Just One Kiss (Very Irresistible Bachelors #2) - Layla Hagen Page 0,75

out of the station after hanging up, breathing in deeply once I was outside. I slipped into the coffee shop next to the theater where Avery was, buying myself a decaf mocha latte. I sat at a window seat and called Ryker.

We’d made plans for a late lunch so Avery could say goodbye before flying to Phoenix, but I wanted to talk to him about the article right now.

“Heather,” he greeted.

“Hey! Just wanted to tell you about the art—”

“I know. We’ve all seen it... and we were also informed that yours won’t be published. I’m sorry.”

“Just spoke to my editor about it. How is the mood at the office?”

“Our PR team is flipping out. We’re going to have a meeting about it today.”

“Okay. We’re still on for lunch?” I asked.

“Sure. In two hours, right?”

I just wanted to be with him so we could regroup together.

“Yes.”

“Sure, babe. Just come here. Love you.”

“I love you too.”

I smiled, feeling a lot lighter after hanging up. I sat in the coffee shop long enough to finish my decaf mocha before heading to the theater. Avery and her group were already in the lobby. She barreled into me, wrapping her arms around my middle, grinning up at me.

“Hey, lovebug. How was the show?”

“Super boring. Are we still going to see Ryker?”

“Yes, we are. Come on, let’s go.”

I chuckled, hugging her with one arm. After thanking her teacher for making attendance the next day optional, we headed to Central Park. We still had an hour and a half until we were meeting Ryker. It was going to be a short (and very late) lunch, because we still had to make it home in time to get Avery’s bag and head to JFK. We ended up taking a long stroll through the park, and when we arrived at the fund, the receptionist handed me a visitor badge automatically. I wasn’t there on official business, but eh, she didn’t need to know that minor detail.

Once we were on Ryker’s floor, we stealthily made our way to his office. No one paid attention to us. It seemed even crazier than usual; everyone was running around in a frenzy. Even Ruby lacked her usual spark. Her hair was in disarray, as if she’d run her hands repeatedly through it. I waved at her, but she didn’t notice me.

I was surprised to find Ryker’s office empty.

“Let’s wait in here,” I told Avery. “He’ll come soon.”

She immediately sat in his leather chair, spinning around, grinning from ear to ear. I intended to call him, then noticed that his cellphone was lying between two stacks of paper on his desk. Okay, nothing to do but wait, then. I sat on the other chair.

“Avery, please don’t touch anything,” I warned.

“Yes, Mommy. I’m a big girl. I’m careful.” She touched one of the stacks, just barely, but it tumbled down from the desk the next second. I jumped from my chair, trying to catch them all, but only managed to get a paper cut on my left palm. The papers just spread everywhere. Jesus! I went to my knees, gathering them. Shit, I didn’t know how to put them back in order. The pages weren’t numbered. I just placed them back on the desk as best as I could.

“Heather?” Owen’s voice sounded from the doorway. Crap.

“Hi, Owen. This is my daughter, Avery.”

He stepped inside, glaring at the disorderly stack of papers. “Those are confidential documents.”

“They just fell on the floor, and I put them back.”

“They fell because of me,” Avery said apologetically. “But I don’t know how. I was being careful.”

She was still sitting in Ryker’s chair, which Owen definitively didn’t appreciate.

“What are you doing here, Heather?”

“We’re just waiting for Ryker so we can go to lunch.”

“He can’t take a lunch break today. He’s in a huge meeting.”

“Oh. Okay. We’ll just wait for him.”

“It’s going to take hours. You can’t wait here. This is not a place for children.”

I straightened up, jutting my chin forward. “I know. It’s.... Can I talk to Ryker for a minute or leave him a message?”

“No. Look, Ryker needs to focus right now. He doesn’t have time to chase children around the office or clean up after them. He’s got more important things to do.” His voice was so harsh that Avery gasped. Her eyes widened. She clutched the armrests with her tiny hands. I rolled my palms into fists.

“I know you’re pissed about the article, but honestly, it’s your fault for bringing Dawson into this in the first place.”