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The terrible silence between us grew thicker, and I would have done fucking anything to take back what I said.
But that was impossible, so I tried to fix it as best I could. “Sorry, that was… I mean… you don’t have to book me for tonight.”
“But if I don’t, you’ll book with someone else, right?” he said.
No, I wanted to scream. No, I wouldn’t - I couldn’t - because I’m in love with you. Don’t you see that?
But my mother’s face blurred my vision and closed up my throat, and before I could say anything, a mask dropped over his face, erasing that hurt in a way I never wanted.
Deacon was gone, leaving a stranger in his place.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped briskly on the keyboard before giving me a brittle smile. “I’ve sent in the booking request. See you at the office, Riley.”
He brushed a kiss as cold as the winter wind against my cheek and left.
* * *
Deacon
I paced the length of my office, glancing out the window at the snow falling before checking my watch for what felt like the hundredth time.
I’d fucked up with Riley yesterday. She’d asked about booking for the week, and I’d been a dick about it. I knew she asked about the booking because she needed the money, and I’d still been an asshole to her.
So much so that she’d rejected my booking request. I hadn’t checked messages until after five, and the sisters’ brief text that Riley was unavailable had rocked me to my core. I’d jumped up from my desk and nearly ran to Riley’s desk, but she was already gone for the day.
I should have called her immediately. Instead, anger and hurt simmering in my guts, I told myself I didn’t care if she’d booked with someone else and gone home.
Of course, that attitude had disappeared right around one this morning when I was still lying sleepless in bed, picturing Riley on her knees for another man, imagining her being someone else’s good girl. And I had no one to blame but myself for Riley playing with another.
I continued to pace, the hot jealousy throbbing and burning in my gut. I needed to talk to Riley, but the office was neither the time nor the place for it. So, why was I straining to hear every little sound outside my office, wondering if that was Riley at her desk?
There was a knock on my door before it opened, and Riley stepped in. She’d gotten in the habit of bringing me a coffee every morning, and she smiled tentatively as she carried the mug to my desk. “Good morning, Mr. Cross.”
“Good morning.” I sounded almost feral.
Chewing on her bottom lip, she set the mug down and hurried toward the door. I crossed the room in five large strides, shutting the door with the palm of my hand just as she reached it. She turned, staring at me with wide eyes as I backed her up against the door. I braced my hands on either side of her head, penning her in.
She stared silently at me, her body straight and still while mine shook like crazy. Christ, she smelled so good. Her bottom lip was still caught in her teeth and, my hand trembling, I tugged lightly on it with my thumb, popping it free before rubbing the pad of my thumb across that deliciously soft lower lip.
“Who were you a good girl for last night?” I sounded weird, even to myself. A combination of anger, jealousy, and a desire so deep I was fucking drowning in it.
She blinked at me. “Wh-what?”
I leaned closer, and her pupils dilated as she stared at my mouth. I brushed my lips against hers, pulling back before I could give in to my urge to deepen it. “Who did you kneel for last night, Riley? It wasn’t me, so who was it?”
“No one,” she said.
Now, it was my turn to stare at her in shock. “What?”
“I didn’t book with someone else,” she said. I could see a spark of anger in her pretty brown eyes. “I wouldn’t do that, Deacon.”
“You need the money,” I said.
Shame flickered in her eyes before she gave me a strained smile. “Yes, I do. But I don’t want to be someone else’s good girl. I want to be yours and only yours.”
“Mine,” I said.
“Yes.”
