Page 29 of Save Me
I hadn’t noticed him. I left the meeting and saw Connor standing at my door, so I yanked him in and downloaded on him in a hurry, and fuck, I didn’t notice Archie there.
I know how gossip works around here. This would be terrible for Belinda if it got out.
“Listen to me carefully.” I aim an index finger at his face. “You never repeat a single thing you just heard in here. Not to anyone. Not even to Gizmo, do you understand?” There’s only one picture on Archie’s desk, and it’s of a cat whose hair is as orange as his owner’s.
“I didn’t hear anything.” He shakes his head furiously.
“Good.”
“Wait, but how does Gingersnap not know what getting Basic Instincted means? How old are you?” Connor waves his hand. “Actually, never mind. I don’t care if you came out of the fucking womb two weeks ago, everyone should understand what that means. Sharon Stone is a rite of passage. In fact, you’re gonna watch that movie tonight. I expect a full report by tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.!”
“Okay, settle down, Professor.” I take a deep, calming breath. “Archie, give me five before our meeting. Do me a favor and go find Eleanor from Events. Tell her I’m bringing two people with me to dinner so she can plan accordingly.”
“Got it.” With a cagey look at Connor—who is easilytwice his size—Archie scurries out, shutting the door behind him.
“What dinner?” Connor asks the moment he’s gone.
“The one you’re coming to with me. It’s here, tonight.”
“Seriously? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did. You forgot,” I lie. If I counted on my hands the number of times he’s left me in the dark about plans he’s made for us, I’d run out of fingers, several times over. Payback’s a bitch. “Wear something nice. Abbi’ll be there.”
That distracts him. “I haven’t seen her in forever. How’s the, uh—” He holds his hands out in front of his belly.
“Growing.”
“Damn.” He smiles wistfully, and I know he’s thinking about that day in the truck. “Who else are you bringing?”
“Sloane.”I hope.
“Neighbor girl?” He frowns. “She and Henry good now?”
“Nope. He doesn’t know I’m bringing her.”
“But he’s gonna be there.”
“Yup.”
His frown deepens. “What the fuck are you up to, Lyle?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s a long story that I don’t have the time to get into, but I’m bringing Sloane, and they’re going to meet her, and Abbi’s gonna love her.”I hope.
And then I’m going to ride in like a white knight andderail Henry’s capitalistic dreams, even though the woman still has no clue about any of it.
“So … I should pack my bags and get ready to head back to Miami, then?” Connor muses wryly.
“Maybe, but not yet.”
“For the record, you’re fucking nuts.”
“I probably am,” I agree.
“And have you thought about what Belinda is gonna do?”
“She’ll defer to Henry, and I have Abbi to help me with him.” Belinda’s devoted to a fault. If Henry maintains his cool over Sloane, she won’t attack.
“Dude, forget about that. What about what just happened over there?” He tosses an aimless thumb toward the hall beyond my door.
