Cruel (The Buck Boys Heroes 2)

I agreed and before the call ended, he told me missed me.

I’ve been devoting myself to helping Margie at her office, as well as hanging out in my office at Marks Creative.

Mr. Marks popped his head in once to ask if I was making good progress.

I gave him a thumbs-up and a nod.

I’m making great progress on the article that focuses solely on the promising future of Bane Enterprises.

The article that Mr. Marks wants me to write that delves into Kavan’s personal tragedy is still just a vision in my mind. I haven’t been able to write one word because it feels like a betrayal to Kavan.

In a perfect world, Mr. Marks would grant me the honor of telling Kavan’s story in a way that doesn’t leave him in more pain than he already is.

“Good as in ‘we haven’t slept together yet’ or good as in ‘he fucked me so hard that I was screaming?’”

I bark out a laugh. “Sinclair!”

“Juliet,” my name comes out of her with a trace of a giggle. “Inquiring minds need to know.”

“Want to know,” I correct her. “You know I can’t give you any details on my current assignment.”

“That’s not a no.” She gestures to a clothing store. “I’ve been eyeing up a dress in there. I’d like a second opinion on whether or not I should buy it.”

Smiling, I link my arm around hers. “I’m in.”

She pats my hand. “One day I’ll find out who this mystery man is, right?”

I want her to.

I want what’s happening between Kavan and me to last beyond the day I hand in my final article.

I think I might want it to last forever.

“Mr. Bane will be with you shortly, Juliet.” Nigel eyes my outfit. “That dress is lovely. The color suits you.”

I glance down at the fitted pink dress that I picked up the day that Sinclair and I went shopping.

She opted for the exact same dress in blue. The color was a close match for her eyes.

When I tried it on in pink, she squealed. The smile on the face of the sales person told me that it was a solid investment.

We left the dress store and headed straight to a shoe store.

It was a day filled with shopping, girl talk, and then Italian food for dinner at a place called Calvetti’s.

It was the perfect day for us to build on our blossoming friendship.

“It’s new.” I spin in a circle. “It’s a bit bold for me, but I love it.”

“As do I.”

The rasp of that voice sends goose bumps scattering over my skin. It also turns me around in my heels.

Kavan is standing less than ten feet away from me.

“Hey, Bane.”

He smiles. “Hey, Bardin. You do look lovely.”

I rake him from head to toe. “You look different.”

He skims a hand over the front of the grey sweater he’s wearing. He’s paired that with black slacks and wingtip shoes.

It’s more casual than normal, but I like it.

“In a good way,” he says.

I smile because it’s not a question. The man knows he’s hot-as-hell.

“Head to your office, Juliet.” He gestures to the long corridor that leads to the offices, including mine. “I’ll be in shortly.”

I wait for him to move, but he doesn’t, so I take the hint that he has something to discuss with Nigel.

Turning toward the corridor, I start walking to my office glancing back just once to catch Kavan’s gaze pinned to me.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Juliet

I run my fingers over a card attached to a giftwrapped box on top of my desk.

My name is scrawled out in masculine handwriting.

I pick it up and study it.

That’s all that’s written on it but it already feels like a gift because I’m certain that Kavan wrote it by hand.

Unsure of whether I should open the beautifully wrapped gift without him, I take a seat behind my desk.

Something catches my eye near the doorway, so I turn to find Nara standing there with a cup of coffee in her hands.

“Good morning,” I greet her.

“Hi, Miss Bardin.” She places a linen napkin on my desk before she sets the coffee next to it. “Be careful. It’s hot.”

“Thank you and please call me Juliet.”

“Juliet,” she whispers. “You haven’t opened the gift yet.”

I glance at the pretty purple paper it’s wrapped in and the silver ribbon tied around it. “Do you know if it’s from Mr. Bane? I think I should wait to open it until he’s here.”

“It is from Mr. Bane and he told me if I arrived to find it unopened, I should encourage you to open it.”

That’s all I needed to hear.

As she exits my office, I bounce back to my feet, and untie the ribbon. With careful precision I open the giftwrap, wanting to preserve it.

It’s a silly thing to do, but the card, wrapping paper, and ribbon are all a part of something Kavan chose just for me.