The Stopover (The Miles High Club 1)

“Hi.” I look around. “Is Tristan here?”

“Yes, he’s in Jameson’s office. Just go through.”

My stomach drops. “Okay, thank you.” I walk across the tiles and make a mental note of the sound. My shoes don’t click on the tiles anymore, and I think back to a time when they did. I look out over the view and take a picture in my mind. I do love this building—so many exciting memories of when I started coming up to this floor. I knock on the door and hear Jameson’s strong voice. “Come in.”

Here we go.

I swallow my nerves and open the door, and Tristan’s face lights up. “Here she is. The hero of the day.”

“Hi.” My eyes find Jameson’s across the room.

“Hi.” He dips his head as if ashamed.

“The evidence is all on the computer, Em.” Tristan beams. “You did it; you solved the case. I don’t know why you kept following her, but boy, am I glad that you did.”

“Happy I could help.”

“Thank you.” Jameson frowns as if pained. “I’m very grateful for your dedication to solving the case.”

Tristan looks between us and must sense the tension between us. “I’m going to leave you two alone. We need to celebrate . . . tonight,” he calls as he rushes from the room in an excited flurry. It must be such a relief to him to have the case against Jameson coming to an end.

I close my eyes. Damn it, just get this over with. I hand Jameson the envelope, and he stares at it in his hand. “What’s this?” he asks.

“My letter of resignation.”

He frowns as his eyes hold mine. “No, Em.” He shakes his head. “I can’t accept this.”

Emotion overwhelms me, and I blink so that I don’t cry. “I can’t work here, Jameson.”

“You love Miles Media—working here was your dream,” he whispers.

“No. You’re wrong. I loved you . . . and you were my dream. I’ve taken a position with Athena, the place I did my internships. I start next Monday.”

His eyes search mine. “Em . . .”

A tear escapes onto my cheek, and I wipe it away with a nervous smile. “You know, I watched Magic Mike XXL last night.”

He listens.

“And there was this poignant line that finally made everything make sense to me.”

“Which was?”

“When someone shows themselves to you . . . believe them.”

He frowns, not understanding.

“I finally believe you, Jameson.”

“Believe what?”

“That you’re a coward.”

He clenches his jaw.

“That you’re too scared to love me.”

Our eyes are locked, and an undercurrent of anger runs between us.