Chapter 21 Tate
TATE
“Whispers of the past, the future’s calling... Unleash your potential… let the world hear your sound.”
I play the notes that accompany the gentle words, and the melody fills the room.
Molly sits beside me on the piano stool, her eyes wide as she watches my fingers glide over the keys.
“Did you write that?” a deep voice rumbles.
“Oh!” I cease playing immediately, heat blooming in my cheeks at the sight of Sullivan leaning against the doorframe. “I’m sorry, I should have asked before I…” My gaze drops to the piano.
“It’s fine. I told you to help yourself to what you needed while you’re here. That includes our piano.”
He walks over and stops beside the sleek black wood, resting his hand on it.
“You told me you weren’t very good.”
“I… I guess I’m okay.” I give him a shy smile.
“You’re very talented, Tate,” he says.
My breath catches at his rare compliment. “Thank you.”
He holds my eyes for a brief moment, then holds his hand out toward Molly.
“Time for bed, Sweetheart.”
She slides off the stool and walks to him. He pulls her into his arms and his eyes crinkle as she places her palms on his cheeks and squishes his face.
My heart swells at the sight of them.
He’s always so patient with her, but the dullness around his eyes tells me he’s tired tonight.
I see him taking call after call, meeting after meeting, when I’m here in the evenings with Molly.
He always makes sure to stop and eat dinner with her.
And he always reads to her at bedtime, never asking me to do it.
But I swear after I leave he goes straight back to work again.
He told me she gets in his bed some nights too, and usually wakes at 6 a.m..
No wonder he’s exhausted.
I stand from the piano and tuck the stool under. “I’ll let myself out. Sweet dreams, Molly.” I bop her on the nose, making her giggle.
“Enjoy your date,” Sullivan rasps.
His eyes flick over my outfit, nostrils flaring.
I changed after cleaning up from dinner, slipping into a navy, figure-hugging dress—far sexier than anything I’d normally wear.
Ashley insisted I borrow it, though I’m convinced she bought it specifically for my date with Vincent tonight.
It’s in my size, even though she’s at least one dress size smaller.
“I intend to. We’re going to a new jazz bar in Midtown.” I brush my hands over my dress, checking for loose threads or lint. “Vincent said they have some great singers there.”
“Did he now?”
Sullivan’s skeptical tone has me snapping my eyes up to meet his. “Is there… Are you unhappy that I’m going out with him? I know he’s a friend of yours, but it won’t get weird if it doesn’t work out. I’m not going to start bad-mouthing him to you.”
Blue eyes pierce mine before Sullivan exhales.
“Of course not. You can date whoever you like. Cliff will drop you off. Call him when you’re ready to go home. I don’t want you getting a cab late at night.”
I clear my throat softly, considering my words.
“Problem?” Sullivan arches one of his perfect dark brows at me.
I glance at Molly before giving him a ‘you know’ look, which he completely fails to interpret.
“I…” I lick my lips, wondering how to word it. “That’s really nice, but Vincent will give me a ride. We might… decide to go on to somewhere else after drinks.”
I might decide enough is enough and it’s time I got laid.
Ashley made me promise I had to consider it. Vincent’s a nice guy and we have music in common. I agree with her. I need this. Finding Brandon with that other woman drained my confidence. And Vincent seems quite happy to help me find it again, so…
Sullivan stares, and the silence between us turns awkward. His rapidly deepening grimace has me growing hot and trying not to fidget. Does he really think I’m that hideous? I know I’m not his type, but he doesn’t have to look so horrified by the idea of me being with someone.
“Fine,” he grits.
“Good.”
The two of us stare at each other for another tense few seconds before he gives a tight nod.
“I’m taking Molly to bed.”
He turns and strides off, then stops as he reaches the hallway leading to her bedroom.
“Tate?” he calls, looking back at me with something dark burning in his gaze. “Can you wait until I’ve read to Molly? I…” He purses his lips. “I think we need to discuss some things before you leave.”
Something dangerous about his tone has every sense heightening in my body.
“Sure,” I reply, trying to keep my voice breezy.
If he’s going to fire me or accuse me of stealing something again, I swear I’ll lose it.
He nods again, the movement stiff, before he walks away.
I head to the bathroom and take my time touching up my makeup and spritzing some perfume on. I’m waiting in the living area when Sullivan returns. His shirt is unfastened at the neck, and his hair is ruffled from where he’s laid on Molly’s bed with her.
“Am I fired again?” I blurt out, unable to stop myself as he walks over to me.
“What? No. Why would you think that?” He frowns like it’s the last thing he was expecting me to say.
“I…” I shrug, the fire in my stomach simmering down. I’ve been sitting here thinking of all the smart come backs I could use if he were to pull that crap with me again. He looked so tense, I assumed he wasn’t happy with something I’ve done.
“Do you want me to fire you?”
“What? No! Why would you think that?”
He arches a brow as I repeat his words.
I exhale a ragged breath. “Sorry… I just never know where I stand with you. You’re kind of intimidating.”
“I intimidate you?” He moves a little closer, and I tilt my head back to look him in the eye. Even with heels on, he’s still inches taller than me.
The heat from his body pours off him and reaches out to me like coaxing fingers.
“Come on.” I scoff. “You’re…” I gesture a hand up and down his broad, muscular body. “You look… like that. And you’re really successful. Plus, kind of scary. I saw a grown man leave your office looking like he was about to have a heart attack.”
“He did. He died in the elevator.”
Sullivan’s eyes glint. The only sign that he’s joking. I think.
“So what do you want to talk about?” I ask.
His expression hardens and he swallows thickly, his eyes dropping over my dress. “I—”
The bell from the building’s concierge rings out, indicating he has a visitor. He grumbles something and walks over to the panel on the wall, pressing a button to answer it.
“Mr. Beaufort? There’s a Miss Hayward here to see you. Shall I send her up?”
“I should get going,” I whisper as Sullivan looks at me.
His jaw tightens and he rests one hand against the wall and talks into the panel. “That’s fine, thank you.”
His hand curls into a fist against the wall and he mutters out a hushed curse before turning to me.
“Enjoy your date, Tate,” he says, a cool detachment taking over his eyes as he pushes away from the wall to escort me to the front door.
I hover before he opens it and glance up at him. “Is everything okay?”
I’m overstepping. We’re not friends. But I don’t like seeing him all tense like he is.
Maybe it’s nerves, knowing his ex-fiancée is here.
Perhaps he wants to get rid of me so they can have some privacy.
Ashley was salivating over the gossip when she saw us all outside yesterday, wondering why his ex was back in the city.
She said it was a huge thing when they broke up, with the New York press reporting that the engagement was off, and speculating over whose decision it was.
“Everything’s fine,” he bites out.
A vein pulses in his temple and his brow is so deeply creased he must have a headache.
“Okay then,” I answer.
He opens the door for me, and I almost walk face-first into Claudia.
“Oh, hi.” She smiles without a hint of recognition, like my uniform yesterday made me invisible.
“Hi,” I reply.
“I didn’t know you had company?” Her eyes meet Sullivan’s and I look at the way he’s staring at her, like he can’t look away.
“I’m not company. I work here,” I say, returning Claudia’s smile. “And I’m late for my date, so…”
“Of course.” Her voice softens like she’s relieved as she steps aside so I can slide past her.
“Nice to meet you,” I say to be polite.
“You met yesterday,” Sullivan snaps, his eyes still on Claudia.
She looks at him and her eyes widen before she blinks and looks at me. “Of course, I remember.”
I’d bet the contents of this week’s tip jar she doesn’t.
“We weren’t introduced, though.” I smile wider, trying to ease the weird tension that’s building between us all. “I’m—”
“Tate,” Sullivan clips. “This is Tate. She’s Molly’s nanny.” His eyes are still on Claudia. “Tate, this is Claudia.”
“Nice to meet you.” I step past her and make my way down the hallway toward the elevators.
“Tate?” Sullivan calls after me.
I turn back just as Claudia is slipping past Sullivan and shrugging her coat from her shoulders, revealing a red lacy dress beneath it.
“Yes?”
He glowers like he’s pissed, his eyes dropping to my feet and back up to my face.
“Have a nice time.”
“Thanks. I wi—”
My words are cut off as he disappears inside and slams the door.