I led her over to the table that was set for two and pulled out her chair. The second I took my seat, the butler walked over and uncorked a bottle of white wine.

  After pouring two glasses, he set out the menus without saying a word, and then he stepped out of the room.

  “Something is really bothering you, Corey.” Hayley moved her hand in front of my face. “Tell me.”

  I sighed. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

  “You don’t want to do what anymore?”

  “Take you on dates outside of the city,” I said. “Constantly cancel good plans to settle for shitty ones.”

  “I’m not upset about the yacht.” She smiled. “You know I’m not into the super wealthy stuff anyway.”

  “I’m not super wealthy.”

  “You make fifty million a year.” She rolled her eyes. “And that doesn’t include the seventeen million you make from private clients, or the small millions you make whenever someone hires you for investigations.”

  “Did you hack into my financial file?”

  “I learned from the best.” She smiled, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “I need to ask you something,” I said, clasping her hand atop the table.

  “Anything.”

  “Why did you stop answering my calls years ago? It seemed like we were fine as friends, and then you went off to college and you just stopped answering my calls.”

  “It’s because you stopped being a good friend,” she said, her voice soft. “And I was mad at you.”

  “For what?”

  “For not being a good friend.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Did I do something? Say something?”

  “Both.” She shrugged. “But I was pretty naive then because I thought you liked me when I was a senior in high school. Like, as more than a friend.”

  “When you were eighteen?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. But I always forgot that even though the two of us were a few years apart, Jonathan was older than you, and you always hung out with his friends since you were on the same level as him. And then you laughed at me when I told you that I liked you, so...”

  “Hayley, you never told me that you used to like me until I took you back to your suite the night of the rooftop party.”

  “What?”

  “The rooftop party,” I said. “That night when I took you back to your suite. Remember?”

  She sipped her wine and smiled. “I don’t think that memory is ever coming back. I don’t remember.”

  “Well, take my word for it.” I caressed her hand. “I didn’t know.”

  “You did know.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “And you laughed.”

  “Okay, Hayley.” I didn’t want to argue. “I’ll take your word for it, if you take mine.”

  “I will.” She stood up and walked over to me, sitting in my lap. “The secret dates don’t bother me, but I understand why you feel the way you do.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah.” She kissed me. “I once felt the same. It hurts hiding a secret from your best friend.”

  “It does.”

  “You know what also hurts?”

  “What?”

  “Going out on a date with your boyfriend while he’s thinking about your brother. Hell, I’m willing to bet he might think about my brother more than me throughout the day.”

  “He definitely doesn’t.” I kissed her lips before gently pushing her off my lap. Then I stood up and walked over to the door, locking it.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to show you exactly who and what I think about all day.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the window. Not giving her a chance to ask questions, I spun her around so she was facing the ocean, and I lifted up her dress from behind.

  Spreading her legs apart, I tore off her panties and let them fall to the floor.

  “Are you all ready for the first course, Mr. Walters?” Someone knocked on the door.

  Ignoring it, I slapped Hayley’s ass—again and again, groaning each time she let out a throaty gasp. I positioned her so she was slightly bent over, and then I pushed her hair over one shoulder.

  “Put your hands on the glass,” I whispered into her ear, and she slowly obliged—letting her fingers touch the window. “Not right there. Move them up higher so I can fuck you better.”

  She nodded and slid them higher, moaning loudly as I bit the back of her neck.

  I slid a hand between her legs, smiling at how soaking wet she was for me. “You’re always so fucking wet for me...”

  Unbuckling my pants, I put on a condom and gripped her hips—thrusting every inch of my cock inside of her all at once.

  “Ahhhh, Corey...” She dropped her hands from the window and I slapped her ass.

  “Put your hands back up there. Now.”

  “Ahhhh.” She moaned again and returned her hands to where they were.

  I kept her waist tightly gripped, as I pounded into her without mercy—as she screamed my name louder and louder with each and every thrust.

  Trailing my left hand against her stomach and up to her chest, I palmed her breasts and teased her nipples—softly pinching them to drive her closer to the edge.

  She tried to control the pace of our sex by moving her hips, but I slapped her ass until she gave in to my rhythm.

  “Corey...” She breathed. “Corey...”

  I didn’t answer. I thrust into her harder, ignoring the second round of knocks on the door.

  “Corey, I’m going to...” Her hands started to slip from the glass as her pussy throbbed against my cock, as she started to slowly fall forward.

  Her body started shaking against me, and I held her still so she wouldn’t hit the floor—kissing the back of her neck as my own release came seconds later.

  “Fuck, Hayley...” I held her tighter as my muscles tensed, and her body went completely limp against mine.

  Slowly moving her off my cock, I picked her up and carried her back to our table—using one of the silk napkins to wipe between her thighs.

  “I think about you all day, Hayley.” I said, kissing her lips. “The other shit crosses my mind, but not as much as you do.”

  She was still trying to catch her breath, but she managed to whisper, “I believe you.”

  I pulled her dress back over her legs and smoothed her hair, keeping my eyes on hers until her breathing returned to normal. Then I tossed the condom away and readjusted my own clothes.

  Walking to the door, I started to unlock it, but Hayley was suddenly behind me—grabbing the back of my arm.

  “Something wrong?” I asked.

  “No,” she said, smiling. “But, can you show me what you think about all day one more time before we start dinner?”

  I smiled. “Put your hands on the glass again.”

  HAYLEY: TODAY

  (Present Day)

  San Francisco, California

  “LET ME SEE THE CHARM bracelet from the other side, Hales!” Kelly practically screamed at me through Video-Chat.

  I smiled and held up the glittering diamond charm bracelet that had arrived at my office half an hour ago. The tag was addressed to me and signed “My Chum” just like this morning’s set of yellow tulips.

  The five charms were a pink diamond coffee cup, a shiny silver airplane, a white window frame, a crystal cinnamon bun, and my favorite of them all, a set of diamond scrabble pieces with the letters from “My Chum” in bright red.

  Kelly blushed as she looked over the jewelry, but before I could take my time discussing each of the charms with her, my door opened.

  “Good afternoon, Hayley.” Jonathan walked in smiling, carrying a bouquet of red flowers.

  “I’ll call you right back, Kelly.” I ended the call. “Good afternoon, Mr. Statham.”

  He laughed and set the flowers on my desk. “Should I assume that these flowers are from your secret boyfriend?”

  “No,” I said, honestly. “Those are from Mom.” I plucked the tag from the stems and showed it to him. Her message today was new, a simple, “I love you, Hayley. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready. (I’m just asking for five minutes)—Mom.”

  He nodded and looked around the room, at the other flowers that were standing on my coffee table, bookshelf, and vanity. “Those from her as well?”

  “Some,” I admitted. I’d stopped cutting them since Corey and I went to Anchorage, and I was somewhat grateful that she hadn’t stopped sending them. It seemed like she was really trying to talk to me this time.

  He picked up the charm bracelet box and raised his eyebrow. “My Chum?”

  “It’s an inside thing.”

  He looked at me, narrowing his eyes. “Did you know that there were two meetings with the city of Memphis this morning? Meetings that you were supposed to attend on my behalf?”

  “Those were today?” I pulled up the calendar on my screen, hoping he was simply getting the days confused, but he was right. Those meetings were four hours ago. “Jonathan, I am so sorry.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure. Can you please try to act like you give a damn for the rest of this week?”

  “I will, promise.”

  “Good.” He walked toward my door. Then he looked over his shoulder. “Would I like this guy at all if I met him?”

  You already have. “You would.”

  HAYLEY: TODAY

  (Present Day)

  San Francisco, California

  SUBJECT: ANOTHER REAL date.

  Hayley,

  I want to take you back to Alaska this weekend so we can finish the tour, and then I want to take you somewhere else special next weekend. You’ll need a black dress for both dates.

  Corey

  SUBJECT: RE: ANOTHER real date.

  Can I have a hint of where you’ll be taking me for the second date? A hint of what we’ll be doing?

  Hayley

  SUBJECT: RE: RE: ANOTHER real date.

  I can tell you that we’ll be fucking at the end.

  Corey

  I BLUSHED AS I READ Corey’s latest email and placed my phone in my purse. I made sure my car was locked, and then I walked across the street to the bridal store where Claire was hosting a last-minute fitting.

  When I walked through the white doors, I found myself face to face with her identical twin daughters, Ashley and Caroline. Drop dead gorgeous redheads, they were in their mid-teens, and they were the spitting images of Claire. They were also, unfortunately, incapable of having conversations with people outside of themselves.

  “Hey, Ashley and Caroline.” I looked back and forth between them since I still couldn’t tell them apart. “Can you tell me where to find Claire?”

  They blinked in unison. Then they looked at each other as if they hadn’t heard a single word I said.

  Please don’t do this to me today. Just answer me...

  “I like the way Hayley dresses,” Ashley (I think) said. “It’s really cute.”

  “Yeah, it’s really classy, but slightly modern at the same time. Do you think she has a stylist?” Caroline (I guess) raised her eyebrow.

  “I think she puts her own clothes together. She did own a cute coffee shop, so she has to have some artistic sense.”

  “You saw the coffee shop?”

  “No, I just saw the pictures when Jonathan talked about it. It was pretty, pretty chic.”

  “So, you don’t know where your mom is?” I cleared my throat. “Like, you can’t give me any direction?”

  “You know who also dresses nice?” Caroline asked. “Corey. They should shop together.”

  “They should be together. They would be a cute, stylish couple. What do you think his style is?”

  “Okay, then,” I said, stepping away. “It was nice seeing you again. Thank you both so much for helping me.”

  “You’re welcome,” they said in unison. Then they continued talking to each other as if I was never there.

  Shaking my head, I walked through the shop’s long and twisted ivory hallways, checking each suite for Claire. It took me eight minutes to find her in a secluded suite in the corner.

  “Great!” She stood to her feet as I entered the room. “You’re on time. We’re just double testing the custom hair pieces today, so this won’t take long.” She motioned for me to sit in a stylist’s chair.

  “I’m honored you asked me to be in your wedding,” I said. “I’m not sure if Jonathan told you that, but I wanted you to hear it from me.”

  “I’m honored you’re going to be in it.” She pulled a brush through my hair. “I think your brother just wants this wedding over and done with.”

  “He does.”

  We both laughed.

  I sat still as she continued straightening my hair, wondering if she did this type of thing for her girls all the time when they were younger. If this is what it felt like to have a mom help you get ready for a special day.

  I shook away the thought of my mother and cleared my throat.

  “Can I ask you something, Claire?”

  “Of course.”

  “Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with a close friend, years later?”

  “Is this about Corey?” She smiled at me in the mirror.

  “Corey who?”

  “Corey Walters. The guy who was with you at the private airport weeks ago.”

  She saw us? When? “I don’t remember being at the airport recently.”

  “Are you sure? I believe I saw you two when I was flying back from my bachelorette party.”

  I didn’t say anything, and she laughed softly.

  “To answer your question, it depends.” She pulled the brush through my hair again. “So, let’s hypothetically use you and Corey as an example so you can better explain it to a friend, okay?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s possible to fall in love with a close friend years later. I think it just means the love never left.”

  “But I never loved—” I stopped myself. “My friend never loved this guy when she was younger. She was too young to know what that meant. At least that’s what she thinks.”

  “I’m sure she just didn’t know how to handle her feelings back then.”

  Silence.

  “You should take a look at the party dresses before you leave here,” she said. “They have plenty of options to choose from for the next time Corey takes you on a date.”

  “Really? How do the sizes run here? Do they—” I stopped myself. “Nice trip up, Claire. Real smooth.”

  “Thank you.” She laughed. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t dare tell Jonathan about you and Corey. It’ll stay between us.”

  “Do you think he’d be upset about me dating Corey?”

  “I think he’d be utterly outraged.” She smiled. “I also think that days before you plan on telling him—if you plan on telling him, that you should give me an advanced warning.”

  “So, you can calm him down for me?”

  “No, so I can make sure that I’m halfway across the country and far away from his wrath.” She laughed. “Now, tell me a bit more about when you and Corey were together in your childhood so that I can give you a better answer.”

  Part Three

  What’s it going to be?

  COREY: TODAY

  (Present Day)

  San Francisco, California

  SUBJECT: HAYLEY’S SECRET boyfriend.

  Do you have any new updates on this? All she’s done on my floor today is pick at the pink flowers on her desk and talk about Alaskan Coffee.

  If it helps, the asshole who keeps sending her the flowers calls himself her “chum” –

  I already know I’m not going to like this guy since he’s clearly capable of killing her brain cells, so feel free to dig up as much dirt as possible so I can get rid of him.

  Jonathan Statham,

  CEO of Statham Industries

  PS—Thank you so much for helping me with this. You’re more than welcome to join my trusted senior team for a short weekend trip to Hawaii if you’re interested.

  SUBJECT: RE: HAYLEY’S secret boyfriend.

  I’m still working on it, but a few of my sources are willing to bet that he’s a nice guy...

  Corey Walters

  Chief of Cybersecurity

  Cyber Security, Data Protection, & Trusts

  SUBJECT: RE: RE: HAYLEY’S secret boyfriend.

  I fucking doubt it.

  Jonathan Statham,

  CEO of Statham Industries

  COREY: TODAY

  (Present Day)

  San Francisco, California

  I TOSSED BACK A SHOT of espresso and stared at my digital task-board.

  Everything I needed to accomplish was complete. There were no files that needed last minute attention, no meetings that needed to be scheduled, and no correspondence that needed to be sent.

  On any other day, I would’ve left the office and spent the rest of my day at home, but with Hayley on campus, that changed everything. I knew she would come down to my office in a couple of hours to join me for lunch, and I knew we’d take my car to a private parking lot after work to pick up where we’d left off in the garage this morning. Still, we were just starting this phase of our relationship, and I felt as if it was going to eventually become stagnant if it remained a secret for too much longer.

  I wanted her on my arm in public, I didn’t want to have to lie to my best friend about being with her, and I wanted to be the type of guy she’d always deserved.

  Sighing, I pulled out my phone and typed the email I’d been dreading all morning.

  SUBJECT: RAINCHECK on the next date?

  I didn’t realize your brother was treating his senior staff to the same place—on the exact same weekend, that I was planning to take you. (I found out earlier this week)

  I’ll make it up to you with another trip,