As she speaks, a bit of gloss smears just on the outside ridge of her lip and I can’t seem to help myself. Something about her not only speaking to me but bantering with me again has me pushing off the wall, closing the distance between us.
Reese’s eyes stay on mine the entire time, and when I reach her, I carefully swipe the bit of stray gloss off her skin with the pad of my thumb. “You look...”Stunning. Breathtaking. Absolutely unreal. “Beautiful.”
Reese’s eyes widen only a fraction and it’s enough to tell me that was the wrong thing to say.
“Nice, I mean. You look nice. Fine. Average at best. And honestly, I wouldn’t notice otherwise.”
Reese tilts her head to the side, trying to suppress her grin. “Is that what you used to tell my grandfather when you two went to these things together? That he looked beautiful.”
“Absolutely. So don’t assume that’s something I reserve only for you. That’s just a typical thing I like to say to my bosses.”
“Hmm,” she hums. “Glad to see you’re keeping things so consistently professional.”
That’s my new rule. If I wouldn’t say it to Arthur, I shouldn’t say it to Reese.
I clear my throat. “Shall we?”
Reese gives a polite nod of her head and, like instinct, I reach out to place my hand on her lower back, wanting to usher her towalk ahead of me. But, thankfully, I stop myself before I make contact.
Even though we’re dressed like this, this is not a fucking date. This is a work event and the last thing she needs is to walk into a room of her peers and the commissioner of the league with her employee’s palm sprawled across the small of her back.
Instead, I shove my hand back into my pocket and just pray I find a way to get my shit together at some point tonight.
I can feel this uneasy, nervous energy radiating off her the closer we get to the ballroom door, and that’s only amplified by the way she constantly turns her head and checks her surroundings.
I’m not used to seeing Reese flustered and uncomfortable, but I did just wipe her lip and tell her she looks beautiful, so I assume what she’s desperately checking for is the nearest exit and the quickest path to get away from me.
I give her a bit more distance, staying another step behind. But when I reach out to open the ballroom’s door for her, she quickly covers my hand with hers to keep the door closed.
“Emmett,” she sighs, turning to face me. “I know we’re having some differences right now, but just for tonight... can we be on the same team?”
“We’re always on the same team. That’s literally why we’re here. Because we are on the same team.”
“You know what I mean. It’s been a hard day, and I have a feeling tonight isn’t going to be any easier.”
There’s a lot more that needs to be said, mostly an apology from me for not hearing her out about trading one of my players. But that’s a conversation for a different time.
“What happened today?” I ask.
“Nothing I didn’t expect.”
I’m not positive I know what she means but my instincts are screaming that I’m not going to like the answer when I find out.
“So maybe, just for tonight, we can call a truce?” There’s a bit of vulnerability in her voice that I’m not used to hearing from her.
I nod to agree. “Of course, Reese. Whatever you need.”
She exhales, and the weight on her shoulders seems to lighten a bit. “Thank you.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.” She takes her hand away from mine, allowing me to open the door. “Let’s just get this over with.”
I pull the handle inward. “That’s the spirit.”
That one and only hour I was planning to stay has come and gone.
So have an additional two.
