Several pedestrians shot them curious looks, but Reed was too focused on Darcy to care. He ran his fingers through her hair in a soothing motion, wishing like hell that Stuart Grant were there so he could kick that bastard’s ass.
“I don’t know why I’m even surprised,” she mumbled between sobs. “I don’t know why I’m upset.”
“Because he’s your father, and he let you down,” Reed said roughly.
She wrenched out of his embrace, anger burning in her eyes. “Ten fucking minutes. He couldn’t spare ten fucking minutes for me?” Her incensed gaze dropped to the money she was still holding. “What kind of man does this?”
Pain and sympathy squeezed Reed’s chest. “I’m so sorry, Darce. You deserve so much better than that.”
“I do!” she burst out. “I do deserve better!” She furiously swiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of her thin cardigan. “I am not going to cry over that jerk. He doesn’t deserve my tears.”
When her arm came down and he saw her face, Reed’s lips twitched.
“What?” she demanded. “Why are you smiling?”
He swallowed a chuckle. “Because…” The laugh slipped out. “You must’ve brushed up against some grease or something when we were walking over, because your face is covered with it.”
Her cheeks turned bright red. “It is?”
He nodded.
“Is it bad?”
He nodded again.
“Crap.”
Fighting to keep from laughing again, Reed licked the pads of two fingers and brought them to the black marks streaking across her face. As he quickly wiped them away, he noticed Darcy staring at him in awe.
“What?” he said thickly.
“You’re a really good guy, Reed.” Her voice wobbled. “Like, a really good guy.”
He couldn’t fight the rush of pleasure that flooded his chest. He’d been waiting for weeks to see that shift of emotion in her eyes, for her to realize that he was more than a good lay.
That he truly did have more to offer her.
“Yeah, I guess I’m not so bad,” he said lightly.
Her expression softened as she reached for his hand. She laced her fingers through his. “No, I guess you’re not.”
Reed dipped his head and gave her a soft, fleeting kiss. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go back to your place. Your afternoon schedule seems to have cleared up, which means it’s officially become my job to make you forget everything that just happened.”
Darcy smiled through her tears. “I’m holding you to that.”
Chapter Fourteen
That Friday, Darcy didn’t leave the school until two hours after the final bell. To her annoyance, the monthly staff meeting had run late, thanks to an argument between two teachers about whether Wikipedia was considered a legitimate citation source. Personally, she didn’t give a shit as long as her students only used Wiki pages with multiple sources, but Marge, the history teacher had refused to let up, effectively putting a damper on everyone’s TGIF.
“Holy cow, how much did you want to punch Marge in the face?” Shannon demanded as they crossed the empty parking lot.
“So frickin’ bad,” Darcy replied with a sigh.
“See, now if I said that?” Shannon’s husband Tom piped up. “I’d probably get thrown in jail for even talking about hitting a woman.” His brown eyes flickered with amusement. “But goddamn, someone needs to tell that broad that screaming like a banshee isn’t the way to get what you want.”
Darcy wholeheartedly agreed—her ears were still ringing from Marge’s high-pitched shouts.
The trio reached Shannon and Tom’s SUV, stopping so Darcy could exchange quick hugs with both her friends. “Are we still on for girls’ night next week?” she asked Shannon.
“Absolutely.” Shannon poked her husband in the arm. “It’s the only time I get some peace and quiet.”
Tom raised his eyebrows. “Says the woman who takes hour-long bubble baths every night. Where’s my bath time, missy?”
“If you’re nice, I’ll let you join me in the tub tonight,” his wife answered.
“Define nice.”
“Hmmm. Well, cooking me dinner would qualify. And then doing the dishes. And then taking out the garbage. And then—”
“Forget it. I’ll just catch a quick shower,” Tom interrupted. “See you Monday, Darce.”
He hopped into the driver’s seat so fast Darcy couldn’t help but giggle. “That man seriously hates chores, huh?”
“Tell me about it. But the threat of chores is the only way to get him to back off about the bath thing. It really is my favorite me-time activity.” Shannon winked. “Did I tell you about that new waterproof vibrator I bought?”
Darcy rolled her eyes. “Yes. Many, many times. And no, I’m not interested in procuring my own. Big green Bob is all I need.”
“Oh really? Are you sure you don’t mean big not-green Reed?” Shannon wiggled her eyebrows. “Because your fling doesn’t seem to be ending, hon.”
Nope, it certainly, mind-bogglingly wasn’t. Darcy still had no idea how it happened, but somehow the fling had reached the one-month mark. She’d expected it to fizzle out by now, and yet…it hadn’t.