I didn’t even know who U2 was, so I just ignored his remark. “The paperwork?” I asked, holding out my hand, wanting to get this over with.
He chuckled. “You don’t like me, Reese. Why is that?”
I didn’t have an answer, other than that he made me nervous. And he flirted with me. Well, I guess that was the answer. “You flirt. I don’t like it,” I replied.
He studied me for a moment, and then his amused smile turned to something more serious as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. His face was closer to me, and the table between us felt like a safety guard.
“I haven’t been flirting with you, Reese. When I flirt with you, you’ll know it.”
Oh. OK. Well, what he was doing now seemed kind of flirty. But was I wrong about that? Was I assuming that his trying to be friendly was flirting? No. He had made comments about wanting what Mase had.
“You’ve made comments, comments about me . . .” I trailed off, feeling my face grow hot.
He shrugged. “I’m honest. I don’t worry about what others think. If I want to say something, I do. Doesn’t mean I was flirting, baby.”
He was so confusing. I fisted my hand in my lap, totally frustrated. “OK. Well, then, let’s forget all this and get to business. What do you have for me?”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a manila folder. “Here you go.” Then he stood up and headed for the door. “If you have questions, you can call or text,” he said, without looking back at me. When the door closed behind him, I sank back into my seat and let out a frustrated sigh. How had I ended up sounding like the jerk? He had been honest and turned it around to make me look like the idiot.
Shaking him off, I opened the folder to find more paperwork and receipts than I was going to have time to handle today. I still had several things to do for Piper. She would be gone tomorrow, and I had to feed and water the horses, on top of brushing them down and cleaning stalls. Piper had recently let her stable help go because the girl had kept talking on her phone during business hours. She hadn’t hired a replacement yet.
I had a busy few days ahead of me and needed to work late that night. I had pulled out my phone from my pocket and started to dial Mase when his name lit up my screen.
Smiling, I answered, ready to hear his voice. “Hey, I was just about to call you.”
“Hey, baby, I’ve got a problem. I hate to have to call you about this, but I’m packing up now and have to nail some things down before I fly out at six.”
What? Packing? “What’s wrong?” I asked, not liking the idea of him going anywhere on such short notice.
“It’s Kiro. Harlow’s mom is having health complications, and Kiro isn’t dealing with it well. He’s acting out like he always does, and Harlow has been dealing with it on her own. She doesn’t need this shit. Her heart . . . well, I’ve told you about her heart. I just need to handle him. Get him calm and reassure my sister that everything is going to be OK. I’d take you, but this is going to be ugly. Kiro . . . isn’t normal. He’s a crazy fuck. But I don’t want to leave you, either. I’m having a hard time with this.”
I couldn’t leave. I had more work than I could handle as it was, plus Piper was going out of town and was relying on me. “I have to work anyway. Piper is leaving, and I have to cover for her. Just go. Help Kiro, and keep me updated.”
“I love you. I’m going to miss you. I’ll call every night. Momma said she’d give you a ride to and from work, and she’ll pick you up at five tonight; I have to leave for the airport before then.”
“I love you, too. I’ll be fine. I’ll miss you, but your family needs you. Do you think there’s any way Maryann can come get me at six thirty instead? I have to work late tonight.”
He hesitated. “Yeah, she can. I just hate the idea of you working that late.”
I wanted to hug him tight and feel his kiss on my lips. My heart hurt already from missing him. But I wouldn’t let him know that. He had enough to deal with right now. I wasn’t adding more to it. “I’ll be fine. I just have a lot of paperwork that needs to be filed first. Travel safe, and call me when you get there.”
He sighed. “God, I hate leaving you.”
I hated it, too. “It won’t be too long. I’ll miss you, but I’ll be here when you’re back.”
“I love you. So damn much,” he said fervently.
“I love you more,” I replied.
Mase
We took the private jet to Florida so I could check on Harlow, but I wasn’t staying with her long. I had to get to Los Angeles and deal with Kiro. I just had to talk to Harlow first; she knew what all was going on. I also wanted to assure her that I would handle the situation right. Anything to keep her from worrying.
Grant opened the door before I even knocked. I’d texted him that I was on my way from the airport. He looked stressed. “Thanks for coming,” he said in a whisper.
I nodded. “Get in touch with me sooner next time, yeah?”
Grant nodded his head toward the back of the house. “She’s out on the back porch. She’s calling Dean to check on Kiro. Lila Kate is already in bed.”