It’s more honest than I expected from him.
“You’re different tonight.”
The hint of a smile cements into something real.“Lachlan has reliably informed me that the surgery was a success.”
“Surgery?”
“To remove my head from my ass.”
Oh.
“Congratulations.”I raise my drink, a mirror of how he greeted me earlier.
“I’m sorry for what happened with Monica.”
In a night full of surprises, it catches me off guard.“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Don’t I?I wasn’t exactly welcoming to you.”
That’s putting it mildly.“I was new and very enamored with the star reporter,” I admit.“I can see why you’d want to distance yourself.”
“That wasn’t why, Mia.”
A flush rushes to my cheeks.God, his voice is so low, like the rumble of thunder during a storm.
He steps closer, his jacket brushing my arm.Goose bumps spread like wildfire.I finish my drink.The air is thick, humid.It clings to my skin.
He’s still looking at me.Why won’t he stop looking at me?
“The office misses you.”
I laugh.Sterling Ross has a funny sense of humor.
“No one misses me.”
“I do.”
I finally turn to him.“Sterling, you never talked to me.I wasn’t sure you ever knew I existed.”
“For as long as I’ve known you, I’ve been aware of little else.”
Whatever I was about to say, it’s stolen by his admission.
I shake my head.“I don’t understand you.”
“Yes, you do.It’s not complicated.Why do you think I’d say these things?”
I know why.Of course I do.I’ve known since Lucky teased me about him.Since Zia mentioned Monica being fired.
I just don’t know how to accept it.It sounds … like I’m dreaming.Like I’m going to wake up right before the good part and have my heart crushed.
“You’re interested.”
Pleasure is written all over his face.He’s proud I figured it out.
“All this time?”
“Avoiding you isn’t something I’m proud of, but at the time, it seemed like the best defense.”
