Hard Rules

I search his face, and he doesn’t look away, or hide the truth in his eyes. I believe him but that doesn’t erase the pain of last night. “Do you know what you did to me? Why wouldn’t you just tell me last night?”

“Because what she shared with me was bad. Criminal, even. The kind of thing that gets people killed and I saw your anger as the way to ensure you stayed away until I fixed this.”

“I already told you I’d quit.”

“And then left that note on my window that made me need to see you, and touch you. I wasn’t going to stay away from you.”

My fingers curl on his chest where they’ve landed. “So you hurt me,” I say, my throat thick with emotion.

“Yes. So I hurt you.”

“That was really shitty, Shane.”

“Why do you think I ran ten miles this morning after pacing my apartment all night? I’m sorry. More than you can possibly know.” He cups my face. “Forgive me.”

“I’m going to, but I’m still too angry to do it right this moment.”

“Stay with me tonight.”

“As long as you understand that I’m staying here too. I’m keeping my job.”

“We’ll talk about it tonight.”

“No. We won’t.”

His hands drop from my face, and he leans in, pressing his cheek to mine, to murmur, “Do you know how badly I want to be inside you right now?” His hands settle over my ribs, his thumb tracing the lower line of my breasts, tightening my nipples and sending shivers down my spine.

“Tonight,” I say, catching his hands and leaning back to look at him. “But I’m still keeping my job.”

The intercom buzzes and Jessica clears her throat and says, “Shane sorry, but the Realtor is here with the paperwork for the apartment.”

He curses softly and pulls back, calling out, “Tell him I’ll be right there.” He refocuses on me. “Tonight.”

“Yes. Tonight.”

He leans in to kiss me, and I say, “Wait. I have on that lipstick that—”

His mouth comes down on mine, his tongue stroking deeply, and I forget the lipstick, and that Lana woman, and Kevin, and everything else. I lean into him, kissing him back, this man who has become so much to me in such a short time. Every lick of his tongue is a promise of more, and I’m not sure it will ever be enough. Too soon it seems, our lips part, reality returning with his murmur of, “Tonight.”

“Yes,” I say. “Tonight.”

He releases me then, reaching for the door and opening it, and I laugh at the sight of my pink lipstick on his mouth. “Pink really is your color,” I say, before darting away, his low, sexy laughter following me to the edge of Jessica’s desk.

Jessica grins at my smile and winks as I pass, but it’s a short-lived, wonderful moment that ends as Derek steps to his doorway, his stare heavy as it falls on me. I have no choice but to move forward to the hallway that leads to the lobby, leaving me no escape from his attention, until suddenly his gaze lifts above my head. I cut left and pause, turning back to peek around the corner to find Shane and Derek staring each other down, hate etching the air and stealing my breath. They are enemies and it delivers a blade of reality I have yet to face. Blood doesn’t mean loyalty, and that’s what I’ve been counting on to save me.

SHANE

It’s nearly eight when I finish an off-site meeting about a trademark dispute and send a car to pick up Emily at her apartment. I arrive at the apartment before her, removing my jacket and tie before filling a glass with whiskey and stepping onto the balcony and finding the railing. I stare out at the city, the past twenty-four hours and all the revelations made, heavy on my mind, with no movement on resolution. But nothing weighs as heavily on me as last night with Emily. Regret doesn’t begin to describe what I’d felt when I’d seen the pain in Emily’s eyes over what she thought was my betrayal. Nor does fear begin to describe what I feel when I think of her becoming a target for Derek or the Martina cartel either.

The door opens and I turn in anticipation of her presence, and when she steps into the open doorway, her long hair silky over her shoulders, that unnamed emotion she always makes me feel forms a name.

Love.

I’m falling in love with her and while that’s damn good for me, I’m still not convinced it’s good for her.

I motion her forward and meet her in the middle of the patio, directly under a light, I set my drink on the table next to us, my hands settling on her waist. “Hey,” I say.

“Hey,” she says, that sweet shyness she seduces me with clear and present.

“I have something for you.” I look up, and her chin lifts, laughter bubbling from her lips as she spies the bra hanging there.

“Oh my God, Shane. Why is it still there and how did it get up there?”

“I have no clue how we managed that. Maybe I have a ghost.”

“A ghost,” she laughs. “Who puts bras on lights.”

“Maybe it has a sense of humor,” I offer.

“Why didn’t you take it down?”

“It’s my prize,” I say, my voice roughening with the rise of my desire. “Like you.”

“Shane,” she whispers, the air thickening around us.

I lean in to kiss her and the doorbell rings. “That can only be Seth. He’s the only person with the code.” I lean back and stroke her hair. “Sorry, sweetheart, but with some of the things going on, I have to let him in.” ns class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">