Change of Heart - Hailey Edwards Page 0,36
a life—or a relationship—she didn’t want. She fought so hard for her dreams. He would rather let her go than watch her sacrifice even one on his behalf.
The final choice would be hers to make, and he…would have to live with the consequences.
“You’ll want to hear this.” Hadley sat on the futon near his hip and passed him a café mocha. “We’ve got a party to crash.”
Leveraging into a seated position, Midas accepted what Hadley considered breakfast with a smile he couldn’t quite catch before Remy noticed.
“Ugh.” She wrinkled her nose. “He thinks he’s special because you made him coffee.” She scooped a mug off the table. “She made me one too.”
“Hate Midas on your own time.” Hadley threw a pillow at her head. “Not while you’re on the clock.”
Remy grumbled loud enough for him to hear but soft enough Hadley let her get away with it.
“There’s a club in Buckhead, the Ivy.” She slurped her drink loudly as punctuation. “Rumor has it, there’s another invite-only party there tonight. Starts in a few hours. Faete is supposed to be on tap.”
“One of mine got into the last party without an invite.” Hadley pulled on her bottom lip. “What are the odds we can walk in off the street tonight?”
“None to none.” Remy started pacing. “The original invites were super fancy to guarantee the recipients would flash them around, help build the hype.” A snarl curled her lip. “This one is to establish a supply chain. No freebies. It’s pay to play.”
Midas stared at her over the rim of his mug as he drank. “How did you come by this information?”
“None-ya,” Remy snarked. “As in none of your business.”
Anticipating the hostile response, he checked with Hadley. “Do you trust her intel?”
“I do.” Her expression lingered on Remy. “Go do what you do. Report back when you know more.”
“Sure thing.” She yanked a crumpled paper from her pocket and slapped it down on the kitchen table. “Numbers from last night.”
“You’re really angling for that bonus.” Hadley chuckled. “Keep up the good work.”
“A bonus ain’t enough for what I do.” Remy yanked open the door. “I want a raise.”
She slammed it behind her, and Hadley just shook her head.
“She’s not wrong.” She glanced at the paper. “She’s a whiz at sales. Who knew?”
Having visited malls in Atlanta and experienced their breed of aggressive salesmanship, he had no trouble picturing Remy snagging shoppers as they emerged from other stores, dragging them to the Peachy Keen Sheets kiosk, and bullying them into making purchases.
Given Hadley’s soft spot for the murderous young woman, Midas let it go.
“How do you propose we get an invite?” He finished his drink. “Any friends who can pull strings?”
Mouth stretched thin, she glanced at her phone where it sat on the coffee table. “Maybe.”
“I need fresh clothes and to make some calls.” He climbed off the futon and rinsed his mug in the sink. “What time should I meet you back here?”
“Give me two hours.” She flopped sideways with a groan then raised her head. “Going upstairs or out?”
“Upstairs.”
“Okay.” She dropped it again. “Just checking.” Lifted it again. “That doesn’t count as nagging, does it?”
“No?”
“You don’t sound convinced.” She toed off her socks and hauled the sheet up to her neck. “I’m not sure how this relationship stuff works, so let me know if I start bugging you.”
“It’s nice.” He shrugged. “Having someone who cares.”
“Right?” She glanced over at him. “I didn’t think I would like it, but…it feels good coming home to someone.” Her cheeks reddened. “To you anyway.”
The beast in his middle propelled him across the room, and he claimed her lips. “Are you napping?”
Proof she had sat up with him through his night terrors, which could last hours, left him humbled.
“No.” She tugged the sheet higher. “I’m getting comfortable to make uncomfortable calls.”
“Mmm-hmm.” He crossed to the door. “Two hours enough?”
“Yes,” she mumbled sleepily. “Plenty.”
Leaving her tightened his chest, but he exited into the hall and bumped into Ares. “Do you always lurk outside Hadley’s door?”
“Usually only when you’re on the other side of it.” She waved him onto the elevators. “Trust me, I don’t want to hear all the mushy stuff that goes on in there. I only lurk when ordered to.”
He mashed the button for his floor, and they hit his apartment for fresh clothes and shoes.
“You’re half moved in here.” Ares whistled. “Why not cut the cord? Leave the den altogether?”
“I might, in a few weeks.”
“After the courtship ends,” she realized. “How’s that going?”
The beast