But I’m not smiling at the movie. I’m smiling at how happy it makes her.
Seeing her upset is like a sucker punch to my gut, or having a hot poker being rammed down my dick.
Harley being upset makes me want to mute every sound in the world. Rip the vibrations and sound waves from the air. Because I don’t think I want to hear any sound.
Not unless one of them is her laugh.
Chapter eight
Harley
“Ijustneedtoremember what the business was called. Ah-ha!” I bring up the website and clap my hands together. “I found it.”
“And you really think this is a good idea?” Suze leans over my shoulder, reading the screen.
“Yes. It’s an amazing idea.” I look at Maria for support, but she furrows her brow as she carries over three steaming mugs and sets them down on her and Griffin’s dining table, where I’ve set up camp with my laptop.
“Trust me.” I look between the two of them, then turn back to the screen. “She was so lovely at that dinner we went to, and she was there alone. And she loves dogs. I mean, she could not be more perfect.” I grin as I scroll down the page, searching for her contact details.
“You like dogs,” Suze says to me before glancing at Maria.
I ignore the looks they’re both giving me. “Natalia’s incredible. She built up her pet walking business from scratch, and now it’s the most successful one in the city. She has over one hundred staff. There’s a waiting list and everything.”
“Sounds like a prep school.” Suze snorts and then closes her mouth when I fix her with a look.
“I know you think it sounds silly. But, girls, you weren’t there. You didn’t see the hurt in his eyes. You didn’t hear what he said.” I turn back to the screen and sigh. “Bea broke Reed’s heart years ago, and it’s never healed.”
“And you think Natalia can heal it?” Maria perches on the edge of the table and eyes me over the rim of her mug, which is cradled between her hands.
“She has to,” I whisper, looking at Natalia’s smiling face on her website photograph. “Besides, she’s blonde,” I say, as though that proves everything.
“He does seem to have a thing for blondes,” Suze muses as she glances at Maria.
“Exactly. You said every woman you saw leave his apartment was blonde.” I pick up my mug and take a sip as I look at Maria.
“That is true.” She nods.
I swallow down the latte, but it burns my tongue, and its usual sweetness is tainted with thoughts of Reed spending night after night buried inside different women searching for a cure for his pain.
“I want to do this for him. The campaign won’t last forever. Once our arrangement is over and I move out, he’ll be back to where he started again. If I can set the ball rolling now, then maybe he won’t be miserable for long.”
“I can’t say he’s ever looked miserable when I’ve seen him,” Suze says. “I’d actually say he looks even happier recently.”
“Heissmiling more,” Maria agrees.
“It’s all for show.” I dismiss their comments with a wave of my hand as I reach for my cell phone and add Natalia’s number to my contacts. “He’s got to look happy for the campaign. Gain the voters’ trust and all that. His campaign manager, Stu, told me as much. Perception is everything.” I save her number and then close my laptop.
“What are you going to do? Set them up on a blind date?”
“Of course not.” I look at Suze. “Reed would never go for that. I’m not exactly sure yet, but I’ll think of something. They got on well enough at the dinner. I’m sure a few little carefully orchestrated meetings here and there will sow the seed. Then once the votes are in, Reed and I can amicably part ways, let the press know he was the perfect boyfriend and I love him like a brother. Something that still paints him in a good light for when he’s mayor.”
“When, not if? You’re sure he’s going to win?” Suze questions.
“He’s going to win. There’s no one better for that job than him.” I take a sip of my drink and smile as I recall the way he looked this morning in his dark blue suit, his hair still damp from the shower. And he still had his glasses on as he called out his usual ‘Goodbye Mrs. Walker’ and headed out the door. He looked strong and invincible, ready to take on anything.
Suze gives Maria another of the same looks the two of them keep exchanging.
“What?” I huff.