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“Why would anyone hate Daisy?” Shira asked.
I didn’t know her well yet, but I already liked her. “Thanks, Shir, but rich bitches are notoriously not a fan of me.”
“So, the field is wide,” Clara quipped.
I slapped my throbbing forehead. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s a lot less wide than I want it to be.”
With my shiny red toenails, I mulled over Bea’s words. There was only one rich bitch who’d taken an instant dislike to me, and I hated to even think she was behind this. If I told Miles I suspected his mother was screwing with my business, would he believe me?
Dread pooled in my gut as I blindly clicked around on my computer with one hand and scratched behind Solomon’s ears with the other. He was such a good, lazy boy. I’d never been a dog person, but I’d grown accustomed to Sol leaning on me, as if his own weight was too much effort for him to bear. He had spurts of hyperactivity, but for the most part, he liked to chill and nap, and he really liked taking leisurely walks with Reed.
My door swung open, and Miles strolled in like he owned the place. He’d all but moved in, so I didn’t mind. I liked it very much actually. Eventually, my little bungalow wouldn’t cut it, but since we could barely pry ourselves apart during the hours we spent together, we didn’t need more space.
“Hello, Cupcake.” He kicked off his shoes, raking his eyes over me.
“Hey, Spreadsheet.”
He immediately frowned and strode over to me, gently shoving Sol out of the way so he could turn me in my chair and kneel between my knees. “What’s wrong?”
I combed my fingers through his hair, sighing. “I have to ask your opinion on something, and I’m not sure how you’re going to take it.”
“Just ask. My mind is already going to the worst-case scenario. You don’t want to know the ugliness I’ve conjured in the last thirty seconds.”
I tried to smile, but it was one of my lopsided ones that didn’t feel right. I had to get this over with so Miles didn’t spiral and I didn’t burst.
“We had more cancellations today.”
He exhaled. “Shit, really? A lot?”
“Yes. And while I was getting a pedicure with the girls, Bea suggested—”
Miles lifted my foot and growled. “You’re wearing socks.”
I tugged my foot out of his grip. “Those are a treat for after this hard talk.”
The scowl I received would have burned me to the ground if I hadn’t known this big, beautiful man was pissed I wouldn’t show him my newly pedicured feet. As it was, I struggled not to giggle.
“Listen!” I tugged his hair. “Bea suggested, and I quote, ‘some rich bitch hates me’ and is sabotaging Grazing. The only people canceling are other…um, rich bitches, and I couldn’t help where my mind went—”
“My mother.” His jaw rippled as he ground his molars. “My mother did this. She’s pissed at me and taking it out on you.”
Standing, he backed away. “Fuck, Daisy. I’m sorry. I don’t—” He twisted left and right, looking around blindly. “I’ll take care of it. I’m so fucking sorry.”
I went to him, leaning my weight on his front the way Sol liked to do. “How will you take care of it?”
His arm banded around me, though he was still staring at nothing. “I’ll have a talk with her. See what she wants to make it stop.”
“No,” I said with a firmness that surprised even me. Miles finally snapped out of his daze and stared down at me. I took his face in my hands. “That’s exactly what she wants, isn’t it? I’m not allowing you to continue that cycle with her.”
“She can’t fuck with you to get to me.” He exhaled sharply. “I’m sorry, Cupcake.”
“You keep saying that, but you have nothing to be sorry for. This isn’t you, Miles. You’re not responsible for what she does. And we don’t know for sure it’s her…”
“Nah, it’s her. This is very much in her wheelhouse. I’m sure she’s at the club, dripping poison in susceptible ears.” He let go of me and took a few backward steps, threading his fingers behind his head. “Goddammit. I knew she was going to do something, but if I thought for a second she’d go after you—”
“If you even think about saying you wouldn’t have been with me, I’ll never make you another cupcake again.”
He scowled at me. “I’m just trying to think of what’s best for you. Do you think I want to be apart from you?”
