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I giggled at the ravenous smirk on his face before he took my lips once more. I lost myself in him, his touch, his mouth, his embrace. He opened his mouth against mine, deepening, overtaking me.
His kiss slowed. His hands rested at my waist, and he pulled away, breathing hard.
“I love all of you, Rosie,” he said. “Your mind, your heart, your sweetness, and that bit of spice you fling at anyone who messes with you—even me. I love you. You don’t know how long I’ve waited to say those words.”
“How long?” I asked, smiling, thrilling at hearing them, barely able to keep up.
“Since you started working for me. Since the day you got me out of the bar and took me home, since you called out Gale for backtalking against Charity for something she didn’t do, since you insisted on keeping hard copies of everything even though I wanted it all digital.
“Since the day I woke up and you were the first thing on my mind, and you stayed right there all day long no matter what I did. You took over me, one day at a time, until I was too helplessly under your spell to do anything to stop it.”
He stole another kiss, his lips warm and sweet.
“Why didn’t you do anything before now?” I asked. “Why hide it? The rumors?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Not just the rumors. I never intended to get so close to you. I never wanted you to know.”
His voice turned grim. Settling his hands at my hips, he glowered at me with meaningful intention.
“Why not? What’s that look for?” Did this have something to do with whatever he was hiding from me?
He shook his head again as though that would chase away whatever demons plagued him. “You say you don’t hate me,” he said, “but after I tell you the truth, you will.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
rosabel
What couldhe be hiding that would possibly make me hate him that much?
“Not possible,” I said.
“Except that it is.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. He was confusing me all over again.
Using the back of his hand, he grazed my cheek with his knuckles. “Remember when we met Wesley? And Eudora? They both mentioned something I hoped you didn’t catch, but knowing you, you probably heard.”
I forced my mind back to those distinct moments, trying to recall things that had been said. Both times, I’d felt confused. Because sure enough, they’d each mentioned something I had no reference to.
“They both mentioned some kind of pact,” I said. “What pact?”
Duncan’s chest rose and fell. A look of defeat settled over him. He took my hand in his and led me to the bench along the back wall. I sat first, and then he joined me, keeping my hand in his.
“In college, I made a pledge not to fall in love. There weren’t supposed to be any real ramifications, but a few of the fraters have taken our promises to the extreme.”
“What kind of extreme?”
“They’re targeting the women we’re falling for.”
I stared at the equipment mats on the rubber flooring. The little things Duncan had said began clicking into place, making more sense than they had at the time. His denial, all the reasons he’d claimed about his concerns for my safety.
“You can’t seriously think anything will happen to me because of your feelings for me,” I said.
“Why do you think Wonderland was targeted? And you heard about Hawk and Ella, how she was framed for theft at his company. It’s all connected. And we’re next.”
“We?”
“You. And me. Because of how I feel about you.”
