That night Taylor was alone in her living room thinking of what Reed had told her and wondering why she was wasting her time doing so.
She had no intention of taking him up on his offer to be his friend. She didn’t need any friends right now. What she needed was to keep her job, focus on her daughter, and get through life one foot in front of the other.
So why wasn’t she shocked when a week later Reed popped into her office and sat down across from her?
“Something I can help you with?” she asked, looking at him over the rim of her glasses. She hadn’t seen him since their lunch and wasn’t thinking much of him at all. Liar. Then she wondered what angels sculpted his facial features. What was wrong with her?
“I need a favor,” he said.
She moved in front of her keyboard, her hands ready to type, focusing on her work. “What invoice do you need?”
He laughed. “No. A personal favor.” She looked around the office and was glad that Wendy had gone to lunch. Taylor was one of the few who ate at her desk, most taking advantage of their hour to gossip. “There’s no one in the offices around us, but I can shut the door if you’d like?”
She wasn’t sure if that was a good idea or not, but based on his grin, she’d better let him decide. “Your choice since I have no clue what favor you’re going to ask me and you might not want witnesses if I swear at you.”
He stood up and walked to the door. “That is exactly the reason I’m coming to you with this favor.”
“Shoot,” she said, not sure she really wanted to know, but leaning back in her chair and setting her glasses on her desk. She hated wearing them and worried they made her look old.
“I have to go to some dinner—”
“No,” she said quickly.
“You didn’t let me finish,” he argued.
“I don’t need to know the rest of it.”
“Come on. Let me at least ask fully before you throw a rejection in my face.”
She sighed. Surprisingly she was enjoying this conversation. It’d been way too long since she could talk to someone and not worry about watching every little word. Sure, Reed was her boss, but times like this he didn’t seem it. Nor did he lord it over her. “Fine. Finish your question.”
“I have to go to some dinner party in my parents’ place the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Not sure of the exact date. They’re out of town and they insist I’ve got to be there.”
“So go,” she said.
“I don’t want to go alone.”
“I’m sure you can find some woman to take,” she said, crossing her arms. What did he think she was? Some plaything?
“Plenty of them. But then they’d want more than just going on a date with me. They’d see it as more too. Not to mention my sister is going to be there.”
“Even more reason for me to say no.”
“Rachel is worse than my parents. They won’t leave me alone on why I’m still single.”
She snorted. “Maybe you’re still grieving. Did you tell them that?”
“Please,” he said, waving his hand. “Three years later. You know the story. No grieving here, trust me I’m not.”
“Then you’re still pissed. Tell them that.”
He burst out laughing. “See? Exactly what I need. You don’t let me get away with anything and are a straight shooter. I need you by my side so you can tell my sister that.”
She shook her head. “I don’t picture you the type of man who is afraid to stand up to his parents or sister.”
He put his hand in front of his heart adorably, and shockingly she felt herself wavering. Those angels must have waved a wand over his personality gene too. Not good. “I’m not afraid to tell them what I want or think.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“They aren’t afraid to do it back. It turns into a pissing contest. I need backup. It’s getting tiring.”
“So you think having me go with you on a date is going to get them to stop badgering you? It might make matters worse, especially if they think I’m one of the bimbos you’d normally spend your time with.”
His blue eyes sparkled. “Trust me when I say you are nothing like any of the women I spend time with.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not sure if I’m offended or not.”
“You want to be called a bimbo?” he asked, his eyes wide.
“Not at all. But I don’t want to be considered an old maid that is your fall-back plan either.” Those damn glasses for looking at the computer.
“I can’t figure you out,” he said.
“Yet you’re in my office right now pitching me this proposition?”
“I am. I must be a glutton for punishment. I’m enjoying this though, aren’t you?”
She wasn’t about to admit it to him. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question was that? You’re not like the other women I’m with because you’re real and they aren’t. I like you personally, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I really don’t like most women in general. Not as a person or someone I want to even carry on a conversation with. Is that answer enough?”
She frowned. It was sort of a compliment mixed in with an insult on women in general. “I guess.”
“So you’ll do it.”
She had to be nuts to even consider this. “When is it again?”
“Memorial Day weekend.”
He was rubbing his hands together like he was ready to jump up when she answered so she couldn’t change her mind. “What kind of dinner party?” Little black dresses weren’t her thing.
“It’s more like an outdoor party. Nothing fancy. Casual.”
She could handle that and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to meet some people in the area. Though she was thinking the people she’d be meeting there weren’t going to be anyone she’d socialize with outside of being on Reed’s arm. Thoughts of touching any part of Reed shouldn’t be popping into her head, but there it was like a fly pestering her and not being shooed away.
She had to be crazy right now to continue with this conversation, let alone encourage him, but Angie was going to be with Jack for the whole weekend. Not just Saturday night and coming home Sunday. But since it was a holiday, she’d caved because it was a lesser holiday in her mind and Angie would be gone both Saturday and Sunday night. Best to let Jack spend more time for Memorial Day than, let’s say, Easter.
Two nights without her baby. Two days too. She’d be going bonkers and the party might be just what she’d need to take her mind off of it.
“What time does it start?” she asked. Angie would be picked up Saturday morning and she had to figure out how to do this without giving it away that she had a child.
“Mid to late afternoon. I always show up after it starts and cut out early. I need to make an appearance, shake some hands, and talk to clients. My dad does it all. He’s the desk guy; I’m the builder.”
“Why is your sister going then?” she asked. Rachel, he’d said her name was, didn’t work for the company.
“Because the Brittens also happen to be personal friends of the family and she was invited. She probably would have brushed it off too, but she knew I would be forced to go and this would allow her to keep an eye on me.”
“I didn’t realize your family needed to keep an eye on you.” What the hell was she getting herself into now?
“We’re close and they like to annoy me. Nothing more than that. So I’ll pick you up around three?”
“No,” she said. “Why don’t we meet here?” No way she was letting him come to her house. He could get her address out of her personnel file, that wasn’t the issue. It was that he’d see a child lived in the house and that wasn’t happening. There was no way he’d be the type of guy to let her walk out the door to his vehicle. He’d ring the bell and then nudge his way in like the steamroller that just convinced her to go on a date with him.
He tilted his head and she could see he wanted to argue but must have known better. “That works. Thanks.” Then he turned and walked out of her office not telling her anything else about where they were going or who else would be there.