Page 49 of Bossman

“I don’t know.”

“Did you think I was taking a date? After what we’d discussed the other night at dinner?”

“Someone might have mentioned that you usually took a model and were staying overnight at the hotel this weekend.”

“I’m taking Sam. To network. I booked a suite for her and her husband to stay afterward. It was part of the deal I made with her.”

“Oh.”

He edged closer again. “You were jealous.”

“I was not.”

“Bullshit.”

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me.”

“Why?”

“Because if you’re jealous that means you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you. You like to leave me out there dangling, not knowing what you’re thinking.”

He closed in on me as I sat in my chair. Placing one hand on each armrest, he lowered his face to mine. “I’m glad it’s mutual.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“Sunday night? Share a meal with me.”

“Lunch.”

“Dinner.”

“Lunch. It’s more casual.”

He held my stare, trying to pull off serious, but I saw the corner of his mouth hint at a smile. “Fine. But I’m taking you someplace romantic for lunch.”

***

I was never into clubbing to begin with, but I really put in the extra effort Saturday night. Jules and I didn’t get to spend much time together, and I missed her and thought if there was ever a time I needed to cut loose, this was is it. Between my change of jobs and ever-growing addiction to thinking about Chase Parker, I needed to feel young and free again.

We bounced around early in the night, dancing at places before they became so packed that it was impossible to do anything but rub up against sweaty people on the dance floor. By the time we arrived at Harper’s, I was beginning to regret wearing five-inch heels. When I saw the line to get in—the one that extended almost a full city block—I decided the little half-empty Irish pub we’d just passed wasn’t looking half bad.

“Look at that line,” I groaned.

Jules grinned and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door. “What line?”

A Herculean bouncer wrapped one arm around Jules and lifted her off the ground. “You showed up!”

“How could I resist free drinks and no line?”

“And here I thought you came for me.”

“Maybe a little of that, too.” She bumped her tiny shoulder into his chest. “What time do you get off?”

He looked at his phone. “About an hour.”

Jules remembered me standing next to her. “This is Reese. Reese, this is my little brother’s best friend, Christian.”