her gestures or the words she was flinging at him. Cami, Emmy, Mom, Katy, Liv, Fee, and Becca were at a table together, watching them. Heather was dancing with Reed, the two of them wrapped around each other as per usual.
“Where are the guys?”
Jordan snorted as he slipped Sandy’s coat over her shoulders. “On the balcony with a bottle of scotch. I think Bentley is wallowing, and his boys are with him for moral support.”
Addi’s gaze drifted to the glass doors. “Daddy,” she murmured, looking sad.
Sandy chuckled. “He’s fine. Let him have his pout with his band of misfits. It’ll be their turn soon enough.” She indicated Grace and Heather. “I think Richard needs to prepare himself.”
“I think he’s accepted Reed. He likes him.”
“It took a while, though.”
“True.” Richard had thought Reed and Heather were only friends. Until the time he flew in unexpectedly and caught them kissing in the office. That had been an interesting day.
Reed and Heather were still a fairly new item. When she arrived in Toronto, he had been friendly and offered to show her around. None of us thought anything about it, until they started arriving at the office together, holding hands. I knew Bentley had spoken to them, reminding them of the policies in the office.
“You break up? You keep it between you. I have zero problem getting rid of trouble. You understand?”
They only seemed to grow closer. They kept their PDA behind closed doors for the most part. Although their teasing and quips often made me chuckle during meetings.
I was talking to my dad in the hall when a familiar voice rang out.
“Mad Dog!”
We turned to see Richard striding down the hall.
He and my dad shook hands and gave each other a one-armed hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Heather sounded strange on the phone. I was a bit worried, so I decided to come see for myself what was going on.”
My dad and I exchanged a glance. I hadn’t noticed anything off with Heather. “She seems fine to me,” I offered. “But I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you. She’s in her office,” I added.
“I’ll go surprise her.”
He disappeared around the corner, and I heard a knock, then silence, followed by another knock. Heather only ever closed her door if she needed privacy.
I frowned and looked at my dad, panicked. “If Heather’s door is closed…” I let my voice trail off. “Does he know about Reed?”
“What the hell?” Richard bellowed.
“I think he does now.” My dad smirked.
We raced around the corner. Richard was standing in front of Heather’s desk. Reed and Heather were behind it, both looking rumpled. Heather’s mouth was swollen, and Reed’s hair was messy, as if someone’s fingers had been in it. Namely, Heather’s.
“You had better tell me that Heather was choking and you were providing assistance,” Richard snarled.
“Daddy,” Heather protested. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Don’t you ‘Daddy’ me,” Richard demanded. “What is going on?”
Reed straightened his shoulders. “I was kissing Heather.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “My girlfriend.”
Richard inhaled sharply. “Your girlfriend?”
Heather slid her hand over Reed’s. “His girlfriend,” she repeated.
Richard looked at my dad. “Did you know?”
“Recently, yes. I thought she had told you.” My dad pulled on my arm. “We’ll leave you to, ah, talk.” He paused. “And Richard?”
“What?”
“No blood. We don’t allow blood during business hours.”
“I can’t promise anything.”
“Dad! Stop overreacting!”
“I’ll decide when I’m overreacting, young lady.”
She rolled her eyes. “Give me strength. I’m calling Mom.”
“She’ll be on my side on this one.”
Heather picked up the phone. “We’ll see.”
My dad and I backed out of the office, pulling the door shut.
“Is that a good idea?”
He grinned. “If you survived Bentley, Reed can handle Richard. He’s been working out with Aiden and Van. He can take him.”
“You’re really not worried?”
“I have no doubt Heather will calm him down. Especially if Katy is involved.” He clapped my shoulder. “I am getting too old for this shit.”
Richard had calmed down eventually. He had always liked Reed, so that helped. His trips to visit happened more frequently for a while, though.
Nan’s throat-clearing brought me back to the present. “And Jaxson?” she asked, her eyebrow raised.
“Ah, that’s just Gracie’s boss,” Addi replied, looking uncomfortable. “He helped her get here today.”
Sandy leaned forward and kissed her. “And Richard was Katy’s boss. History has a way of repeating itself.”
They left, and I slid my arm around Addi. “Ready?”
“I think so.”
Bentley suddenly appeared in front of us. He smelled of cigar smoke and scotch, and his normally shrewd gaze was cloudy. He cupped