Dating the Boss (Blue Harbor #2) - Jaclyn Osborn Page 0,71

flattery, especially from him. I felt like I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone.

“No need to give me an answer today,” he said. “But I expect one soon. It’s a real opportunity I’m giving you here.”

“Indeed, it is.” I nodded and left the conference room in a sort of daze, my stomach twisting with anxiety.

How could Reed and I ever go public with our relationship now? If I accepted the president of marketing position, HR would definitely have one or two things to say about me dating an employee.

What the fuck am I going to do?

Reed was waiting for me in my office when I got back. I walked through the door, and he locked it behind me. I turned to him, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

“Is this a trap?”

He slipped his arms around me, tucking his head under my chin. “No. It’s a congratulation on your promotion. I’m so happy for you, big guy.”

That damn endearment had stuck over the weeks. And it never failed to make me smile.

I returned his hold and rested my cheek on the top of his hair. “I’m still in shock. It hasn’t fully set in yet.”

“Should I call you Mr. President now?” Reed asked, pulling back to look up at me.

“You can when we’re in bed,” I said, snatching hold of his jaw and tugging his face to mine for a kiss. It didn’t last long, but it still made my heart go wild in my chest. I’d never tire of his lips.

“And here I thought you just wanted me to call you Daddy.”

I snorted and stepped out of his embrace. “Oh, I draw the line at Daddy.”

“Ah, come on.” Reed sauntered toward me, wiggling his eyebrows. “One time when we’re fucking, I really wanna hear you say, ‘Ride Daddy’s cock just like that.’ Please?”

As much as I hated to admit it, his words and the visual they created made my cock swell. “The answer is no, Reed.”

“Fine.” He slithered his hands up my arms. “A car will be here at noon to take you to the lunch date with the new client.”

“Thank you for the reminder.” The meeting had slipped my mind. Without Reed handling my calendar and scheduling, I’d be a complete mess. “What would I do without you?”

“Probably cry.”

“Well, you aren’t wrong.” I unbuttoned my suit jacket and sat at my desk. “Both my work and my personal life would be in ruins without you.”

“Don’t you forget it,” he said before turning toward the door. He stopped when he reached it, though, and paused with his hand on the handle. “Hey, Daniel?”

His voice sounded different than before.

“Yes?”

“Will we…” Reed shook his head. “Never mind.”

“Don’t do that,” I said. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. God, I hated when it did that. “I’ll talk to you later.” He then left my office and closed the door behind him.

I grabbed my phone and sent a text.

Me: This discussion isn’t over.

Reed: :p

Me: Did you just stick your tongue out at me??

Reed: Maaaybe.

Me: That’s it. You and the groundhog are sleeping on the couch tonight.

I had said it to make him laugh. Because even with a door separating us, I knew he wasn’t okay. Something was eating at him. Though faint, I heard him laugh from outside my office when he opened the text.

Success. I smiled.

I left around eleven thirty to make it to my meeting across town. The client had opened a bakery café and had hired us to help with the marketing. The food was great—Reed especially loved all the cookies and sugary desserts. The business just needed a little push. I was meeting him at his workplace where we’d go over the new design the team had put together for him for a big social media campaign.

“Mr. Sawyer,” Spencer said as I walked through the door. He was thirty-one but appeared a lot younger with his sea-green eyes, lean frame, and easygoing smile. “Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Not a problem.” I placed my briefcase on a table beside the window and took off my heavy coat.

“Can I get you a cup of coffee?” he asked. “Might help battle the cold.”

“Yes, please. That would be great.”

“Coming right up.” Spencer went behind the counter and grabbed two cups before filling them. “Do you want me to leave room for cream?”

“No, thank you. Black is fine.”

As a bakery café, it was more than a shop-and-go where customers bought their food and left.