Page 15 of Unexpectedly Wanted
“What? Let me just park real quick. I’ll even hang back so it doesn’t look like you came with me.” I rolled my eyes. Heaven forbid anyone knew that we might have actually hung out. Though that was a bit of a stretch.
I turned the corner, nearing the parking deck for the building.
“Stop,” he said. “Pull over.”
“There’s nowhere to—” I stopped talking as I looked over at him. His face had gone pale.
Robert was manning the parking garage booth. He sent me a curious look as I jerked the car to the left when I’d already started making the turn into the place. I tossed a hand up at him and he shrugged. Hopefully, he wouldn’t set the security team on alert with the odd move.
“Okay,” I told him, hand reaching over the console to rest on his thigh. I wanted it to be comforting, but with Milo, it could have gone in another direction. I really hoped it wouldn’t freak him out even more. “Okay. I’ll drive around to the front.”
I slowed and came to a stop for the red light.
Turning in the seat so I could face him, I was ready to pull out all the stops to get him to calm down.
But he pushed my hand off his leg, unbuckled his belt, and hit the unlock button for the door before I could even speak. Then he was out of the car, feet carrying him away from me far quicker than I was happy with.
“Milo!” I called out through the still-open door. “Milo!”
But he didn’t look back.
Shit.
If I’d only known, I wouldn’t have made the mistake of attempting to park in the garage. How did I not know that Milo never parked there? How did I not know the very idea freaked him out?
We’d be talking about this later.
Most definitely over lunch.
6
Milo
Reed was waiting for me once I reached my office.
I barely noticed him there since I kept my head down as I walked through the main floor to my door. Then I saw his shoes. Brown today. Expensive, soft-looking leather. They looked nice, but I felt more comfortable when he wore his Chucks. The ones with Batman on them especially, but I’d never say as much. The shoes told me he’d planned to be at the office today. A plan. Not a last-minute thing. Not arushing in so he can get a team prepped to be outkind of thing. The dark navy suit and light gray shirt also said he was here for a reason other than something urgent.
I would have liked to say that set me at ease a little, but it didn’t. My freak-out over the parking garage was still messing with me. At least the python grip around my lungs had relaxed.
“You okay?” Reed asked as I looked up and met his eyes. My face was sweaty, and it caused my glasses to slip way down my nose. Hastily, I shoved them back into place.
“Yeah, fine. Something you need?” I turned my focus to unlocking the door and making my way into my office.
“I wanted to come in and check on a few things. Make sure everyone was up on their paperwork. See what was going on with a few cases.” His eyes studied me sharply for a few beats. “Do you have some time to go over a few things?”
No.
“Sure,” I said.
I didn’t like the way he left the door open as he stepped into my office and took a seat opposite me. Realizing that I was just standing there behind my chair, I rushed to pull it out before plopping my ass down.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked. He sat back in the seat, moving his ankle to rest on the opposite knee.
I looked up, eyes on the wide-open space of the main floor that should not have been visible from behind my desk because I always had the door closed. Of course, that was the moment Remy walked by. His brow was pinched together. He looked like he was going to step inside my office, until he noticed Reed sitting there.
With a nod to both of us, he carried on.
I let out a long breath. Boss Man had not missed that move.
