Free The Hardest Part by Heather London

for the event. He seemed excited about the botanical garden idea and agreed that Lexi would love it.
    " It sounds like you two have done quite a bit in just one day. I'm impressed."
    " Well, we still haven't booked anything yet. Hopefully I'll get some callbacks tomorrow."
    The waiter came and placed the bill down on the table. I reached over to grab my wallet.
    " My treat, Emily," Reed said. "It's a business dinner after all."
    " I prefer to pay for my own dinner."
    " Please, I insist." He handed his card to the waiter.
    I glanced up to the waiter and handed him my card as well. "Thank you, but I really prefer to pay for my own dinner."
    " When Lexi said you were different, she wasn't kidding." He sat back in his chair, examining me.
    " Lexi talked about me?" I swallowed hard, wondering what she could've said.
    " Just a little." He shrugged, as if it were nothing. "When Lexi told me we should hire you and your company for the event, I wanted to know a little bit about you and make sure you could handle the job. This charity event is very important to me."
    " I know it is and we’re working hard to make sure it’s perfect." I assured him.
    " I have no doubt it will be." He sat back in his chair with a crazy sexy grin on his face, assessing me while igniting feelings in me that I hadn't felt in years. Feelings that I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel again. I found myself wanting to be close to him, wanting to be touched by him. My stomach clenched and I blew out a deep breath, trying to shake the thoughts of how his hands would feel against my bare skin. It had been years since I’d wanted a man to touch me. Every time Jake would come anywhere near me, my whole body would tighten with fear and disgust.
    I couldn’t help but feel a tug-of-war going on inside of me. I loved the way Reed was making me feel, loved that without even knowing it, he was showing me that I could feel this way again. After Jake, I wasn’t sure I’d ever meet someone that could give me those butterfly feelings again. Or that could make my heart beat so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. But even though I was happy that I was still capable of feeling those things, I knew that nothing could ever happen between us. That out of all people, he was not the right person to be with.
    " Can I give you a ride home?" he asked, snapping me out of my reverie.
    I should've told him no. "Sure."
    The moment we stepped outside, I saw a car running, waiting on the curb. I took a couple steps from the restaurant and bright flashes came out of nowhere and then they were everywhere. My hands flew up to guard the bright lights from blinding me. With each flash, there were also shouts.
    " Emily, are you and Reed Alexander an item?"
    " Emily, over here."
    " Emily, can you tell us any details on the Black and White event?"
    " Emily, look right here."
    I felt arms wrap around me, pulling me into something hard and solid. My feet were no longer on the ground. Everything happened so fast I barely had time to process it when I heard Reed's voice loud at my ear.
    " I've got you. Just keep your head down." The strong arms wrapped around me tighter as the yelling and flashes continued.
    What the hell is going on?
    A few more steps and then I felt myself being placed inside the car. Reed climbed in quickly after me.
    " Let's go!" Reed yelled at the driver, and then the car lurched forward.
    My breaths were coming heavy and fast, as I was trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

 
    T HE CAR sped away from the restaurant as I sat in the backseat trying to catch my breath. Reed was already on his phone, looking over at me with wary eyes.
    " Robbins, I need you to meet me at my place." He spoke firmly, keeping his eyes on me, watching carefully. "I just walked out of a restaurant and a swarm of paparazzi and reporters were out there waiting for me and Emily. I thought I was done with this shit." He closed his eyes to hide his frustration. When he opened them back