“We should get upstairs. I have more calls to make,” I say, shutting him down before he can finish his thought — or resume whatever the hell that way back there. Because what happeneddidn’t mean anything. I chalk it up to my moment of victory back at the hospital. And he just happened to be there celebrating it with me. His approval made me feel good. Powerful. Strong. And I love that. Need that.
A chill slips down my spine.
It’s like he knows.
All the more reason to kill the words before he can say them.
He's quiet for a moment, disappointment shadowing his expression. “Right. Calls.”
The elevator ride is silent. But this time, it’s not comfortable silence. It's the kind of silence that's full of things unsaid. Of a moment that almost happened and didn't.
When we get back to the penthouse, Reaper jumps at us, tail wagging, immediately pressing against my legs like I've been gone for years instead of hours. I reach down to pat his head, happy to give Reaper my attention so I don’t have to look at Lochlan and see evidence of things that can’t possibly be real.
“I'll be in the bedroom,” I say, keeping my eyes on Reaper. “Working.”
“I'll be here if you need anything.”
I nod and ignore the hint of resignation in his voice. Then I quickly walk down the hallway, my throat tight. I don't look back.
But I feel his eyes on me the whole way, burning my skin, heating my blood.
In the bedroom, I close the door and lean against it. I take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. It doesn’t work. At all. I can still see Lochlan’s face, the intensity of his gaze, like he was searching for my soul through my eyes.
I saw it. I felt it. And I know he did, too.
I press my hands to my temples and swallow a groan.
This is crazy. Nothing happened. Nothing happened, and I'm acting like?—
Like something almost did.
I press my palms to my eyes and take a breath. I have workto do. A family to run. A crisis to manage. I don't have time for whatever this is. Whatever he is.
But when I sit down to make my calls, I can still feel the ghost of that moment in the car, hovering over my shoulder. My skin tingles from the electricity coursing through me at the memory.
I shake my head. Focus, dammit!
The kiss didn't happen. That's good. That's smart. That's exactly what needed tonothappen.
I toss my pen on the desk and sit back in the chair, a deep sigh heaving my chest.
So why am I so disappointed?
CHAPTER 14
LOCHLAN
We don't talkabout what almost happened in the car. At all. We just dance around it like it’s the huge ass elephant in any room where we both happen to exist.
It's been two days. She works in the bedroom with the door closed when she’s not at the office. I work in the living room with Reaper at my feet. We pass each other in the hallway, exchange a few superficial words at dinner, and then go back to our separate corners like boxers between rounds.
It's exhausting to pretend.
It's also not working.
Because every time I see her, I remember the way she looked at me in that parking garage. The way the air between us was charged like a livewire. I can’t forget the way she leaned forward in the car in that second before my goddamn phone ruined everything.
Cillian's timing has always sucked. But he set a new record that day.
