My brother walks over to me while I’m handing the phone back to Lily and thanking her for intercepting the call for me. “Everything okay?”
I nod. “Everything’s good.” I step away from the desk and glance at my watch if only to avoid his searching gaze. “Listen, I need to take off. Meg’s alone at the shop and I told her I’d swing by before we close up.”
“That’s too bad. The three of us were talking about going out to grab a bite. We were hoping you might like to join us.”
I catch my lip on a groan, because there’s nothing I’d like better than to continue the high from my meeting with Avery. “I’m sorry, I can’t tonight. I really do need to get back to the boutique.”
“You’re putting in a lot of time at work lately.”
“I know. But honestly, I don’t mind all of the crazy hours because I love what I’m doing. I’ve never been happier.”
“The shop’s growing fast, Evie. I just don’t want you to take on more than you can handle.”
“I’m not.” My reply carries an edge of defensiveness I don’t intend.
“You sure about that?” His eyes hold me with concern, his deep voice taking on the serious big-brother tone that usually ends up with both of us locking horns before all is said and done. “What happened to your cell phone?”
“It’s no big deal.” I give him a dismissing shrug. “I left it back at L’Opale.”
“You never go anywhere without your phone on you. In fact, you promised me you wouldn’t.”
“It’s fine, Andrew.I’mfine.” We’re out of earshot from anyone, and even though I know my brother means well—even though I know I’ve given him plenty of reason to worry about me in the past—it rankles me to hear his over-protectiveness here, in a public space, in front of a new client. “Please, stop treating me like I’m made of glass. I’m good. You don’t need to worry about me anymore. I promise.”
He’s silent, scowling, but I see the stress lurking behind the skepticism in his eyes. I see the cold fear that had never been there until I caused it several years ago.
“I have to go,” I murmur under my breath.
I pivot away from him to say my goodbyes to Avery and Nick, then I head to the elevator and step inside alone.
Andrew’s sober stare remains locked on me as the polished steel doors close between us.
4
~ Gabriel ~
I arrive at the Baine Building before six the next morning. Technically, I’m not on the clock for another hour, but I know Andrew Beckham starts his day at dawn—usually with a workout in the company fitness room before showering and heading down to his executive floor office across the hall from Dominic Baine’s.
With real estate at an off-the-charts premium, few corporations provide complimentary in-house employee fitness centers. Even fewer reserve the fully windowed top floor of their company headquarters for weight training, scores of treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes, plus an indoor running track—all with unmatched, 360-degree views of the city.
Beck will have been finished with his training by now, but it’s still early enough to catch him before theadministrative staff and other office workers show up for the day. His door is open, but I rap my knuckles on the panel anyway.
“Hey, Gabe.” He looks up from a desk spread full of blueprints and stacks of contracts. “Haven’t seen you in this early in a while.”
I nod, still standing outside the room. “Got a minute?”
“Sure. Come on in.”
As I step inside the large office, I realize we’re not alone. On the other side of the room to my left, Dominic Baine is seated on a club chair. He nods from where he’s working on another pile of papers and plans. “Morning, Gabe. What’s going on?”
Damn. So much for any hopes of keeping my fuck-up with Evelyn Beckham on the down-low. Then again, I’ve never run from responsibility, and I’m not about to start now.
“Something happened yesterday that I need to make you aware of,” I tell both men, keeping my attention mainly on Beck. “I was in the garage heading out for the day when I noticed someone parked in your spot down there. I went over and informed the female it was a reserved space and asked her to move her vehicle, but she was . . . uncooperative. You could say we clashed a bit. In the end, I don’t think I left her with a very good impression of me.”
He makes an acknowledging noise and leans back in his chair. “So I heard.”
Ah, fuck. Of course, he’s already heard all about it.I exhale and give a tight shake of my head. “I’m sorry, Beck. I didn’t realize you had a sister. I’m sure she gave you an earful about the way I handled things with her.”
His mouth quirks. “She thinks you need to work on your people skills.”
