Just before he opened the door to slip inside, he glanced up at the window.
I knew I was fully visible with the lights on behind me, but I didn’t care. We stood locked in that tableau and I allowed myself to wish, however briefly, that there was more between us. But wishes were pointless and I couldn’t change the truth. Parker needed me—I was “valuable” to him—and that would have to be enough. Because if it wasn’t, if I ever acted on my feelings, then I’d have to leave him. And I couldn’t handle losing Parker, so I’d take what he would give and be satisfied.
Chapter Four
Friday morning was merciless and pulling my ass out of bed with only four hours’ sleep was an exercise in self-discipline, which I had very little of. If I had more, I’d have gotten myself to the gym, too. Megan was going to kill me for missing yet another workout.
Cheerful colors seemed inappropriate today—someone had died, after all—so I wore a black pencil skirt and a white blouse, somber and professional. Black slingback heels were also professional, but they had a scarlet red sole, which made me feel better. No one saw the bottom of my shoes anyway. I pinned up my hair like usual and tried to conceal the dark circles underneath my eyes with a pile of makeup. Scrutinizing myself in the mirror, I grimaced. I looked like I’d had a rough night out, and there was no amount of makeup that was going to fix that.
I had to run for the bus again, sending a smile to the driver who just grinned and shook his head at me. The coffee was ready to go when I got to Starbucks, as was Parker’s Danish. He liked when I varied his breakfast, so I didn’t get the same thing every day. He had a serious sweet tooth but was incredibly self-restrained about not giving in to it, so occasionally I gave him no choice but to indulge. I noticed he never complained.
I glanced longingly into the Dunkin’ Donuts next to the Starbucks, but passed it by as I hurried in to the office. What I wouldn’t have given for a jelly doughnut covered in sugar. Unfortunately, my luck would probably have had me wearing my breakfast on my blouse the rest of the day.
I’d just sat down at my desk when Parker stepped off the elevator. He was looking at his phone with one hand, while the other carried his briefcase. I wondered if what had happened last night would affect our relationship at all. I felt closer to him. His story about Ryker had given me a rare glimpse into his personal life.
To my disappointment, though, when he stopped in front of my desk it was business as usual.
“Good morning, Sage,” he said, barely glancing up from his phone. “Any messages?”
I shook my head. “Nothing yet.”
He nodded and headed into his office without so much as a glance at me. I tried not to be disappointed, but the lead in the pit of my stomach said otherwise. I didn’t know what I had expected—maybe just a bit more warmth, a glance that was more personal, that showed I’d achieved something closer to friendship status than just merely being an assistant.
Shoving those thoughts away, I got to work. Due to the shooting and the fact that the police had cordoned off the upstairs, the all-day meeting Parker had scheduled was canceled and moved to the following week. That gave me some time before I had to finish cataloging the files.
I groaned. “Oh, shit,” I muttered to myself. I’d forgotten about that. Now I was going to be crawling around on the floor in a pencil skirt, probably the least comfortable attire I could’ve worn. Stupid stupid. Well, I’d just wait until Parker left to go do something. No doubt I’d be scheduling three more meetings by noon for his suddenly open day.
“Tell me everything. And don’t think I didn’t notice you left me to sweat alone this morning.”
I glanced up to see Megan leaning on the counter above my desk.
“I wondered how long it would be before you showed up,” I teased.
“Rumor has it you were here last night when he got shot?” she asked. “Is that true?”
I nodded, sobering. “Yeah. It was scary. Parker and I were working when we heard a shot. He went to see what it was. Whoever killed Hinton shot at him, too, but missed.”