Page 37 of With Us

“Mr. Ryan says to let her go through,” the man with the walkie-talkie said.

With no further comment, my bag was handed back to me as they moved on to the next person.

Reaching the main desk, I took my place in another long line. I only waited a few minutes before a pretty brunette called out to me.

“Miss Kincaid?” she asked, smiling as she gestured for me to come to the end of the counter where she stood. The door behind her swung open as I neared, a man stepping out with a warm smile aimed at me.

In contrast with his professional shirt, tie, and slacks, his dark auburn hair was overgrown and tousled, flopping onto his forehead and making him look younger. A feeling of familiarity niggled at me until he spoke. “Hi Miss Kincaid. How are you?”

“Hi Ben,” I returned, finally placing him as the man who’d dropped off the dry clothes to me. “Good, you?”

“Late.” He patted down his pocket before pulling out a plastic card and a thick piece of paper slightly bigger than a business card. “Sorry for the holdup at security. There was a misunderstanding, but it won’t happen again. Mr. Amato wants me to give these to you. He’ll be back in about twenty minutes, and says he’ll see you then.” Not giving me the chance to say anything, he handed me the cards. “Got to run.”

As he walked away, the brunette regained my attention. “Mr. Amato asked me to show you up to his office.”

I glanced at the clock. “I’m sorry, Ms.…”

She smiled apologetically. “No, I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I’m Rosa, Mr. Amato’s receptionist. There’s a cafeteria or coffee kiosk down the hall if you’d like to grab something. Otherwise, I can show you the way.”

Tall and gorgeous, the woman who worked for Theo looked like she should’ve been on the cover of a magazine. Her pencil skirt accentuated her long legs, and her blazer showed off her figure while still looking professional.

She gave me a friendly smile, with maybe a hint of curiosity.

I didn’t blame her; I was starting to wonder what I was doing there, too.

“I wish I could,” I lied, “but I don’t have time. If I can just leave these for him, I’ve got to get to work.” I took out the keys to the SUV.

Her eyes dropped to them as she put her hands on her hips. “Mr. Amato wanted you to use the Rover.”

“I have, but it’s been two weeks.” Trying again, I held out the keys.

Rosa made no move to take them, instead pulling a cell phone out of her blazer pocket. “I’ll just—”

I caught the time again, and shook my head. “I’m sorry, I really have to go.” I added a smile, not wanting to come across like a total jerk. “It was super nice to meet you, though.” I set down the keys, plus the cards from Ben, on the counter before I hurried from the building.

It took some quick footwork, weaving and maneuvering through the thick after work crowd, but I made it to the T station, slipping into the train just as the door closed behind me. With no seats, I gripped the metal bar and tried to pretend I didn’t feel my phone vibrating in my pocket.

???

“Bored of the Rover?”

Trudging from the store two hours after my shift was supposed to end, I wasn’t really surprised to see Theo leaning against a different sleeker car.

“You said someone would pick it up,” I reminded him.

“I did.”

“It’s been almost two weeks.”

“It has.” When I was within reach, he curved his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me closer. “Is there a reason why we’re standing outside at one in the morning to say things we both already know?”

“I don’t know why you’re standing outside at one in the morning in the first place.”

“I figured since you’re bored of the Rover, I’d bring you something different.”

Shaking my head, I pulled away from him. “I’m not bored. I said I’d take it to drive to your parents, and I did—”

“Right. And now I need you to take this one and drive to my place tomorrow. I’d pick you up, but Kat and Mar are coming over at four.”

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