“I worked through it.”
She nodded. “Ah. Um. Well, I was just coming to drop off these files and reports for you to go through when you have time.” She came only close enough to set the files on the edge of the desk. “I will know which route to proceed with once you’ve given me your input about the possible leads I should follow.”
I watched her, wishing she could be the partner I needed and wanted. But I was the one who’d fucked that up.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
She nodded once more, but before she turned to leave, she bit her lip and hesitated. “I’m sorry that I’m stressing you out.”
I raised my brows. I wasn’t sure how to interpret that. Unless my brothers were talking shit and telling her that I missed her and wanted her—admissions I hadn’t told them out loud—she could only be assuming that I was so hung up over her.
She gestured her hand at the papers she’d just left me. “With all the evidence I’m finding and the money trails with this network… I’m guessing it hasn’t been easy to consider such a, um, collective enemy wanting to bring you down.”
Oh.
Yeah, of course that’s what she meant.
“I know it doesn’t matter?—”
I gritted my teeth and might not have masked my growl very well.
“Um, I know my apology doesn’t change anything, but I am sorry to be the messenger and bring you bad news.”
How the fuck do you think I feel, then? I didn’t just deliver the bad news about her father dying. I’d made it happen and warned her when it would.
I didn’t feel bad about killing Morovov.
But I felt like shit that it was pushing me away from her.
“I appreciate that,” I replied sincerely.
Her apology wouldn’t change anything. She was right about that. But I appreciated her integrity and perception, her ability to give a shit even when she hated me.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.
I lifted my head to stare her down.
It was a déjà vu moment, taking me right back to the last time she was in this office alone with me. When she’d offered to help me however she could when she noticed how angry I was.
“Other than researching this and investigating everything better than a trained professional could?” I asked as I stood.
She nodded, looking at me so eagerly like she was searching my face for a clue.
Now that I’d embraced the sensation of déjà vu, of feeling like I’d gone through this exact moment with her before, I wasn’t ready to let go of it.
I wasn’t ready to let go of her.
Of the chance ofus.
She stood still, watching me warily as I walked around her.
Angling close enough but not so much that I’d brush against her, I noticed the barely hidden desire in her eyes. She was still just as aware of me as before. She was still drawn to me. Like I was to her.
I knew how this ended last time. But I wasn’t a moron. I could learn from my mistakes.
I passed her to close the door and lock it.
She stayed stock still, right where she was without turning to face me.
