Alexei Kozlov arrives five minutes before the scheduled time. He gives me a nod. “Adriana, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Likewise,” I say. “Because we’re finally in agreement.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Well, you have our commitment. But it remains to be seen how Molloy will take it.”
“Ronan is a reasonable guy,” I say. “He knows that he was invited as a courtesy, and he fully expects?—”
The door opens and the words die on my lips as my stomach freefalls.
Ronan walks in first. But right behind him?—
Lochlan.
I swallow hard and dig my fingers into the edge of my chair. Dark circles smudge the skin under his eyes, his jaw tense. But with his hair is slicked back, his face clean shaven, and his suit hugging his sinful body, he’s still devastating. Even if he is barely holding it together.
Like me.
I try to ignore those crystal blue eyes that used to look at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
They still look at me that way now, actually. Even from across the room.
I turn my attention to Ronan as he takes his seat across from Alexei.
“Gentlemen.” My voice is steady. “Thank you for coming. Let’s get started.”
I pull out my laptop and review which ports, which routes, which territories belong to whom. Alexei pushes for more but I hold strong in exactly how much I’m willing to bend.
“You’re no longer negotiating with someone who has no rights to our businesses,” I remind Alexei.
Ronan winces a bit at that. He pretty much stays quiet through the conversation, agreeing to terms that keep the Molloys in their original territory with no expansion.
I refuse to let my eyes betray me by glancing over at Lochlan, but I feel his searing gaze on me the entire time I am speaking.
My skin prickles with awareness. Every time he shifts in his seat. Every time I catch movement in my periphery. I know exactly where he is in the room at all times, like my body has its own tracking system that I can’t turn off.
I hate it. I hate that he still has this effect on me.
By the time we finalize the terms, my jaw aches so hard from clenching, I’m afraid my teeth might crack.
When the deal is done, we stand up from our seats and I shake hands with both Ronan and Alexei. Alexei leaves first, his men falling into step behind him. Ronan lingers, exchanging a few words with one of my security guys.
With shaking fingers, I stuff my laptop back into my bag, keeping my eyes on my shoes.
“Adriana.”
Oh God, that voice. It still has the power to make my entire body hum.
I stop but I don’t look up.
“Please. Just give me a minute.”
One of my guys moves in Lochlan’s direction. Bobby, the one Lochlan elbowed the other day outside my parents’ house. His eyes glitter with anger and it’s clear he wants another chance to throw Lochlan into his truck. I hold up a hand. “Bobby, it’s fine.”
He hesitates, then steps back with a nod.
I turn to face Lochlan, bracing myself for what I’ll see.
Exhaustion is etched into every line of his face. But his eyes are clear and determined. Not defeated in the least. He’s always been so damn relentless, and now is no exception.
