I know he will, he has to. “I’ll try and speak to him.”
When she reaches for her car door I push open mine and move quickly to ser side.
“Hey.” I press her dainty body into the side of the car and touch my lips to hers. “It’ll all be okay.”
“Will it?”
“It will,” I promise her because it has to be, and I will make it so. “I’ll get you after work and we’ll go somewhere fun.”
Her lifeless eyes spark with intrigue. “What?”
“It’s a surprise.” I grin, catching her eyes as I cup her cheek. “You down with that?”
“Down with that,” she repeats, murmuring, her lips twitch with amusement. “I’m down with that.”
“Good.” I kiss her again, uncaring if anyone sees, the worst to know now knows. It can’t get any worse.
I should end it, I know that would be in everybody’s best interests but I’m selfish and I need just a little bit more time.
“Kiss me,” I demand because even though she has reciprocated my gentle touches, she hasn’t put her passion into it like she usually does. “Kiss me like you mean it.”
I try again, pushing my tongue past the seam of her lips and she returns it with fervor, gripping my jacket to keep me close, humming with pleasure as our bodies come together.
“Remember this moment, when you spend the day thinking about whether or not you should leave me,” I whisper and silence her with another kiss when she tries to interject. “The worst is over, it doesn’t matter if you leave me or not now, it won’t change what Maddox knows. So remember this moment. Remember how this feels and remember I’ll be there later to get you and whisk you away on some romantic adventure.”
She laughs a little but her eyes are still so sad. “Romantic adventure?”
“I’m going to sweep you off your feet,” I continue boldly, arrogantly, and calmly.
At that she genuinely laughs and this time it’s her that initiates the kiss which I happily return. “It’ll be okay.”
“It will,” I agree. “You’ll see.”
“I trust you,” she says, her eyes connecting with mine. “If no one else, I trust you.”
“I’ll cherish it, nurture it, and…” I kiss her again. “And I’ll make sure you never forget.”
“Call him,” she begs. “Try and make him understand.”
I nod and reluctantly step away. “Until later.”
“Until later,” she replies, jogging to Devon’s Shack. Which is nothing like a shack. It’s a very modern and expensive building full of top quality sporting equipment.
I don’t turn away until she’s inside and I don’t stop by to see Devon because I can’t deal with any more lectures or ill wishes today.
Nothing anybody says is going to make me change my mind. I’m in this now and I’ll be damned if anybody pushes me out.
Sargent: It’s going to be okay.
Tempest: I believe you.
Then I text my son.
Sargent: Call me when you’re ready to talk. Preferably sooner rather than later. We have things to discuss. Not just about Tempest.
As it sends, my disposable phone starts to ring.
“Heads up.” It’s Stone. I can’t be dealing with this today too. “Nastya is in the States, thought I’d warn you. She might drop by. She knows you tried to gamble your way out of the contract. Not sure who told her.”
“Fuck,” I mutter and rub my face with my hands. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Don’t do anything to piss her off. She’s even more crazy since her divorce.”
“Noted.” I hang up and climb back into my car. This is going to be a tough week.
Maddox: Get fucked…
Maddox: By anybody but her.
Maddox: I fucking hate you.
Definitely a tough week.
Sargent: Neither of us did this to hurt you.
Maddox: It’s not my feelings I’m worried about. It’s hers! She’s the one that’s going to get broken when you spit her out.
Sargent: Tell her that, she thinks you hate her.
Maddox: I can’t look at her right now. I wish I’d never come back.
I stop messaging him because no good can come of it. He knows where I stand now.
The passenger door opens and Devon climbs into the seat.
When he sees my look, he holds up his hands and says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got Kent looking after her and everybody has seen that fucker’s face now that I’ve put a memo out. He’s not getting anywhere near my shack.”
“Kent?” I ask, trying to remain passive as a jealous rage surges through me. “As in the big, tattooed security guard that you had to threaten to get him to stop sleeping with your customers?”
He raises a dark brow and flashes his white teeth at me. “You sound jealous.”
“I’m not jealous. Why would I be jealous?”
“The same reason you had her pressed up against her bedroom door last night, looking like you were ready to fuck her with everyone in the other room.”
I had a feeling he’d seen us.