“Duh.” He rolls his eyes. “It’s part of my job description, remember?”
“True, but I didn’t realize you’d already started.”
“Well, they’ve tightened their security after the damage Ansel did. I haven’t had anything to report, so there wasn’t any point in saying anything. I’m making good progress though. Hoping to have details on the head honcho soon. Fucker’s being elusive, but I’ll find him.”
“Good.” It is a good thing, so why do I suddenly feel tense? “Thank you.”
“No problem.” He pops his gum.
I touch the edge of his request lightly. “We could still ask something of you. A price you might not be willing to pay.”
“It’ll be worth it,” he says dismissively, fingers flying over the keyboard.
“You don’t mean that. A date with me isn’t worth everything.”
He sighs, swinging his chair around until it’s facing me. When his knees push against mine, some of the tension bleeds away. “Okay, Mr. Buckingham, who decides what the price is? Are you honestly going to demand that I do something that’ll endanger my life?”
My jaw twitches. The brat has me cornered, and he knows it. “Obviously not.”
“Well, we don’t have a problem, then.” Neo smirks and pats my knee. “Best get planning. I can’t wait to hear your ideas tonight, in bed.”
My shoulders tense as I force myself to say what I’ve been meaning to for the last few days. Meaning to, and somehow not getting around to. “You need to stop sneaking into my room at night.”
“No, thanks,” he says, and I feel myself biting back a smile. Ever since I broke things off with Candace, he’s been coming into my room and sliding between the covers. He tries to be quiet, but he’s as loud as an elephant.
I pretend not to notice him, but we both know that’s a farce.
How can I not know when he’s near me? My monster always knows.
My mind shifts back to the date he requested. I set the paperdown and run a hand over my eyes. I have to plan a fucking date. I don’t even know where to start. With Candace and my past girlfriends, I simply took them to the closest Michelin-starred restaurant or invited them to accompany me to a charity gala.
I suspect that Neo wouldn’t consider either of those options romantic.
“Oh, one more thing.” I glance up at Neo’s words to find him smirking again. “Wear your slutty little glasses on the date.”
My finger flicks across the touch pad on my laptop as I sit in bed that night, my glasses perched on my nose.
Not because Neo seems to find it cute. Because I’m tired. That’s why.
I’m not planning a date with him. It’s preposterous that he requested it the way he did. The more I think about it, the more my heart races.
And the audacity to say I need to wear my glasses.
No one tells the Buckinghams what to do.
But he does. Ours. Mine.
I reach beneath the frames of my glasses and pinch the bridge of my nose, a headache beginning right behind my eyes. Maybe because Neo was ushered away by Harley and didn’t return. I told myself I would get so much done.
I did fuck all and feel like shit for it.
I never fail, and yet, for some reason, I am. It feels like I’m letting everyone down, including Neo with this fucking date.
I don’t even know what the hell I’m doing entertaining it. Even so, I click on a link, trying to decide where to take him. Or not take him.
I’m not taking him anywhere.
Yes, you are.
