Cocky Notes - Leesa Bow Page 0,16
I stuff it in my back pocket.
“No way, girlfriend.” She takes me by the arm and drags me out back. “Read it.”
“I can’t. It’s a stupid game I don’t want to keep playing.”
She folds her arms. “Why?”
“He’s a customer. I can’t get involved with someone like him.”
“You have given me two different reasons.”
“Exactly.” I hold my chest hoping the tightness will ease.
“Mace, forget the customer thing. It won’t be a problem, so get over it. And someone like him… I don’t want to hear you say it again. I made the same mistake once. Paying for it ever since. You have to believe in yourself. You are good enough.”
I shrug. “It’s different.”
“It’s not. Trust me when I tell you not to give up until you’ve given it everything you have. No regrets.”
Her last words snare my attention.
“Open it.”
I unfold the menu, ignore the arrows and circles and find the section written for me. It’s in the top right corner like on the previous menu.
The property of Reef Burton.
Please return to known address tonight.
“Fuck,” I mumble.
“What?” She leans over my shoulder and peruses the note. “What am I looking at?” I point to the corner. “Oh.”
I fold the piece of paper and put it in my pocket.
“I want to know what happens tomorrow.”
“Nothing will happen,” I say, more to myself in a promise.
“Tell him we’re changing the menu and looking for suggestions from these guys since they’re regulars.” She gives me a copy of the menu options as though giving me a reason to go.
Chapter Eight
MACY
“Reef Burton, please.”
I don’t bother to look the receptionist in the eye. Dressed in heels, a long skirt, and a short-sleeved button-up shirt to the nape of my neck, it looks like I’m ready for a job interview.
“Name please.”
“Macy Reynolds.”
She repeats my name over the phone, then she turns to me. “He’ll be down in a minute.”
I stroll toward the elevator, his note in my hand. The moment the doors open, I’m caught in his web, melting at the way he smiles.
I shake my head, and I’m unsure if it’s to him or myself. I hold out the folded menu before he has a chance to embrace me in a friendly hug. “I believe this belongs to you. And here is a revised menu with options. Oliver would appreciate your input.”
He glances over to reception. She’s watching us, I know it without looking.
“Thank you for returning it, Miss Reynolds. I have other documentation upstairs. If you have a moment…”
I glance at my phone. “I’m on a tight schedule.”
“Come this way.”
Seriously, who are we kidding? She saw me the night I fled.
“I can’t,” I murmur.
Reef’s brow pulls tight. He takes my hand to calm me. “Macy, please,” he whispers.
My insides tighten at the sound of my name rolling off his lips. I’m staring at those lips imagining them on my body. Our gaze meets, and his eyes flare in need and frustration.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” I mouth.
He releases my hand and folds his arms.
I take a few steps back second-guessing myself. My intimate areas are screaming at being denied the promise I mentally made. Bang him and move on.
With every step toward the door, I’m questioning my behaviour. Why am I denying the attraction? We want each other. A night of passion to fuel the need, and then we can take the next step. Be it forget each other or...
My chest constricts, and the last few strides to my car are a jog. In the safety of the cabin, I look to the top floor, to a window I make out to be his penthouse.
He’s there, peering down watching me while I gather my thoughts and will my heart to slow.
No regrets.
I start the ignition and drive to Georgia’s house. At least she’ll understand.
“I can have one wine,” I tell her. “Because I need to be home soon. Dad will want to go to bed. I needed to talk first.” I slide behind the gleaming glass table and grab a coaster from the centre, so the condensation doesn’t leave a mark.
“Of course,” she says, pouring sav blanc from an opened bottle, one for me and another for her.
“So, you’re talking about the surfy-looking guy, the one who was drunk leaning over Chance’s shoulder?”
“Yes. We’d made a connection before that night.”
She sits opposite me at the table and watches my reaction. “And you made out?”
“Only made out. No sex but…”
She raises her glass ready to make a point. “It’s just sex, babe. Those guys know it.