The two of us stare at each other for another tense few seconds before he gives a tight nod.
“I’m taking Molly to bed.”
He turns and strides off, then stops as he reaches the hallway leading to her bedroom.
“Tate?” he calls, looking back at me with something dark burning in his gaze. “Can you wait until I’ve read to Molly?I…” He purses his lips. “I think we need to discuss some things before you leave.”
Something dangerous about his tone has every sense heightening in my body.
“Sure,” I reply, trying to keep my voice breezy.
If he’s going to fire me or accuse me of stealing something again, I swear I’ll lose it.
He nods again, the movement stiff, before he walks away.
I head to the bathroom and take my time touching up my makeup and spritzing some perfume on. I’m waiting in the living area when Sullivan returns. His shirt is unfastened at the neck, and his hair is ruffled from where he’s laid on Molly’s bed with her.
“Am I fired again?” I blurt out, unable to stop myself as he walks over to me.
“What? No. Why would you think that?” He frowns like it’s the last thing he was expecting me to say.
“I…” I shrug, the fire in my stomach simmering down. I’ve been sitting here thinking of all the smart come backs I could use if he were to pull that crap with me again. He looked so tense, I assumed he wasn’t happy with something I’ve done.
“Do you want me to fire you?”
“What? No! Why would you think that?”
He arches a brow as I repeat his words.
I exhale a ragged breath. “Sorry… I just never know where I stand with you. You’re kind of intimidating.”
“I intimidate you?” He moves a little closer, and I tilt my head back to look him in the eye. Even with heels on, he’s still inches taller than me.
The heat from his body pours off him and reaches out to me like coaxing fingers.
“Come on.” I scoff. “You’re…” I gesture a hand up and down his broad, muscular body. “You look… likethat. And you’re really successful. Plus, kind of scary. I saw a grown manleave your office looking like he was about to have a heart attack.”
“He did. He died in the elevator.”
Sullivan’s eyes glint. The only sign that he’s joking.I think.
“So what do you want to talk about?” I ask.
His expression hardens and he swallows thickly, his eyes dropping over my dress. “I?—”
The bell from the building’s concierge rings out, indicating he has a visitor. He grumbles something and walks over to the panel on the wall, pressing a button to answer it.
“Mr. Beaufort? There’s a Miss Hayward here to see you. Shall I send her up?”
“I should get going,” I whisper as Sullivan looks at me.
His jaw tightens and he rests one hand against the wall and talks into the panel. “That’s fine, thank you.”
His hand curls into a fist against the wall and he mutters out a hushed curse before turning to me.
“Enjoy your date, Tate,” he says, a cool detachment taking over his eyes as he pushes away from the wall to escort me to the front door.
I hover before he opens it and glance up at him. “Is everything okay?”
