"I'm sorry. I don't know why she told you that." I cleared my throat. "But let me go see if your folder is on her desk. I'm sure I can finish everything up for you."

When I got to Sharon's office, I closed the door and leaned against the wall, trying to get myself under control. Why does he have to be so good-looking, smell so good, and be so sweet? This would all have been so much easier if he wasn't all of those things.

By the time I returned to my office, the event was starting in under an hour. Reed was in the same place I had left him, leaning against my desk, looking sexier than ever. I let out a large breath as I took a seat at my desk.

"So there are only a few places I need you to sign, then a check for the balance."

He leaned over and signed the few documents I had just handed him and then he handed me a check. There were no words spoken between us, and I couldn't help but stare at him while he wasn't looking.

"Well, I think that's everything," I said, gathering the paperwork and forming it into a neat pile. A part of me was ready to get this over with, but another part of me wished that I could prolong it a little longer, or even forever. After the event tonight, I wasn't sure how much I would see of him.

"I do have one more request," he said. I glanced up at him through my eyelashes and saw him smiling at me. I’ll miss that smile, too.

"What's that?" One more second with him was better than nothing.

"Be my date for the Black and White event." His words caused my entire body to rush with heat. Instantly, my heart was hammering against my chest again. I swallowed deeply and looked down at my desk. A few silent seconds passed before I lifted my eyes to meet his again. My breath caught in my throat when I saw the smile had dropped from his face, replaced with the serious expression it now held.

"I can't be your date, Reed." Inside, I was screaming yes, but my conscience knew better and the words were out of my mouth before I could even think straight.

"And why is that?" he asked, his forehead creasing.

Is he serious? There were so many reasons I couldn't be his date, but the most obvious reason was that I was working tonight. "Well, I'm not really a guest tonight. I'm working and I don't think Sharon would like it."

"What if I told you that I already cleared it with Sharon? She's fine with you coming as my date."

He asked Sharon?

"Reed, I can't." His eyes focused on mine, but I quickly looked away. Work wasn't the only reason I couldn't go with him. I had decided that I just wanted us to be friends… or at least that was what I'd been trying to tell myself over the last few weeks. There was also the fact that a lot of reporters were going to be there tonight, ready to take pictures. Tonight, the main focus would be on Reed and Lexi, and I didn't think showing up with him would be the best thing for me. I was already going to have to try my hardest to stay far away from the cameras.

"Okay, I understand. I'm pushing too hard. How about a dance, then?" he asked. I glanced over at him again. My chest began to rise and fall as my breathing got quicker, remembering our last dance and knowing where that led. "Just one." He clarified. I could see that he was trying to keep his smile contained.

Thinking of being in his arms caused my entire body to react. I ached to feel him again. "A dance would be nice." I nodded.

"Good." His smile finally slipped through and grew larger by the second. "Would you let me give you a ride?"

I knew I didn't have much of a choice, knowing Isabel had left with the car I was supposed to ride in. I would personally have to thank all the ladies at my office for what they'd done to me tonight… or for what they were trying to do.

"A ride would be nice. Thank you."

12

THE CAR pulled up outside the venue. I could already see the large groups of reporters waiting to take our picture the moment we stepped out of the car. It looked like a movie premiere. There were beautiful people everywhere. Camera flashes were going off every second. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and posing for the pictures. This event was bigger than I ever imagined.

"I think I'll let you go in first." I looked away from the window and over to Reed.

He nodded. "I understand. The pictures and press can be a lot, especially if you're not used to it."

I swallowed and glanced back outside.

"I can have Robbins take you around to the side entrance," he offered. "You should be able to avoid the press that way."

"That would be great." I sighed, starting to feel a little more relaxed now.

"I'll see you inside, then?" He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

Before turning back around, I erased the panic from my face and smiled. I didn't want him to worry and ruin his night. "Yeah, I'll see you in there."

The moment the door opened, people started to shout Reed's name and the camera flashes were going full speed. The car finally pulled forward and stopped on the other side of the building.

"This will lead you in through the kitchen." Robbins voice came from the front of the car. "When you find the main hallway, take a right and it will lead you to the large event hall."

"Thank you," I said, opening the car door.

By the time I got into the event hall, the room was crowded, the band was playing, and people were smiling and laughing everywhere. I stood there for a moment and glanced around the room. It was the first time I’d seen everything put together. The tables were covered with black tablecloths, and large, extravagant flower arrangements sat in the center of each one. The lighting in the room was dim and set the mood. Beautiful music bounced off the walls and my eyes roamed around the room, seeing the band playing on the center stage. Everything was just… perfect. My eyes moved around the room again, and it made my heart full to see that everyone looked like they were having a good time. I hoped Reed and Lexi loved it.

Walking around the room, I spotted Lexi talking to a group of older women, with Brandon by her side. She seemed happy and looked beautiful in her red dress. As my eyes continued to sweep the room, I saw Reed just a few feet away from me. He was smiling, talking to a large cluster of people, seemingly enjoying himself. Standing there, I stared at him for a minute. I probably would've stood there staring at him all night, but Christine walked up beside me.

"He looks really hot tonight, huh?"

I gave her a sideways glance and smiled.

"Come on. You can stop drooling for a few minutes. Sharon wants all of us together." She grabbed my hand and began to pull me to the other side of the room.

"Emily, there you are." Sharon smiled at me as we approached. "We were beginning to worry about you. Lucky us, we found the missing programs just a few minutes after we got here." She had a guilty but pleased look on her face. Actually, Christine and Isabel did, too. I knew it. They were all in on getting Reed and me to come here together.

Sharon raised her glass of champagne. "Well, ladies, you've all done a wonderful job. I couldn't be more pleased or impressed with how everything turned out tonight. Thank you for all the hard work." We all toasted to a job well done. It really was beautiful. The best part of it all was that it looked like Lexi and Reed loved it, too.

While taking a sip of champagne, my eyes locked with Reed's over the top of my glass. He was making his way toward us. I licked my lips and swallowed quickly.

"Ladies." He smiled at everyone as he approached us. "I just wanted to tell you how happy I am with what you’ve done. Everything turned out beautifully. I haven't seen my sister cry happy tears in a very long time, and I owe it to you all." He raised his glass of champagne to us.

"Well, we are just so pleased you like it, Mr. Alexander. It was a pleasure," Sharon said, smiling. Isabel was staring at him in a dreamy state, pretty much how she always stared at him when he was in front of her. Christine was grinning, but she wasn't staring just at Reed; she was looking between Reed and me, her mischievous smile growing by the second.

"Now, if you ladies wouldn't mind, I would like to ask Emily to dance with me, if you can part with her for a moment." Reed's words turned my attention back to him.

I was pretty sure my whole body just caught fire, or at least my face. It felt hot as I glanced at Reed before my eyes moved to Isabel, Christine, and finally Sharon. They were all smiling and staring at me now. Sharon gave me a wink.

Before I set my glass of champagne back down, I took another drink, probably longer than I should have. When I finally set it down, Reed held his hand out for me to take.

"You look absolutely amazing." His eyes ran down the length of me as we began to move to the music.

"Thank you. And thank you for the dress. I should have said that a few weeks ago." I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. "I'm sorry it took so long to tell you."

"I'm just glad you decided to keep it. I was afraid you would return it."

"I thought about it." I licked my lips and raised my eyes to meet his.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't." He smiled.

We were quiet for the next few minutes. The longer I was wrapped up in his arms, the harder it was to deny how amazing it felt to be with him again. I knew now that no matter how much I had tried to tell myself this wasn't what I wanted, it was just a lie. I wanted to be with him. I just wasn't sure if I should.