Griffin snorts. “I’m sure she is. You know, she asked if we could get an office dog at her last review?”
“Really?” I raise a brow.
“I said no, of course. I’ve got enough problems with half the fucking pigeons in Manhattan thinking the hotel is the prime vantage point for perching their feathery shitting asses.”
I laugh. Griffin has had a problem with the pigeons around The Songbird for years. It’s eased up, but every now and again, it seems to go mental again and the sidewalk by the main entrance is littered in feathers and shit for a day or two. It’s like the pigeons have a wild blow out just to piss him off and keep him on his toes.
I glance at my watch and stand, making my way to the door, still laughing.
“I gotta go. Early bird and all that…”
Griffin takes one look at me, still laughing, and grumbles, “Fuck off”, as I open the door. I head out, past Harley’s desk where she’s stroking the petals of an orchid and whispering something softly to it.
“Later, Mrs. Walker,” I call, walking past.
“Bye,Daddy,” she coos, making my laugh grow louder. It’s still rumbling in my chest, cementing a smile to my face as I exit the elevator and cross the lobby toward the giant, ornate main doors.
Even the memory drudged back up in Griffin’s office isn’t enough to quieten it.
Daddy?
She definitely deserves a fucking spanking.
Chapter six
Harley
“Isthereanythingleftin the store?” I look pointedly at the giant pink box complete with over-sized glittery bow that Reed’s balancing in one arm as we approach the front door.
“Last time I saw her, she said she wanted a Barbie dream house.” Reed looks at me as though it’s the most obvious thing in the world that he would buy it for her.
“You’re close, then? With Paige?” I look at his silky brown waves. He looks different today. I’m so used to seeing him in a suit, or sweaty with a lack of gym wear around the apartment. But this casual Reed in dark jeans and a green polo suits him. He looks like one of those men’s cologne ads. The expensive ones.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with Stuart, and he’s really close with his brother. So that means I’ve spent a lot of time with Book Page, too.”
“Book Page?” I snap back to reality at Reed’s choice of words.
“She likes it. You’ll see,” he adds as he looks at me.
I shake off my puzzled expression and look at the giant box again.
“I wish I’d been there to see you carry it out of the store.” I grin at the mental image of Reed, all smart and serious in his suit, manhandling a giant pink box with partying swimwear-clad dolls on the side in the middle of Manhattan.
“I only had to load it into the car. The saleswoman offered to help, but I said no.” He reaches his free hand up to ring the bell.
“You said no?”
“Yes. After she asked for my number.”
I roll my eyes and turn my body to him, ready to fire a witty comeback, but he’s looking at the door with a straight face.
He isn’t joking.
“Oh… That’s nice.” My stomach tenses and I close my mouth, pressing my lips into a firm line.
“It’s not, Harls.”
Harls.