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Chapter 20
Daniel
ShewaslaughingwithDamien? The sound of it was sweet, pleasant. Unlike the biting laughter from the night of the reunion. Someone had left the door open, and I watched them talk from the other side of the hallway. I was coming to check on her and see how her first day was going. Yet, now I wondered why. She was obviously having a good time, bonding. With Damien. Uncharacteristically jealous, I wondered what was so interesting that they had to talk about. Why was he even there? What did they even have to talk about in the first place?
And I wasn't too pleased with the appreciation in her gaze. It looked way too fucking similar to the way he was looking at her.
What was wrong with me? When did I grow so possessive, so needy? What was it about her that made me feel so… so… wild? She was in my thoughts a lot these days, more than the falling stock prices and my annoying siblings, which was so wrong. But there she was, engraved in my mind.
Even the way our moment at the reunion had ended. She pretended that her interest was fake. The way she laughed in my face. But I had felt her pulse, I had seen the flush spread across her skin. I had heard that low, sexy moan. The way she melted into me. None of that was fucking fake.
And what was worse? When she laughed in my face? If I was being honest with myself, that only torqued the volume up on my desire. Amy had grown up to be anything but the wallflower she was in highschool, and dammit, that was sexy.
But just once, I wanted to be the one to make her laugh. A real laugh. I wanted one of her genuine smiles. I realized I would do anything to win that honor.
And here was fucking Damien, making her laugh.
Admittedly, my pride was still wounded from how Damien had left me feeling like a little child the last time we talked and I didn't think I was ready to see him. I wasn't some child, and I didn’t think I was being proud. But I didn’t react well to condescension.
I stepped into the doorway of an empty room as I watched him head for the exit. I watched his back retreat before stepping out and turning on my heels.
“Mr. Reed”, Amy said.
I turned around to find her standing behind me.
“Dr. Palmer,” I said in a dry tone. “Having a good day, I see?”
“What are you doing creeping around the lab? It’s kind of weird. You can just come in, you know. I mean, it isyourlab,” she said, a ghost of a wry smile dancing on her lips.
Her eyes were smiling, too, to show that she was just giving me a hard time. As usual. I ignored the light in them and fought back the urge to go a few rounds with her like our typical disagreements.
“Just wanted to see that you're settling in well,” I said shortly, coldly. The light dimmed from her eyes. I desperately wanted to bring it back.
“Oh,” she said, drawing back at my tone.
“So, since everything seems to be going well, I should head back to my office. It’s a very busy day.”
“Yes, of course.” Coldness seeped into her voice and I almost had to brace myself against the changing temperature, half expecting to see icicles forming between us. Was she angry? Had she actually been warming up to me?
I searched her eyes, but all emotion was completely locked away.
She turned away, moving to close the door, but at the last second I instinctively shoved my leg in the way, preventing it from closing.
“What are you doing?" she asked incredulously.
That was a good fucking question. WhatwasI doing?
“Staying," I responded, my voice suddenly hoarse for no reason, surprising both Amy and myself.
She let go of the door, and I stepped in, standing directly in front of her. I watched her and couldn’t help but notice she looked different today.
“Jeans?” I asked.
She shrugged.
“Seems to be the trend around here, and I’m just trying to bond with my team.”
“They suit you. At least from what I can see with that lovely lab coat covering you,” I teased. In all honesty, the way the lab coat cinched at her waist really did highlight her very gorgeous curves.
