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Back at the office,I commandeer a couple of associates to try to do some remediation on the potential lawsuit—making some calls, tracking down paperwork, files, timestamps, anything—that would refute theclaim.
“I hope you have plans with the gym tonight. You look like a bear,” Tris comments on his way out of theoffice.
I don’t answer. Instead, I head home, shower. My hair’s still wet as I stare into the mirror. I’m not a jealous guy, but I look as if I’ve been workedover.
Today pushed me past my breaking point. My need to prove I’m not falling for her flew out the window the second I realized she wasn’t as in this as Ithought.
I pull on jeans and a V-neck sweater, stopping next to my king-sizedbed.
Now, the fact that Daisy’s my best friend doesn’t seem like enough to bind her to me. I want to tie her to the damn bed, give her everything she wants if it’ll make herstay.
The sound of the door has meturning.
Daisy’s standing straight and tall in my foyer. She didn’t knock, didn’t ask permission. Just used the key she’s always had to walk into mylife.
Unlike every other woman, I’ve let herin.
“You changed.” I take in her trench coat and heels, longlegs.
“How was yourday?”
“Terrible.”
I feel her probing the mask I’ve put on since this afternoon. Trying to get beneath it, where I normally let her. “Tell me somethinggood.”
Instead, I strengthen my resolve. “My best friend is standing in my foyer and I’m going to fuck hersenseless.”
Her eyes fill with desire, but they’re conflicted. “This is about Marc. I’mleaving.”
Daisy reaches for the door. I grab her arm and she twists away, wrenching the door open and starting toward theelevator.
“He’s not what you need,” I growl, stalking after her. “Not now, notever.”
“What do I need?” She stabs the elevator button without meeting mygaze.
The doors open, and I take aleap.
“Me.” The shock on her face is enough to tell me I’ve said something I can’t take back. “I know you. He doesn’t. I see you. He never will. I’ve watched everything you’ve gone through to get where you are, and I’m so fucking proud of you. When you hurt, I hurt with you. And if holding you at a distance means you’ll get close to someone else, I won’t riskthat.”
She stays rooted in place as the elevator doors slideclosed.
“Stay tonight,” I murmur. “Let me prove it toyou.”
Her gaze flies tomine.
In it, I see so many things I never asked for. Things I never thought Ideserved.
But I wantthem.
The silence stretches between us, heavy andunbearable.
I can’t say a word. I’m powerless until she steps away from theelevator.
“Okay.”
The single word has my chestloosening.
