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I sucked in a harsh breath. “Then why did you say no to the booking?”
“Because you didn’t want to do it, and,” she paused, “I hurt your feelings when I asked you to make a booking for last night. I’m sorry.”
“Fuck,” I growled, “Riley, stop apologizing. You did nothing wrong. I was an asshole.”
“Kind of,” she said with a small smile.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m sorry for making you feel bad and for making you feel like your debt defines you. It doesn’t, Riley.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate your apology.”
I slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her against me, burying my face in her hair. To my fucking relief, she hugged me back, her body soft and supple against mine. She kissed my jaw, and I turned my head to kiss her properly, sliding my tongue into her mouth as she clung to my shoulders and made those soft sounds I loved.
We broke apart, and she took a shuddering breath. “God, you’re a good kisser.”
“So are you,” I said.
“Thank you. But I need to get back to work before my boss yells at me for making out with him on company time,” she teased.
I grinned, still feeling a little shaky about how close I’d come to losing her. “I think he’ll make an exception for you.”
She smiled but pulled away, squeezing my arm before she reached for the door. I caught her hand. “Riley, I want to book you for tonight.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said. “Deacon, I’m not expecting -”
“I know,” I said. “I want to do this.”
She looked at me disbelievingly, and I said, “I’m serious, Riley. I want to continue our weekly bookings, okay? But I’d also like to spend time with you outside the bookings.”
“I’d like that too,” she said softly.
“Okay,” I said. “Then let me book you for tonight.”
“Some of the other admin staff and I are going to see Lina and the baby tonight,” she said. “I really can’t cancel.”
“Tomorrow night, then,” I said.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m happy to do it.”
“Okay, Friday works for me,” Riley said.
“Perfect.” I gave her another quick kiss before palming her ass.
She grinned at me and tugged my hand away. “Behave, Mr. Cross.”
“Never, Ms. Gates.”
She laughed and put a little extra wiggle in her hips as she left my office. I returned to my desk and immediately sent in a request for Riley for both Friday night and Sunday afternoon. The anger and the jealousy had completely disappeared, and even the exhaustion from a sleepless night had diminished a bit.
Riley wanted to be with me as much as I wanted to be with her. It wasn’t just about the money for her. She cared for me and wanted to spend time with me outside the agency.
Are you sure? She didn’t say she cared for you. Eloise spent some time with you outside the agency, too, remember? Kept you on the hook just enough for you to stay willing to keep booking her. Maybe Riley is doing the same thing.
I ignored the unease creeping in. Riley wasn’t like Eloise. She just wasn’t. It was natural to have some trepidation, but I wasn’t making the same mistake with Riley. She was falling for me as hard as I was falling for her.
CHAPTER 33
