“No.”

“He’s meeting with Drummond tonight to try to lock them in.”

The anchor tenant for the Waterway project. Right. “Okay?”

“I was going to go with him but something’s come up for me tonight, and I think you should go.”

Warning bells go off. Is this another attempt to get David and me back together? “Dad—”

“This is business, Piper,” he snaps. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if you two screw each other or kill each other after dessert, as long as we have an anchor tenant nailed down before the unveiling ceremony next month!”

I hold my hands in the air, in surrender. “Okay. We will take care of it.”

“Good. That’ll be all,” he mutters, his focus already shifting to his paperwork.

I duck out before he can bark at me about anything else, balling my fists to hide my shaking hands. I don’t know that he’s ever yelled at me like that before. The news about Tripp’s potential deceit must be hitting him hard.

Then again, I can’t blame him for reacting that way. The Waterway project is worth well over a billion dollars. He’s right; we need to nail this tenant. That he’s entrusting me to do it is a big sign of approval. He would never use an important business meeting like that for something as trivial as setting David and me up for a reconciliation. I’m an idiot for thinking otherwise.

I start to laugh.

“Is everything okay, Piper?”

I turn to see Greta peering down over her reading glasses at me, her wrinkled hands paused over her keyboard. I’ve known the woman all my life. She has a severe gaze and it used to scare me when I was little.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Because my dad is finally treating me like a worthy colleague.

With a sigh of disappointment, I pull out my phone and send a quick text to Kyle, to change plans.

“Do you need anything else done today, David?” Renée peers up at him with wide, inquisitive eyes from behind her desk, her pen poised to take notes.

“I’m good, Renée. You’ve been here since eight? Go home. See you in the morning.” He flashes his signature panty-dropping smile—that’s literally what I’ve heard him call it—and then falls into step beside me as we head toward the elevator. With traffic, we’ll just barely make our dinner reservation with Drummond.

“You’re happier than a peacock in front of a mirror today,” I murmur.

“She brought me an apple,” he whispers with excitement. “I came in and there it was, just sitting on my desk, like a gift.”

“How long before you find her sitting on your desk like a gift, I wonder.”

David’s manicured eyebrows arch with surprise. “Is someone finally jealous?”

I laugh. “Just please don’t do anything that will earn you a sexual assault allegation.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t shit where I eat.”

I step into the elevator with a cringe. “Nice. Plus, have you already forgotten?” I waggle a finger between us.

“That was different.” He hits the ground-floor button.

“Why? Because of my position?”

“Which one, exactly? I’ve seen you in so many.” He smirks, proud of himself for that tasteless joke.

I simply shake my head.

“What’s with Kieran today, anyway? He nearly bit my head off.”

“That’s my fault.”

“What’d you do?”

“I ambushed him. But I can’t get into it. What do I need to know about tonight?”

The elevator doors open, letting us out into the lobby.

“Drummond wants to sign, but . . .”

David’s words drift as my attention veers to the security desk, to the tall, solid figure leaning against it, talking to Roland, the nighttime security guard who never smiles. It’s half past six, well after Kyle’s shift change. Still, he lingered. I’d like to think it was so he could see me before my dinner meeting, even though he’s coming to my place afterward.

He turns to watch me approach, his eyes drifting down the length of my body, the smile on his lips mischievous.

Flashes of yesterday in his condo hit me—of what’s beneath that uniform, of what his hands feel like on me, of what his weight feels like on me—and my body begins to heat.

Just one business dinner and then he’s mine again, I remind myself. God, this workday feels as long as the ones at Wawa.

“Piper?” David nudges me.

“Hmm?”

“Did you hear what I just said?”

“No. Sorry. What?”

“We’re playing good cop, bad cop tonight. You’re bad.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re terrible at kissing ass.”

“Fine.” He’s right, I am.

He glares ahead. “What’s with that security guard?”

My stomach tightens. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the guy just stripped you with his eyes. You didn’t notice?”

I feel my cheeks flush. “No. And don’t say anything to him,” I warn as we approach the security gate. “Good night, guys.”

Roland simply nods, his face wearing its usually stony mask.

“Have a good night, Miss Calloway.” Kyle’s voice is practically dripping with promise, his eyes so heavy on me that I have to avert mine.

“Good night, Kyle.”

We’ve made it halfway to the exterior doors when David’s legs suddenly stall. “Oh . . . You have got to be kidding me.”

“What?”

He cocks his head at me, then looks back at Kyle, who’s still leaning against the desk, watching us, then turns back to me, his eyes shining with awareness. “You’re screwing the building security guard?” he hisses with disbelief.

Oh, shit. I close my eyes. For such an obnoxious ass, sometimes David surprises me with how in tune he can be.

His head falls back with a bellow of laughter.

“I’m not!” I glance around quickly. Thankfully no one’s within earshot.

“Oh give me a break, Piper. We were together for two years. I can practically smell the pheromones pouring off you.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Really?” He mock-frowns. “I think I’ll go ask him.”

I sink my nails into David’s forearm before he takes a step. “Don’t, David.”

“Then start talking. I think I have a right to know before everyone else when my ex-fiancée is rebounding with the help.” David’s amusement over this has faded quickly.

“It’s not like that. I’ve known him for years. And he’s not the help.” I steal a glance Kyle’s way. The smile and easy stance are gone, and he’s heading this way. I hold up a hand to stall him. Thankfully, he stops.

“So this is why Kieran was so pissy today? How is this guy still in the building?”

“No, that has nothing to do with Kyle. That’s because of the kickback with Tripp.”

This time David’s jaw drops. “Come again?”

“We don’t have time to stand here and do this right now, David. We’re gonna be late.”