“What? You’ve worked for me for about three hundred years. I thought I should show you some appreciation.” I looked at my boss, noticing how exhausted he seemed.
Sitting in the chair across from his desk, I stared at him. Eventually, he glanced up, a quizzical expression flashing across his face before he spoke. “You look… I have no idea how to say what I want to say without insulting you,” he told me.
“Just say it because I have things to say too and I’m not holding back.”
He huffed. “Fine, younger, more relaxed… like someone showed you a really good time this weekend.”
I laughed. “Well, you look the opposite. What’s going on?”
He rubbed his hand over his face. “Reid had a heart attack. We had to give him CPR on his kitchen floor.”
My hand pressed over my mouth. “Shit, is he…”
“Alive. He might need a transplant.” Pain flashed across his face before he masked it from me.
“A heart transplant?”
He nodded. “That fucker that kidnapped Hettie is still affecting their lives, even after all these years.”
I remembered when Thomas’ friend, Reid, was shot protecting his now-wife after she was kidnapped.
“But you didn’t buy me flowers because your friend was shot, so what gives?”
“I met his doctor.” There was the longest pause before he continued, “It’s Melissa.”
It took me a moment to realise the gravity of that name. “Melissa, Melissa?”
Thomas gave nothing about his personal life away, but his feelings about Melissa had been clear since… well, for a really long time.
“She’s working here as a cardiologist. She stayed with me over the weekend.”
He didn’t need to say anything more and I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as my cold-hearted boss melted in front of me.
“So you’ll be seeing more of her?”
He locked his fingers together as he leaned his arms on the desk. “I’ve waited so long for her. I’m not letting her go. I’d burn down the world before I lost her again.”
“Well, I appreciate the flowers, Boss.”
“Good, now get back to work and stop milking my good mood.”
Jax
I stood at the entrance to the building Helen worked in, my hands shoved in my pockets as nerves bubbled in my stomach.
We’d been inseparable since our date at the weekend, spending every moment we could together, with me making her come as often as I could. I had it so bad for this woman that I was here, not able to wait until she got home to see her.
She walked out of the building, tilting her face to the late afternoon sun, a smile spreading across her face. She let out a contended sigh before turning to walk my way, her mouth dropping open as she noticed me.
“Jax?”
I leaned in and hugged her, squeezing her tight as my lips dusted her ear. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I whispered.
She squeezed back, pressing her cheek against my chest. “Me too,” she murmured.
I released her before I did something stupid, like kissing her in front of the whole town. “Can I walk you home?”
She blushed. “I have my car.”
