Page 25 of Loving a Billionaire

Scowling, she shook her head. “You’re full of it, Hamill. Why is it wrong for me to pretend while I’m undercover, and yet it’s not wrong for you to do it?” She paused, leaning closer into him. “Many times when you have gone undercover, you have pretended to seduce women just to get answers. What’s the difference between what you have done and what I’m doing? Not only that, I’ve gone undercover before and pretended to seduce a perp for answers, and it never bothered you then.”

“Do you mean to tell me you don’t know this?” He raised his voice.

“No, Hamill. Please enlighten me.”

“I’ll tell you what the difference is. The difference is back then, I was never jealous of the perp... not like I am with Reeder.” She sucked in a quick breath as her eyes widened, so he quickly continued while he still had the courage. “And another difference is that when you kiss him, you enjoy it, whereas you’ve never done that before.”

She slowly mouthed the word no. His fuzzy mind told him to continue. “And, another difference is that with this case, more than the others, I’ve been thinking about you differently. I’ve been wondering what it would be like to be Reeder – to hold you, and kiss you passionately.”

“No, Kurt,” she whispered.

His breathing was ragged as he stared into her lovely eyes. She didn’t pull away, but he didn’t think that meant she realized she wanted him as much as he wanted her, either. His confession had probably shocked her, which was only a natural reaction.

Why was he even trying? It was obvious where her heart lied, and it was certainly not with him.

“Oh, never mind. Forget I said anything,” he snapped and hurried out of the car.

He focused on the pathway to his apartment. His head pounded with adrenaline, and he cursed his drunkenness. If he’d been sober, he wouldn’t have said anything to her. He would have continued to hold the anguish inside. He would have dealt with it, just as he had to deal with this feeling for her ever since they were partnered together.

A couple of times he stumbled up the stairs, but he finally reached his apartment. He fumbled with the keys and tried to get them in the right keyhole, since he could see two of them. Cursing again, he slammed his fist against the door.

“Kurt Hamill! For goodness sake, will you stop?” Talia grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the door. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to get in my apartment. What does it look like I’m doing?”

She rolled her eyes. “It looks like you’re trying to break into your neighbor’s apartment, instead.”

She looked back at the door he’d just tried to enter. His fifty-year-old neighbor peeked out, his face white with worry. Talia forced a laugh. “Please forgive Kurt. He’s been drinking.” Mr. Kirkpatrick nodded and closed the door. Talia looked back at him and held out her hand. “Give me the keys.”

If he wasn’t so sloshed, maybe he’d feel embarrassed. He was sure it would come tomorrow, along with a huge headache, of course. He gave her the keys and she opened his door. Walking ahead of her, he wearily stepped inside.

As he made his way to the couch, he glanced over his shoulder as she was shutting the door. “Why are you still here?” He practically fell on the piece of furniture.

“Because our conversation is not over.” She sat beside him, staring deep into his eyes.

“Actually, it is. Tomorrow, all of this will have just been a nightmare for me.”

“Kurt.” She grasped his arms. “Do you really feel that way about me, or is that just the alcohol talking?”

He must have heard wrong, because he could have sworn her voice was softer. He blinked several times, trying to make his vision clear. Why was she looking at him with so much tenderness in her eyes?

“I really feel that way. The alcohol is helping me to get it off my chest, since it’s been there since you first entered our precinct.”

“Why haven’t you said anything before now?”

“Because I didn’t realize it until we became partners, and by then, it was too late.”

Smiling, she lay back against the couch, keeping her gaze on him. “The truth is, I had those feeling for you, too. I didn’t want to say anything because I enjoyed being your partner. I didn’t want to ruin that.”

The alcohol must be disturbing his hearing, because he for sure didn’t hear her correctly. “You... you were in love with me?”

Shyly, she shrugged. “I don’t know if what I felt was love, but I definitely had a crush on you.”

He turned toward her and pulled her in his arms. “Had? Are you saying you don’t feel that way about me now?”

Talia’s expression wavered, and he wasn’t sure if she was sad or scared. Maybe both. She also appeared hesitant to answer.

“Kurt, I... don’t know.”