Even the Score(59)

“We left the bar all over each other, right?” I made sure to stare straight into her eyes when I reminded her how bad we wanted each other. I wanted her to remember the way she moaned when I kissed her up against the brick wall and the way she rubbed the inside of my leg in the car. “Let’s pretend we get to the parking garage and your car is fine. What happens next?” I sat up straight and crossed my arms.

“I think we both know what would have happened.” He eyes fell down to the island.

“Look at me,” I demanded, refusing to let her blow me off. Her eyes snapped up and I continued. “I want to hear you say it.”

“What’s there to say, Andy? We were so hot for each other that, either we would have come back here and had sex, or gone at it right there in the garage on the hood of your car. Is that what you wanted me to say? Fine. I said it. I wanted you. Happy now?”

“And now?”

“And now what?”

“You don’t want me anymore?”

“It’s not that.” She shook her head and shrugged. “But we can’t happen. Things went too far, too fast, and the car thing made me step back and take a break.”

“What did you learn on this break?”

“Honestly, that I’ve worked too damn hard to make a name for myself to lose my reputation and have people assuming I got the job with you because I was willing to sleep with the boss.”

That statement set me on fire. “That’s ridiculous—” I shouted, but the sound of the front door opening interrupted me and I froze.

“Daddy!” Becca yelled as she ran through the house and leaped into my arms.

“Hey, pretty girl.” I squeezed her back, praying to see Warren, Blaire’s driver, who brought the kids home most of the time.

“Do I have to wear a stupid collared shirt?” Logan asked.

“Yes, I want you to look nice for pictures,” Blaire responded. “We haven’t done pictures in a long—” She froze when she came through the doorway and saw Dani sitting at the island with me. She quickly looked her up and down, then slid her eyes over toward me. “Well, I hope we’re not interrupting anything?”

Fuck.

“Nope.” I shook my head, setting Becca on the floor. “Just some chips and salsa. You hungry, champ?”

Logan walked over and gave me a quick hug, staring at Danicka the whole time. “I met you at the baseball game, right?” he asked her with a big grin, little blond hairs peeking out from under his baseball hat.

Dani smiled at him. “Yep, at the Home Run Derby. Good memory.”

I cleared my throat and mentally prepared to make the most awkward introduction of all time. “Blaire,” I said, motioning to Dani. “This is my partner, Danicka Douglas. Danicka, this is Blaire.”

Danicka took a step toward Blaire with her hand out. “Hi, Blaire. Nice to meet you,” she greeted in a friendly tone.

Blaire wrinkled up her nose as she looked down at Dani’s hand and followed it all the way back up to her face. She rolled her tongue over her top teeth and slid her gaze to me. “I know who you are.”

Dani pulled her hand back and crossed her arms, cocking her hip to the side.

“Logan and Becca, take your bags upstairs and put your things away, please.” I waited until their footsteps disappeared to take a step forward. “Blaire, don’t start.”

“I’m not starting anything, Andrew. I was simply stating that I knew who she was. I saw pictures of your new little friend on the Internet,” she sneered, batting her fake black eyelashes at Dani.

“I’m not his little friend,” Dani shot back, narrowing her eyes. “I’m his coworker.”

Blaire rolled her eyes. “Mm-hmm. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why he hired you, and I’m sure you’re worth every penny, honey.”

“Honey?” Dani repeated.

“That’s enough.” I stepped in. “Blaire, go home.”

Blaire’s head jerked back as she stared up at me. “Why the rush, Andrew? You two have lots of work to do here today? I mean . . . she does actually know how to do agent-type stuff, right? Or is that just a cover?”

Dani’s jaw dropped, but before she could respond—“Blaire, out. Now.”

Blaire curled her lips up and let out a quick laugh. “Gladly,” she sneered as she turned and left the kitchen.

I bit my tongue as I followed her to the front door, when what I really wanted to do was yell at her to stop being a bitch for once in her life. When she was out, I locked the door and hurried back to the kitchen.

“I’m so sorry about that, Dani,” I said, leaning against the counter as I rubbed my face with my hands.