Page 16 of Honey Sunshine

I glance over at him with a defeated sigh. “And here I thought I would finally give you your one wish and set you up with my secretary?—”

“Ah, did I say tyrant? I was joking. Lighten up, bro,” he laughs, already looping an arm around me and giving me a thumbs up. “You also look amazing, so go get him, tiger! You let me know if you need anything else as well!”

“Really?” I beam, placing an arm around him in return.

“Of course! What are best friends for? You name it, I’ll give it to you, if it’s within my powers!”

“Great,” I say, holding out my other hand. “Please lend me your car for the night, then.”

Alex’s smile plummets off his face when he realizes the trap he stepped in. What can I say? He owes me.

Big.

Half an hour later, after prying Alex off my legs, I stand in front of Harvey’s apartment complex. My eyes twitch. I look at the text message with his address and then back to the entrance. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I walk inside and promptly freeze.

The lobby has a sleek and modern look, with polished marble flooring and tall glass doors. Elegant artwork adorns the walls, and the lighting fixtures add a touch of glamor to the overall aesthetic.

Hell, there’s even a damn pool table and an art piece that looks like it was designed by a top-tier sculptor from Italy.

Fuck me. I know Harvey’s well off, but I didn’t expectthis.

I feel like the misfit duck in a place where only swans and flamingos can thrive and flaunt themselves.

I feel even worse when the doorman gets up from where he’s seated, and I think the security guard looks ready to jump me. For a moment I consider just casually dismissing them with a flick of my wrist, but that would probably just make it more obvious, or maybe they’d think I’m trying to start something.

“Welcome. Floor and name please?”

“It’s Mr. Harvey Cooper, but I’m not quite sure what his floor is...” I trail off awkwardly. When he arches one brow, I quickly fumble for my phone inside my jeans pocket, nearly about to break out into a nervous sweat. “But he is expecting me today. I just spoke to him and?—”

“There you are. I was looking all over the place for you.”

I turn my head to the right to see Harvey walking up to us, dressed in a black T-shirt and slacks.

I don’t even know what I’m upset about—the fact he showed up at just the right time or how stupidly sexy he looks. His hair is a tousled mess, giving him a rugged and untamed appearance that should be illegal.

And don’t even get me started on those penetrating blue eyes that seem to see straight through me, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable. I know damn well I shouldn’t be feeling this way.

Thisthingbetween us isn’t real, and I know better than to mix business with pleasure.

Yeah, been there and done that.

But once Harvey reaches us, I don’t know what comes over me. I promptly hug him, wrapping my arms around him tightly, while gazing up at him and smiling. I fully convince myself that this is just putting what we last practiced into action, and he must think that too, since he doesn’t jump away from me.

“Hey. Sorry. I just had such a terribly hard time finding parking in the area.”

“You should have told me. I would have asked you to park in my private spot,” he says.

His private what now?

“You know me, I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You? Never.” He grins and leans down to kiss my forehead, then redirects his attention to the security guard and doorman. “Oh, Mr. Goldman, would you add him to the roster of approved guests? His name is Zach Bower.”

That seems to snap the guard from his gawking as he straightens his back and smiles.

“Right away, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Bower, may I have your ID so I can copy it down then, please?”

As we enter the elevator after completing the sign-in, I finally release a long breath. Harvey lets out a chuckle as though he can read my mind. “I see you’re getting better at playing the part.”

---