Page 35 of Grizz

Her eyes glint with a malice I don’t know what I did to earn.“Yes, well… it’s not a moot issue to me.You being late caused me to be off schedule and speaks to your inability to do your job effectively.I feel like Julian needs to know that.”

Before I can respond, the restroom door opens and Grizz steps out, hands in pockets, sleeves pushed up, not a care in the world.

He takes one look at Kendra’s expression, then at me, then back to Kendra.“Everything good here?”

Kendra’s smile doesn’t falter.“I was just advising Daisy it’s unacceptable that she was late and I’m going to need to report this to Mr.Langley.”

So, now it’s Mr.Langley and not Julian.

He nods once.“Yeah… you were absolutely inconvenienced.”

I shrink inside and Kendra preens.“My time is valuable too, as I’m sure you can appreciate.”

Grizz scratches the back of his neck and nods.“Yeah… whoever was responsible for inconveniencing you should be punished.”

Kendra frowns, because Grizz isn’t smiling at her.“I mean… like I said, my time is valuable.”

“We were late because of me,” Grizz says, and I blink in astonishment.

Kendra’s mouth turns downward.“Excuse me?”

“I was the reason we were late,” he says simply.“Got caught up at the facility.Daisy was waiting on me.”

The way he says it—steady, unapologetic—makes her falter just enough to show it.

I open my mouth to respond, but he beats me to it.“She’s been solid.Whole thing’s my fault.If anyone should be raked over the coals, it should be me.”

Kendra recovers, pasting her PR smile back in place.“Well… of course.These things happen.”

Grizz levels a look her way.“Glad we’re on the same page.I’d also say it’s smart you put in a good word for Daisy with Mr.Langley.It’s not easy managing me.”

“Of course,” she simpers, wringing her hands.“I’ll sing her praises.”

And just like that, Kendra’s power trip evaporates.She mutters something about following up next week and retreats toward the door.

“You ready to go?”he asks me.

Dumbstruck, I can only nod and then follow him out of Bartiz and into the early evening chill.The sky’s gone the color of dark pewter, casting New York in a gloomy haze.

Grizz stops, abruptly turns, and I have to put on the brakes so I don’t run into him.“You’re welcome,” he says.

My brow creases.“Excuse me?”

“For what I did in there.”

I blink.“You mean, undermining me in front of the client?”

He frowns.“Undermining you?I covered for you.Most people would be—oh, what’s that word—grateful.”

My back teeth grind together as all the ways in which this day sucked start to sink in.“You think I wanted to be rescued?That’s not gratitude you’re seeing.That’s frustration, especially since you’re the one who caused all this in the first place.Now if you’ll excuse me, all my patience is used up and I’m going to walk home.I’m sure you can catch a cab to wherever your penthouse is.”

Grizz’s hand shoots out and latches onto my wrist.I turn to face him and he looks genuinely confused.“Frustration?I just made your life easier.”

I start to answer and pull my arm away at the same time, but my bag slips off my shoulder and hits the sidewalk, scattering pens, lip balm, and half my dignity.

“Great,” I mutter, crouching to scoop everything up before he can react.

Grizz bends down to help anyway, picking up items and handing them to me.I snatch a lipstick from his palm.“Don’t.Please.You’ve done enough saving for one day.”