulder.

I frowned at his back for a second and then looked at the display he’d been standing in front of, trying to figure out what he’d picked up. Flower bulbs, wind chimes, small blown-glass hummingbird feeders, and different handmade ornaments filled the shop. My eyes skimmed over the colorful items, all of it gorgeous, but nothing that struck me as “perfect.”

With no ideas coming to me, I completed a quick circuit through the rest of the store and made it to the cash register run by a white-haired woman as Arden accepted his receipt with one hand and placed his purchase into his pocket with the other. A smug smile graced his lips, and that only made me want to kiss it off his mouth.

“Ready to go?”

“Sure,” I agreed, even as my stomach knotted. Arden had distracted me with his impromptu purchase. Now we were leaving, and I didn’t know what to do next. Maybe it was best to end the date. We could exchange numbers. That way, I’d be able to ask him out after I’d concocted the perfect date. Yes, that was a better idea.

Before stepping up to the exit, I slipped on my heavy wool coat. It was time to leave the warm, moist air for bitter cold wind as winter fought to remind us it hadn’t loosened its grip on the city yet.

“Could you do me a favor?” Arden began as he settled his coat around his shoulders at the same time.

“What’s up?”

“Would you be willing to text me one of the selfies you took in front of the waterfall?”

I shot him a smirk. “You just want to get your number set up in my real phone.” I waved my actual phone at him while inwardly celebrating. This saved me from trying to figure out how to get his contact information off the phone my boss had purchased.

“It’s a two-birds-one-stone scenario,” he stated after giving me his phone number. “I get your adorable face for my phone, and I get your number so you can’t ghost me the second you walk out the door.”

With a snort, I bumped him with my shoulder even as I loaded a text with several selfies I’d taken. “Like I’d fucking do that.”

Gentle fingers grazed my cheek, and I looked up to find Arden smiling at me, both his light and dark eyes glittering in the conservatory’s glow. “No, you wouldn’t.”

“There. Sent. You’ll have to reply, so I know you got them,” I prodded.

Yes, Arden would reply, and I’d somehow use that to kickstart a new conversation that would lead to a date invitation. This was going to work.

The sexy man moved to stand in front of me and picked up my left coat lapel. I watched as his big hands pinned something to it. When he moved away, my breath caught in my throat.

A silver butterfly.

He’d gotten me a silver butterfly.

The craftsmanship was exquisite. It was barely larger than a silver dollar, but it was so detailed, it appeared as if it were poised to flap its wings and flutter from my coat.

But more than the fact that it was gorgeous, it was a silver butterfly .

Ghost King Hua Cheng had silver butterflies. Always beautiful, but sometimes deadly protectors he used to guard the one person who was most precious to him.

If Arden was Hua Cheng, did that make me his precious Dianxia?

“Just something to remember this day by. And me,” Arden said, his voice growing low and rough at the end.

“I love it. You’re right. It’s perfect,” I whispered, trying not to let my emotions turn me into a complete sap. But it couldn’t be helped. Arden had known me for an hour, maybe two, and he’d just handed me the absolute perfect gift.

Catching my hand in his, Arden gave me a little tug, pulling me toward the cold.

We both seemed to forget about it when we stepped outside to find that it was snowing, though. Tiny flakes drifted from the dark-gray sky, blanketing the grass and bushes in white. It must have just started because all but the edges of the sidewalks were clear of the snow.

“Wow. I forgot they were calling for a chance of snow today,” I laughed.

“Well, this throws a wrench into my wicked schemes,” Arden huffed.

My heart skipped around in my chest while I tried to keep my expression bland. “And what wicked schemes were those?”

Arden tightened his grip on my hand as we strolled past the conservatory that glowed against the deepening shadows. I huddled close just in case the wind stirred again. “I was going to see if you were interested in grabbing a somewhat early dinner with me.” He paused and tossed a glare at the heavens. “But with potential for the roads to turn bad, I don’t feel good about keeping you out.”

“Mmm…” I hummed. “Good point. Where do you live?”

“Hyde Park.”

I made a scoffing noise in the back of my throat. “Mr. Freelance Graphic Designer is doing very well for himself,” I teased. Hyde Park was a nice, older neighborhood.

Arden snorted and tapped the tip of my nose. “It’s a small, old house, but yes, I do just fine.”

“Well, your house is closer than my place.” I turned and grabbed the front of his coat, gathering it close to protect him from the biting cold as we stood near the trunks of our respective cars. “I know a great pizza and grinders restaurant between here and Hyde Park?—”

“Are you talking Germantown?” Arden’s eyes lit up like I’d just told him Santa and the Easter Bunny were going to visit him tonight.

“Yes, I’m talking Germantown. You text me what you want and your address. I’ll call in an order and pick it up on the way to your house. We can eat hoagies and binge some TV rather than braving the roads in case it keeps snowing.”

This earned me a hell of a kiss that I did not want to end. It was only when the snow hit the back of my neck that I called for an end to the kiss.

“Good plan,” Arden said. “This’ll give me time to clean up a little.”

I wanted to tease him about that too, but I couldn’t. My apartment was no better. Clothes covered various surfaces and dirty dishes filled the sink. Yes, going to his home was much easier.

Just before we parted, Arden’s fingers caressed the butterfly’s wings on my coat, causing my heart to flutter. There was such a pleased, slightly possessive smile on his lips. That pin would always be a reminder of an amazing first date at the Conservatory, and I hoped it would lead to a very good night.

Jumping into my car, I started it and hit the heater, cranking it as high as it would go. I shifted in my seat to pull my phone out of my pocket and grinned like a lunatic the second Arden’s order pinged through. It was nearly identical to my own. Steak hoagie with extra pizza sauce, cheese, pickles, and onions with an order of fries. Mine was without the onions, though.

Another text followed it with an address.

I didn’t recognize the street, but it would take two seconds to pop it into the GPS. No big deal.

I called Germantown and placed the order while waiting for my car to warm up and waved to Arden as he pulled out ahead of me. Let him have his head start. I’d be behind him by only ten or fifteen minutes.

As I ended the call with the restaurant, another call rang through.

From my boss.

My heart did a weird little skip at the sight of his name, and it wasn’t a pleasant one. Not that calls from Sebastian were bad. They just always contained work.

Please don’t call me back to work. Please don’t call me back to work.

“Hello, sir?”

“Kaylan! Excellent! I’m so glad I reached you. Are you okay?” Sebastian’s panicked voice filled the car.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I replied slowly. “Is everything okay with you? Do you need me to return to the office?” I winced, biting my bottom lip. Why the fuck did I say that?

“No! No! Everything is fine here. In fact, I’m sending people home. Don’t want them out in this snow.” His voice had returned to its normal light and breezy. “I was just talking to Byron, telling him about how I set you up on a date for Valentine’s Day. He’s very upset with me.”

Kaylan dropped his face into his hand while resting his elbow on the car door. Oh, Lord. Only Sebastian’s assistant Byron had the power to make that man sound wounded. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was the assistant and who was the boss between the two of them.

“Anyway, Byron was telling me I put you in danger by setting you up with this complete stranger. Especially since we know nothing about this Cupid matching system. Hmm …I wonder if I could buy the company and take apart the software. There have got to be other applications for matching people up. If I just?—”

“Sir,” I interrupted. Sebastian could ramble on for hours when a new idea struck him, and I didn’t have hours. I needed to get moving soon, but I was afraid to start for Hyde Park until I knew what he wanted.

“Oh! Right! I’m just calling to make sure that you’re okay, and I didn’t inadvertently place you in the hands of a murderer.”

“No, sir. Arden is not a murderer or a rapist or some otherwise questionable personage threatening my body,” I answered.

“Excellent. That’s very good to hear.” There was a long pause that made my heart squeeze. Air rushed out of me as Sebastian continued, his voice softer and pitched higher. “So…how did the date go? Do you like him? Is he nice? Handsome? Funny? Does he appreciate how smart and efficient you are?”

I caught my laugh behind my teeth and converted it into a low chuckle. It was unlikely Arden appreciated my efficiency the way Sebastian did.

“Arden is very nice and handsome. We had a wonderful date at Krohn Conservatory. He’s a freelance graphic designer and has a great sense of humor. We share many of the same interests.”

“Yes! That’s great! Are you going to see him again? You should have asked him out for dinner! I know many great places. I can call and make you a reservation now.”

What he meant was that he’d shout for Byron and he would make the reservation, but I appreciated Sebastian’s support and enthusiasm all the same.

“Thank you, sir. Actually, I’m about to grab some takeout before heading to his place.”

“Oh, ho! Going to his place. That—” Sebastian broke off and there was another voice in the background that sounded like Byron. “Yes, yes. You’re quite right,” Sebastian murmured to Byron. “Kaylan, I’ll let you go so you can continue your date. Byron has asked that you text either me or him later this evening so that we know you are home safe.”

My heart stuttered. Sebastian could be flighty and impulsive, but he cared about his employees. I was damn lucky to have this job.

“Yes, sir. I will.”

“Have a wonderful night!” Sebastian crowed and ended the call.

Yes, it’s going to be a very wonderful night.