“You’re the only thing I’ve ever been addicted to. Once you figure out I don’t have anything to hide, will you give me a chance then?”
“I’m not even worried about the possibility of that happening, so you can stop trying to take me off my square. Your bullshit doesn’t work on me anymore.”
“Would you believe me if I told you that I was sleeping with Paula for a while, but it’s over now?”
“I wouldn’t give a damn what you did with your employees if it doesn’t pertain to my investigation.”
“I saw the way you were trying to burn lasers through her with your eyes.”
“That’s because she’s condescending as hell, not because she uses your dick as a pogo stick.”
“That’s a lie. I know you better than you think, Faith. Stop playing and let me make this shit right.”
“What the hell makes you think you can ever make up for what you did to me?”
“Because you’re here. Because you could be anywhere in the world, but you’re sitting on my couch, in my office, looking delectable and smelling even better. Because I prayed for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah right.”
Reed cupped my chin, crashing his lips into mine before I could react. Obviously, I never came into my right mind because I surprised the hell out of myself when I kissed him back. My entire body was on fire as his hand circled my back, pulling me closer. I didn’t pull away, letting his soft lips disarm me with every swipe of his tongue.
“I missed you so much, baby. Please don’t disappear on me again. I can’t take that, Faith,” he mumbled as he trailed kisses up my jawline.
I snatched away like I had just been snapped out of a trance. Hearing his voice brought me back to reality. This was the man who’d hurt me to my core, and for some reason, I still loved him. It sickened me that I wanted to believe him. I wasn’t about to tell him that, though. Instead, I stood up, making him back up and stand to his feet.
“I need some air.”
He swiped his hand down his face, nodding as his eyes focused on me. “OK.”
I was taken aback when he didn’t try to protest. That didn’t mean that I wasn’t getting as far away from him as I could right now. I walked toward the door, not stopping until I made it to the elevator. I stepped onto the elevator, letting out a breath of relief once the doors closed, putting another barrier between me and Reed.
When I reached the lobby, I stepped out of the elevator behind a group of people who had, clearly, been day drinking. I was seconds away from grabbing a stiff drink of my own. My phone vibrated in my purse, almost making me jump out of myskin. I closed my eyes hoping to settle my nerves as I fished my phone out of my bag.
I expected the call to be coming from Reed. Instead, it was Jasper. I’d told him that I was starting a new investigation today. He knew how hard I locked in sometimes, so I wasn’t expecting to hear from him for a few days.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Look up,” Jasper stated with a slight chuckle.
“Hm?”
Although I was confused about his statement, I looked up to find Jasper dressed in dark jeans and a black T-shirt standing near the roulette tables. My stomach dropped when our eyes connected. I wasn’t sure why, but the idea of Reed and Jasper in the same room made me physically ill. After reminding myself that I was a single woman, I took a deep breath and proceeded to walk in his direction.
“I thought I would have lunch with my favorite girl,” he announced once I was in earshot.
It took everything in my power not to chase Faith down the hall and snatch her back into my office. As much as I wanted to keep applying major pressure, I knew she needed a second to breathe.
Giving her the air she requested didn’t mean I was letting up. Faith was mine. I just needed to remind her. Obviously, she didn’t have total amnesia. She kissed me back. Again. That was enough ammunition to last me a lifetime. I was getting my lady back.
Right on cue, the doors to my office crept open, and Paula pranced in carrying a black tray. I guessed I had been talking to myself when I told her not to worry about our standing lunch plans.
“Your little friend seems nice,” she sneered as she placed the tray on my desk.
“Why do you keep trying to antagonize her?”
“She’s here to try to hurt the business. Why did you even let her come up in here?”
“I don’t owe anyone an explanation about how I run this business.”
