The Fixed Trilogy: Found in You(73)

“Oh.” He cleared his throat, and I swear his cheeks seemed pink. “Well, yes. Good, then.” He backed out of the doorway, stumbling and catching himself as he stepped.

“Wow. I had no idea I had the power to fluster you.”

His smile returned though his face still appeared flushed. “Don’t get used to it.”

My grin remained all the way to the lobby.

***

My smile was long gone by the time I’d returned to the empty penthouse.

Instead of bringing me into a calm, meditative state, my run only jumbled up my thoughts. There was so much to sort out, so many conflicting emotions to wade through. Hudson had handled the Paul situation fairly well, and he was going to fix it for me. He deserved me to give something in return. What compromise could I make regarding David? I didn’t want him gone, and I didn’t want to run The Sky Launch. If I went to Japan, would that show him the extent of my love and gratitude? It would be a real sacrifice for me—I really wanted to stay in town, set up an advertising plan with Aaron Trent, and start over with another event planner.

I had come to no conclusions by the time I’d showered and dressed. Then, as Jordan dropped me off at the club a little after eight, I received a text from Brian.

“I’m headed into the city. I’ll be at the Waldorf. What time can we meet?”

“What’s wrong?”

I jumped at David’s question. I’d known he still must be in the club—the alarm hadn’t been set as I walked in—but I hadn’t expected him to be standing at the top of the entry ramp.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to shake off the bulk of the weight hanging on my shoulders. “Nothing. Just overwhelmed with… stuff.”


He reached to take my laptop bag from me, his expression inquisitive.

I handed him my computer, deciding what, if anything, I wanted to share with him, because obviously stuff wasn’t going to cut it. Hell, maybe talking would help me put some things in perspective. “I moved out of my apartment this past weekend,” I said as we made our way toward the offices. “And my brother wants to meet with me to get my key. But we’re not getting along. Not since I started dating Hudson.”

“Hmm.” His shoulders tightened, his face contorted in…what? Jealousy?

Okay, perhaps David did like me more than I realized. He was so much easier to read than Hudson. How had I missed how deep his affection ran?

He held the door to the back hallway open for me. “So you moved in with Pierce?”

I brushed past him and led the way up the stairs. “I did.” Well, better that he knew the truth. He had to come to terms with my relationship with Hudson if I had any hope of helping him keep his job. “I know. It was fast.”

“That’s not what I was thinking.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I should have been faster.”

His words stopped me mid-step. I turned back to see if he was serious.

He was. He did look at me like Hudson did. I’d never recognized the intensity because it was completely absent of the electricity and heat that Hudson’s stare always contained.

The color drained from my cheeks.

David cleared his throat. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.” He brushed past me, continuing on to the office. “Anyway, congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

I fell into step behind him. “I’m happy for me, too.” My voice had lost its earlier enthusiasm, still shocked from David’s proclamation. Maybe we couldn’t work together.

I couldn’t stand thinking about it. I changed the subject. “And I’m stressed. Hudson wants me to go to Japan with him tonight.”

David pulled out his keys and unlocked the office door. The room was dark, the computers off—he must have been on his way out when he met me at the entrance.

“Why are you here so late, anyway?” Usually closing managers were out by six-thirty, tops.

He shrugged. “Waiting for you. And, yeah, Hudson told me about Japan.”

I flicked the office light on. “What? When?” I’d only found out about Japan that morning. I didn’t even want to acknowledge the first part of his statement.

“About an hour or so ago. He wanted to make sure we’d be covered without you.”

Hudson had already talked to David that morning? This day was getting more interesting as it progressed. “I haven’t said yes yet.”

“But you will.” He didn’t bother to hide the ache in his voice.

I sank on the couch and rubbed at my forehead. “Is that the only reason Hudson called you?”

David sat on the front of his desk. “Actually, he didn’t call. He stopped by.”

“To tell you he’s taking me to Japan?” Hudson had said he had an early meeting. Why hadn’t he mentioned it was with David? Or was his encounter with David coincidental?

“No, to discuss some other things.”

Dread dripped into my veins. “Oh, really? Like what things?” I pretended to examine my nails, going for an aloof demeanor while really I was anything but. Which was silly, because there was no way Hudson would have talked to him when he’d promised me we could still discuss it first. Besides, David wouldn’t still be there if he’d been fired.