Absolutely Mine

“I’m not sure when I’ll be home. It’s possible I won’t.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked. Was he jealous? Mentally, I shook my head. Eddie had made it clear our time together had been a drunken mistake. Maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see.

“Fine. Set up a breakfast meeting. You need to understand what you are walking into.”

And boy did I ever. I left his office to the desk a few feet in front of his office where I would sit and be forced to be so close to a man I could never have. By the time the day was over, I was ready to bolt.

“Don’t forget breakfast. Eight sharp.”

I nodded and practically ran to the elevator. Eddie’s eyes on me were too much for me to bear.

* * *

I found myself putting extra effort into my makeup and clothes that night. Cole, the sexy divorcee I’d been seeing the last few months, would be by any minute.

My sister Chris didn’t approve. It was true he was probably closer in age to my dad than me, but the man was sexy as hell. The silver sprinkled in his hair had only added to his appeal.

When the knock came at my door, I sprang into action, hoping like hell I was wrong about something.

“Hey,” I said.

Cole leaned in and damn, if I didn’t turn at the nick of time, masking it as a sidestep to let him in.

I saw the question in his eyes when I forced a smile on my lips and met his eyes.

“You look lovely tonight, Jillian.”

“Thanks,” I said, losing the battle to force a smile.

“Is there something wrong?”

Absofuckinglutely, but I didn’t say that. “No, I’m—”

What could I say? I’m married. Though it was a technicality, it felt wrong to go out with someone else.

“I had a really bad day.”

He nodded in understanding. “We could stay in if you want.”

Cole was a good man and he deserved better from me.

“Would you mind if I canceled tonight? I really just want to sleep this off.”

He stepped in and I subconsciously tensed. Only he pressed a soft kiss to my cheek as if he’d felt my flinch.

“Get some rest. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I nodded, and when I opened the door, someone stood on the other side poised to knock.

“Eddie.”

His eyes didn’t meet mine. They were all for the man who stood beside me. I turned to glance at Cole who was also sizing Eddie up.

To end the weird standoff, I said, “Eddie, this is Cole. Cole, this is Eddie, my boss.”

Cole glanced at me before turning to Eddie and saying, “Nice to meet you, Eddie.”

He said the last as if to make the point that he suspected there was way more familiarity between Eddie and me.

“Eddie is Chris’ best friend and her husband’s brother. We practically grew up together. He was nice enough to give me a job.”

Cole stared at me and I quickly explained, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Cole turned and moved in close. His hand grazed over my cheek to land in my hair. I knew what he was about to do and felt Eddie’s eyes burning into me.

A jerk of my head and the kiss landed at the corner of my mouth.

“I’ll call you later,” I said to Cole, stepping back.

He nodded and walked by Eddie with a head tilt of acknowledgment. Men. I liked Cole, but that kiss move was a mark my territory kind.

As soon as Cole was far enough away, I hissed at Eddie, “Why are you here?”

“This,” he said, handing me a thick envelope. “It’s the paperwork from HR. I wanted you to look at it before our meeting in case you have questions.”

I held the heavy thing in my hand. “I told you I would be out and might not be home.” He shrugged. “So where were you going to leave it if I was gone?”

His deadpan look should have reminded me. “I have a key. Chris gave me a spare.”

I held out a hand. “Chris doesn’t live here anymore.”

He stepped over the threshold and into my personal space. “What if you have an emergency?”

His words fanned over my cheek and then he was gone. He’d moved into my apartment like he owned the place while I’d stifled a shiver. The man made my body come alive in a way no man had since him.

“Eddie, it’s late.”

He faced me after glancing at his watch. “It’s only eight. Did your date need to report in for curfew at the retirement community?”

I gawked. “He’s not that old.”

His poker face disagreed. “He looks like your father.”

“You are one to talk. Your wife is the poster child for Gold Diggers ’R Us,” I spat, feeling my anger rise.

“So you’re jealous.”

I glared at him. “Not any more than you are.”