Dana lifts a brow. “And the meeting is going to take two days?”
“Okay, Reece One and Reece Two. I’m going to New York for two days with Pierce Stanley for business. There’s nothing romantic about it.”
“New York is romantic,” Reece says dreamily. “Have you ever been?”
I shake my head. “No, but even if it were Paris, nothing would happen.” If I don’t watch it, I’m going to be the only one who needs convincing.
“You’re a tough cookie,” Reece says, shaking her head. “No wonder you have man problems.”
“You seem to enjoy my man problems,” I chide. She opens her mouth, but when I narrow my eyes on her, she closes it.
“She doesn’t need Pierce anyway. She has Blake,” Dana pipes in.
I groan, burying my face in my hands. My life is such a crazy ride; I can’t keep up with it, let alone keep my friends up to date. “That’s over.”
Dana looks at me with question in her eyes. “What? How can it be over? I thought you guys were just fucking.” Leave it to her to magnify the crudeness.
“It wasn’t working out. Besides, the second he got angry with me he took it as a hall pass to go screw someone else he met in a bar. I’m not going to play those games with a guy who refuses to commit. There are other guys I can get benefits from without the drama.”
“Oh my,” Dana says, shaking her head.
“What?”
“I warned you, and you did it anyway . . . you fell for him.”
I open my mouth to correct her, but I can’t. She’s right . . . the only reason Blake being with another woman bothers me is because in my mind, he’s mine. Or he was mine.
“Can someone explain to me what Blake has that Pierce doesn’t?” Reece asks. “I don’t see it.”
That one I have to think about. Blake has this whole other side that surfaces every now and then—one I can’t seem to let go of. He’s the definition of a damaged man, and I think a part of me wanted to fix him . . . to find the man he is underneath.
“Pierce is successful, and when we’re together, I know exactly what I’m getting. I guess I liked the mystery with Blake. Every time we were together was different. New. Exciting. It just didn’t end the way I envisioned it.”
Reece sits with her head resting in her hand, staring at me dreamily. “You make fucking sound so romantic.”
Dana looks at her like she’s someone she doesn’t even know. “You just said fucking. We just might turn you into a bad girl yet. And you,” she says, turning her attention back to me, “the reason your benefits-only relationship didn’t work was because you wanted more than benefits.”
I roll my eyes, but deep down inside, I know she’s right. I wasn’t made for that type of arrangement and failed miserably. “Is it time to go to the movie yet?”
“Who needs a movie when we have you?” Reece asks.
“I do. You two can’t talk there.”
With only ten minutes before Pierce arrives, I push down on the lid of my small suitcase in order to zip it shut. It’s one night, but without knowing everything he has planned, I over-packed a bit—three pairs of shoes, two changes of business attire, and a dress just in case we have dinner somewhere nice.
I roll it to the door and put on my shoes and coat. I opted for a sleek black pantsuit with a low-cut white blouse underneath. Not too sexy, but risqué enough to show I have some edge and taste. I pair it with a low black strappy heel, hoping my feet won’t fall off by the end of the day.
In the rush of everything, I almost don’t hear my phone ringing from inside my purse.
“Hello,” I answer without checking to see who it is first.
“It’s so good to hear your voice.” Mom. I smile to myself, imaging her sitting at the table on the other end, sipping from her large black coffee mug.
“Sorry I haven’t called in a few days. Things got a little hectic at my new job.” I don’t add anything about my personal life because that’s the last thing I want her to know about. She’d probably try to convince me to come home to a ‘nice country boy’ as she calls them. I tried her idea of nice, and it didn’t work out so well for me.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I’m actually leaving any minute to go to New York for a few meetings with the CEO.” Saying it out loud gives me heart palpitations. This trip isn’t just another meeting . . . it’s a potential multi-million dollar business deal.
She laughs. “You don’t sound all that excited. Haven’t you always wanted to go to New York City?”
“Yes, but on vacation. Not my first ever business meeting.”
“You’ll do fine. Besides, they wouldn’t have invited you if they didn’t think you could do it.”
“How are things back home?” I desperately need to think about something besides two days in New York with Pierce.
“Just trying to get ready for Christmas. Have you decided if you’re coming home yet?” Worry drips from her voice.
“I’m not sure. It depends on work and stuff, but I should know by the end of the week.”
“Well, I hope you do, but I’ll understand if you can’t.”
“I’m really going to try.” I glance up at the clock, feeling the nervousness that faded while talking to Mom creep back up. “I need to get going. My ride will be here any minute, but I promise to give you a call sometime this weekend.”
“Remember to have fun, and Lila, I know you can do this. You’re a smart girl, and you deserve everything that comes your way.”
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
By the time I throw my phone back in my bag, the weight on my shoulders isn’t quite as heavy. In a way, Mom is right . . . if Pierce didn’t think I could handle this, why would he risk losing such a big business deal. I honestly don’t think he’d put everything he’s worked hard for in jeopardy.
The doorbell rings, and my heart rate picks up again. Using the glass in the microwave, I straighten my hair then head to the door, opening it to Pierce, who stands suited in his signature gray. No matter how many times I see him like this, I stare longer than I should.
“Ready?” he asks, breaking my visual spell.
“I think so.”
“Here,” he says, stepping around me. “Let me take your bags.”
“You don’t have to do that, but thank you.”
He appears to be in a hurry, which is understandable since we have to make it through Chicago rush hour traffic in order to get to the airport. He strides a few feet in front of me, trailing my suitcase behind him.
“I need to lock the door,” I announce, pulling the key from my purse. Blake hasn’t been home since he left Monday night. My guess is he holes himself away in his studio, painting until he has no choice but to crash. Even after everything that’s happened between us, I still worry about him no matter how much I try to convince myself I shouldn’t.
When I finally turn back around, Pierce is waiting for me, eyeing me cautiously. “Are you okay?”
I wonder if my expression changes when Blake runs through my mind. “Yeah, it’s just early.”
“If you hurry, we have time to grab coffee.”
“Ah, how did you know I was an addict?”
He tilts his head, grinning. “I saw the k-cup collection in your apartment the other night. I assumed you were the addicted party.”
“Let’s get out of here then. You’d hate to see me if that addiction doesn’t get fed.”
“Good idea,” he says, starting down the hall again. As we make our way down the stairs, I wish for the hundredth time this building had an elevator. He’s carrying the suitcase, but I have the stupid heels.
The same black Escalade from the other night waits out front. The driver greets me. “Good morning, Ms. Fields.”
I smile in response. “Good morning.”
“I’ll take that from you.” He points to my briefcase. I hand it to him, grateful to have my shoulder back.