I’m overstepping. We’re not friends. But I don’t like seeing him all tense like he is. Maybe it’s nerves, knowing his ex-fiancée is here. Perhaps he wants to get rid of me so they can have some privacy. Ashley was salivating over the gossip when she saw us all outside yesterday, wondering why his ex was back in the city. She said it was a huge thing when they broke up, with the New York press reporting that the engagement was off, and speculating over whose decision it was.
“Everything’s fine,” he bites out.
A vein pulses in his temple and his brow is so deeply creased he must have a headache.
“Okay then,” I answer.
He opens the door for me, and I almost walk face-first into Claudia.
“Oh, hi.” She smiles without a hint of recognition, like my uniform yesterday made me invisible.
“Hi,” I reply.
“I didn’t know you had company?” Her eyes meet Sullivan’s and I look at the way he’s staring at her, like he can’t look away.
“I’m not company. I work here,” I say, returning Claudia’s smile. “And I’m late for my date, so…”
“Of course.” Her voice softens like she’s relieved as she steps aside so I can slide past her.
“Nice to meet you,” I say to be polite.
“You met yesterday,” Sullivan snaps, his eyes still on Claudia.
She looks at him and her eyes widen before she blinks and looks at me. “Of course, I remember.”
I’d bet the contents of this week’s tip jar she doesn’t.
“We weren’t introduced, though.” I smile wider, trying to ease the weird tension that’s building between us all. “I’m?—”
“Tate,” Sullivan clips. “This is Tate. She’s Molly’s nanny.” His eyes are still on Claudia. “Tate, this is Claudia.”
“Nice to meet you.” I step past her and make my way down the hallway toward the elevators.
“Tate?” Sullivan calls after me.
I turn back just as Claudia is slipping past Sullivan and shrugging her coat from her shoulders, revealing a red lacy dress beneath it.
“Yes?”
He glowers like he’s pissed, his eyes dropping to my feet and back up to my face.
“Have a nice time.”
“Thanks. I wi?—”
My words are cut off as he disappears inside and slams the door.
22
SULLIVAN
“You still havethe couch we bought together?”
Claudia runs her hand along the back of the white fabric, and I stuff my hands into my pant pockets, watching her walk around the living area like she never left.
“Did we? I don’t recall.”
She gives me a look that says she knows I’m lying before wandering around more, inspecting what’s changed since she was last here.
