“No?” he moved forward on his seat, his knees skimming mine.
I didn’t want to give him false hope and needed to be careful. “No. I’m here.”
“Yes, as my fucking shrink,” he grumbled.
I lifted my chin defiantly. “No. As someone who cares about you. As your friend.”
“Just my friend?” he said with a forlorn look. Fuck I hated it when he gave me those puppy-dog eyes.
“For now,” I whispered, unable to deny him at that point.
I released his hand, and Reed folded his arms over his chest and hooked his jaw toward me. “OK. I can accept that. It’s better than nothing, I suppose.”
We sat together for another half an hour, going over everything that had happened and rough dates. I sat in front of my laptop and typed in everything that would be relevant. Reed still had some gaps, and he would need to be certain before he came forward, if that was his decision.
I walked him to his car, and the atmosphere between us was still charged and unsure. Before he got in his vehicle, he leaned down and kissed my cheek.
“Thank you, Storm. For listening and being there.”
I didn’t say that’s what I’m paid for or anything harsh like that, I just smiled.
“So next Sunday?”
“Next Sunday?” I questioned, my head still a mess.
“Yeah. I’m calling dibs on my date,” the tortured boy was gone, and the confident man stood in his place.
The sooner the date was over, the better for my sanity. “OK, yes, next Sunday works for me, I suppose.”
“Just the two of us. I’ll speak to my lawyer about the next steps in the Palmer case, but our date is just about us. No shrink shit.”
“Us as in the past us.”
“No, us as in the future. Put our childhoods on hold for the time being and live for the now.”
I smoothed the creases from my blouse as he opened his car with the key fob. “OK. I can do that.”
Pulling the door open, he gave me a sexy smile. “Great. I have a busy week, but I’ll have my PA send over my schedule.”
It suddenly felt like I was in high school again and waiting for my crush to kiss me. “Cool. Well, if you want to talk about anything else. Just call, OK?”
Reed raised a brow as he watched me from above the open car door. “What about Jasper?”
“This isn’t about him, and it’s none of his business.”
I could see how my words were welcomed. I was surprised Reed had said his name, but maybe he understood the situation more now that we had spoken.
“Laters, baby,” Reed said with a wink before lowering himself into his car and closing the door.
I stepped back as he fired the engine, the grin on his face suggesting he felt he’d won something.
As he drove away, I attempted to reinforce my heart. I knew I wasn’t done with Reed, not by a long shot, but what could I do?
You’re marrying Jasper because you love Reed. To keep everything he has achieved safe.When he was young, he had no one to protect him. But this time, he did.
I was Storm Summers, and I would burn anyone who went after the man I loved to the fucking ground.
NINE
