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By the time I yanked on a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved white thermal shirt, Phoebe bounced into the closet with a smile. It faded the moment she saw me.
She furrowed her brow. “You’re wearing real pants.”
I grunted.
She narrowed her eyes. “What happened? Did you hear from management?”
Snatching her arm, I pressed her into the wall. “Who were you talking to?”
She huffed. “A source.”
I tilted my head. “A friend?”
She scoffed. “Ah, hell no. She’s one of my snitches at the magazine, but other than an email or a call here or there, we don’t talk.”
I growled. “Why didn’t you tell her about us?”
She wrinkled up her nose. “Why would I tell her anything about myself?”
My chest rumbled with anger. “Why wouldn’t you?”
She lifted one shoulder casually. “She’s a New Yorker.”
I pressed my body into hers. “You need to get away from there permanently.”
Her eyes flared. “And go where, huh? Where is it I’m supposed to go, Chief?
I grasped her a little tighter. “Move in with me.”
Phoebe’s eyes widened. “Say what?”
I growled and leaned in closer. “You heard me. Move in with me. Live here. You can write from anywhere, right?”
Watching her consider it, I realized what just flew out of my mouth was the reason I was still so grumpy. Why I still yanked her away from her work and made her spend time with me. I felt like I was losing her with every passing day. Like we were just living on borrowed time and eventually, we’d be in this weird, ill-fated long-distance relationship.
She cleared her throat. “Um, you really want that?”
My grip on her loosened as I set my forehead on hers. “I do, Raven. I want you to leave New York and come live with me.”
She was quiet for a minute. “For how long?”
I growled.
Her eyes shot up to mine, her hazel eyes flaring. “Really, Ransom! Where do you see this thing going? Are we fuck buddies for life? Are we that quirky couple that buys a motorcycle and travels the country on it, saying we hate things like contracts and commitments all while living a monogamous relationship anyway? Maybe you want a third to spice things up some day? Or are you a non-monogamous person looking for an open relationship where you can fuck whomever you choose?”
“Stop!” I roared. “Fucking stop, Raven.” I grabbed her face between my hands. “I want you, okay? I just want you!”
Her hands clutched my wrists as the fire in her eyes dimmed. “For how long, Chief? Until the day you have to do an interview with Pete? We certainly wouldn’t want him knowing we’re an item. He would report it to the world and then how would you explain having such a girthy girlfriend?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What the fuck are you talking about Pete for?”
She blew out a breath. “Wasn’t he that little reporter guy you whisked me away from? You didn’t want to introduce me to him because you were embarrassed to be seen with me. You pushed me out of there so fast and after I’d had a spa day, had a new hairstyle, fresh makeup, even a new outfit. I’d even managed to feel pretty good about myself until you hustled me out of there.”
I remembered that day. “And new shoes. You looked amazing, which is why I didn’t want you to worry about Pete. He can be a dick sometimes. How was I supposed to win there?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Win?”
I huffed. “If I said we were just friends, that would have made you feel bad.”
