Page 64 of Adam’s Obsession

“Okay. That was out of line then.”

“Way out of line.”

“But you don’t get to kill him. I’ll talk to him.” Tristansighed. “He wouldn’t have done it if he’d known she was your girlfriend.”

“Are you sure about that?” Jack, after all, was a hornylittle shit. “He’s probably done the same with Jenny or Sara or Shannon. God.Who knows?” Tristan paled but Adam didn’t give him a chance to respond. “Justimagine. Trillo–Maris being slapped with the very first class-action sexualharassment lawsuit in history. Now there’s genius for you.”

“I said I’ll call him in. He can’t be using his employees inhis beta. At least not without their knowledge.”

“Don’t be nice.”

“I won’t. Using female coworkers as sexual playthings isnever acceptable.” Tristan grinned at Adam’s surly reaction to his jab. “Imean, unless they want to be sexual playthings. Jesus, Adam. Relax. It was ajoke.”

“Not laughing.”

“I’ll talk to Jack and set him straight. But Adam…” Tristandrummed his fingers on the desk. “You really should think about ending it withKatherine.”

“What?”

“It’s starting to affect your work.”

Adam frowned. “Only because we have to keep it a secret.” Itwas true. If their relationship were out in the open he’d be spending a lotless time and energy trying to keep his feelings under wraps. A lot less timefantasizing about throttling interns.

“Why don’t you just come out then? Tell everyone and to hellwith the consequences.”

Adam stilled. “What about your rule?”

Tristan scrubbed at his face with his palm. “No rule is asimportant as your happiness.”

Adam blinked. Well, hell. This was a huge step for Tristan.And knowing he had his brother’s blessing—sort of—made the prospect ofrevealing their secret even more appealing.

But he shook his head. “I appreciate that, bro, but I can’t.I promised Kat no one in the office would know. She’s got this big thing…”

“Oh. Yeah. She told me about her last job.” Tristan blew outa breath. “What a mess.”

Oh yeah. It was a mess. Adam had only two choices. End therelationship, which he was not willing to do—frankly, the thought gave him thecold shakes—or maintain the status quo, with the other men in the officelusting after Kat and making passes at her and writing macros where she dancedthe funky chicken and gave them virtual blowjobs. That option made him want toblow his top and not in a good way. No. There had to be some other solution.

Tristan shook his head and muttered, “God help me if I everfall in love.”

Adam opened his mouth to insist he was not, in fact, in lovebut the words wouldn’t come. Because just then, a crushing realization dawned.

He was in love with her.

He was in love with Katherine Hart. Couldn’t live withouther. Couldn’t contemplate the possibility of breaking up with her withoutfeeling sick to his stomach.

God help him. She’d become more than an online flirt, morethan a stupid fling, more than a passing fancy. Over the years, he’d come toknow and respect her as a person. Then he’d come to desire her. And thensomehow this attraction, respect and passion bloomed into something deeper.Something lasting. Something rooted in his soul.

Aw, hell.

He swore he’d never let himself fall again. And here he was,mooning over a woman who was so certain their affair would end—and badly—sherefused to tell anyone, even her best friend, that he was the internet lovershe’d been crowing about for months.

Somehow he had to convince her what they had wasn’t justyour garden-variety lust. It was something much, much more. Somehow he had toconvince her he was the one and only man for her, that their relationship wasperfect just the way it was and everyone in the office—everyone!—should knowabout it. Like, right now. Today.

Deep in thought, making plans and practicing speeches in hishead, Adam left Tristan’s office and headed for his own, totally oblivious thathis brother was still talking.

“You’re passionate tonight,” Kat murmured, petting Adam’sdark chest hair.

He stared down at her, reveling in her sated expression,reveling in the knowledge that he’d put it there.