“Thanks.” Blushing, she traces the lines in the denim of her jeans. “I’m sorry for this morning.”
“No apology needed.” When she tries to retort, I shake my head. “You’re allowed to be pissed and unsettled. Your feelings are valid and no, I can’t just up and leave but I can try and make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible while I’m here.”
“You’re a good man, Thomas.”
“Just Tom.”
“I kinda likeThomas.” She grins, the side of her head leaning against the headrest. She’s so beautiful I have to look away. My restraint slipping even a little won’t be good for either of us.
“I’ll go back to calling youMiss Harringtonall the time.”
“Might be worth it.”
I grumble and she laughs as we turn into her driveaway. I wish we could keep this lightness going, but I have work to do once we get inside.
“Kat?”
“Hmm?”
“I think you look beautiful in the dress.”
“Oh.” Her long, slender fingers go to her mouth in surprise. “Thank you. That”—her cheeks heat and she lets her hair fall across her face as she dips her head—“that means a lot.”
I don’t respond as I exit the vehicle and make my way around to her side, opening the door before grabbing the garment bag from the back seat.
There are a million reasons I shouldn’t have given her the compliment. Royce’s little bet with Emerson ping-ponging around my brain for starters.
I will not give in.
But I also won’t feel bad or question it, not when Kat’s shoulders are back as she walks in through the garage, a confidence I haven’t seen since I met her starting to filter back into her. It’s a reminder that she’s not like the CEOs I’ve guarded before. She’s not weak but she is delicate, and she deserves to have that spark nurtured until it’s once again a raging inferno.
I just hope I’m around to see it when it does.
KAT
The silence is deafeningas he stalks across the room toward her. She’s entranced.
Frozen.
And not even the flash of lightning outside the window can distract her from the devilish look in his eyes.
Feral.
Insatiable.
My phone vibrates on the desk next to me, my whole body jolting in my chair while my heart feels at risk of pounding out of my chest.
Dammit!
I felt like I was right there in that darkened hallway, not sitting in my office with my chandelier glowing overhead.
Smoothing down my shirt, I try to compose myself before reaching for the device.
COLT: Are you still mad at me?
Well I wasn’t,but now I’m mad at him fortwothings.
KAT: I’m still upset
