It can’t be.
I take a second to gather myself, then walk toward the door. I don’t have to look to know that Henry is on my heels.
“Okay, I guess this is happening now,” Henry says.
I don’t respond. I’m too focused on locating the woman attached tothatvoice. When I do, my eyes widen, and my mouth falls open. I stare, unable to speak.
“You better close your mouth, or flies are gonna move in there,suit stud.”
Yep, that’s Ruthie’s nickname for me—suit stud.
“We can all acknowledge she’s pretty, but don’t stare at her like a creep.”
The woman’s cheeks turn bright pink. When I see panic in those green eyes—the ones I thought I’d never see again—I’m ripped from my shock.
“Betty?”
She says nothing but bites her lower lip.
“Who’s Betty?” Henry asks. He looks back and forth between us.
I ignore him.
“My name is Delaney.”
She glances over her shoulder, and fear fills me that maybe she’s considering running again.
“Don’t even think about it. Not that I’m counting, but that would be the third time. I’m sure you know what happens after three strikes?”
“Harrison, what the hell is going on here?” Henry asks.
I ignore him, my eyes focused on the beautiful blond woman in front of me. Ruthie, for once, is silent. Her brow furrows in confusion, and her eyes dart back and forth between Betty and me.
“Weknoweach other, don’t we,Bets?”
She narrows her eyes at me, a tiny fire burning in them.
“We’ve met,” she whispers.
That’s fucking annoying and dismissive.
“Is that what you’d call it? Interesting.” I look between Ruthie and Henry. “Would you two please give us a few minutes? Bets and I need to talk about a few things.”
“It’s Delaney,” she whispers.
I don’t wait for Ruthie and my brother to respond. Instead, I turn and head back into my office. I hope like hell she follows me. I’m relieved when I get to the door and turn to hold it open for her, and she’s only a few feet behind me. She doesn’t make eye contact, but I gesture with my hand for her to enter. When she does, I close the door behind her. The temptation to lock it to keep Henry and Ruthie out is strong, but I don’t want to freak Betty out.
Chapter Thirteen
Delaney
It takes everything in me not to lift my hand to my chest and make sure my heart hasn’t ripped through its confines and is now on the outside. The pounding is relentless.
I take a seat across from Al—I mean Harrison’s desk—where he’s planted himself. His jaw is tight, and he’s peering down at the sleek, dark wood desktop, where his hands rest. He’s squeezing them together so tightly that his knuckles are white.
My brain decides it’s time to take a trip down memory lane and remember how those hands made me feel. I remember how smooth they were with a few well-placed rough spots that made his touch magical as they glided across my skin that night. How, when they drifted lower, they?—
“Delaney, did you hear me?”
