“Oh for Christ’s sake, Dylan. Something horrible could have happened to you. You could have been raped, murdered, Jesus Christ. I can’t believe you’re just now calling us.” My mother’s tirade goes on for a good ten minutes before I’m able to get a word in.

“I know I know. I’m sorry I didn’t call. But I’m fine. Nothing happened and we’re pretty sure we know who it was and the police are looking for her.” Stupid red headed bitch.

“Her? It was a woman? What kind of a woman throws a brick through a store window? Good grief what is the world coming to?”

“Just some ex-girlfriend of Reese’s, Mom. Look, everything is fine. The window is being repaired right now and a security system is being installed today as well. I just need to talk to dad about putting a door in to separate my living space from the bakery.” Which really, I should have done years ago. I just didn’t feel the need to do so until now. That or I could get a guard dog. No, that has to be unsanitary around all those baked goods.

“Ex-girlfriend? Humph, a woman scorned no less. Well, at least you’re safe and this finally makes you put in a well overdue alarm system.” She exhales forcefully. “Here’s your father. Bill, go easy on her, she’s fine.”

“Dylan, sweetheart, you’re alright then?” My dad’s voice is incredibly calm compared to my mother’s, but that’s always been his personality. I definitely get my short fuse from the women in my family.

“Yes, Dad, I’m fine. But I need to get a door installed at the top of the stairs leading from the kitchen. How do I go about doing that?” He immediately goes into Daddy mode and tells me not to worry about it, that he will head to a local hardware store today and purchase a door for me. When I tell him that I can handle it he shuts me up quickly and I let him. I don’t think there is anything my father enjoys more than doing something for me that keeps me safe. After I am reassured that it will be taken care of today, I hang up, text Joey to head on over, and hop in the shower.

I relish in Reese’s shampoo and body wash, letting the steam create a cloud of his yumminess all around me as I clean up. I’m surprisingly not nervous at all about telling him that I love him. After last night, the love making, him telling me that I make him want things he’s never wanted before, I feel empowered to do this. I quickly slip into a pair of jeans and a cute top as a knock on the door sends me dashing through the condo. I fling it open and beam at my assistant.

“AH! I’m soooo excited. Please let me be there when you tell him.”

“What? No way. This is a private moment. You may wait outside.” I slip into my shoes and grab my cell and the spare key Reese left for me, slipping it onto my key ring and locking up behind us. “Okay, let’s do this shit before I lose my nerve.”

**

We stopped by the bakery on the way to his office. The men who were in charge of replacing the window were just finishing up and had me sign a few pieces of paper before they gave it a final wipe down and left. Joey and I both watched the security guys go over how to arm and disarm the system, giving us both the code and a few forms to sign as well before they too hit the road. My mom sent me a text informing me that my father had purchased a door with an insane amount of locks and that he would be stopping by later on today to install it. I wouldn’t have to stick around because other than Joey and myself, my parents also had a key to the bakery. So, after piling back into the civic, we finished the short drive to the Walker & Associates building.

“How nervous are you right now?” he asks me as I sit in the car and try to find out where the f**k all my bravery had disappeared to. We’ve been parked outside the building for at least ten minutes and I haven’t budged.

“Uh, a lot. Maybe this is a bad idea?”

“Fuck that.” My seatbelt is unbuckled for me as he reaches across my body and opens my door, giving me a quick but gentle shove out of the car. “Go do it, Dylan. That man in there loves you fiercely. It’s written all over his beautiful face. But I’m afraid you might be the one to have to say it first. Damn it, I had my money on Reese being the one to crack before you did but, oh well.” I quickly run my fingers through my hair and give him a weak smile. I’m certain he means what he says, no doubt a small wager having gone on between him and Juls. She’ll never let him hear the end of losing to this one.

“Okay, thanks, Joey.” He winks at me as I close the door and walk into the building and towards the back of the lobby where the elevators are lined up. My hands are clenched into fists and I’m shaking a bit, but I’m here and I’m f**king doing this.

Stepping off the elevators and onto the twelfth floor, I walk straight past the first reception area and towards Reese’s office. I haven’t even thought about the fact that I’ll be seeing a new face sitting behind his reception desk until I see it. And it is a lot manlier.

“Good afternoon. How may I help you?” The young man, dressed sharply in a dark suit greets me with a crooked smile. His dark brown hair is slicked to the side with some sort of product. Hmm. I liked him already.

“Hello. I was wondering if Mr. Carroll is available.”

“Oh, actually he is in Mr. Thomas’ office right now with a few more associates having lunch. Would you like me to call him?” He reaches for his phone but I shoot my hand up to halt him.

“Oh no, that’s okay. I know where Mr. Thomas’ office is.”