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“It’s big enough,” she scoffed.
I continued despite that. “And second, no. I did not follow you.”
Her stare said she did not believe me worth a damn. I pulled my phone from my pocket, opened the email with Boykins’s property information, and held it out to her. When she reached for it, her hand brushed mine. It was an accidental little touch that shouldn’t have meant shit after everything we had already done to each other.
My body disagreed.
“I came down to inspect the property before I tell that man to spend several million dollars.”
Topaz took my phone and skimmed the email. She looked up at me, pretty lips pursed. I watched them a second longer than I should have.
“That could have been handled by Yoli or even Reign,” she accused.
I shrugged. “Could’ve.”
“Hell, you could’ve hired an outside inspector.”
“Already got one.”
Slowly, she lifted that clear gaze to mine. I fought my smile. Damn, I had missed those eyes on me. Even annoyed, she looked at me in a way nobody else did, like she could see straight through the CEO bullshit, the money, the attitude, all of it.
“Saadiq.”
“What? I said I didn’t follow you. I didn’t say knowing you were here had absolutely nothing to do with me deciding I should personally supervise my client’s investment.”
Her mouth fell open. “How is that different from following, jackass?”
I laughed then. I couldn’t help it. “It just is,” I insisted.
She handed my phone back, and I let my fingers linger against hers for half a second before taking it. Her eyes dropped to our hands. Just as quickly, they lifted again.
“I’m glad you weren’t actually following me.”
Something in her tone made my smile fade. “Why?”
She looked out the window before answering. For a moment, all I could see was her profile, curls brushing her cheek and the sudden sadness marring her features. “Because I’m tired.”
I frowned. “I know that, Paz.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I mean really tired, Saadiq. I didn’t realize how tired until I got here. I slept almost two whole days.”
Damn. That shit bothered me. “Two days?”
“Pretty much. I got up to eat, shower, use the bathroom. That was about it. My body basically shut me down.”
She gave me a small shrug. Guilt crept through me. I thought about how many times I’d called her after hours. How often I expected her to know what I needed before I said it. Topaz managed everything, down to my damn coffee. And because she did the shit so well, I had let myself believe handling it was easy for her. Seeing her standing there now, without the suits, heels, and flawless hair, I could see what I should have seen before.
“Damn, Paz. I’m sorry.”
Her eyes came back to mine. She blinked like she hadn't expected that.
“For what?” she pressed.
I rubbed a hand across my beard. “For my part in it.”
“Saadiq—”
“Nah. Let me say it.” I moved in front of her, then leaned against the counter so I could face her. I needed her to see my sincerity. “I know everything ain’t on me. You got family, your own life, all that. But I also know I work the hell out of you. I call you too much. I depend on you too much.”
