Page 107 of Love In Hiding

He laughed. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I overheard him talking to my father about this months before everything was finalized. Trust me, it’s the one thing that has stuck in my head about why West agreed to this. The last thing I need is to think he only did this out of family obligation.”

He knew she’d been unsure of her company and the role West had in it.

Maybe no more than he was for the reason he was hired.

It was something he worked hard to get by, but maybe took a few steps back after that conversation.

It just felt as if more was on the line for him. That he washired with her in mind and if things didn’t work out, would he be forced out?

He didn’t think that would happen. But itcould.

And the last thing he wanted was for her to have that on her shoulders.

“That’s on you to work out. West and I were in your office less than five minutes. Nothing bad or worrisome. It’s all good.”

“Positive?” she asked when they turned past his doorman and he waved.

“I am. Don’t you trust me?”

She hooked her arm through his. “Oh, I trust you. Maybe more than I should.”

“Hey, what does that mean?”

They got in the elevator. “That I wanted to be the one to tell them and you said you could do it better.”

“And I did. See how quiet and low key it was?”

“It would have been if I’d done it also.”

“You keep telling yourself that,” he said, nudging her arm with his.

She rolled her eyes and leaned over to give him a kiss, not even caring they weren’t alone. Why would she care? She didn’t know these people. Neither did he.

“You like me all worked up,” she said when they got off the elevator. At least she waited to say that in the hallway.

“I do, but not in the office and not with witnesses.”

He unlocked his door and she shoved him inside, then dropped her bag on the floor. “No witnesses now. I say you let me get it all out of my system. I’ve been pent up all day, full of nerves. Paris said I was driving her nuts.”

“You know, I can take one for the team if it’ll make you feel better,” he said, urging her toward his bedroom.

She pulled him toward the bathroom across though. “Shower first. Or more like a playtime shower.”

He moved past her, reached into the shower and turned it on, letting it warm, the steam filling the room while the two of them quickly unzipped, unbuttoned, and kicked their clothing away.

He opened a drawer and got a condom out, then put it on a shelf out of the way for now.

She nudged past him and climbed into the large tiled space, her back away from the water, then held her hand out.

He didn’t hesitate to thread their fingers together, then she yanked him in hard, slamming against her, her laughter bubbling out and telling him the hardest part might be behind them.

Or maybe she was feeling the same relief that he’d felt.

He kissed her then. Hard, hungry, and with every bit of heat he’d been holding back. The water pounded around them, over them, between them, but she didn’t move, she didn’t waver. She kissed him like she wanted to steal every breath he had.

Like she wanted to gobble him and take control of the situation.